New ADPH policy on drugs

Tomorrow marks the 52nd anniversary of the Misuse of Drugs Act (1971).

Substance use continues to create public health challenges across the UK, causing harm to individuals, families, and communities. The number of substance related deaths registered in England and Wales has increased since 2019 from 4,393 to 4,561 with highest rates of death in those aged 45 to 49 years and it is estimated that alcohol and substance use costs the UK £21 billion.

Directors of Public Health and their teams commission a range of services to prevent, treat and reduce the harm caused by substance use. In our newly revised policy position statement, we are urging the Government to recognise the impact of substance use on wider measures such as child protection, crime reduction and hospital admission and ensure that substance use services focus on outcomes including:

• harm reduction
• social integration
• recovery
• tackling vulnerability
• safeguarding and exploitation