marcus roberts director of policy and membership drugscope the new politics of drug policy where...
TRANSCRIPT
Marcus Roberts
Director of Policy and Membership
DrugScope
The new politics of drug policyWhere next?
New times ….?
‘All that is solid melts to air, all that is holy is profaned’
Marx and Engels, Communist Manifesto
Revolution in the air?(Eg CJS Green Paper) ‘fundamentally flawed’
‘a fatalistic philosophy of targets, process and maintenance’
‘poor prevention and education programmes’
‘return power to local communities’
‘purposeful and focused systems with rehabilitation and full recovery at their heart’
A balanced systemDrug Strategy Consultation 2010 Over 210,000 people in treatment and ‘we
want to build on this’
‘We recognise that drug addiction is a complex disorder … whilst reducing harm is an important component of treatment, promoting and supporting recovery and a drug-free lifestyle is the ultimate aim.’
‘The one thing that does not change is that at any and every time it appears that there have been “great changes”’
Marcel Proust, Remembrance of Things Past
‘The goal of all treatment is for users to achieve abstinence’
‘Too many drug users … stay in treatment far too long before reestablishing their lives’
‘a radical new focus on services to help drug users to re-establish their lives’
Drugs: Protecting Families and Communities (2008)
‘Rehabilitation Revolution’ ‘pay independent providers to reduce
reoffending’
Ministry of Justice/Social Finance Ltd
SOCIAL INVESTMENT BONDS – pay a return to investors if their investment yields reduced offending
Announced by … Jack Straw … signed off by … Labour
The new politics ….?
Ch-ch-ch-ch-Changes(Turn and face the strain)Ch-ch-ChangesWhere's your shameYou've left us up to our necks in it
… Oh, look out you rock 'n rollersDavid Bowie - Changes
Wind of change Spending Review
Public health service
Localism
Payment by results
Big Society
Making an impact
Recovery, re-integration, cooperation Cost-benefit. Focus on the worst off.
More for less? Balance and the evidence base Thinking local, Big Society, VCS and
voice Workforce development
‘don't speak too soonFor the wheel's still in spin’
Bob Dylan, Times they are a-changin
Marcus Roberts
Director of Policy and Membership
DrugScope
Tel: 020 7529 7556
E-mail: [email protected]
DrugScope website: www.drugscope.org.uk