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Drug classification: making a hash of it? (House of Commons Science and Technology Committee, 2006)This report is a detailed and withering critique of the scientific anomalies within classification system, and the Government agencies that support them. Not only is the scientific basis for ranking certain drugs criticised, but the more fundamental lack of an evidence base for the hierachy of penalties attacked for being based on false assumptions, unevaluated, and producing the opposite outcomes to those it seeks. Transform gave written and oral evidence (here and here) and were quoted was also quoted eight times in the report, as well as having some of our recommendations adopted. The report recieved excellent media coverage - documented in Transform's press release about the report. Download the full report (PDF format) Harm Reduction: Tackling drug use and HIV in the developing world (Department for International Development, 2005)The Governemnt outlines it's support for harm reduction policies to tackle drug use and HIV in the developing world. Download the full report (PDF format) Measuring the harm from illegal drugs using the Drug Harm Index (Home Office Online Report, 2005)The Drug Harm Index (DHI) has been developed to "reduce the harm caused by illegal drugs", which was agreed in the 2004 Spending Review. The DHI incorporates the harms that individuals and society suffer due to drug-related crime, the health impacts arising from drug abuse, and the impact of drug use and dealing on communities. Download the full report (PDF format) The Drug Treatment and Testing Order: early lessons (National Audit Office, 2004)A National Audit report on the effectiveness of Drug Treatment and Testing Orders. Download the full report (PDF format) Strategy Unit Drugs Report (Prime Minister's Stategy Unit, 2003)In 2003 the Number 10 Strategy Unit was commissioned to produce what was initially described as ‘a scoping exercise' on illegal drugs. What emerged in Phase 1 of the reporting process, titled ‘Understanding the Issues' , was a thorough and clinical analysis - by some of the best policy minds in the UK - of the counterproductive effects of national and global drug law enforcement. In December of 2003 Phase II of the report ‘Diagnosis and Recommendations' was produced. It later became known as ‘the Birt report' and its existence was made public by Marie Woolf in the Independent (1). Phase I's critique of supply side interventions was sidelined, and Birt recommended an intensification of demand side measures aimed at ‘gripping high harm causing users (HHCUs) ' in coerced treatment, in order to reduce property crime associated with fundraising to support a habit. This later culminated in the clauses in the new Drugs Act 2005 that mandate (with criminal sanctions including imprisonment) drug testing on arrest for certain trigger offences and mandatory treatment if positive. They were both leaked to the Guardian having been withheld under the Freedom of Information Act in 2005. Download Phase I (PDF format) Transform has produced a briefing on Phase I of the report and released a press release about Phase II. The Government's Drugs Policy: Is it Working? (Home Affairs Select Committee, 2002)At the Home Affairs Select Committee page on the House of Commons web site (linked above) you can read the final report in full, along with committee proceedings, full text of submissions and transcripts of all oral evidence. Transform HASC pages:
The full report is available on the House of Commons website. You can also read the Government's written responce to the report. There was also follow up session that addressed the the issues arising from the then upcoming (April 2003) UN meeting in Vienna, as well as follow up issues regarding the the Government's response to the HASC inquiry report. Modern Policy-Making: Ensuring Policies Deliver Value for Money (National Audit Office, 2001)The NAO's report "Modern Policy-Making: Ensuring Policies Deliver Value for Money" identifies good practice in policy design and implementation by drawing on selected case studies and examples of good practice from departments, local authorities, the private and voluntary sectors. Download the full report (PDF format) HM Customs & Excise: The Prevention of Drug Smuggling (National Audit Office, 1998)Read the press release online. The full document is not available to download however you can purchase the document: Publication date: 15/07/1998 Purchase paper copy from The Stationery Office (£8.15)
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