News
AGGRESSIVE MARKETING AND
CHANGING ATTITUDES DRIVING
INCREASED CRACK USE
AGGRESSIVE MARKETING BY DEALERS and a change in
attitudes towards the drug were among the reasons for
increasing levels of crack cocaine use in England,
according to an investigative report from Public Health
England (PHE) and the Home Office.
Crack has become increasingly available and affordable
in recent years, following a surge in cocaine production
since 2013. Dealers were also selling the drug in smaller
quantities, says the document, as well as
offering free samples with their heroin or
‘three-for-two’-type deals, something
particularly common with dealers aiming
to infiltrate new markets and build a
customer base.
Attitudes to crack were also changing,
however. Many service users, treatment
professionals and police officers interviewed
for the report thought that ‘the stigma of
using crack had declined in recent years’.
Last year Kevin Flemen warned in a DDN
cover story that ‘the stigma-driven barriers
between powder cocaine and crack may be
breaking down’ (DDN, June 2018, page 6).
The report, which focuses on six areas
in England, found that while the majority of people using
crack were ‘observed to be existing heroin users’, some
dealers were also ‘opening up new markets’ of younger,
first-time users who were not using heroin or engaged
with treatment services. There was ‘clear evidence’ of
county lines activity, although this varied from area to
area, with these groups much more likely to engage in
serious violence and ‘exploit vulnerable young people and
drug users’. A ‘reduced focus’ on drug dealing by the
police – and fewer police on the streets – were also
thought to be contributory factors, with less capacity to
target dealers or people carrying drugs.
The document is published at the same time as a
report from Liverpool John Moores University which
COUNTY CRIMES
THE NUMBER OF POTENTIAL VICTIMS OF
TRAFFICKING AND MODERN SLAVERY
reported to the authorities has
increased by more than 80 per cent in
two years, according to the National
Crime Agency (NCA). Just under 7,000
potential victims were referred in 2018,
with the numbers of British citizens and
minors reported nearly doubling since
the previous year. Both increases were
partly driven by county lines activity,
something that was ‘of particular
concern’, said NCA deputy director Roy
4 | drinkanddrugsnews | April 2019
found that the estimated number of people in England
using opiates and/or crack had risen by 4.4 per cent
between 2014-15 and 2016-17, an increase that was
‘statistically significant’. Most crack users in treatment,
however, were there ‘because they’re using heroin as
well, and it’s the heroin problem that brought them in’,
says PHE, which meant that local treatment systems had
to respond to increasing levels of unmet need.
END OF THE ROAD
CRANSTOUN HAS ANNOUNCED THAT
LONDON-BASED DETOX UNIT CITY ROADS IS
TO CLOSE next month, after 40 years of
operation. The decision has been reached
after a lengthy review, says the charity, with
the service ‘no longer considered
sustainable’. The closure comes at a time
when there ‘remains a high level of need for
this type of provision’ it states. ‘Despite this,
diminishing resources have consistently
reduced referrals below the level required to
support the ongoing operation. In making
this announcement, we wish to
acknowledge the dedication and
commitment of our current and previous
staff groups and volunteers, who have
worked tirelessly for the betterment of
people’s lives. Additionally, we wish to
recognise the efforts and courage of all
people who have used the service as a
platform for stabilisation, and recovery.’
COMMUNITY CALL
‘This report will come as no surprise to those working
on the frontline, who will have seen first-hand this surge
in crack use in their communities,’ said PHE’s director for
drugs, alcohol, tobacco and justice, Rosanna O’Connor.
‘Local areas, more than ever, need to continue to invest in
effective drug services if we are to stop the creep of this
highly addictive drug into the wider community and
people’s lives being torn apart. Services need to reach out
to crack users and offer more attractive and tailored
support to meet their specific needs.’
Increase in crack cocaine use enquiry: summary of
findings at www.gov.uk
Estimates of the prevalence of opiate use and/or crack
cocaine use, 2016/17: sweep 13 report at www.ljmu.ac.uk
McComb. ‘These are often vulnerable
individuals – often children – who are
exploited by criminal gangs for the
purposes of drug trafficking.’ It was also
likely that the figures only represented a
‘snapshot’ of the true scale of the
problem, he added.
Figures only represent
a ‘snapshot’ of the true
scale of the problem.
Roy MccoMb
GLOBAL GOVERNMENTS SHOULD BE
CONSIDERING HARM REDUCTION,
decriminalisation and legal regulation,
according to the Police statement of
support for drug policy Reform, which was
launched at the UN in Vienna last month. If
police forces concentrated on reducing risks
and providing more humane responses it
would lead to ‘better outcomes for the
whole community’, it states. ‘It is the police
who see the real outcomes of drug policy,’
said Durham PCC Ron Hogg. ‘This
international statement is the first time
police voices have come together to answer
back. We are here as members of the
policing community to say to governments
that current policies don’t work.’
UP IN SMOKE
CUTS TO PUBLIC HEALTH BUDGETS mean
that 44 per cent of local authorities no
longer have specialist no smoking services
open to everyone in their area, according to
a report from ASH and Cancer Research UK.
Funding has fallen by more than £40m since
2014-15, says A changing landscape: stop
smoking services and tobacco control in
England. ‘Local authorities are having to
make the best of a butchered public health
budget and many are managing to do just
that,’ said ASH director of policy, Hazel
Cheeseman. ‘But councils need to avoid a
race to the bottom and ensure they
maintain investment in stop smoking
support and the other activities that will
reduce smoking and tackle inequalities –
this necessarily requires sustainable funding
from central government.’
Report at ash.org.uk
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