Pubdate: Sun, 01 Dec 2002
Source: Independent on Sunday (UK)
Copyright: Independent Newspapers (UK) Ltd.
Contact:  http://www.independent.co.uk/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/208
Author: Sophie Goodchild, Home Affairs Correspondent

BLUNKETT ABANDONS 'UNREAL' DRUG TARGETS

The Government is to abandon "unrealistic" drug targets, which include
halving heroin and cocaine abuse among the young, as part of an
overhaul of its anti-drugs strategy.

This week, David Blunkett, the Home Secretary, is also expected to
announce increased spending on treatment for users who commit crime to
pay for their habit. The number of doctors prescribing drug
substitutes will increase.

The Home Office will also publish the findings of a study by York
University that show the annual cost of drug abuse is nearly UKP19bn
- - or UKP11,000 for each seriously addicted heroin and cocaine user.

In 1998, Keith Hellawell, the former drugs czar, produced a 10-year
strategy for reducing drug abuse. This included targets such as
halving the proportion of people under 25 using Class A drugs by 2008.

A senior Home Office source said Mr Blunkett would unveil tougher,
more streamlined targets on tackling drug abuse. "Targets like
reducing the ability to acquire drugs are difficult to measure," said
the source. "We intend to introduce ... more focused targets."

This month, the Association of Chief Police Officers will publish its
strategy on cannabis, which will become a Class C drug next year.
Users can still face a caution, a move criticised by politicians and
drugs charities.

"Reform of the drugs laws should begin with the decriminalisation of
cannabis. That means ... that no-one should be prosecuted for using
cannabis," said Simon Hughes, the Liberal Democrats' Home Affairs spokesman.
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake