Drugs
Treatment
A major part of our strategies to reduce illegal drug misuse and combat drug-related crime is to help as many problem drug users into treatment as possible.
While illicit drug use is widespread, the majority of people who use drugs don’t turn into problematic drug misusers. Approximately 250-300,000 people can develop addictions, mostly involving heroin, crack and cocaine.
Evidence shows that treatment is the most effective way of tackling drug misuse and reducing the amount of drug-related crime, by helping users get off and stay off illegal drugs. The National Treatment Agency (new window) and the Department of Health (new window) are the departments responsible for drug treatment policy.
Facts and figures
- £1 spent on treatment saves £9 in criminal justice costs
- 2.4 week waiting time for treatment - the lowest ever
- 72% of individuals successfully completed treatment, up from 57% previous year
- 99% of health authorities have needle exchange programmes
- 27 million needles and syringesare exchanged each year
(Source: Drug Strategy Key Facts, March 2005)
