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Cannabis Campaigners' Guide News Database result:
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UK: Turning Point calls for sweeping reforms
PR Newswire Tuesday 27 Nov 2001 While welcoming a review of the UK drugs strategy, in his evidence to the Home Affairs Select Committee on Drugs, Turning Point's chief executive, Victor Adebowale, called for radical changes in the approach to the drugs strategy. These included: the drugs strategy to be fully integrated with the long-overdue alcohol strategy and a neighbourhood renewal initiative; for a review of the classification of all drugs; for an emphasis on drug misuse as a health rather than a criminal justice issue and more investment in treatment services. As one of the UK's largest social care charities and the leading provider of substance misuse treatment services, Turning Point provides services for people with complex needs across a range of health and disability issues including mental health and learning disabilities, as well as problem drug and alcohol use. With its cross-sector experience and the fact that it currently works in at least 35 of the neighbourhood renewal fund areas, it is well placed to inform the drugs strategy. Victor Adebowale says: "An integrated approach is essential if we are to meet the key aims of the UK drugs strategy - to help young people resist drug misuse; to protect communities from drug-related criminal behaviour; to enable people to access effective treatment quickly and to stifle the availability of illegal drugs on the streets." A review of the classification of all drugs based on a realistic assessment of the harm caused, would lead to a credible, comprehensive drugs strategy. "The re-classification of cannabis has dominated the drugs debate in recent months," says Adebowale, "despite the fact that there is little evidence to suggest that drug use will increase as a result. The key issue is making sure that we invest in combating the effects of more harmful drugs such as crack cocaine and heroin. We believe that the legalisation of possession of small amounts of all drugs may well be the best way forward." Turning Point believes that prison is never an acceptable environment in which to deal with possession and that it is of no use to individuals or communities if recreational drug users - otherwise law-abiding people - are pushed to the fringes of society because possessing small amounts of drugs has a criminal status. "Improved services and speedy access to treatment is a better, not a softer option, with the emphasis on drug misuse as a health and treatment issue, not a criminal justice issue. Investment in treatment that is flexible and has a variety of treatment models will lead to greater success in addressing the underlying issues behind a person's drug use. In turn, this means improved health for individuals and communities. We must take on board that harm-reduction may well be a more realistic target than complete abstinence," concludes Adebowale. Turning Point is one of the largest voluntary sector charities providing a service to people with multiple social challenges. Its current portfolio of over 100 services in England and Wales spans rehabilitation, offender treatment programmes, structured day programmes, community education and street level advice and support. The charity works with 90,000 people offering many levels of support.
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