The Drug Strategy sets out a range of interventions that concentrate on the most dangerous drugs, the most damaged communities and individuals whose addiction and chaotic lifestyles are most harmful.
The Strategy aims to complement action to restrict the supply of illegal drugs with action to diminish the demand for drugs.
Illegal drugs are controlled substances as defined by legislation; the Strategy does not cover alcohol misuse which is the responsibility of the Department of Health.
The four strands of work within the Drug Strategy are:
- protecting communities through tackling drug supply, drug-related crime and anti-social behaviour;
- preventing harm to children, young people and families affected by drug misuse;
- delivering new approaches to drug treatment and social re-integration; and
- public information campaigns, communications and community engagement.
Strategy
DAAT Strategy
National standards for commissioning, delivering and monitoring of adult drug treatment are set by the National Treatment Agency (NTA), which was launched in April 2001. Other aspects of the Government strategy are overseen by Government Office for the South East (GOSE). The strategy is delivered locally by Drug Action Teams.
The targets for the Government's national strategy are as follows:
Young people - to reduce the proportion of young people using the drugs that cause most harm - heroin and cocaine - by 25 per cent by 2005 and by 50 per cent by 2008.
Communities - to reduce levels of repeat offending among drug misusing offenders by 25 per cent by 2005 and by 50 per cent by 2008.
Treatment - to increase the number of problem drug misusers, including prisoners, taking part in drug treatment programmes that have a positive impact on health and crime by 66 per cent by 2005 and by 100 per cent by 2008. To retain 80% of drug clients in treatment for 12 weeks or longer.
Availability - to significantly reduce access to all drugs amongst young people under 25, and to reduce access to the drugs which cause greatest harm, particularly heroin and cocaine, by 25 per cent by 2005 and by 50 per cent by 2008.
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