Substance Misuse
Drugs Misuse
Drugs and alcohol substance misuse provide significant cross-overs between crime reduction agencies and health services.
From the research undertaken by the English police and the probation service on those upwards of 50% of those arrested for trigger offences (property crime and robbery) were using Class A drugs (cocaine, heroin etc) prior to their arrest.
The work to tackle substance misuse as a cause of crime is found in the links on this page.The connections between substance misuse and crime and disorder are clearly in UK government policy and found in both legislation such as the Police Reform Act 2002 and the Violent Crime Reduction Act 2006 and alcohol and drug misuse initiatives.
The overall use of any drug is at its lowest level since the BCS started measurement in 1996 (9.3% of 16 to 59 year olds). This is mainly due to declines in the use of cannabis (the most prevalent drug) since 2003/04.
Cannabis remains the type of drug most likely to be used with 7.4% having used it in the last year. Among 16 to 24 year olds, the use of illicit drugs in the last year (21.3%) is at its lowest level since 1996; this is also true of the overall prevalence of Class A drug use (6.8%). Since 1996, cannabis use, in the last year, has decreased from 26.0% to 17.9% for 16 to 24 year olds. Ecstasy, hallucinogen, and amphetamine use has also fallen whilst cocaine use has increased (reflecting large increases in cocaine powder use between 1996 and 2000).
The findings are from the annual statistical bulletin - Drug Misuse Declared: Findings from the 2007/08 British Crime Survey - based on the self-report drug use data of 16 to 59 year olds from the 2007/08 British Crime Survey (BCS).
Alcohol Misuse and Crime
Alcohol misuse is a significant problem in the UK. According to a report
of the Institute of Alcohol Studies, in an analysis of data drawn from
41 probation areas between 1 April 2004 and 31 March 2005, the Offender
Assessment System Data Evaluation and Analysis Team found that:
- over one-third (37%) of offenders had a current problem with alcohol use
- a similar proportion (37%) had a problem with binge drinking
- nearly half (47%) had misused alcohol in the past
- 32% had violent behaviour related to their alcohol use
- 38% were found to have a criminogenic need relating to alcohol misuse, potentially linked to their risk of reconviction
Research
has found that alcohol had been consumed prior to the offence in nearly
three-quarters (73%) of domestic violence cases and was a ‘feature’ in
almost two-thirds (62%).
Almost half (48%) of these convicted domestic violence offenders were alcohol dependent.
In 2004, the government indicated that damage to health, crime and disorder, and loss of work productivity costs around £20 billion per year in England and Wales.
Some common harms caused by alcohol include:
In 2004, the government indicated that damage to health, crime and disorder, and loss of work productivity costs around £20 billion per year in England and Wales.
Some common harms caused by alcohol include:
- health harms to the individual
- close links to crime, disorder, anti-social behaviour, and other crime types such as domestic and sexual violence and drink driving
- loss of workplace productivity
- social harms, including problems within families, young people and communities
UK Government Alcohol Abuse Campaign
In 2007, the government outlined its approach to managing alcohol misuse in the Safe, Sensible, Social: Alcohol strategy local implementation toolkit. Local authorities publish a voluntary action plan to reduce such nuisance or disorder. 10,000 young people are admitted to hospital each year after drinking alcohol. And by age 16 one in five young people will have been caught up in violence after drinking.To include young people, who have been drinking in positive activities raises some challenges, but to simply leave young people outside and at risk of getting into trouble or vulnerable to becoming victims themselves is simply not an option.
The Safe, Sensible and Social guide Young People, Alcohol and Positive Activities was published in 2010 by the UK government and aims to give those working with young people practical advice and tools to enable them – and those they work with – to be equipped to deal with these issues.
The Safe, Sensible and Social guide Young People, Alcohol and Positive Activities was published in 2010 by the UK government and aims to give those working with young people practical advice and tools to enable them – and those they work with – to be equipped to deal with these issues.
Drug Interventions Programme
The Drug Interventions Programme (DIP) , which involves a range of partners, has grown in phases since it started in 2003. April sees a further significant expansion, introducing new areas of DIP 'intensive' activity in Wales, Bedfordshire and Blackpool, “with the aim of getting more people out of crime and into treatment and other support”. In the past six years, more than 172,000 drug-misusing offenders have been managed into treatment because of DIP.
Restriction on Bail (RoB),
that has applied to drug-misusing offenders in all English local
justice areas for three years is extended across Wales from 1 April
2009. This means that any adult who appears in court anywhere in
England or Wales can be eligible for the provision if they have
previously tested positive in police custody, in relation to the
offence, for heroin or crack/cocaine.
This monthly update keeps you updated with developments on the Drug Interventions Programme.
Those people testing positive will have to undergo a Required Assessment by a drug worker, so even people who do not go on to be charged can access help and treatment before their offending behaviour spirals further out of control.
When the expansion happens in April, Testing on Arrest and Required Assessment will then be live in a total of 174 custody suites in 105 police basic command units across England and Wales.
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Drug & Alcohol Organisation Links
Alcohol
Alcohol Concern
The website of the national agency on alcohol misuse in England and Wales.
Alcohol misuse : Department of Health - Policy and guidance
Web pages detailing the Department of Health responsiblities for all policy addressing the problem of alcohol misuse.
Drugs
National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse (NTA)
Website of this specialist Health Authority established by the IK government to increase the capacity and effectiveness of drug treatment in England.
European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA)
The mission of the EMCDDA is to provide the Community and its Member States with objective, reliable and comparable information at European level concerning drugs and drug addiction and their consequences.
LDP assists supports and advises policy makers in London on drugs issues.
London Drug and Alcohol Network
This forum is aimed at those working with young people in drug and alcohol services.
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Drug and Alcohol Policy Research & Practice Links
Alcohol
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A UK govt. action plan to target a reduction in young peoples consumption of alcohol.
Safe, Sensible, Social: Alcohol strategy local implementation toolkit
A Home Office toolkit to help local teams develop strategies to address alcohol-related crime, ill health and other harm.
Practical Guide for Dealing with Alcohol Related Probems
This guidance outlines the tools and powers available to practitioners and the key legislative provisions to tackle alcohol misuse.
A Home Office 'toolkit giving the background to alcohol related crime, an analysis of the issues and local solutions.
Alcohol Misuse Interventions
UK Department of Health guidance on developing a local programme of improvement Practical steps to improve screening and brief interventions for hazardous and harmful drinkers .
UK Department of Health web page with links to a range of publications dealing with alcohol misuse.
Drugs
Drug Misuse Psycholgical interventions
This is a link to the the national health care needs assessment on drug misuse funded by the UK Department of Health/National Institute of Clinical Excellence.
A Home office 'toolkit' giving the background to drugs related crime, an analysis of the issues and local solutions.
Street policing of problem drug users
This Joseph Rowntree Foundation study considers the nature and outcomes of problem drug users’ routine interactions with police.
Cannabis supply and young people
This Joseph Rowtree Foundation summary gives an up to date snapshot of how young people obtain cannabis in a large city and a rural village.
The report of the Royal Society of Arts commission on illegal drugs published in March 2007 proposing the liberlisation of drugs laws and the more comprehensive treatment of those that misuse drugs.
Drug Intervention Programme Research:
A short research paper, published by the UK Home Office, which examines the way that the DIP engages and directs Class A drug misusers from the point of arrest or charge to the point of treatment, and examines their offending levels before and after identification by DIP. The report identifies some significant programme successes.
Drug Misuse Information Scotland
Home page of the Drug Misuse Information Scotland website.
This guide promotes best practice for all those working in the night-time economy, particularly licensing authorities, police and fire officers, venue managers / promoters and health promotion workers. Its purpose is to help ensure the health and safety of everyone involved in, and going out to, events in pubs and clubs with particular emphasis on those who also take drugs.
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