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| Drug policy has 'limited impact' | Drug policy has 'limited impact' |
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| The UK has an unusually severe drugs problem and the government's strategy has had a very limited impact on drug use, a new watchdog body has been told. | The UK has an unusually severe drugs problem and the government's strategy has had a very limited impact on drug use, a new watchdog body has been told. |
| The report for the independent UK Drug Policy Commission said more addicts were being treated. | The report for the independent UK Drug Policy Commission said more addicts were being treated. |
| But it added that the benefits were limited, and there was little evidence education schemes had had an impact. | But it added that the benefits were limited, and there was little evidence education schemes had had an impact. |
| The Home Office insisted the strategy was working - with a 16% decline in drug use since 1998. | The Home Office insisted the strategy was working - with a 16% decline in drug use since 1998. |
| BBC home affairs correspondent Danny Shaw said the report was part of the debate about the government's 10-year drug strategy, which is due to be updated next year. | BBC home affairs correspondent Danny Shaw said the report was part of the debate about the government's 10-year drug strategy, which is due to be updated next year. |
| We currently do not know enough about which elements of drug policy work Dame Ruth Runciman, UKDPC | We currently do not know enough about which elements of drug policy work Dame Ruth Runciman, UKDPC |
| Attempts to restrict the availability of drugs by arresting dealers and seizing supplies were failing and drugs prices on the street were falling, the report argued. | Attempts to restrict the availability of drugs by arresting dealers and seizing supplies were failing and drugs prices on the street were falling, the report argued. |
| And the benefits of drugs treatment programmes were limited because some users relapse and many go untreated, it added. | And the benefits of drugs treatment programmes were limited because some users relapse and many go untreated, it added. |
| The UK Drug Policy Commission (UKDPC) - chaired by Dame Ruth Runciman - has been set up to analyse drug policy in the country and is being funded with a three-year grant from a charity, the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation. | The UK Drug Policy Commission (UKDPC) - chaired by Dame Ruth Runciman - has been set up to analyse drug policy in the country and is being funded with a three-year grant from a charity, the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation. |
| Twelve experts have been recruited from the drug treatment and medical research sectors, as well as some from policing, public policy research and the media. | Twelve experts have been recruited from the drug treatment and medical research sectors, as well as some from policing, public policy research and the media. |
| They include homeless charity Shelter's chief executive Adam Sampson and head of the Medical Research Council professor Colin Blakemore. | They include homeless charity Shelter's chief executive Adam Sampson and head of the Medical Research Council professor Colin Blakemore. |
| HAVE YOUR SAY Drugs could be made available through GP's for instance on a controlled basis. It would take away the cool factor. Mitchell, London Send us your comments | |
| The report will say that as well as having the highest level of drug use in Europe, Britain has the second highest number of drug-related deaths. | The report will say that as well as having the highest level of drug use in Europe, Britain has the second highest number of drug-related deaths. |
| But its authors, Professor Peter Reuter and Dr Alex Stevens, will say policies are succeeding in tackling certain illnesses and some aspects of criminal behaviour linked to drug use. | But its authors, Professor Peter Reuter and Dr Alex Stevens, will say policies are succeeding in tackling certain illnesses and some aspects of criminal behaviour linked to drug use. |
| Dame Ruth Runciman said: "At the outset of our three-year work programme UKDPC is agreed upon one thing - we currently do not know enough about which elements of drug policy work, why they work and where they work well." | Dame Ruth Runciman said: "At the outset of our three-year work programme UKDPC is agreed upon one thing - we currently do not know enough about which elements of drug policy work, why they work and where they work well." |