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Tackling Problem Drug Use.
Rand Health Quarterly
|January 14, 2017
Summary
The UK's drug strategy effectively addresses drug treatment and crime but needs more detail on intervention delivery. A narrower focus on harms carries risks, impacting families and communities.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Health Services Research
- Policy Analysis
Background:
- The UK Government's 2008 drug strategy, 'Drugs: Protecting Families and Communities,' aims to tackle problem drug use.
- A value-for-money study by the National Audit Office (NAO) examines the strategy's effectiveness, focusing on local delivery.
- RAND Europe conducted a literature review to inform the NAO study.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the capacity and capability of local authorities in delivering services to tackle problem drug use.
- To review the evidence base underpinning the UK's drug strategy.
- To evaluate the value for money of the drug strategy's implementation.
Main Methods:
- Literature review on problem drug use.
- Evidence base review (literature and data) supporting the drug strategy.
- Analysis of local delivery authorities' capacity and capability.
Main Results:
- The strategy's narrower focus on significant harms presents both benefits and drawbacks.
- Robust evidence supports the strategy regarding drug treatment and drug-related crime.
- Gaps exist in evidence for other topics, with challenges in linking evidence to intervention and service delivery.
Conclusions:
- While strong in specific areas, the drug strategy requires enhanced detail and context for broader application.
- The focus on significant harms needs careful consideration of associated risks.
- Improving the link between evidence and practical service delivery is crucial for tackling problem drug use effectively.
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