Website of the Department of Health

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Drug misuse

The Department of Health is the lead Government department for drug treatment policy, guidance and funding. The Department also helps deliver Government campaigns on drugs, such as FRANK and sponsors the National Treatment Agency, a special health authority (created by the Government in 2001) with responsibility for the effective delivery of drug treatment services.

The Home Office leads on tackling drug crime and has overall responsibility for delivering the Government’s Drug Strategy in partnership with other Government Departments, including the Department of Health.

You can find out more information about Department of Health work on drug misuse in the pages below.

Facts and Figures

Key facts and figures on drug treatment.

Facts and Figures

Drug Strategy

The ten-year drug strategy (2008-2018) aims to restrict the supply of illegal drugs and reduce the demand for them. It focuses on protecting families and strengthening communities. While the Home Office has overall responsibility for delivery of the strategy, the Department of Health is responsible for drug treatment aspects of the strategy.

Further information on the Drug Strategy

Drug Misuse Campaigns

The Department of Health helps deliver public awareness campaigns on drugs, such as FRANK.

Drug Misuse Campaigns

Drug Treatment Funding

The Government has made substantial investment in drug treatment with £604 million being spent in 2008/09.

Drug Treatment Funding

Treatment Guidelines

To support improvements in the quality of drug treatment, in 2007 the Department of Health together with the other UK administrations published updated Guidelines on the Clinical Management of Drug Dependence.

Treatment Guidelines

Treatment Services and Advice

Find further information on the delivery of local drug treatment, types of treatment and drugs advice.

Treatment Services and Advice

Cannabis

The Government is tackling cannabis use through a package of measures as part of its Drug Strategy.

Cannabis

Prison and Offender Drug Treatment

The Department of Health is providing significant extra funding to raise the standard of drug treatment in prisons. Drug-using offenders are being targeted through a range of programmes.

Prison and Offender Drug Treatment

Reducing drug deaths and blood-borne viruses

The Department of Health and the National Treatment Agency launched a Harm Reduction Action Plan in 2007 to further reduce the number of people dying from drug overdoses or contracting blood-borne viruses through injecting themselves with dirty needles.