This story in the Independent reminds me that I’d, kindly, been sent the link to the DCSF targets, which I forgot to write up when it was sent to me.
The section on drugs says:
The Home Office (HO) has overall responsibility for the Drugs Strategy and accountability for related targets. The Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) along with the rest of government, is working hard to help individuals and communities overcome drug misuse. The HO and the DCSF are jointly responsible for the target’s delivery, with the DCSF taking lead responsibility on policy.
This target has been rolled forward into the Spending Review 2004 period. The DCSF leads policy on this target and shares responsibility with the HO for the target’s delivery.
The report goes on to say:
Reduce the harm caused by drugs by:
Reducing the use of Class A drugs and the frequent use of any illicit drug among all young people under the age of 25, especially by the most vulnerable group.
Class A drug use amongst young people:
Baseline: 8.6% (British Crime Survey 1998)
Latest outturn against trend: 8.0% (British Crime Survey 2006-07)
Latest Assessment - Slippage
Frequent drug use by young people:
Baseline:11.6% (British Crime Survey 2002-03)
Latest outturn against trend: 8.4% (British Crime Survey 2006-07)
Latest Assessment - On course
Frequent drug use by vulnerable young people:
Baseline: 21.2% (2003)
Latest outturn against trend: 11.0% (2006 Schools Survey)
Latest Assessment - On course
Class A drug use by vulnerable young people:
Baseline: 14.1% (2003)
Latest outturn against trend: 14.0% (2006 Schools Survey)
Latest Assessment - Slippage
Filed under: Government
Its perhaps unsuprising that targets on Class A drugs are at risk of slippage when we remember that not only does this legal category contain heroin and crack, but also more (socially) normalised drugs as ecstasy, powdered cocaine, mushrooms, and LSD.