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Cannabis Campaigners' Guide News Database result:
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UK: Hard core of addicts cost nation '19 billion pounds'
Philip Johnston, Home Affairs Editor The Telegraph
Wednesday 13 Feb 2002 HEROIN and crack cocaine addicts are costing the country up to 19 billion pounds a year, according to a new study. A hard core of problem drug abusers is running up a bill of 600 pounds a week each in crime, police and court time, health care and unemployment benefits. So-called "recreational" drug users cost the taxpayer virtually nothing. The figures represent the first comprehensive picture of the economic and social costs of drug misuse in Britain. Research commissioned by the Home Office from a team at York University suggests that the annual economic costs are between 3.7 billion pounds and 6.8 billion pounds. Most of these fall on the criminal justice system because of high crime levels linked to drugs and include insurance payouts, repairs to damaged property, time lost at work and victim counselling. They reflect the financial consequences of serious and organised crime, burglaries and robberies, violence, and the "hidden" social costs in schools and at home. Last year, the NHS spent about 235 pounds million on GP services, accident and emergency admissions and treatment linked to drug abuse. When social costs are added, the bill rises to between 10.9 pounds billion and 18.8 billion pounds. This figure is higher than earlier estimates. A Government White Paper outlining a 10-year drug strategy in 1998 said annual costs were more than 4 billion pounds. The researchers, whose full report has not yet been published, say the minimum number of problem drug users is 280,000 and they are responsible for 99 per cent of costs. Using the study's lowest estimates for cost and users, each addict would be costing about 30,000 pounds a year, or 600 pounds a week. The figures were given to the Commons home affairs select committee yesterday as it concluded its inquiry into drug laws. Its report is expected this spring. Problem users are defined as those for whom drug taking is no longer controlled or undertaken for recreation, but where they are a "more essential element" of life. Last year, the NHS treated 120,000 users in this category. The Home Office says 140,000 of the problem users are at risk of dying from an overdose. There are at least 1.5 million recreational and regular users of class A drugs. The average cost to society of all class A drug users is 2,030 pounds each a year, says the study. Bob Ainsworth, a Home Office minister, told MPs the Government did not intend to legalise or decriminalise any drug, although he confirmed plans to reclassify cannabis from a Class B to a Class C substance in the spring. This would make possession of cannabis no longer an arrestable offence, but police could still confiscate the drug and issue a warning. It would bring the rest of the country in line with Lambeth, south London, where police run such a system. Mr Ainsworth agreed that a "postcode lottery" had developed, with cannabis users treated differently across the country. This would be eradicated by reclassification, though this must be endorsed by the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs. Roger Howard, chief executive of the charity DrugScope, said: "There should be less emphasis on criminalising drug users and more resources concentrated on treatment, education and prevention."
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