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Date: November 22, 2024 Fri
Time: 12:21 pm
Time: 12:21 pm
Results for drug abuse and addiction (u.k.)
8 results foundAuthor: Ruggiero, Vincenzo Title: Unintended Consequences: Changes in Organised Drug Supply in the UK Summary: This paper looks at the unintended consequences of control systems and strategies in the UK. These include: criminal black markets, policy displacement (law enforcement replaces treatment), geographical displacement, and substance displacement. Details: Santiago, Chile: Global Consortium on Security Transformation, 2010. 24p. Source: Internet Resource; Policy Brief Series, No. 11. Accessed August 10, 2010 at: http://www.securitytransformation.org/gc_publications.php Year: 2010 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.securitytransformation.org/gc_publications.php Shelf Number: 119584 Keywords: Drug Abuse and Addiction (U.K.)Drug Markets (U.K.)Drug Policy (U.K.)Drug Trafficking (U.K.) |
Author: Burrows, John Title: Research into the nature and effectiveness of drugs throughcare Summary: The aims of this study were to: describe the nature of throughcare procedures for prisoners with serious drug misuse problems; and gauge the impact of interventions on offenders’ drug taking, and offending behaviour, following their release from prison. A principal objective of the study was to establish what constitutes good practice in drugs throughcare, with a view to disseminating the lessons learnt. A range of different agencies and organisations share the responsibility for organising and delivering drug throughcare services for released prisoners, including the Prison Service, the Probation Service, Health Authorities, Social Service Departments, Drug Action Teams and – of course – both statutory and independent drug services. Indeed, in this complex network, knowing ‘where the buck stops’ is not clear in every case – particularly for those who are not released under statutory supervision (remand or short-term prisoners). Aside from the very real human costs to drug users themselves, the problem addressed by this research imposes substantial costs on the wider community. These are best viewed as ‘opportunity costs’, where substantial savings may be made as a result of appropriate intervention. It can be estimated that 8,000 sentenced offenders might be released from prisons in England and Wales each year with a significant drug dependency – if no action has been taken to break drug habits. However, if drug throughcare could effect a 40 per cent reduction in drug dependency amongst ex-prisoners, the number of crimes expected to be committed by these individuals each year would fall from some 5 million to 3 million. The costs incurred by victims of crime might reduce from some £250 million to about £150 million. There would, in addition, be many other savings realised in the criminal justice system, health service and elsewhere. Details: London: Home Office, Research, Development and Statistics Directorate, 2001. 64p. Source: RDS Occasional Paper No. 68: Internet Resource: Accessed February 29, 2012 at http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20110218135832/http://rds.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs/occ68-dtc.pdf Year: 2001 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20110218135832/http://rds.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs/occ68-dtc.pdf Shelf Number: 124326 Keywords: Drug Abuse and Addiction (U.K.)Drug Abuse PolicyDrug Treatment (U.K.)Ex-Offenders (U.K.) |
Author: Jones, Andrew Title: The Drug Treatment Outcomes Research Study (DTORS): Final Outcomes Report Summary: This report summarises follow-up data from the Drug Treatment Outcomes Research Study (DTORS): a longitudinal study that explores the outcomes of drug treatment in England. The overriding finding is that treatment reduces the harmful behaviours that are associated with problem drug use. The majority of treatment seekers received carecoordinated treatment, expressed satisfaction with their care, were retained in treatment beyond three months, reported significant and substantial reductions in drug use and offending, and improvements in mental well-being and social functioning. DTORS has measured a broad range of outcomes. Where comparable, the positive DTORS outcomes are equivalent to, or better than, those observed a decade ago by NTORS, the previous national outcomes study. Alongside the fact that the number of people in contact with treatment services has more than doubled over the last decade, this suggests that the drug-treatment system has been responding effectively by increasing numbers in treatment and improving treatment effectiveness. Most improvements occur within the first few months of entering treatment. The changes in behaviour observed at first follow-up (three to five months after initial interview) are mainly only sustained at second follow-up (11 to13 months), although there are some additional improvements during this later stage of treatment. This may suggest that there are opportunities to further capitalise on the early gains that are achieved. Further work is needed to establish whether these gains are sustained once treatment has stopped. Levels of drug use declined rapidly within the first three months of starting treatment, and then continued at the same rate, for up to six months. These findings support the validity of the national performance indicator of retention in treatment for at least three months, but suggest potential value in longer measures of retention than currently employed as well as the need for treatment facilities to focus on a continuing process of change. Details: London: Home Office, 2009. 58p. Source: Internet Resource: Home Office Research Report 24: Accessed April 11, 2012 at: http://www.dtors.org.uk/reports/DTORS_Final_Main.pdf Year: 2009 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.dtors.org.uk/reports/DTORS_Final_Main.pdf Shelf Number: 124935 Keywords: Drug Abuse and Addiction (U.K.)Drug Abuse TreatmentDrug Offenders |
Author: Cowen, Nick Title: Rehabilitating Drug Policy: What Can We Do Better to Reduce Offending by Drug Addicts? Summary: This report examines what is currently working in drug rehabilitation, and what could be done better, with specific reference to the criminal justice system and criminal justice outcomes in England and Wales. The following sections attempt to answer two key questions: 1. What drug interventions are effective? 2. How should effective drug interventions be delivered? The primary evidence is a series of open-ended interviews with practitioners and advocates in the field of drug addiction. In addition, this report attempts to distil some of the implications of current empirical evidence on treatment. Greater weight is given to systematic reviews of the evidence where they have been carried out. Details: London: Civitas, 2012. 55p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 30, 2012 at: http://www.civitas.org.uk/crime/RehabilitatingDrugsPolicy2012.pdf Year: 2012 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.civitas.org.uk/crime/RehabilitatingDrugsPolicy2012.pdf Shelf Number: 125097 Keywords: Drug Abuse and Addiction (U.K.)Drug Abuse and CrimeDrug Abuse TreatmentDrug OffendersDrug Policy |
Author: UK Drug Policy Commission Title: A Fresh Approach to Drugs: The Final Report of the UK Drug Policy Commission Summary: We all have an interest in knowing which policies work in tackling problems associated with drug use. Many members of the public, and many politicians, believe that our drug policies are not working. But the debate about how we address the challenges of mind-altering drugs is polarised in a way not seen in most other policy areas. The UK Drug Policy Commission was established to address these problems in a different way. Its aim has been to show how independent scrutiny of evidence can produce both better results and more effective use of resources in drug policy and practice. Existing drug policies have struggled to limit the damage drug use can cause, and now new challenges are emerging. The rapid development of new drugs is changing drug markets too quickly for the traditional methods we use to control drugs to be effective. The economic crisis may be impacting on the nature of drug use and drug problems and, with fewer resources, the capacity of services to respond will be limited further. Added to that, the speed and scale at which services are being devolved to a local level may create increasing and unpredictable variations in the kind of services offered in different parts of the UK. In this report, UKDPC proposes a radical rethink of how we structure our response to drug problems. It provides an analysis of the evidence for how policies and interventions could be improved, with recommendations for policymakers and practitioners to address the new and established challenges associated with drug use. UKDPC aims to foster a fresh approach to drug policy: one in which evidence takes priority, creating light rather than heat in the debate on drugs, so that we can create an environment that works to reduce dependence on drugs, safeguards communities and delivers value for money. Details: London: UK Drug Policy Commission, 2012. 89p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 19, 2012 at: http://www.ukdpc.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/a-fresh-approach-to-drugs-the-final-report-of-the-uk-drug-policy-commission.pdf Year: 2012 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.ukdpc.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/a-fresh-approach-to-drugs-the-final-report-of-the-uk-drug-policy-commission.pdf Shelf Number: 126760 Keywords: Drug Abuse and Addiction (U.K.)Drug ControlDrug Policy |
Author: Gossop, Michael Title: After Five Years: The National Treatment Outcome Research Study: Changes in substance use, health and criminal behaviour during the five years after intake Summary: Drug misuse and drug dependence are major problems for individuals and for society. They lead to serious unhappiness and illnesses for individuals, and necessitate vast expenditure from society to respond to the associated health and crime problems. Finding effective responses to such problems is a priority. One of the enduring myths about the addictions is that treatments for these disorders are ineffective. This myth persists despite a vast and increasing body of evidence to the contrary. The NTORS project was established to gather information in this country about the treatment outcomes of a large sample of drug misusers who had been treated within the existing national system of treatment services. This report presents a concise, non-technical summary of the implementation of the study and focuses on the headline findings at 5-years. Details: London: National Addiction Center, 2001. 21p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 18, 2013 at: http://www.addictiontoday.org/addictiontoday/files/ntors_5.pdf Year: 2001 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.addictiontoday.org/addictiontoday/files/ntors_5.pdf Shelf Number: 129453 Keywords: Drug Abuse and Addiction (U.K.)Drug Abuse Treatment |
Author: DrugScope Title: Business as usual? A status report on new psychoactive substances (NPS) and 'club drugs' in the UK Summary: Since 2008-2009, there has been a significant increase in interest in, and probable use of, a new breed of synthetic drugs, which can be grouped together under the term New Psychoactive Substances (NPS). The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (A) defines NPS as "psychoactive drugs which are not prohibited by the United Nations Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs or by the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 and which people in the UK are seeking for intoxicant use". Some definitions, particularly from outside the UK, also include so-called 'club drugs' such as ketamine and GHB/GBL that are not included in the UN Convention on Psychotropic Substances. This brief, status report, encompasses both NPS and 'club drugs' and gives an overview of current sector knowledge and experience on these substances, with consideration given to: - how and why NPS developed; - what we know (and don't know) about prevalence and patterns of use; - early warning systems in place for information sharing; - enforcement and legislative responses; - health impacts and drug-related deaths; - public health information and harm reduction interventions; - case studies of existing treatment and service-level responses. The report is intended to be of use to frontline drug and alcohol workers, managers and commissioners, as well as policy makers. Details: London: DrugScope, 2014. 25p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 10, 2014 at: http://www.drugscope.org.uk/Resources/Drugscope/Documents/PDF/Policy/BusinessAsUsual.pdf Year: 2014 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.drugscope.org.uk/Resources/Drugscope/Documents/PDF/Policy/BusinessAsUsual.pdf Shelf Number: 133268 Keywords: Club DrugsDrug Abuse and Addiction (U.K.)Drug Abuse TreatmentDrug EnforcementPsychoactive DrugsPsychoactive Substances |
Author: Centre for Social Justice Title: Ambitious for Recovery: Tackling drug and alcohol addiction in the UK Summary: Addiction to drugs and alcohol takes a heavy toll on society. In 17 years running BAC O'Connor I have seen the impact, from crime, worklessness and strains on the NHS, to the price paid by individuals and their families. I have witnessed, however, people overcome their addiction and progress to lead full lives as contributing members of society. Provided with a little support to become drug and alcohol free, I have watched people transform their lives and become productive members of society. Recent falls in drug and alcohol use in the wider population conceal a rising cost of addiction: more alcohol-related admissions and readmissions, more prescription drugs issued, and, a surge in use of 'legal highs'. This is a social justice issue. Addiction can strike anyone but the harm of this situation is felt most keenly in poorer communities. Our interim report, No Quick Fix, laid bare the costs, extent and changing nature of drug and alcohol addiction in the UK. We outlined how the Government's 2010 Drug Strategy marked a welcome shift from a policy of maintaining addicts on substitute drugs to an ambition to help people lead drug-free lives. We have seen a rise in the use of mutual aid and the rhetoric of recovery now pervades strategy. Yet while some of the rhetoric has been good, action has been poor. Abstinence from drugs and alcohol, which is key to achieving lasting recovery but is still not the marker by which we measure our success. Equally, rehabs are the most effective route to abstinence for many yet are still the preserve of the wealthy or the lucky few. Making the situation worse, we now have 'legal highs', often more dangerous and addictive than the drugs they seek to imitate, available to buy on high streets across the UK. Our report lays out a programme for whoever next enters government, to tackle addiction and reduce its costs to society. We argue that priorities for the next Parliament should include: a small treatment tax of a penny on a unit is introduced by the end of the next Parliament to provide proper rehabilitation; reform to the welfare, criminal justice and health services to address the addiction problems which drain resources; and, a proper response to 'legal highs'. Details: London: Centre for Social Justice, 2014. 102p. Source: Internet Resource: Breakthrough Britain II: Accessed October 9, 2014 at: http://www.centreforsocialjustice.org.uk/UserStorage/pdf/Pdf%20reports/CSJJ2073_Addiction_15.08.14_2.pdf Year: 2014 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.centreforsocialjustice.org.uk/UserStorage/pdf/Pdf%20reports/CSJJ2073_Addiction_15.08.14_2.pdf Shelf Number: 133925 Keywords: AlcoholismDrug Abuse and Addiction (U.K.)Drug Abuse and CrimeDrug Abuse TreatmentDrug OffendersRehabilitationSubstance Abuse Treatment |