DRUGS COST SOCIETY UKP 18.8BN

Drug abuse costs society up to UKP 18.8bn a year - or more than UKP 300 per
person - in England and Wales, according to new research for the Home Office.

The figure, which is far higher than previous estimates, includes the costs
of crime, social security and bringing drugs offenders to justice, as well
as the bill to the NHS.

Home Office Minister Bob Ainsworth revealed the figures as he told a
committee of MPs the government needed to focus its efforts against Class A
drugs like heroin and cocaine.

A new report by the University of York puts the overall price of drugs to
society at between UKP 10.9bn and UKP 18.8bn in England and Wales. Giving
evidence to the Home Affairs Select Committee, Mr Ainsworth stressed the
importance of treatment schemes in the fight against drug abuse. "We know
treatment works: for every UKP 1 spent, UKP 3 is saved in criminal justice
costs," said the minister.

Victims' Costs

The as yet unpublished new research estimates drug abuse adds between UKP
3.7bn and UKP 6.8bn to the costs of the NHS, criminal justice system and
state benefits.

The rest of the drugs bill comes from "social costs", it says, explaining
these are mainly costs of crime to its victims.

The overwhelming majority of that bill - 99% - is run up by problem users
who rely on drugs in their lives and each costs around UKP 11,000 a year.

Home Secretary David Blunkett has said he wants to reclassify cannabis from
class B to class C as part of the drive to free up resources to tackle
harder drugs.

Mr Ainsworth backed that approach, telling the MPS: "We know we need to
focus on class A drugs, treatment and harm reduction.

Brixton Pilot

"That, in part, is why the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs is
reviewing the cannabis classification."

The advisory council's report is due out soon and will be examined
alongside a separate study on a scheme running in Brixton, London.

In Brixton, the Metropolitan Police have cautioned people found carrying
small amounts of cannabis, rather than arresting them. At an earlier
hearing of the committee, the Police Federation argued some drug dealers
were exploiting that experiment to peddle more dangerous drugs.