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Drugs and drug treatment. An introduction. Harry Shapiro. Director of Communications and Information DrugScope. What is DrugScope?. UK’s main drug information charity since 1968 UK’s largest drug sector membership organisation
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Drugs and drug treatment An introduction
Harry Shapiro Director of Communications and Information DrugScope
What is DrugScope? • UK’s main drug information charity since 1968 • UK’s largest drug sector membership organisation • Main point of call for media comment and background on drugs issues • The DMZ
The 1980s • Recession • Iranian revolution • Smokeable heroin (UK) • Smokeable cocaine (US)
Drug headlines • Overall illegal drug in the UK has been relatively stable for the past ten years • Cocaine powder is the exception • Price and purity levels of most drugs coming down • But new market in ‘home-grown’ cannabis producing a stronger product • Heroin and crack present the most problems for society as a whole • Heroin population growing older • Drug problems of younger people – cannabis, alcohol, cocaine • New drugs – ketamine, GBL, legal highs
Ecstasy Cannabis Amphetamine Heroin Methadone Cocaine and crack LSD Mushrooms Solvents GHB Ketamine Methamphetamine Tranquillisers GBL Spice Methadrone Salvia BZP INTERNET The next level?
Prescription drugs 1 Subutex [Buprenorphine] Morphgesic[Morphine] DF118 [Dihydrocodeine] Temgesic [Buprenorphine] Physeptone [Methadone] Ritalin
Prescription drugs II Codeine Valoid [Cyclizine] Diazepam Temazepam Prozac Viagra illicit Viagra pharmacuetical
Drug treatment – the headlines • 200,000 in treatment out of estimated problem drug using population of 320,000 (heroin/crack) in England • Typical profile – white, male heroin user in early thirties • Three times more men in treatment than women • Most common referral routes – self 40%; criminal justice 27% • Waiting times down to less than than three weeks for most modalities • More than three-quarters of clients stayed in treatment for twelve weeks or more
Types of drug services • Advice and information • Harm reduction • Community prescribing • Counselling and psycho-social support • Structured day programmes • Detox • Rehab • Self-help
Some current issues • Abstinence v Harm Reduction • Recovery • Welfare Reform • Independent Safeguarding Authority
Further information • www.drugscope.org.uk • Info@drugscope.org.uk