A turning point for UK drug policy: opportunity or stasis

Drugs and Alcohol Today,Volume 17, Issue 2, June 2017. Purpose To explore the current policy stasis in UK drug policy Design/methodology/approach Examination of reports, statistics and policy statements by government agencies Findings Delays in revising a national strategy appear to have no clear explanation. Responses to drugs issues, including drug related deaths, appear to lack urgency or concern at a policy making level. Research limitations/implications Complacency and lack of regard to evidence appear to inform current policy and strategy. Ways of overcoming this stasis are not identified. Practical implications There is a need for factors leading to reform and change to be identified and implemented, by governement and others. Originality/value The paper attempts to identify factors which inhibit policy reform in the UK so that future reform becomes more realistic.
Source: Drugs and Alcohol Today - Category: Addiction Source Type: research