Poor drug demand reduction
Lack of evidence-based understanding and strategies to effectively reduce the demand for illegal drugs.
116 items
8 sources
Source spread
Where this theme appears
Poor drug demand reduction has been flagged across 8 independent accountability sources:
12 PFD reports
43 committee recs
3 PPO recs
7 NAO recs
48 IMB recs
1 patient safety alert
1 Scottish FAI
1 Article 2 learning point
When the same issue appears across inquiries, coroner reports, and regulators independently, it indicates a recurring issue across the public record.
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Source-grouped records are useful for tracing where a concern came from. Large sections show the 50 strongest matches for that source; counts still show the full theme total.
PFD Reports (12)
Jason Houghton
Concerns: The unregulated online supply and international importation of Class A drugs, specifically Diacetyl Morphine/Heroin in pill form via postal systems, poses a significant risk of future deaths.
Response (Home Office): The Home Office acknowledges concerns about online drug supply, notes ongoing efforts by law enforcement to close UK-based websites and work with international partners. Since the death, the MHRA closed …
Responded
Darren Mindham
Concerns: The report identifies that pentobarbital, a drug commonly used in suicides, is not subject to strict controls despite evidence showing that reduced access to means of suicide can decrease suicide rates.
Overdue
Aaron McCaffrey
Concerns: The lack of purchase limits for loperamide medication at retail stores enables bulk buying, increasing the risk of addiction and overdose.
Overdue
Ben Jukes
Concerns: The army's drug-testing regime failed to detect a serviceman's regular drug use, partly because tests were not random or unannounced, allowing evasion.
Response (Ministry of Defence): The need for absolute discretion during drug testing will be reiterated to units during initial notification.
Responded
David Travers
Concerns: It is too easy for individuals to obtain multiple prescriptions by visiting different GP surgeries, which facilitates drug abuse and the illicit drug market.
Response (Northern Eastern and Western Devon CCG): Devon LMC and NEW Devon CCG will develop a single point of contact for GP practices to raise concerns about patients at risk of drug-related death, provide guidance to GPs …
Responded
Benjamin Williamson
Concerns: The CMHT repeatedly discharged a patient with co-occurring mental health and alcohol issues, while Addaction failed to communicate with his GP or address consent for information sharing, creating a significant care gap.
Response (Addaction): Addaction has reviewed and improved how they record confidentiality and consent reviews. They will provide the Health Centre with client numbers, have a designated worker attend practice multi-disciplinary team meetings …
Response (Kernow CCG NHS Trust): NHS Kernow is working with partner agencies to implement a multi-agency strategy, including developing a dynamic risk register for individuals with dual diagnosis, with priority given to immediate actions. Contract …
Responded
Joseph Mochan
Concerns: No specific concerns related to future deaths were detailed in the provided text.
Response (Sussex NHS Commissioners): Brighton & Hove CCG commissioned a feasibility report to develop a strategic definition and prepare a brief for a new healthcare facility for homeless and disadvantaged people in Brighton, to …
Overdue
Claire Richards
Concerns: Illegally dealt prescription drugs are of increasing concern, and what steps are projected for stemming the leakage of prescription medication out of the lawful dispensing process into criminal hands?
Response (Royal Pharmaceutical Society): The Royal Pharmaceutical Society acknowledges the concerns regarding prescription medicine misuse and highlights their role in promoting best practices, noting that the General Pharmaceutical Council regulates pharmacy. They suggest Public …
Overdue
Holly Chevassut
Concerns: Certain vehicle configurations, with low-height, protruding mirrors and guards, create a risk of serious injury or death to people overtaken by these vehicles.
Response (GRS Recovery): GRS Recovery has removed the offending mirrors, and rotated the remaining mirrors to reduce the width of the vehicles.
Responded
Joshua Forsdyke
Concerns: Ketamine was easily and openly available to students, with drug dealing occurring freely within and between university student halls of residence.
Response (Fresh Student Living): Fresh Student Living and UAL will ensure data is shared between teams, specifically the Out of Hours team and UAL and the overnight security cover at Fresh, and collaborate on …
Response (UAL): UAL is taking actions to enhance prevention, identification, awareness, support, monitoring, and enforcement regarding drug use in halls of residence, working with key partners and will introduce questions about drug …
Responded
Benjamin Buckfield
Concerns: An unchecked, open trade in illegal drugs at the festival, combined with a policy that does not eject non-dealing possessors, creates a dangerous market and increases the risk of future drug-related deaths.
Overdue
Gemma Weeks
Concerns: Public and young people lack understanding of ketamine's severe dangers, exacerbated by its Class B classification suggesting lower risk, leading to increased usage, addiction, and devastating health complications.
Response (Department of Health and Social Care): The Department of Health and Social Care is increasing the number of drug treatment places and providing targeted grants to improve drug and alcohol services. They are also launching a …
Response (Department for Education): The Department for Education is piloting a teacher training grant, starting early 2026 and the Oak National Academy is developing new RSHE resources to support schools with the delivery of …
Response (Home Office): The Home Office has requested an updated harms assessment of ketamine from the ACMD, including advice on whether it should be moved to Class A, and expects to receive the …
Responded
Committee Recommendations (43)
#22 — Illegal drug use remains high, underscoring the critical need for effective prevention strategies.
Recommendation: Around 3 million people in England and Wales take illegal drugs each year, around one in 11 adults. Despite attempts in the 2010 and 2017 drugs strategies to reduce long- term demand, this figure has remained largely unchanged since 2010–11.74 …
Gov response: 6.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: April 2025 6.2 The Drug Strategy highlighted the need to build the evidence in the initial phase to support the government’s thinking on what …
Accepted
#15 — Conduct comprehensive review of initiatives reducing demand for sexual exploitation by June 2024.
Recommendation: The Government should conduct a comprehensive review of all legislative, policy and educational initiatives that are underway to reduce demand for sexual exploitation and report on this by June 2024. This review should compare the UK’s approach with Human trafficking …
Gov response: 15. As set out in the introduction, given the close links between modern slavery and migration, with around three-quarters of potential victims being subject to immigration controls from January to September 20222, it is right …
Under Consideration
#11 — Cross-Government Reducing Reoffending Board lacks clear departmental roles and governance for substance misuse.
Recommendation: Substance misuse is the only area where the Cross-Government Reducing Reoffending Board—made up of senior representatives from 12 central government bodies, and with a remit to identify opportunities to reduce reoffending—has not set out the main departments which have a …
Gov response: 2.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: Summer 2024 2.2 The government is committed to engaging offenders in substance misuse treatment at all stages of the criminal justice system to reduce …
Accepted
#23 — Government lacks evidence base on effective prevention strategies to stop individuals taking drugs.
Recommendation: The JCDU and Home Office did not have an evidence base about what works in preventing individuals from taking up drug use.77 The drug strategy has a strong focus on the link between criminal activity and drug use, with initiatives …
Gov response: 6.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: April 2025 6.2 The Drug Strategy highlighted the need to build the evidence in the initial phase to support the government’s thinking on what …
Accepted
#6 — Coordinate urgent JCDU work to develop an evidence-based plan for reducing illegal drug demand.
Recommendation: Despite previous attempts to reduce the demand for illegal drugs, the JCDU and departments still do not understand how to change behaviours and prevent people from taking drugs. Reducing the demand for illegal drugs is crucial to mitigating the harms …
Gov response: The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. support the government’s thinking on what more can be done to reduce the demand for illegal drugs over the longer-term. Alongside this, the government has and will continue …
Accepted
#31 — Provide sustainable central funding for national rehabilitation programmes and ring-fenced funds for local services.
Recommendation: We welcome the new funding the Home Office will be providing for drug treatment. However, it is only for one year, when sustainable increased funding is needed for ongoing services. We recommend that the Government makes central funding available for …
Gov response: The Government is absolutely committed to tackling drugs as a driver of crime, including the theft and violence driven by drug misuse. Dame Carol Black’s review of drugs highlights that approximately half of all acquisitive …
Under Consideration
#59 — Mandate all police forces to roll out voluntary naloxone provision, including funding and training.
Recommendation: We recommend that the Home Office requires all 43 police forces in England and Wales to roll out the voluntary provision of naloxone by operational officers. Volunteer officers must be provided with adequate training in the carrying and administration of …
Gov response: The Government partially accepts this recommendation. As outlined in the Drug Strategy, the Government continues to support a range of evidence-based approaches to reduce the health-related harms of drug misuse, such as widening the availability …
Partially Accepted
#58 — Non-universal naloxone provision by English police forces creates a dangerous postcode lottery.
Recommendation: The efforts of UK police forces to roll out this life saving treatment is welcome. However, provision of naloxone across English forces is not universal, which risks creating a postcode lottery on the availability of this potentially life-saving treatment in …
Gov response: The Government partially accepts this recommendation. As outlined in the Drug Strategy, the Government continues to support a range of evidence-based approaches to reduce the health-related harms of drug misuse, such as widening the availability …
Partially Accepted
#57 — Establish a national naloxone programme in England and rapidly expand provision to at-risk groups.
Recommendation: We recommend that the Government establish a national naloxone programme in England to bring it in line with the devolved nations. We also recommend that the Government speed up its work on expanding the provision of naloxone following the UK-wide …
Gov response: The Government partially accepts this recommendation. The provision of naloxone is already included in the majority of local authorities’ public health grant spend. In addition, the expansion of naloxone is currently supported through the SSMTR …
Partially Accepted
#56 — National naloxone programme absent in England despite clear evidence of lifesaving effects.
Recommendation: The evidence on the lifesaving effects of naloxone in counteracting opioid- related overdose is clear. We welcome the national naloxone programmes in the devolved nations but are concerned that no such programme exists in England. We also welcome the joint …
Gov response: The Government partially accepts this recommendation. The provision of naloxone is already included in the majority of local authorities’ public health grant spend. In addition, the expansion of naloxone is currently supported through the SSMTR …
Partially Accepted
#23 — Devise and publish a cross-departmental action plan and UK-wide campaign to tackle drug stigma.
Recommendation: We recommend that the Combating Drugs Minister leads on devising a cross- departmental action plan to tackle stigma. In devising the action plan, the Government must engage with people with lived experience of drugs and stakeholders in the drug treatment …
Gov response: Partially accept. The Government accepts the importance of reducing stigma in tackling drug misuse and will work across government to address this. Stigma around drug use can be a barrier to people accessing treatment and …
Partially Accepted
#16 — Set out how Modern Slavery Strategy will combat demand for sexual exploitation.
Recommendation: The Government’s Modern Slavery Strategy, which we have recommended be updated, must set out how the Government will combat the demand for sexual exploitation created by individuals who pay for sex.
Gov response: 17. We share the Committee’s focus on the importance of a strategy to guide work tackling this crime. As set out in the introduction, the UK’s response to modern slavery is underpinned by the Modern …
Accepted
#14 — Increase police and CPS use of Section 53A and publish annual prosecution data.
Recommendation: There should be much greater use of section 53A of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 by police forces and the CPS. This should be supported by additional training on the use of section 53A, provided by the College of Policing, …
Gov response: 15. As set out in the introduction, given the close links between modern slavery and migration, with around three-quarters of potential victims being subject to immigration controls from January to September 20222, it is right …
Under Consideration
#13 — Strengthen Section 53A of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 and increase conviction penalties.
Recommendation: Section 53A of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 should be strengthened and penalties upon conviction increased to ensure comparability with other sexual and trafficking offences and to increase the deterrent value.
Gov response: 26. Section 53A of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 is a strict liability offence. That means, for the police to charge a case they need evidence that the suspect had paid for sexual services from …
Not Accepted
#1 — Committee gathered evidence on alcohol treatment services from key stakeholders
Recommendation: On the basis of a Report by the Comptroller and Auditor General, we took evidence from the Department of Health & Social Care (the Department) on alcohol treatment services.1 We also took evidence from Alice Wiseman, Director of Public Health, …
Gov response: The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Recommendation implemented The government has already published a comprehensive assessment of effective and cost-effective strategies to tackle alcohol harm in England through the former Public Health England. This …
Accepted
#12 — Drug strategy requires rapid adaptation to emerging synthetic opioid threats, with ongoing government preparedness.
Recommendation: Mr Trace told us that changes in drug markets can happen rapidly, and that if synthetic opioids became more prevalent in the UK, the strategy would need to adapt rapidly.35 Mr Lay told us that there had been a synthetic …
Gov response: 2.3 The government is taking robust action to develop a whole-system approach to reducing drug-related harm. For example, the cross-government Synthetic Opioids Taskforce is leading and coordinating the system-wide response to the increased risk posed …
Accepted
#10 — Progress observed in drug worker recruitment, county lines disruption, and police diversion tactics.
Recommendation: There have been signs of progress in some areas.24 For example, local areas have recruited an extra 1,220 drug workers, exceeding the 3-year target already.25 In terms of disrupting the supply of drugs, over 2,000 county lines have been closed …
Gov response: 1.2 There has been significant progress in delivering the Drug Strategy since the start of additional funding in April 2022. As of November 2023, the government’s key achievements include: • increasing the number of quality …
Not Addressed
#30 — Government's response to drug-related retail crime lacks urgency and timely national programme rollout.
Recommendation: The Government has acknowledged that drugs play a significant role in a large number of crimes and with prolific offending in particular. Yet, one year on from the Government’s response to the call for evidence on violence and abuse toward …
Gov response: The Government is absolutely committed to tackling drugs as a driver of crime, including the theft and violence driven by drug misuse. Dame Carol Black’s review of drugs highlights that approximately half of all acquisitive …
Accepted
#55 — Increase provision of essential equipment and additional services for needle and syringe programmes.
Recommendation: The Combating Drugs Minister must work with the Department of Health and Social Care, the devolved administrations, and health partners to ensure that the provision of equipment—particularly low dead space syringes and safe water—is increased to reduce the transmission of …
Gov response: The Government partially accepts this recommendation. Needle and syringe programmes are already embedded into, or work alongside, drug and alcohol services, commissioned by local authority public health to meet local need. Drug and alcohol services …
Partially Accepted
#54 — Ensure needle and syringe programmes reach wider populations to prevent blood-borne virus transmission.
Recommendation: We are concerned by the effect the Covid-19 pandemic has had on the provision of needle and syringe programmes. The UK must continue its efforts in preventing the spread of blood-borne viruses by ensuring needle and syringe programmes reach as …
Gov response: The Government partially accepts this recommendation. Needle and syringe programmes are already embedded into, or work alongside, drug and alcohol services, commissioned by local authority public health to meet local need. Drug and alcohol services …
Partially Accepted
#30 — Concerns raised about new drug possession sanctions' impact on stigma and young people.
Recommendation: We welcome the Government’s ambition to reduce demand for drugs including recreational drugs. However, we have heard concerns that the three-tiered framework of escalating sanctions under the Swift, Certain, Tough: New Consequences for Drug Possession White Paper may have a …
Gov response: The Government welcomes the Committee’s comments and recognises the concerns outlined in the report regarding the potential impact of the White Paper proposals. The Government published the Swift, Certain, Tough: New Consequences for Drug Possession …
Under Consideration
#13 — Prepare a strategy to mitigate increased supply of synthetic opioids across the UK.
Recommendation: We recommend that the Government must prepare a strategy to mitigate the risk of an increase in the supply and availability of synthetic opioids in the UK before the end of this Parliament.
Gov response: UK agencies are highly alert to the threat from synthetic drugs, including synthetic opioids like fentanyl, as well as synthetic cannabinoids and benzodiazepines, which have been linked to drug related deaths in the UK. Combating …
Accepted
#12 — Increase monitoring of synthetic drug trafficking and prioritise heroin dependency treatment.
Recommendation: To mitigate this risk, we recommend the Government, in partnership with the devolved administrations, increase its monitoring of synthetic drugs being trafficked in, and around, the UK, and prioritise supporting people with a chronic heroin dependency into treatment and recovery.
Gov response: UK agencies are highly alert to the threat from synthetic drugs, including synthetic opioids like fentanyl, as well as synthetic cannabinoids and benzodiazepines, which have been linked to drug related deaths in the UK. Combating …
Accepted
#11 — Alarm over synthetic opioid harms and potential shift from heroin dependency.
Recommendation: We are alarmed by the health and social harms of synthetic opioids, such as fentanyl. We are concerned that a reduction in the global supply of heroin will have the effect of people with an opioid dependency turning to even …
Gov response: UK agencies are highly alert to the threat from synthetic drugs, including synthetic opioids like fentanyl, as well as synthetic cannabinoids and benzodiazepines, which have been linked to drug related deaths in the UK. Combating …
Accepted
#12 — Insufficient enforcement of Sexual Offences Act fails to deter those who buy sex.
Recommendation: Enforcement of the current provisions of Section 53A of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 is insufficient to deter those who buy sex.
Gov response: 26. Section 53A of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 is a strict liability offence. That means, for the police to charge a case they need evidence that the suspect had paid for sexual services from …
Under Consideration
#30 —
Recommendation: Employment has been shown to reduce reoffending. Getting prisoners into employment therefore makes economic sense for society, easing the current burden on prisons, and allowing former prisoners to re-enter society. The low number of prisoners finding long-term employment following their …
Gov response: We accept this recommendation. By April 2023, all resettlement prisons will have an employment hub in place—the equivalent of a ‘job centre in a prison’—where prisoners can find out about job opportunities, as well as …
Accepted
#20 —
Recommendation: It is widely believed across the waste sector that there has been a steady rise in the involvement of organised crime groups over recent years.69 We heard from the Agency and HMRC of the challenges involved in taking such criminals …
Gov response: 4. PAC conclusion: The current sanctions are not effective in deterring people from committing waste crime. 4. PAC recommendation: Defra, the Agency and HMRC should work with relevant bodies within the criminal justice system to …
Accepted
#20 — Establish specific drug use reduction targets for young people and other vulnerable cohorts.
Recommendation: 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% …
Gov response: 5.2 The Drug Strategy sets out the government’s overall ambition to ‘monitor impacts across the strategy’s whole system approach to track progress towards better outcomes and avoid any unintended consequences, such as widening inequalities’. This …
Not Addressed
#5 — Ensure JCDU and departments understand barriers for diverse drug user cohorts, enabling targeted local authority action.
Recommendation: The JCDU and departments have not put sufficient emphasis on the importance of addressing the specific needs of different cohorts of people who use drugs. It is unacceptable that drug-related deaths in England increased by 80% between 2011 and 2021, …
Gov response: The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. across the strategy’s whole system approach to track progress towards better outcomes and avoid any unintended consequences, such as widening inequalities’. This commitment has included specific work on …
Accepted
#4 — Acquisitive theft, organised crime, and police failures fuel violence against retail workers.
Recommendation: There are several factors driving the increase in violence and abuse towards retail workers over the last 5 years. However, the primary factor appears to be increasing levels of acquisitive theft which are linked to both organised crime and prolific …
Gov response: The Government is absolutely committed to tackling drugs as a driver of crime, including the theft and violence driven by drug misuse. Dame Carol Black’s review of drugs highlights that approximately half of all acquisitive …
Partially Accepted
#32 — Drug strategy requires further action to prevent exploitation of children by county lines.
Recommendation: We welcome the 10-Year Drug Strategy’s commitment to rolling up county lines but increasing law enforcement efforts is only one part of the solution. We therefore welcome the strategy’s commitment to reducing demand for drugs and to re- building the …
Gov response: The Government accepts these recommendations. The Drug Strategy sets out a whole-system approach to tackling county lines, combining targeted law enforcement action with comprehensive measures to reduce demand for drugs and to re-build the drug …
Accepted
#31 — Explain identification of drug-dependent individuals, youth impact, and costs for new sanctions policy.
Recommendation: Though we await the outcome of the consultation on this White Paper, we ask that the Home Office further explain: (Paragraph 113) a) How people with a drug dependency—to whom this policy will not apply—will be identified and directed into …
Gov response: The Government welcomes the Committee’s comments and recognises the concerns outlined in the report regarding the potential impact of the White Paper proposals. The Government published the Swift, Certain, Tough: New Consequences for Drug Possession …
Under Consideration
#17 — Consider including strategy for reducing demand for sexual exploitation in Commissioner's Strategic Plan.
Recommendation: The new Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner should actively consider including a strategy for reducing demand for sexual exploitation in the Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner Strategic Plan.
Gov response: 17. We share the Committee’s focus on the importance of a strategy to guide work tackling this crime. As set out in the introduction, the UK’s response to modern slavery is underpinned by the Modern …
Accepted
#19 —
Recommendation: HMPPS launched alcohol monitoring services in October 2020 for offenders sentenced in the community. In November 2021 and June 2022, it extended the scheme to include those leaving prison, in Wales and in England respectively. Alcohol tags measure alcohol concentration …
Not Addressed
#2 — Assess the next drug strategy phase to embed system-level focus, address barriers and threats.
Recommendation: Achieving the long-term aim of reducing drug-related harms will only be possible if departments work collaboratively and adapt their approach to the evolving threats. The government has created new national and local structures to enable a co-ordinated response to implementing …
Gov response: The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. evolving and learning from the evidence and emerging threats over the 10-year period. Building on this commitment and the National Audit Office’s recommendations, JCDU and departments have well-established …
Accepted
#71 — Further support Northern Ireland officials and communities responding to drugs during political stalemate.
Recommendation: In the absence of an operational Northern Ireland Executive and Assembly, the Government must further support officials and communities in Northern Ireland to respond to drugs. This must include support to develop and sustain early intervention and prevention initiatives under …
Gov response: The Government remains committed to supporting, to the fullest extent possible, the Northern Ireland Executive-led efforts to end paramilitarism and organised crime. Following commitments made in the ‘New Decade, New Approach’ deal in 2020,25 the …
Accepted
#69 — Concerns about harms of non-medical cannabis use, rejecting legalisation for youth safety.
Recommendation: We are concerned by the harms that cannabis for non-medical use may pose, particularly in relation to young people. We do not believe that cannabis should be legalised and regulated for non-medical use. (Paragraph 243) Drugs 81 Northern Ireland
Gov response: The Government shares the Committee’s concerns about the harms of cannabis and does not intend to legalise and regulate cannabis for non- medical use. There is clear scientific and medical evidence which shows that cannabis …
Under Consideration
#2 — Balance criminal justice response to drugs with increased public health initiatives.
Recommendation: We recommend that the Government balances its criminal justice response to drugs with an increased public health response that seeks to prevent and treat drug use and tackle the root causes of drug use through, for example, a broad range …
Gov response: The UK Government’s legislative framework and strategy are already delivering a balanced approach which combines a range of public health and criminal justice responses. The Drug Strategy sets out our commitment that the government and …
Accepted
#19 —
Recommendation: The Agency told us how current sanctions often have limited deterrent effect. It considers that the only penalty that makes a difference to many waste criminals, particularly one from an organised crime group, is a custodial sentence, but even when …
Gov response: 4. PAC conclusion: The current sanctions are not effective in deterring people from committing waste crime. 4. PAC recommendation: Defra, the Agency and HMRC should work with relevant bodies within the criminal justice system to …
Accepted
#70 — Paramilitary drug crime and political stalemate hinder Northern Ireland's drug response.
Recommendation: We are deeply concerned by the role paramilitary groups play in organised drug crime in Northern Ireland, and the impact that this has on local communities, children and young people. We are also deeply concerned by the effect the current …
Gov response: The Government remains committed to supporting, to the fullest extent possible, the Northern Ireland Executive-led efforts to end paramilitarism and organised crime. Following commitments made in the ‘New Decade, New Approach’ deal in 2020,25 the …
Under Consideration
#22 — 10-Year Drugs Strategy lacks detail on effectively tackling drug-related stigma.
Recommendation: The strategy states a commitment to breaking down stigma but provides little detail on how this commitment would be actioned. Stigma is a key issue for people with lived experience of using drugs and for their loved ones. Tackling stigma …
Gov response: The Government accepts this recommendation. Tackling stigma and promoting recovery is a cross cutting theme throughout the Drug Strategy, and we recognise the importance of this, especially for people with lived experience of drug use …
Accepted
#1 — Public health responses to drugs gain increasing support and alignment with conventions.
Recommendation: There is increasing support for public health responses as a tool to respond to drugs, and the adoption of such responses are within the spirit of the Drug Control Conventions.
Gov response: The UK Government’s legislative framework and strategy are already delivering a balanced approach which combines a range of public health and criminal justice responses. The Drug Strategy sets out our commitment that the government and …
Accepted
#8 — Commission national review of anabolic steroid use and launch safe use awareness campaign.
Recommendation: We recommend that the Department commissions a national review of the growing use of anabolic steroids in England as it relates to body image. We further recommend that the Department introduces a national awareness campaign around safe anabolic steroid use. …
Gov response: The government acknowledges the possible link between digitally altered body images and mental health, including the potential harms such a link may cause. Through its work on the OAP , DCMS is considering how the …
Under Consideration
PPO Death in Custody Recommendations (3)
The Governor
The Governor should continue to identify and address weaknesses in measures to prevent supply of drugs into Lewes and revise the substance misuse strategy in light of the findings.
The Governor
The Governor should ensure that the key drug issues at HMP Garth are identified, that the local drugs strategy is reviewed and revised, where appropriate, to address them and that staff are aware of its contents and their responsibilities.
The Director of HMP Lowdham Grange
The Director should request HMPPS Substance Misuse Group carry out a support visit to review the prison’s drug strategy and identify further measures they can take to reduce supply and demand.
NAO Audit Recommendations (7)
Reducing the harm from illegal drugs
The JCDU and departments should work with HM Treasury to provide greater certainty on future funding for the strategy. This includes: - exploring the potential for indicative commitments over the life of the strategy; and - DHSC identifying and resolving …
Partially accepted
Reducing the harm from illegal drugs
The JCDU and departments should develop and publish a long-term plan to deliver the 10-year strategy. As part of planning for the next Spending Review, the JCDU and departments should assess how the next phase of the programme builds on …
Accepted
Reducing the harm from illegal drugs
The JCDU and departments should maximise the impact of local partnerships by developing a deeper understanding of local variations, identifying innovative practice, areas that are lagging behind others and what is needed to strengthen responses. They should also consider how …
Accepted
Reducing the harm from illegal drugs
The JCDU and departments should strengthen their approach to evaluating impacts and understanding ?what works? by: - developing and publishing a long-term evaluation plan, supported by sufficient resources, to develop a deeper understanding of the impacts of strategy funding; and …
Accepted
Reducing the harm from illegal drugs
The JCDU and departments should work with HM Treasury to agree what is achievable before the next Spending Review. They should determine how to realistically demonstrate the impact of funding in the first three years, considering the lag time before …
Accepted
Reducing the harm from illegal drugs
The JCDU should work with departments to agree its role over the remainder of the 10-year strategy to ensure that roles and responsibilities are clear and its limited resources are directed in the most effective way.
Accepted
The effectiveness of government in tackling homelessness
As part of the next spending review, and to support a cross-cutting approach to tackling homelessness, we recommend that HM Treasury should consider ways to incentivise government departments to support homelessness prevention, to deliver better outcomes and improved value for …
Accepted
IMB Recommendations (48)
Lewes (2024)
The Board asks for new measures to reduce the availability of illicit drugs and alcohol across the prison.
Governor / Director
Bedford (2024)
We are concerned that group and individual drug rehabilitation work is no longer carried out.
Governor / Director
Portland (2020)
The ingress of illicit drugs into Portland needs to be addressed. It is having an impact on the health and well-being of prisoners and staff, and is linked to debt, bullying, violence, isolation and overall stability in the prison.
Governor / Director
Erlestoke (2020)
Drugs continue to represent a problem within the prison (see paragraph 4.15). What steps are proposed to assist the prison in intercepting drugs being brought into the prison?
HMPPS
Rochester (2021)
The Board still retains the view that in order to enable a better outcome for prisoners and reduce re-offending, increased funding for resources should be allocated across the entire prison estate for tackling drug-use by prisoners. This includes improvements in security technology and intervention programmes.
Ministry of Justice
Wayland (2022)
The Board considers that there might be thought given by the Minister to a consideration of post-release drug treatment perhaps through a new sentence licence requirement, given the links now, operationally, through the combined Prison and Probation Service.
Ministry of Justice
Sudbury (2023)
We have commented on the high proportion of positive mandatory drug testing (MDT) outcomes. What measures can be put in place to address this?
Governor / Director
Leicester (2023)
What plans does the governor have for working with the healthcare provider to ensure a full range of services are available for those who wish to reduce or cease their substance misuse?
Governor / Director
Dartmoor (2023)
What measures will be put in place to ensure that all incidents of prisoners being found under the influence of either drugs or alcohol are recorded effectively and the relevant departments are informed as soon as an incident is discovered?
Governor / Director
Springhill (2024)
The UK government continues to under-invest in the provision of the rehabilitation services needed to reduce recidivism. How will the Minister make the case for long-term investment in its open prisons, specifically in offender management and educational/vocational services?
Other
Ranby (2024)
There continues to be a problem with the availability and use of illegal items in the prison. What further steps can the Governor take to address these problems?
Governor / Director
Ranby (2024)
The level of illegal substances in the prison has remained high. What measures will the Prison Service take to tackle this situation?
HMPPS
Leicester (2024)
Can the Governor work with healthcare commissioners and the provider to ensure that the healthcare unit provides a more holistic, therapeutic regime for prisoners who are seeking to reduce their substance misuse?
Governor / Director
Portland (2025)
The Minister should plan to support the Prison Service to reduce the prevalence of drugs and other illicit substances across the estate.
Ministry of Justice
Erlestoke (2025)
What further actions are being considered to reduce the ingress of illicit substances? While the Board recognises enhanced security measures which have been put in place, drugs remain readily available throughout the prison.
Governor / Director
Wealstun (2020)
Ensure that funding is available to reinstate the Resolve offending behaviour programme, given the significant number of prisoners with a history of domestic violence. (see paragraph 7.3.5).
Governor / Director
Portland (2020)
For a number of years, Portland has been unable to deliver a regime that meets the requirements of its prisoner population. Shutdowns are frequent, and last minute changes to the daily regime a regular occurrence. This is to the detriment of education and work opportunities for prisoners and the delivery of substance misuse and offending behaviour programmes. It has a …
Governor / Director
Lewes (2020)
The Board would also like to know when further resources will be put into improving safety for prisoners at the establishment, in particular to reduce the ingress and misuse of drugs.
HMPPS
Whitemoor (2021)
Will HMPPS please give urgent attention to supporting prison governors in the battle to stop the importing and manufacture of illicit substances including hooch within the prison? These substances endanger the health and wellbeing of prisoners and the safety of officers and their wide-spread use should be a cause of national concern.
HMPPS
Nottingham (2021)
We hope that lessons learned during the lockdown period, such as in relation to the reduced circulation of drugs, will be used to inform the organisation of the prison when the restrictions are lifted, so that the overall experience of prisoners is improved.
Governor / Director
Highpoint (2021)
In the interests of reducing reoffending and supporting prisoners’ progression, the Board asks for consideration of stable funding strategies for the provision of therapeutic initiatives (e.g. music/drama) across the prison estate.
Ministry of Justice
Bullingdon (2021)
There continues to be a problem with the availability and use of drugs. This is despite the strenuous efforts which were made in the reporting year on the part of the prison, including the greater use of sniffer dogs, the screening and copying of incoming mail, the installation of a body scanner for prisoners in reception, and the installation of …
HMPPS
Buckley Hall (2021)
Provide sufficient additional funding for the new integrated drug recovery wing (6.5.1)
HMPPS
Winchester (2022)
What measures can be taken to further reduce the supply of intoxicating substances, especially hooch, to prisoners?
Governor / Director
Bullingdon (2022)
There continues to be a problem with the availability and use of drugs. This is despite the strenuous efforts which were made in the reporting year on the part of the prison. What further steps can the Governor take to address the availability and use of drugs in the prison?
Governor / Director
Sudbury (2023)
The Board’s observations are that the prison’s ongoing challenges of preventing the entry of illicit items seem to indicate a lack of human and technological resources to combat and discourage this behaviour. Will it be possible to address this in future resourcing allocation processes?
HMPPS
Bullingdon (2023)
The level of availability of illegal substances in the prison has remained high. Are there further measures which the Prison Service could take to reduce this level of availability?
HMPPS
Wymott (2024)
The Board recognises the work that the prison is doing to tackle the influx of drugs into the prison (see section 4.5), however what more can be done to mitigate against this?
Governor / Director
Wormwood Scrubs (2024)
What plans are in place to address and reduce the availability of illicit substances in the prison?
Governor / Director
Maidstone (2024)
Articulate a clear plan to reduce the prevalence of drugs within the prison estate, both from a demand and supply perspective, and provide guidance and resources for prisons to tackle this endemic problem.
HMPPS
Gartree (2024)
Will the Governor continue to push for improvements to the security systems, to help prevent the influx of illicit items through the gate and/or via drones, etc? What additional steps is the Governor taking to reduce the importation of illicit items, including drugs and mobile phones?
Governor / Director
Bedford (2024)
The insistence on providing additional maths and English places, at the expense of art and music, does not appear to recognise the elective nature of a prison where most inmates are on remand or the relationship between drug use and more attractive alternative activities. How will the Prison Service resolve this issue?
HMPPS
Werrington (2025)
What further steps will be taken to prevent illicit items (particularly cannabis) entering the prison and being passed among young people?
Governor / Director
Wealstun (2025)
What will the Minister do to help tackle the increasing rates of illicit substances entering the prison and support the prison service in this work?
Other
Bedford (2025)
What actions will be taken to make the strategy [drug and alcohol rehabilitation] more effective?
Governor / Director
Moorland (2020)
Can resources be provided to enable sufficient provision of programmes to allow prisoners to progress towards successful resettlement?
HMPPS
Kirkham (2020)
Urgently identify and provide new office accommodation for the drug service and Custody to Work teams, whose current premises are slated for demolition.
Governor / Director
Foston Hall (2020)
The cessation of the CARE (choices, actions, relationships, emotions) offending behaviour programme is a serious loss in provision for women prisoners (see paragraph 7.3.5).
HMPPS
Birmingham (2020)
Strategies are in place inside the prison to manage bullying behaviour and address the seemingly endless cycle of debt and resulting violence. How will the minister communicate to other departments the need for corresponding measures in the community, to reduce the influence of urban street gangs and organised crime gangs?
Ministry of Justice
Erlestoke (2021)
What steps are proposed to alleviate this national tragedy?
Ministry of Justice
Bullingdon (2021)
There continues to be a problem with the availability and use of drugs. This is despite the strenuous efforts which were made in the reporting year on the part of the prison, including the greater use of sniffer dogs, the screening and copying of incoming mail, the installation of a body scanner for prisoners in reception, and the installation of …
Governor / Director
Gartree (2024)
What preventive measures are being taken to intercept and prevent frequent drone incursions, which deliver dangerous illicit items?
HMPPS
Frankland (2024)
What is being done to reduce the availability of drugs in the prison?
Governor / Director
Five Wells (2024)
The Board remains concerned about the ingress of illicit items into the prison. Can more robust methods of detection be authorised?
HMPPS
Lindholme (2025)
The Board asks that the Minister consider in what ways national resources could be deployed to provide additional support and resources to the prison in dealing with the serious ingress of illicit drugs, which is affecting its function as a training prison.
Ministry of Justice
Leicester (2025)
What actions can HMPPS take to support the prison in effectively reducing the amount of drugs coming in? For example, inhibiting access by drones by replacement of opening windows with ones with vents?
HMPPS
Erlestoke (2025)
Is access to nicotine replacement therapy being considered, given the high incidence of issues relating to vapes (especially debt)?
NHS / Healthcare Provider
Brixton (2025)
This was to have been the reporting period in which Brixton changed from a category C resettlement prison to a category B primarily serving the courts. Preparations for this change have impeded work to reduce reoffending within the nine pathways: in particular mental health, substance misuse, education and vocational training. Will the Minister take note that this falls short of …
Other