May 25, 1999. Copyright 1998. Graphic News. All rights reserved.

Drugs czarÕs action plan to tackle drug abuse

LONDON, May 25 Graphic News: THE GOVERNMENTÕS Ôdrugs czarÕ Keith Hellawell is expected to propose a radical change in government policy over drugs, promoting treatment over punishment in his first annual report and action plan to Parliament. 

Mr Hellawell Ð a former chief constable appointed by Prime Minister Tony Blair in October 1997 Ð is expected to set tough targets for reducing drug crime in England and Wales. 

Many drug users resort to crime to finance their habit and up to 90% who are jailed re-offend on release. 

Mr Hellawell is proposing to cut this by a quarter by 2005 and a half by 2008 by cutting the use of drugs that cause most harm, heroin, cocaine and crack cocaine.

He is thought likely to say that treatment is the way to achieve this. 

Over the last three years 100 drug-action teams have been set up, at a cost of £1.4 billion a year, to co-ordinate policy.

Pilot projects begun last year in Merseyside, Croydon and Gloucestershire found that issuing Drug Treatment and Training Orders instead of simply jailing drug users found guilty of crime dramatically reduced re-offending rates. 

A study of 1,000 drug users found that criminal activity halved after treatment. It is estimated that for every £1 spent on drug treatment, £3 is saved on the costs of crime. 

Treatment orders are expected to be extended nationwide by April 2000, backed by a £6m government investment. At present only one-in-five drug users who require treatment get any help.

/ENDS