From the guardian..
this sort of report though risks provoking a worrying backlash, even from liberals, especially when you see “party drugs” mentioned as well…
[font=Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif]More drug addicts seeking help[/font][font=Geneva,Arial,sans-serif]
Alan Travis, home affairs editor
[/font][font=Geneva,Arial,sans-serif]Thursday July 28, 2005
[/font][font=Geneva,Arial,sans-serif]Guardian
[/font][font=Geneva,Arial,sans-serif]The number of drug addicts going into specialist treatment services has soared by 27% from 125,500 to more than 160,050 in the past year, according to figures published by the National Treatment Agency yesterday.[/font][font=Geneva,Arial,sans-serif]They confirm the rapid expansion of drug treatment services in Britain, from 650 in 2003-4 to 850 in 2004-5. But a breakdown of the 53,000 addicts who left treatment courses in the last year shows that nearly half had dropped out or left and only 29% could be described as “successful completions”.[/font]
[font=Geneva,Arial,sans-serif]The numbers going into treatment had expanded rapidly in recent years from the 50,000 addicts who were in contact with NHS treatment services in the mid-1990s. But a Downing Street strategy unit report published last month said that only 20% of the 280,000 estimated “high harm” heroin and crack cocaine users were in treatment at any one time and “those that engage with treatment tend not to stay with it too long”.[/font]
[font=Geneva,Arial,sans-serif]The NTA’s analysis shows that of the 125,000 in treatment in 2003-4, three-quarters were being treated for opiates, mainly heroin, and 5% were being treated for cocaine or crack addictions. A further 10,096 were being treated for cannabis and 754 for ecstasy. Only 3,000 of those who left courses last year were classified as “drug free”.[/font]
[font=Geneva,Arial,sans-serif]Paul Hayes, the NTA’s chief executive said: “Drug misuse is a chronic relapsing condition – tackling it requires a major lifestyle change which takes time. Most drug users will need a number of attempts at treatment. Many will need to stay in treatment for five to seven years in order to get long term sustainable benefits.” While they were in treatment clients reduced or stopped their illicit drug misuse, committed fewer offences, and reduced risky behaviour such as sharing needles, he said.[/font]
[font=Geneva,Arial,sans-serif]The NTA said the 27% increase in the number of drug users in treatment was excellent news and meant they were ahead of their target to double the number of people in treatment between 1998 and 2008.[/font]
[font=Geneva,Arial,sans-serif]The government had boosted the amount being spent on drug treatment with £450m spent last year on services outside of prison drug treatment schemes. This is due to rise to £700m a year within three years.[/font]
[font=Geneva,Arial,sans-serif]SocietyGuardian.co.uk © Guardian Newspapers Limited 2005[/font]
