DDN November 2023 DDN_November_2023 | Page 4

NEWS ROUND-UP

‘ Significant challenges ’ to meeting drug strategy objectives , warns NAO

The government will need to address gaps in the evidence base , a lack of focus on prevention and uncertainties about future funding in order to meet the objectives of its 2021 drugs strategy , says a report from the National Audit Office ( NAO ). While the strategy has provided ‘ fresh impetus ’ there are still ‘ significant challenges ’ to achieving long-term reductions in drug use and drug-related deaths and crime , says NAO .

Departments have made progress in some areas , the report states , with more than 1,200 new drug and alcohol workers already recruited by local government against a target of 950 by 2024-25 , and more than 100 new partnerships established with local areas and representatives from the health and criminal justice sectors . However , delays in distributing drug strategy funding and implementing new projects resulted in a 14 per cent underspend in 2022-23 , and there has also been ‘ slower progress in recruiting medical , mental health and other professionals .’
Lack of funding certainty post- 2025 is also restricting the ability of local areas to recruit and plan , the document warns , with some ‘ already asking service providers to plan to reduce services beyond 2025 .’ The Joint Combating Drugs Unit has begun to prepare for the 2025 spending review , but it has not ‘ developed a plan beyond that date ’ the report says . It has also not developed sufficient capacity to ‘ draw departmental evaluations together to understand the type of interventions that are effective ’, it adds , or the local impact of projects . While the government has committed almost £ 30m to reducing long-term demand for drugs , this represents just 3 per cent of drugs strategy funding to 2025 , compared to more than £ 100m for disrupting supply . ‘ The UK does not have an effective drug prevention system ’, says the report , nor does it yet have ‘ the evidence it needs to understand how to change behaviours ’.
‘ The government has shown a clear commitment to reducing the harm caused by illegal drugs by establishing a cross departmental drugs strategy and committing £ 900m in the
first three years ,’ said NAO head Gareth Davies . ‘ But much work needs to be done ahead of the next spending review to ensure it understands how to develop its approach and achieve its long-term aims ’, with the lack of emphasis on prevention meaning that departments ‘ risk only addressing the consequences , rather than the causes , of harm . Government will only achieve value for money if it builds on the initial momentum of the new strategy and develops a longerterm , funded plan that delivers a joined-up , holistic response .’
‘ Sustained , long term funding and commitment is critical ,’ added Change Grow Live deputy chief executive Nic Adamson . ‘ We have made a start , but the issues the sector faces run deep and cannot be solved overnight or in isolation . Local partnership collaboration
departments ' risk only addressing the consequences , rather than the causes , of harm .’
GARETH DAVIES
is key , only by working together can we address the root causes of suffering and ensure that support is accessible and attractive .’ Reducing the harm from illegal drugs at www . nao . org . uk
www . nao . org . uk

Nitrous oxide banned

NITROUS OXIDE WILL BE AN ILLEGAL CLASS C SUBSTANCE from this month , the Home Office has announced . The move comes despite the ACMD previously advising the government not to implement a ban , as the harms associated with nitrous oxide were ‘ not commensurate with control under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 ’ and banning it could put ‘ disproportionate burdens ’ on its legitimate use across a range of
The move comes despite the ACMD previously advising the government not to implement a ban .
industries and sectors . Anyone with a legitimate reason for possessing nitrous oxide – such as catering businesses or maternity wards – will be exempt from the ban , the government stresses . However , there is also a responsibility on legitimate producers and suppliers to ‘ not be reckless ’ and make sure people have a legitimate reason to buy it , it adds . ‘ Turning a blind eye will be committing an offence .’

Sentencing overhaul

NEW SENTENCING REFORMS at the Ministry of Justice mean that custodial sentences of four or more years will now become ‘ spent ’ after seven years , the government has announced – as long as no further offence is committed .
Previously , some offenders had to disclose sentences indefinitely , which was a ‘ significant barrier ’ to people rebuilding their lives . Custody of up to a year will become spent after a year , and between one and four years after four years – compared to seven years previously . The government has also announced a ‘ presumption against prison sentences of less than 12 months ’, with offenders instead given community punishments like cleaning up neighbourhoods or removing graffiti .
‘ This will help these offenders stay in work , connected to their families and better access the drug rehab and mental healthcare needed to properly addresses the root causes of their offending ,’ the government states .
4 • DRINK AND DRUGS NEWS • NOVEMBER 2023 WWW . DRINKANDDRUGSNEWS . COM