Dr Marcus Roberts Director of Policy and Membership DrugScope Social trends in alcohol and drug use

What is DrugScope The UK’s leading independent centre of expertise on drugs and drug use The UK’s largest drug sector membership organisation Now incorporate the London Drug and Alcohol Network (or LDAN)

Drug trend headlines Heroin and crack cocaine most problematic Heroin population growing older/trainspotting Younger people – alcohol, cannabis and cocaine - poly-drug use New drugs – ketamine, GBL, legal highs Overall illegal drug use has been relatively stable for the past 10 years Cocaine powder is the exception New market in ‘home grown’ cannabis is producing a stronger product

Extend of drug use BCS – year olds Ever used Any drug – 11.8 million (36.4%) Any Class A drug – 4.9 million (15.0%) Used in last year Any drug – 2.8 million (8.6%) Any Class A drug – 1 million (3.1%) Used in last month Any drug – 1.6 million (5%) Any Class A drug – 0.5 million (1.4%)

NTA – Drug treatment figures Figure Number of problem drug users in England (i.e. dependent on heroin or crack cocaine) 320,000 Number of adults in contact with treatment services 206,889 Number of adults effectively engaged in treatment for 12 weeks or more, or if leaving treatment before 12 weeks did so free of dependency 192,367 Number of adults successfully completing treatment free of dependency 23,680 Number of under 18s accessing young people’s substance misuse services 24,053

Alcohol headlines Development of alcohol treatment has lagged behind treatment for illegal drugs Alcohol as a public health problem Alcohol-related crime and disorder The NHS spends £2.7bn each year to tackle alcohol- related problems In 2008/09 there were nearly 1,000,000 alcohol- related hospital admissions Nearly half of all violent assaults are thought to be alcohol-related.

Policy headlines Links with social exclusion and marginalisation Links with abuse, trauma and mental health Links with crime, disorder and anti-social behaviour Abstinence and harm reduction Recovery and social re-integration Holism and ‘joined up’ approaches Money, structures and priorities Alcohol – pricing, taxation, licensing laws

Housing and anti-social behaviour Linked to consumption - Immediate impact (e.g. smoking) - Context of consumption (e.g. noisy parties) - Resulting from consumption (e.g. intoxication, alcohol related violence – nb including domestic violence) Linked to production, distribution and supply - Producing drugs - Selling drugs - Production/consumption (e.g. ‘crack houses’) Possible links to more problematic and long-term use - Rent payment - Property unkeep - Possible crime and offending

Legal issues and responsibilities Section 8 Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 A person commits an offence if, being the occupier or concerned in the management of any premises, he knowingly permits or suffers any of the following activities: Production or attempted production of any controlled drug, or Supply or attempted supply of any controlled drug, or Preparing opium for smoking, or Smoking cannabis or prepared opium. Maximum sentence of 14 years’ imprisonment or a fine or both.

Part 1 Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003 ‘Premises where drugs used unlawfully’ Police or others have grounds to think 1. Class A drug use, production and supply and 2. Serious nuisance and disorder After consultation with LA can issue a Closure Notice restricting access to the building to the owner and to people who normally stay there. Then seek a Closure Order from the magistrates court 1. Police authorised to secure premises 2. Anyone attempting to remain on or re-enter the premises without authority faces arrest.

‘The ring-fencing coming off Supporting People has meant any progress we were making in securing supported accommodation for those who need it to facilitate their reintegration and recovery has disappeared. Accommodation problems are the single greatest factor impacting negatively on recovery’. DrugScope consultation – September 2010

‘When service users leave one part of recovery – say time-limited supported housing – they are often left to their own devices and placed in residual sink estates where the cycle starts all over again’. DrugScope consultation – September 2010

‘Housing is one of the most significant factors – both temporary and long-term. Until there is enough social housing our clients will always be discriminated against. How can anyone who is sleeping on the streets or “sofa surfing” address substance misuse?’. DrugScope consultation – September 2010

LDAN homelessness project Issues in homelessness hostels Workforce development and cross-agency training Floating support/Assertive Outreach Support to move to a new area Improved communication between services Improved training on substance misuse and multiple needs for LA housing options staff and housing providers, particularly addressing myths and stigma Housing and treatment provision for poorly served groups – including asylum seekers, women fleeing domestic violence, single people with “low level” substance misuse.

Marcus Roberts Director of Policy and Membership DrugScope Tel: DrugScope website: