ANTI-DRUGS STRAGEGY
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ANN TAYLOR WELCOMES SUBSTANTIAL BOOST IN
ANTI-DRUGS SPENDING
Investing in prevention
Rt Hon Ann Taylor MP, President of the Council and Leader of the
House of Commons, who has Ministerial responsibility for
co-ordinating the Government's anti- drugs policy, said:
"Combined with the White Paper on tackling drugs published in April,
the CSR review represents the most important reform of anti-drugs
activity to date. It puts record levels of resources behind the
Government's new strategy for pro-active work to tackle the misuse
of drugs and fulfils our commitment to invest in the prevention of
drugs problems rather than simply react to them. At the same time we
will continue to ensure tough enforcement to hit those who profit
from the misfortunes of others.
"There will be a 25 per cent increase in funding for prevention and
treatment services. And our new co-ordinated approach to tackling
drugs will make sure every pound spent has a real and lasting impact
to reduce the numbers of people trapped in a life of drug misuse."
Getting more for our money
UK Anti-Drugs Co-ordinator Keith Hellawell said:
"I welcome the new approach the Government has adopted, which
bolsters the Anti- Drugs Strategy published in April and backs it
with a substantial rise in funding for pro- active work to tackle
drugs. We will work closely with those in the field to make sure
our approach to education, prevention, rehabilitation and enforcement
is based on evidence of "what works" and solid performance
management."
The Government will focus new and existing resources on breaking the
vicious life- wrecking cycle of drugs and crime. The key targets to
be delivered by the Government's Anti-Drugs Strategy are:
- Young People - to reduce the proportion of people under 25 using
illegal drugs.
- Communities - to reduce levels of repeat offending among drug
misusing offenders
- Treatment - to increase participation of problem drugs misusers,
including prisoners, in drug treatment programmes which have a positive
impact on health and crime reduction.
- Availability - to reduce access to drugs amongst 5-16 year olds.
In addition to existing prevention and enforcement spending, extra
resources - amounting to #188 million in total up to 2001/2 - will
be made available across departments to fund new pro-active work to
tackle drug misuse, in line with the Government's Anti-Drugs
Strategy. This work will include:
- Piloting and follow-up of new Drug Treatment and Testing Orders.
- Comprehensive provision of treatment and aftercare for problem
drugs users in prisons.
- Expanded NHS and community care services for drug misusers.
- Drug education and prevention in schools and elsewhere.
The additional resources represent an increase of approximately 25
per cent by 2001/2 on the estimated #380 million spent on pro-active
anti-drugs activity in 1997/8.
CSR YEAR 1999-2000 2000-2001 2001-2002 Total
Additional resources 31.5 60.5 96.0 188
for direct anti-drugs
activity (#m)
Further details of how the resources will be used will be issued at a
later date.
Notes to Editors:
1. The Government's Anti-Drugs Strategy "Tackling Drugs to Build a
Better Britain - A Ten Year Strategy for Tackling Drug Misuse",
White Paper Cmd 3945, ISBN 0101394527, was published in April 1998.
2. Rt Hon Ann Taylor MP chairs the Ministerial Sub-Committee on Drug
Misuse. 3. Keith Hellawell was appointed the UK Anti-Drugs
Co-ordinator in October 1997 as a special adviser to the Government
on drugs. He chaired the CSR review on spending on illegal drugs.
4. For further information about the Government's new Anti-Drugs
Strategy and the role of the President of the Council and the UK
Anti-Drugs Co-ordinator, contact Charlotte Harris, Denise Hart or
Michael Upton at the Cabinet Office Press Office on 0171 270
0634/0207/1271, or fax on 0171 270 0618.
# = pounds sterling