|
Cannabis Campaigners' Guide News Database result:
|
|
UK: Drug strategy focuses on treatment
The BBC Tuesday 03 Dec 2002 An updated government strategy to tackle drug misuse is expected to focus on getting addicts into treatment. The new programme is likely to target those who use hard drugs like heroin and crack cocaine. The strategy will differ from the one which began four years ago and the government has come under fire for sending out confusing messages. BBC social affairs editor Naill Dickson said the main difference will be the lack of specific targets for reducing the numbers of people taking hard drugs and soft drugs like cannabis. He said it was clear that previous targets which had been set were not being met, causing embarrassment to the government. Mixed messages He said the updates were an attempt to adapt their strategy in the light of previous failures. The new strategy is expected to provoke criticism from both sides. Those who prefer a more liberal strategy say the government is sending out mixed messages. Under the new Criminal Justice Bill, to be debated by MPs this week, any individuals caught with any Class C drugs could be arrested. Home Secretary David Blunkett downgraded cannabis from Class B to C in order to allow greater focus on Class A drugs such as heroin and cocaine. That meant it remained illegal, but possession of small amounts would no longer be considered an arrestable offence. Vulnerable The Liberal Democrats and drugs charities say the new bill is confusing, particularly to young people. The government says it is focusing on what works - concentrating on vulnerable people who tend to become drug users and end up costing the state enormous amounts of money in terms of benefits, the criminal justice system and ruined lives. Targeting them in terms of education and treatment, it says, will be more effective than previous methods. Tina Williams set up a residential care centre after discovering that both her children had started taking heroin. She claims it was difficult to find help for her son and daughter in their local community and wants the government to follow her example. Better odds "What we need the government to do is start building residential rehabilitation centres," she said. "It costs half as much as it does to put people in jail, to put them into residential care. "Why don't we stop them, not let them commit the crime in the community and why don't we stop it before it starts and offer them treatment in residential rehab." Mrs Williams said she would like Mr Blunkett to start putting money into residential rehabilitation services which had proved 50% successful compared to the prison service, from which 78% of people come out to reoffend.
After you have finished reading this article you can click here to go back.
|
This page was created by the Cannabis Campaigners' Guide.
Feel free to link to this page!