Reducing the harm from illegal drugs

Public Accounts Committee Closed Inquiry
Opened: 12 Sep 2023 Closed: 3 Apr 2024 Parliament page
Illegal drug use causes significant harm to both individuals and to wider society, and costs an estimated £20 billion a year. In December 2021, the Government published ‘From Harm to Hope,’ its 10-year plan providing £900 million of new funding to reduce the harm caused by illegal drugs. The Committee’s … Read more
6 Recommendations
19 Conclusions
1 Report
2 Oral sessions
3 Letters
2 Events
Activity timeline 9 events
2 Apr
2024
Report published
9 Feb
2024
Report published
6 Feb
2024
Correspondence
15 Jan
2024
Correspondence
10 Jan
2024
Correspondence
4 Dec
2023
Oral evidence
4 Dec
2023
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · The Thatcher Room, Portcullis House
30 Nov
2023
Oral evidence
30 Nov
2023
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · The Thatcher Room, Portcullis House
Oral evidence sessions 2 sessions
4 Dec 2023
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Reducing the harm from illegal drugs
Rachael Millar · Home Office Sir Chris Wormald · Department of Health and Social Care Sir Matthew Rycroft KCMG CBE · Home Office
30 Nov 2023
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Pre-panel: Reducing the harm from illegal drugs
Alice Wiseman · Association of Directors of Public Health Mark Lay · National Police Chiefs’ Council Mike Trace · The Forward Trust Professor Dame Carol Black · Combating Drugs
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Eleventh Report - Reducing the harm from illegal drugs HC 72 9 Feb 2024 25 Responded
Recommendations & Conclusions
3 results
Clear
9 Recommendation Not Addressed
Eleventh Report - Reducing the har…
New drug strategy structures improve coordination and accountability, but JCDU remains under-resourced.
The introduction of the From harm to hope strategy has led to positive change. The appointment of a Combating Drugs minister and the nomination of the Home Office permanent secretary as senior responsible owner, alongside the creation of the Joint … Read more
Government Response
The government response describes the 'From harm to hope' drug strategy, its allocated funding, and the roles of various departments and the JCDU in its implementation. It does not address the committee's point that the JCDU needed strengthening due to under-resourcing.
HM Treasury
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15 Conclusion
Eleventh Report - Reducing the har…
Specialist drug treatments prove effective but require national funding due to high cost.
Successful recovery from addiction to illegal drugs, such as opiates, is difficult, with high levels of recidivism.45 In its recent report, the Home Affairs Committee highlighted the efficacy of specialist programmes—such as diamorphine assisted treatment—in helping those with a long … Read more
HM Treasury
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20 Recommendation Not Addressed
Eleventh Report - Reducing the har…
Establish specific drug use reduction targets for young people and other vulnerable cohorts.
In the year ending June 2022, 9.2% of 16–59-year-olds in England and Wales reported having taken drugs at least once within the past year, with 2.7% having taken Class A drugs. These proportions are higher for younger adults, with 19% … Read more
Government Response
The government's response outlines existing and ongoing work to monitor impacts, address diverse needs, and reduce drug demand through education and research, but does not commit to setting specific drug use reduction targets for young people or other cohorts as recommended.
HM Treasury
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Government Response AI assessment · 24 of 6 classified
Accepted 19
Acknowledged 3
Not Addressed 2
Total 6 recs + 19 conclusions
Correspondence 3 letters
6 Feb 2024 Correspondence from Sir Matthew Rycroft KCMG CBE, Permanent Secretary, Home Office, re Government’s work to reduce the harm from illegal drugs, dated 29 January 2024
Parliament page
15 Jan 2024 Correspondence from Sir Chris Wormald, Permanent Secretary of the Department of Health and Social Care, re follow up Public Accounts Committee hearing on 4 December 2023 - Reducing the harm from illegal drugs, dated 4 January 2024
Parliament page
10 Jan 2024 Correspondence from Sir Matthew Rycroft KCMG CBE, Permanent Secretary, Home Office, re follow up Reducing the harm from illegal drugs session, dated 15 December 2023
Parliament page