HARD CORE OF ADDICTS COST NATION 'UKP19 BILLION'

Heroin and crack cocaine addicts are costing the country up to UKP19
billion a year, according to a new study.

A hard core of problem drug abusers is running up a bill of UKP600 a week
each in crime, police and court time, health care and unemployment benefits.

So-called "recreational" drug users cost the taxpayer virtually nothing.
The figures represent the first comprehensive picture of the economic and
social costs of drug misuse in Britain.

Research commissioned by the Home Office from a team at York University
suggests that the annual economic costs are between UKP3.7 billion and
UKP6.8 billion. Most of these fall on the criminal justice system because
of high crime levels linked to drugs and include insurance payouts, repairs
to damaged property, time lost at work and victim counselling.

They reflect the financial consequences of serious and organised crime,
burglaries and robberies, violence, and the "hidden" social costs in
schools and at home.

Last year, the NHS spent about UKP235 million on GP services, accident and
emergency admissions and treatment linked to drug abuse. When social costs
are added, the bill rises to between UKP10.9 billion and UKP18.8 billion.

This figure is higher than earlier estimates. A Government White Paper
outlining a 10-year drug strategy in 1998 said annual costs were more than
UKP4 billion.

The researchers, whose full report has not yet been published, say the
minimum number of problem drug users is 280,000 and they are responsible
for 99 per cent of costs. Using the study's lowest estimates for cost and
users, each addict would be costing about UKP30,000 a year, or UKP600 a week.

The figures were given to the Commons home affairs select committee
yesterday as it concluded its inquiry into drug laws. Its report is
expected this spring.

Problem users are defined as those for whom drug taking is no longer
controlled or undertaken for recreation, but where they are a "more
essential element" of life.

Last year, the NHS treated 120,000 users in this category. The Home Office
says 140,000 of the problem users are at risk of dying from an overdose.

There are at least 1.5 million recreational and regular users of class A
drugs. The average cost to society of all class A drug users is UKP2,030
each a year, says the study.

Bob Ainsworth, a Home Office minister, told MPs the Government did not
intend to legalise or decriminalise any drug, although he confirmed plans
to reclassify cannabis from a Class B to a Class C substance in the spring.

This would make possession of cannabis no longer an arrestable offence, but
police could still confiscate the drug and issue a warning. It would bring
the rest of the country in line with Lambeth, south London, where police
run such a system.

Mr Ainsworth agreed that a "postcode lottery" had developed, with cannabis
users treated differently across the country. This would be eradicated by
reclassification, though this must be endorsed by the Advisory Council on
the Misuse of Drugs.

Roger Howard, chief executive of the charity DrugScope, said: "There should
be less emphasis on criminalising drug users and more resources
concentrated on treatment, education and prevention."