The government strategy for cutting drug-related crime is severely criticised in a new report by the influential UK Drug Policy Commission.
The government strategy for cutting drug-related crime is severely criticised in a new report by the influential UK Drug Policy Commission.
The independent panel has concluded that evidence over what works is "seriously weak or absent".
The independent panel has concluded that evidence over what works is "seriously weak or absent".
This is despite spending more than £330m on treating offenders in England and Wales each year.
This is despite spending more than £330m on treating offenders in England and Wales each year.
Some treatment, it warns, risks doing more harm than good and that the millions spent may not offer value.
Some treatment, it warns, risks doing more harm than good and that the millions spent may not offer value.
Three weeks ago the government launched its 10-year drugs strategy, which sees yet more money focused on drug-dependent offenders.
Three weeks ago the government launched its 10-year drugs strategy, which sees yet more money focused on drug-dependent offenders.
"We simply do not know enough about which programmes work best for whom," the commission argues.
"We simply do not know enough about which programmes work best for whom," the commission argues.
"Answers to even basic questions are not freely available," it says, "and the weakness of the evidence base severely hampers good practice."
"Answers to even basic questions are not freely available," it says, "and the weakness of the evidence base severely hampers good practice."
Given the considerable ongoing investment in criminal justice system drug interventions, it is striking that we still know so little about the effectiveness of many of them UK Drug Policy Commission
Given the considerable ongoing investment in criminal justice system drug interventions, it is striking that we still know so little about the effectiveness of many of them UK Drug Policy Commission
The report singles out the CARAT treatment service which greeted 78,000 new prisoners last year.
The report singles out the CARAT treatment service which greeted 78,000 new prisoners last year.
It costs £31m to run but the report says "there are no evaluations of its effectiveness".
It costs £31m to run but the report says "there are no evaluations of its effectiveness".
The same applies to drug-free wings in prisons which very popular with the Conservatives.
The same applies to drug-free wings in prisons which very popular with the Conservatives.
The government is considering increasing their number - but do they work? The evidence is not there.
The government is considering increasing their number - but do they work? The evidence is not there.
The report is highly critical of the quality of treatment in our jails.
The report is highly critical of the quality of treatment in our jails.
Aftercare concerns
Aftercare concerns
"Provision often falls short of even minimum standards," it believes, adding that this is "a major concern for the health and well-being of prisoners and the subsequent impact on crime".
"Provision often falls short of even minimum standards," it believes, adding that this is "a major concern for the health and well-being of prisoners and the subsequent impact on crime".
The report concludes that for the 40,000 prisoners who go through detox while inside, a lack of proper aftercare means many go straight back to using hard drugs when they get out.
The report concludes that for the 40,000 prisoners who go through detox while inside, a lack of proper aftercare means many go straight back to using hard drugs when they get out.
And that one in 200 injecting heroin users will be dead from an overdose within a fortnight of being released.
And that one in 200 injecting heroin users will be dead from an overdose within a fortnight of being released.
The government, however, says there is a growing body of evidence that treating offenders can reduce drug-related crime.
The government, however, says there is a growing body of evidence that treating offenders can reduce drug-related crime.
Its new drugs strategy, published three weeks ago, says "proactively targeting and managing drug-misusing offenders" will be a key element.
Its new drugs strategy, published three weeks ago, says "proactively targeting and managing drug-misusing offenders" will be a key element.
An additional £25m a year will be spent on treating offenders by 2011.
An additional £25m a year will be spent on treating offenders by 2011.
Thousands treated
Thousands treated
However the commission says that "given the considerable ongoing investment in criminal justice system drug interventions, it is striking that we still know so little about the effectiveness of many of them, especially those in prisons and crucially whether they represent value for money".
However the commission says that "given the considerable ongoing investment in criminal justice system drug interventions, it is striking that we still know so little about the effectiveness of many of them, especially those in prisons and crucially whether they represent value for money".
Community programmes appear to work better but they are no magic bullet, the commission believes.
Community programmes appear to work better but they are no magic bullet, the commission believes.
The £175m Drugs Intervention Programme treated 40,000 offenders in the community last year.
The £175m Drugs Intervention Programme treated 40,000 offenders in the community last year.
Six months later, 47% had reduced their offending. But 28% had increased their offending and there is little understanding about who benefits and why.
Six months later, 47% had reduced their offending. But 28% had increased their offending and there is little understanding about who benefits and why.
The commission also posts a warning on plans to widen the net to drug users whose habit is not directly related to their offending.
The commission also posts a warning on plans to widen the net to drug users whose habit is not directly related to their offending.
Such a plan, it says, "is likely to be inefficient and could be harmful".
Such a plan, it says, "is likely to be inefficient and could be harmful".
The risk is that younger recreational drug users will fail to complete some treatment programme and will end up being further criminalised.
The risk is that younger recreational drug users will fail to complete some treatment programme and will end up being further criminalised.
And they warn that the law of diminishing returns will kick in making the scheme less effective and more expensive.
And they warn that the law of diminishing returns will kick in making the scheme less effective and more expensive.
Have you been on a prison drug treatment plan? Did it work? Did you receive suitable aftercare to remain off drugs? If you have any information you would like to share with the BBC you can do so using the form below:
