In 2019, the CDPRG commissioned a nationally representative survey with YouGov to understand the British public’s perceptions of UK drug policy.
The results found that 79% of the British Public do not believe the Government is dealing well with the country’s drug problems. Furthermore, the very premise of the UK’s zero-tolerance approach to drugs was brought into question with 76% deeming the threat of criminal punishments as not effective at deterring drug use. 70% also felt that current UK drug policy has been unsuccessful at reducing the harm done by drug abuse. It is in the light of these findings that we launch this call for evidence for our ‘Young People and Drugs’ project today.
This new project, launching on International Youth Day 2020, commits to shedding light and extracting data on current gaps in our understanding of the issues that affect young people in relation to substances. Reducing these gaps in our collective knowledge is key to producing policy recommendations that can better protect our children and teens, reducing the potential to slip through the cracks and into dangers that persist within the framework of current approaches to drug control.
The CDPRG want UK drug policy to truly:
Protect young people;
Deliver better health and social outcomes for families and communities; and
Reduce drug-related harms.
To achieve these goals, drug policy must be evidence-based.
This call for evidence therefore seeks to explore the prevalence and nature of drug use among young people in the UK and how UK drug policy and services can better safeguard young people from harm; as the demographic who should benefit most from of any potential changes to UK drug policy.
The call is open to any and all groups and individuals and we encourage all parties to participate.
EVIDENCE SOUGHT
Please provide your written submission to any or all of the following areas of interest below.
Areas of interest:
1. Prevalence and nature of controlled drug use (including misuse of prescription medications) among young people in the UK. Comparisons to international data are welcome.
2. How accessible drugs are to young people and how drug use is perceived.
3. Short and long-term physical and psychological effects of different controlled substances and to what extent risk changes with age.
4. How UK drug policy and policing impacts young people and how it could be improved to better safeguard young people from harm.
5. Descriptions and evidence of intervention programs and treatment responses aimed at young people. Comparisons to international programs also welcome.
HOW TO RESPOND
Email your written submission to Senior Researcher Amber Moore ([email protected]).
There is no word limit to submissions, and they can be supplemented or informed by discussions with our research team. If you would like to explore taking part, don’t hesitate to get in touch.
The provisional closing date is 5pm on 12 November 2020. The CDPRG expects to provide a final report with recommendations in early 2021.