Government launches second phase of independent review into drug misuse

Building on an initial phase commissioned by the Home Office to “tackle the root causes of substance misuse”, this next stage will focus on treatment, recovery and prevention. The aim will be to ensure that vulnerable people with substance misuse problems get the support they need to recover and turn their lives around in the community and in prison.

The review will consider how treatment services can enable those with a drug dependency to achieve and sustain their recovery – spanning a wide range of services they may interact with across mental health, housing, employment and the criminal justice system.

Dame Carol was appointed to lead the review following her initial report commissioned by the Home Office, which looked at the challenges around drug supply and demand the ways in which drugs were fuelling serious violence.

The initial stage of the wide-ranging review examined who uses drugs and what substances were being used. It built on existing government strategies to address drugs, serious violence and serious and organised crime, and also examined the harms that drugs cause.

Her initial report found that:

• Drug deaths were at an all-time high;
• The market has become much more violent; and
• Drugs were costing society billions of pounds every year

Health Minister Jo Churchill said: “Drug misuse can have a tragic impact on people’s health, families and livelihoods, causing suffering to all those involved.

“With drug deaths at an all-time high, we must tackle the root causes of substance misuse to improve health outcomes and prevent lives being lost needlessly.

“The findings of Dame Carol’s first review set out the scale of the challenge. Now our focus must shift to ensuring the appropriate services are in place to support the treatment and recovery of drug users, as well as preventing drug use in our communities in the first place.”

The review will make policy recommendations to government, including around funding, as well how services are commissioned and local bodies are held accountable to ensure they are effective in preventing, treating and supporting recovery from drug problems.

Part one of the independent review found children and young people were now more likely to experiment with drugs after years of decline, and so the second phase will include a specific focus to make recommendations on prevention and treatment services for this age group.

Dame Carol said: “I am delighted to be starting part 2 of the Independent Review of Drugs. In my foreword to part one I said that behind the thorough analysis of the market for illicit drugs that we had just completed lay a very tragic human story: about the effect on individuals, their families, youngsters caught up in the trade, and the economy.

“We showed a decade-long erosion, under previous governments, in almost every aspect of drug addiction, prevention, treatment and recovery.

“We now have the opportunity to correct this and build a better world. To do this many stakeholders and government departments must work together as never before.”

As part of the next phase of the review, Dame Carol has launched a call for evidence and will engage with a wide range of stakeholders, including hearing from service users and people with lived experience of drug addiction to build a detailed picture of treatment, recovery and prevention.

Dame Carol will be provided with expert support from Dr Ed Day, an NHS substance misuse consultant and government drug recovery champion, and Dr Keith Humphreys, a US academic and former drug policy adviser to President Obama with substantial expertise in this field and an international perspective

Dr Day said he looked forward to working with Dame Carol Black and her team to “help deliver a fully functioning recovery-orientated system of care in every community in England”.

“This will require professionals and people with lived experience of addiction to work together to reduce the harms that drugs cause and maximise the potential of people of all ages,” he added.

Dr Humphreys said: “The first part of Dame Carol Black’s review showed a deteriorating situation regarding drugs throughout the UK. This second part presents the opportunity to reverse those trends. Doing so will require a review of how health and social care for people with drug problems are organised, delivered and financed.”

Dame Carol is expected to submit initial recommendations in September and her final report in December this year.

The call for evidence will close on August 6.

The Government has pledged to address the complex challenges caused by drug misuse with a cross-government addiction strategy due to be published in early 2021.

The Association of Police and Crime Commissioner’s national lead for drugs and alcohol, Hardyal Dhindsa, welcomed the latest phase of the national review.

The Derbyshire police and crime commissioner (PCC), who contributed evidence to the first phase of the review, said too many lives and communities were being destroyed by illegal drugs and welcomed further research into how treatment services can help those with drug dependency achieve and sustain their recovery.

Mr Dhindsa, who is expected to be involved in the second phase of the independent review, said: “I welcome the second phase of Dame Carol’s review, which switches focus to the solutions, including how we help people to achieve long-term recovery and how we might prevent them from becoming dependent in the first place.

“This is where all the relevant areas of government can come together with stakeholders to discuss action and identify what else is needed to stop more tragedies impacting families and wider society.

“Drug misuse tears lives apart and presents us with significant demand and economic challenges. This is where all of us have a chance to make a difference and deliver positive change.”