Tackling Problem Drug Use - Report by Comptroller and Auditor General, Session 2009-10 (Paperback)

There are an estimated third of a million problem drug users in England. This report examines progress against three objectives of the Government's new 10-year Drug Strategy: targeting and management of problem drug using offenders; improving the quality and effectiveness of treatment; and, helping problem drug users re-establish their lives. Government is spending GBP 1.2 billion in 2009-10 with the objective of bringing down the estimated costs to society of problem drug use of GBP 15 billion a year (90 per cent of which is attributable to drug-related offences such as burglary and theft). However there is no framework in place for evaluating the achievements of the previous 1998-2008 Strategy, which limits Departments' understanding of the overall value for money achieved. A framework for evaluation could draw on the existing individual evaluations of measures in the Strategy and would help assess whether funding is being optimally directed at different strategic objectives. There has been progress: over the period 2004-05 to 2008-09, the number of adults in effective treatment increased from 134,000 to 195,000. In addition, the number of problem drug users completing their treatment free from dependency rose from 6,000 to 15,000. However actions to help drug users re-establish their lives have had limited results. Around 80 per cent of problem drug users claim benefits at a cost over GBP 40 million. A GBP 13 million a year initiative to get drug users into work has also been unsuccessful.