LOOK TO THE FUTURE: DRUG STRATEGY AND RELATED CONSULTATION PAPERS

The coalition government's first drug strategy – Reducing demand, restricting supply, building recovery: supporting people to live a drug-free life – sets out its overarching vision and is thus only 26 pages, the intention being that the fine details are set out in consultation papers from relevant government departments. We list these below, not only so you can identify what changes are coming and how they will affect you, but also so that readers can contribute their own views, evidence and experiences – do check deadline dates, some of which are early January!

Read Addiction Today's summary of the Drug Strategy here:
Download AddictionToday128-Drug Strategy

The Drug Strategy

The related Impact Assessment document

Healthy Lives, Healthy People: Our strategy for public health in England was released on 30 November 2010 and sees the creation of Public Health England and ringfenced local budgets

Breaking the cycle: Effective punishment, rehabilitation and sentencing of offenders from the Ministry of Justice includes proposals on drug recovery wings in prisons and to work with others on intensive community-based treatment

Liberating the NHS, a white paper released by the Department of Health last October

NHS constitution & whistle blowing

With the drug strategy devolving commissioning power to local communities, keep up with developments in the Localism Bill

The Police Reform & Social Responsibility Bill started its passage through parliament on 30 November

The Mental Health Strategy is expected in early 2011 – watch our website for details.

There is also the Compact agreement between government and ‘civil society organisations’ which promises “equal treatment across sectors when tendering for contracts”, “transparency by providing a clear rationale for all funding”, “multi-year funding” and “payment in advance... should be considered”.