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Public consulted on drug strategy Ministers in drug war ideas call
(about 2 hours later)
The government has launched what it says is the country's biggest public consultation on tackling drugs. The government has launched what it says is the biggest ever public consultation on fighting drugs.
Jacqui Smith, who last week admitted having taken cannabis at university, has outlined plans such as more drug education for children aged under 11. Home Secretary Jacqui Smith says she wants ideas on how to steer vulnerable young people away from drug use and get more dealers off the streets.
The home secretary will also announce an extra £5m for the Talk to Frank awareness campaign for young people. Current and ex-drug users, as well as experts and members of the public, will be among those taking part.
And, as Prime Minister Gordon Brown has already said, there will be a review of the reclassification of cannabis. There will also be an extra £5m for the Talk to Frank drugs awareness campaign for young people.
Ms Smith launched the consultation less than a week after she admitted smoking cannabis while she was at Oxford University in the 1980s. The government is looking separately at whether cannabis should be reclassified as a Class C to a Class B drug.
Her admission prompted a string of fellow Cabinet ministers to reveal their own drug-taking experiences.
Treatment programmesTreatment programmes
Two other departments will be involved in the consultation with the Home Office - the Department for Children, Schools and Families and the Department of Health. Ms Smith said the government's current drugs strategy, which runs out in March 2008, has led to a 24% drop in drug use among young people.
But it needed a more "radical" approach to the problem in its next drugs strategy.
I want to hear fresh and constructive ideas on how we can build on our achievements with the new drug strategy Jacqui SmithHome SecretaryI want to hear fresh and constructive ideas on how we can build on our achievements with the new drug strategy Jacqui SmithHome Secretary
The consultation paper will focus on drug-treatment programmes and the wider anti-drugs strategy in a bid to update the current drug strategy which finishes in March 2008. "The government wants more drug dealers put out of business, young people better educated and informed so they can resist drugs, effective drug treatment widely available, ex-drug users given a greater sense of hope and purpose in their lives and power put back in the hands of the law abiding majority in our communities," said Ms Smith.
It is being launched as the National Institute for Clinical Excellence issues new guidelines for treating addicts, which could see some offered shopping vouchers in return for staying off drugs. She said the government was calling on "communities, families, experts and current and ex-drug users to tell us what can be done".
Drug users will be asked to take part in focus groups and other exercises planned by market research company Ipsos Mori.
Ipsos Mori will also carry out focus groups, workshops and other events with members of the public and people working in the drugs and criminal justice sectors.
Among the questions it wants answered are:
  • How can drug treatment be made more cost-effective?
  • Should children under the age of 11 be specifically targeted in anti-drugs campaigns?
  • Should more resources be focused on tackling "emerging threats" such as methamphetamine, or "crystal meth"?
    • The consultation document says drugs education in schools needs to be improved, adding "some teachers are not adequately prepared to deliver lessons and poor quality materials are still often used in the classroom".
    Housing
    It also says groups vulnerable to drug use should be more closely targeted, including young offenders, children in care, young homeless people, those excluded from school or playing truant, young sex workers and the children of drug addicts.
    There also needs to be better housing and employment prospects for addicts who have undergone treatment, to make it easier for them to lead drug free lives, it adds.
    The public, including current and ex-drug users, have until 19 October to respond to the 40-question consultation paper.The public, including current and ex-drug users, have until 19 October to respond to the 40-question consultation paper.
    Among the questions are whether children under the age of 11 should be specifically targeted in anti-drugs campaigns. To find out what the public wants the Home Office will run workshops and events with community members, families and current and ex-drug users to ask how it should tackle the problem.
    The Home Office paper says that 17% of 11 to 15 year olds in England and Wales have said they have used drugs. It will also distribute 200,000 leaflets to police stations, libraries, doctors' surgeries and community groups across in England and Wales.
    Other figures show that more than half of robberies, burglaries and thefts involved drug users. Cannabis
    Success rates Ms Smith launched the consultation less than a week after she admitted smoking cannabis while she was at Oxford University in the 1980s.
    This link led to the Drugs Intervention Programme which sees testing on arrest and offers of treatment. Her admission prompted a string of fellow Cabinet ministers to reveal their own drug-taking experiences.
    While the numbers under treatment have steadily increased, the consultation paper also wants to gather views on how to improve the success rate.
    Government figures show that for every pound spent on drugs treatment the health service and the criminal justice system saves nearly £10.
    The government's main aim is to tackle drugs by toughening enforcement against dealers, educating young people and treating drug users.
    The cannabis classification review will last for six months, with the independent Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs reporting to the government early next year.The cannabis classification review will last for six months, with the independent Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs reporting to the government early next year.
    It will take into account the fact that there are now far stronger strains of cannabis available.It will take into account the fact that there are now far stronger strains of cannabis available.
    Strategy update
    Ms Smith said: "Drug use has fallen by 24% among young people since 1998, we have cut drug related crime by 20% in the last four years and record numbers of people are undergoing drug treatment, but we are not complacent and recognise there is much work to do.
    "That is why I want to hear fresh and constructive ideas on how we can build on our achievements with the new drug strategy."
    To find out what the public wants the Home Office will run workshops and events with community members, families and current and ex-drug users to ask how it should tackle drugs.
    It will also distribute 200,000 leaflets to police stations, libraries, doctors' surgeries and community groups across in England and Wales.