The government is driving a ‘devastating public health crisis’, says drug policy reformer
The Tories have stayed committed to their ‘war on drugs’ policy, despite the fact that it’s not protecting people or saving lives. And now, under a Conservative-led government, drug-related deaths have reached a record high, according to new figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
The figures
The ONS data shows that there were 3,756 drug-related deaths in 2017. This is a 37% increase since the Conservatives came into power in 2010. Deaths related to morphine or heroin have risen by 30% while those involving cocaine have soared by 200%.
Health issues relating to drug use have also been increasing. As The Canary previously reported, there is an HIV outbreak in Scotland, related to heroin use.
The effects of government policy
The National AIDS Trust (NAT) argued that the government’s opposition to drug consumption rooms (DCRs) has made the situation in Scotland worse.
Niamh Eastwood, executive director of drug policy reform group Release, says the government’s position on DCRs also makes it difficult to tackle the problem of drug-related deaths. She argues the government is:
driving this devastating public health crisis by punishing people for their drug use instead of implementing compassionate, evidence-based policies.
Eastwood adds that austerity is playing a role too:
Read on...
Support us and go ad-freeThe government has also slashed funding to essential treatment services, leaving thousands of people left at the mercy of a postcode lottery as to whether their local authorities will provide the support that they need.
Theresa May, on the other hand, is committed to what she sees as tough law enforcement. As she commented back in November 2017, “it is right that we continue to fight the war against drugs,” due to “the incredible damage [drugs] can do to families and the individuals concerned”.
David Jamieson, the West Midlands Police & Crime Commissioner, said these figures on drug-related deaths are “tragic”. If we want to reduce harm, he believes, then offering drug testing services should be part of the solution.
Get Involved!
– Read more articles from The Canary on drug policy.
– Join us, so we can keep holding the powerful to account.
Featured image via Pixabay / B_A
Support us and go ad-freeWe know everyone is suffering under the Tories - but the Canary is a vital weapon in our fight back, and we need your support
The Canary Workers’ Co-op knows life is hard. The Tories are waging a class war against us we’re all having to fight. But like trade unions and community organising, truly independent working-class media is a vital weapon in our armoury.
The Canary doesn’t have the budget of the corporate media. In fact, our income is over 1,000 times less than the Guardian’s. What we do have is a radical agenda that disrupts power and amplifies marginalised communities. But we can only do this with our readers’ support.
So please, help us continue to spread messages of resistance and hope. Even the smallest donation would mean the world to us.
