Reducing drug-related youth crime and improving the youth justice system forms an important aspect of the solution to the problems related to use of drugs. In order to solve the problem of drug abuse and drug related crime, the UK government formed a national strategy called the “Drug strategy” in the year 1998 (Home Office, 2007). This strategy was formed for a period of ten years (1998-2008). “The Drug strategy (1998)” is based on a double pronged approach, which lays equal emphasis on both reducing the supply of illegal drugs and reducing their demand by preventing young people from resorting towards using drugs.
This strategy is especially directed towards the most dangerous and addictive drugs, the communities which show higher rates of drug use and the drug users who are at the highest risk of harming themselves and their families (Home Office, 2007). This strategy specially aims towards preventing the youth from using drugs. The drug strategy is responsible for prevention and treatment of Illegal drugs, which are also described as controlled substances. The various levels involved in the implementation of the Drug Strategy Though the UK Home Office has the ultimate responsibility for this strategy, other
departments like the Department for Education and Skills, Department of Health, HRM Revenue & Customs and Foreign & Commonwealth Office are also involved in the implementation and functioning of this strategy (Home Office, 2007). The Home Office controls the functioning of a special health authority called the “National treatment Agency” (NTA), which has been set up improve the drug abuse treatment services in the UK. NTA is a special health Authority that has been set up in the UK to improve the availability and effectiveness of treatment for drug abuse.
At local level drug treatment services are co-ordinated by special bodies called Drug (and alcohol) Action team partnerships [D (A) ATS] or simply as Drug Action teams (DATS). DAT comprises of members belonging to various services like police, Probation Services, prison services, statutory Agencies (housing and education), National health Services provides etc, all of which work in close partnership with one another to in order to assess and provide drug treatment services at local level (Home Office, 2007).
NTA monitors the functioning of local bodies like Drug Action Teams (DAT), Drug and Alcohol Action Teams [DA (AT)], and Community Safety Partnerships. Community Safety Partnerships are formed by merging of Drug Action Teams with Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships (CDRP). These bodies work in partnership with one another in order to help in the implementation of Drug Strategy by maximizing resources and improving overall functioning. (Home Office, 2007).
The Drug strategy was updated in 2002, based on the review of past ten years in order to remove the potential loopholes and flaws from the pre-existing strategy and develop a more focused approach, comprising of easily measured targets (Home Office, 2007). Since then it is known as ‘updated Drug Strategy. ’ The four key components of this strategy are: • Targeting the young people, who are at the highest risk of using drugs and taking steps to prevent them from using drugs. • Provision and treatment and support to the individuals who are using drugs. • Reducing the supply of illegal drugs. • Bringing down the rates of crimes related to drugs.