217 MILLION TO TREAT DRUG ABUSE

Women and teenage drug abusers are to be targeted as part of the
Government's biggest expansion of drug treatment and prevention
programmes which were unveiled yesterday.

Ministers are concerned that too many existing drug treatment services
are aimed at "white, middle class, middle aged, opiate users", and
that four out of five abusers who need treatment fail to get it.

Many programmes have failed to recognise the rapid growth in drugs
problems among women and teenagers. A Home Office report last month on
how heroin was being rebranded and sold to a new generation of
teenagers highlighted the lack of treatment aimed at young people.
Drug treatment agencies last night warmly welcomed the announcement of
UKP217 million of new money as part of a change in official tactics to
mount a serious effort on drug prevention and treatment as well as
pursuing prosecution and imprisonment. At present more than two-thirds
of the official budget to tackle abuse is spent on prosecuting and
imprisoning illegal drug users and traffickers.

Jack Cunningham, who, as the Cabinet's "enforcer", is in charge of
government policy on drugs, said yesterday there was strong evidence
money spent on treatment cut crime as well as improving health.
Official research showed that for every pound spent on treatment, more
than three pounds are saved in the costs to victims of crime and to
the criminal justice system.

Mr Cunningham said that last year two-thirds of the UKP1.4 billion
spent on countering drug misuse was spent on dealing with those sucked
into the culture of drugs and crime, but much of the work was simply
reacting and did not tackle the problems caused by specific drugs.

The extra UKP217 million to be made available over the next three
years includes UKP61 million for the introduction of drug treatment
and testing orders giving courts the power to sentence addicted
offenders, including alcoholics, to compulsory treatment; pilot
schemes start next year.

It also includes UKP72 million for voluntary testing in every jail and
for treatment both inside jails and outside so released prisoners can
complete courses.

The Department of Health will receive UKP70.5 million to provide
treatment, especially for young people at high risk of offending and
homelessness and the social excluded. Treatment services will have to
make themselves more accessible to women and ethnic minorities who
have traditionally not used them.

Checked-by: Patrick Henry