CURRENT AND FUTURE WORK
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STIGMA & DRUG USE - WHAT'S THE PROBLEM?
Every drug user is someone's daughter or somebody's son, but shame, guilt or fear of being labeled an addict can stop drug users and families seeking help. Previous research has also shown that while support, access to services, jobs and housing are of key importance to sustained recovery sometimes these may be difficult to obtain due to fear, intolerance or misunderstanding on the part of employers, service providers and the general public.
With funding from the Paul Hamlyn Foundation and the Scottish Drugs Recovery Consortium, the UK Drug Policy Commission research project is seeking to identify, for the first time, the scale of discrimination and stigma towards drug users through an examination of public attitudes, media reporting and other analysis. This is the first phase of a research project through which the UKDPC hopes to open up new conversations with stakeholders from a range sectors involved with drug users and their families on the impact of stigma and prejudice and how it might be challenged across all sectors and communities.
To find out more about what UKDPC’s ‘stigma’ project involves read the project outline.
Download the report of the first element of the project 'Sinning and Sinned Against: The stigmatisation of problem drug users " by Charlie Lloyd here.
TAKING DRUGS SERIOUSLY: CONTROLLING NEW DRUGS
UKDPC is joining with thinktank DEMOS to undertake a project looking at possible alternative approaches to tackle emerging psychoactive substances as they appear on the market and protect young people from drug-related harm.
The project will combine an international review of approaches to controlling psychoactive substances with soft-systems workshops and analysis involving a wide range of stakeholders in identifying steps that could be taken to address the issue of emerging use of new synthetic drugs in the UK.
The project is being funded by the AB Charitable Trust.
THE ROLE OF THE FAMILY
Phase one of our Families research has now been concluded. The reports demonstrate the real value of the family contribution to drug treatment and the severity of the costs they incur as a result of a loved one's drug use.
The reports are free to access here.
Phase two of our Familes research is now underway, which will examine the extent and nature of professional family support across the UK and identify models of good practice. The research will provide services and commissioners at both local and national levels with information on gaps in provision and models for developing improved services.
DIVERSITY
The UKDPC has recently completed a project to review what is known about the impact of drugs on diverse communities, including LGBT groups, disabled people and BME communities. The aim of the project was to encourage greater consideration of the needs and challenges of drug problems for minority groups, by bringing together a variety of evidence in one place. The four policy briefings abd the accompanying background research reports can be downloaded here.
Funding for the study was provided by the Home Office and the background research was undertaken for the UKDPC by the Office for Public Management.
OTHER POTENTIAL AREAS OF FOCUS
These may include:
- effective local commissioning of treatment services;
- making criminal justice interventions more effective;
- interventions for vulnerable young people.
