HOME OFFICE RESISTS REFORM OF DRUG LAW AS COCAINE USE DOUBLES

Cocaine use is on the rise among the urban middle classes, the
latest official figures show. Trends uncovered by the British Crime
Survey indicate the numbers using the drug since 1998 have doubled.

Among young people use of cocaine has shot up since Labour took
office, from 1.4 per cent of 16- to 24-year-olds reporting that they
used the drug in the past 12 months to nearly six per cent. At the
same time, however, overall drug use - including that of cannabis -
appears to have declined or remained stable.

It is estimated that some two million people used illegal drugs in the
past month and 11 million have indulged at some stage in their lifetime.

The Government, which is eight years into a 10-year drugs strategy,
claimed yesterday that the figures showed it was working. But they
also show little progress on Class A substances, such as cocaine.

The figures indicate there have been "statistically significant"
increases in the use of powder cocaine both since the strategy began
in 1998 and also over the past year, when it is estimated that 770,000
people used the drug.

The use of other Class A substances, such as heroin, has remained
broadly unchanged since 2000.

The Home Office has decided not to reform the drugs classification
system, or to introduce new thresholds for possession of illicit substances.

Officials have consulted over the past year on options ranging from
the most liberal, where up to 500 joints could be considered for
"personal use" to a significant tightening where only 10 "spliffs"
were allowed.

The Government has decided to leave things as they are, giving the
police the flexibility to decide on personal use thresholds on a
case-by-case basis.

It has rejected criticism of the classification system, introduced in
1971, from a Commons committee earlier this year.

The committee called for the three-band system to be scrapped and
replaced with a new matrix which rated substances purely on the basis
of health and social risks rather than potential punishments.

Vernon Coaker, the Home Office minister, said: "It is important that
there is a coherent system in place to categorise drugs and determine
the penalties for their manufacture, possession and supply.

"I believe that the existing classification system does this
effectively, allowing for clear and meaningful distinctions to be made
between drugs."

However, David Davis, the shadow home secretary, said: "We welcome
this course of action but this is just the latest twist and turn in
the Government's drug policy. This chaos and confusion has led to
people thinking it is OK to take drugs with a whole generation of
young people suffering the consequences."

Martin Barnes, the chief executive of the charity DrugScope, said: "We
are extremely disappointed that the Government has reversed the
previous Home Secretary's decision to review the system of drug
classification, although the door seems to have been left open to
return to the issue in the future.

"Concerns about and criticism of the classification system will not go
away and are likely to be repeated time and again when the current
10-year drug strategy is reviewed before it ends in 2008.

"The current system was introduced 35 years ago and during that time
we have seen a significant increase in levels of drug use and
drug-related harms."

The Home Office also confirmed plans yesterday to reclassify the drug
methylamphetamine, more commonly known as crystal meth, from a Class B
to a Class A substance, attracting heavier penalties for possession
and trafficking. Also known by the street names "ice" and "Nazi
crank", use of this drug has been on the rise in Europe and America,
though it has yet to take a grip in Britain.

It was also reported yesterday that at least half of the more
expensive residential drug treatment providers in England are under
financial pressure because of a lack of referrals.

According to the BBC some centres have been closed, others are under
review and beds are not fully occupied.