The Week In Britain

GOVERNMENT FIGHTS LOSING BATTLE AGAINST DRUGS

NOT OFTEN do Government ministers admit defeat, but the so-called
Cabinet "enforcer", Jack Cunningham, came close to it when he conceded
that the war against drugs in Britain was being lost, and that more
substances were being smuggled into the country, causing a collapse in
street prices and threatening a new heroin epidemic.

Though seizures of illegal imports had increased significantly, he
said, there had been hardly any effect on supplies reaching the
streets. Heroin was available in higher quantities, and in greater
purity, than ever before. "And if you have a purer, cheaper product on
the streets, it clearly poses a serious threat to young people."

In company with the Government's drugs supremo, Keith Hellawell, Dr
Cunningham was announcing targets to curb heroin and cocaine abuse,
and a renewed drive to break the link between drug-taking and criminal
activity. The new emphasis will be on drugs education and prevention.
Over a 10-year period, the aims will be to cut by half the proportion
of people aged 16 to 25 who use heroin; and also to reduce by half the
number of repeat offences by drug-using criminals. By 2008 it is also
aimed to double the number of drug users in treatment programmes.