Sumnall, Harry (2022) Encouraging a ‘generational shift’ in the UKs relationship with drugs. A commentary on the new UK drug strategy. What can be achieved with drug prevention? International Journal of Drug Policy, 109, 103841. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugpo.2022.103841.
External website: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/...
The UK Government's recent 10-year Drug Strategy, From Harm to Hope (the Strategy), presents an ambition to “achieve a generational shift in the country's relationship with drugs and to reduce overall drug use towards a historic 30-year low” through “bold steps to change attitudes in society around the perceived acceptability of illegal drug use”. In this commentary, I focus on the potential impacts of drug prevention activity outlined in the Strategy and consider the feasibility of achieving this headline outcome considering constraints on UK prevention systems. Here, drug prevention is defined as those policies, programmes and practices intended to reduce the initiation, continuation, and escalation of drug use. Whilst prevention is relevant across the life course and different profiles of substance use, this commentary primarily focuses on young (aged < 25) “non-dependent, so-called recreational drug users” who report the highest rates of drug use.
J Health care, prevention, harm reduction and treatment > Prevention programme or service
J Health care, prevention, harm reduction and treatment > Prevention approach
MP-MR Policy, planning, economics, work and social services > Policy > Policy on substance use
MP-MR Policy, planning, economics, work and social services > Programme planning, implementation, and evaluation > Programme planning (strategy)
VA Geographic area > Europe > United Kingdom
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