NEWS AND MEDIA
Discussion around drug policy is often polarised by commentators who are branded as 'hard' or 'soft' on drugs. We hope that our work contributes to a more informed debate, based on evidence of what works, what doesn't work and what shows promise.
We provide information to journalists researching issues in drug policy, with relevant evidence, and interviews with UKDPC spokespeople.
Contact Leo Barasi on: +44 (0)20 7812 3792 or, out of hours, on: +44 (0)7988 054241, email lbarasi[at]ukdpc.org.uk
RECENT MEDIA COVERAGE
- 25 Jan 2012: The Sketch: The war on drugs? There's no fight Branson can't win - The Independent
- 21 Jan 2012: Richard Branson expected to tell MPs: it's time to end the war on drugs - The Observer
- 19 Jan 2012: Drugs inquiry to hear evidence from Richard Branson - The Guardian
- 13 Jan 2012: Leveson lobby - Drink and Drug News
- 01 Dec 2011: Interview on the Lib Dem motion on drug policy reform - Radio Radicale.it
- 24 Nov 2011: Let's have an honest discussion about drug use - The Independent
- 20 Nov 2011: Drugs Policy: Why ex-policy makers break the drugs taboo - Huffington Post
- 17 Nov 2011: The fire next time - The Economist
- 26 Oct 2011: Mephedrone users told they are playing Russian roulette - The Independent
- 25 Oct 2011: 'Legal highs' should be automatically banned, say government drugs adviser - The Guardian
- 25 Oct 2011: ACMD recommends tougher 'legal highs' legislation - Drink and Drug News
- 20 Oct 2011: In drugs, pragmatism is the only moral approach - The Independent
- 18 Oct 2011: Morality and the law: an interview with the UK Drug Policy Commission - The Free Society
- 14 Oct 2011: UK government's official drugs advisers want to decriminalize all personal drug use - Fox News
- 12 Oct 2011: Drugs policing to be disproportionately affected by cuts - Drink and Drug News
- 11 Oct 2011: Police 'express alarm' over cuts impact on tackling drugs - The Guardian
- 03 Oct 2011: Is UK drug law reform a realistic ambition for the Lib Dems? - Drink and Drug News
- 22 Sep 2011: Liberal Democrats - fighting the fear of talking about drugs - BMJ blogs
- 14 Sep 2011: Experts back Lib Dem drug vote - politics.co.uk
- 13 Sep 2011: Experts back Liberal Democrat calls for drugs decriminalisation - The Guardian
- 18 Aug 2011: Selling regulation - article by David Blakey in Police Professional (£)
- 28 Jun 2011: How to cut the harm from drugs - letter in the Independent
- 28 Jun 2011: Years on drugs - letter in the Daily Telegraph
- 21 Jun 2011: Sentencing Bill: Drug users still need more practical help - article on Left Foot Forward
- 25 May 2011: Is there a solution to the UK's 'legal high' drugs problem? - BBC News
- 19 May 2011: Use consumer protection legislation to control 'legal highs', government urged - Drink and Drugs News
- 16 May 2011: Cameron must seize this chance to rethink drugs - Evening Standard
- 16 May 2011: Drug bans 'will lead to more harm' - Metro
- 16 May 2011: Legal high battle shows need for drugs policy rethink - The Guardian
- 15 May 2011: Misuse of drugs act 'should be reviewed' - BBC News
- 15 May 2011: Drug laws: 40 years on, only a complete change of approach will do - The Observer
- 15 May 2011: Drug laws and bans on legal highs 'do more harm than good' - The Observer
- 16 Apr 2011: Rod and rehab - letter in the Spectator
PRESS RELEASES
- 12 Jan 2012: Examine press coverage of illegal drug use, Leveson urged
- 25 Oct 2011: Drug law reform proposals welcomed
- 11 Oct 2011: Survey warns of pressures on drugs policing
- 15 May 2011: Drug bans outdated for new highs
- 09 Feb 2011: Scotland getting serious about stigma and recovery
- 04 Feb 2011: By their fruits... Applying payment by results to drugs recovery
- 17 Dec 2010: Tackle stigma or drug strategy will fail: study reveals widespread stigma is barrier to recovery
- 07 Dec 2010: Commission calls for rethink on proposals on the role and membership of the ACMD
- 24 Aug 2010: Extreme social stigma holds back drug recovery
- 26 Jul 2010: Drug services must adapt to needs of diverse communities to reduce harm
- 21 May 2010: Drug policy: time for change in both USA and UK
- 21 Apr 2010: Time to rethink our drug control laws
- 19 Mar 2010: Commission calls for a new category for drug control
- 07 Jan 2010: Commission wins grant to examine drug shame
- 26 Nov 2009: Hidden cost to families of Britain's drug problem is £1.8 billion
- 30 Jul 2009: Focus on drug harms not just drug arrests, says independent Commission
- 03 Jun 2009: UK Drug Policy Commission's run extended to 2012
- 17 Dec 2008: Employer concerns and stigma jeopardise plans to get recovering drug users into jobs
- 30 Jul 2008: Reducing ‘collateral damage’ likely to have more impact than big drug hauls
- 16 Apr 2008: Head of Barclays becomes Honorary President of UK Drug Policy Commission
- 17 Mar 2008: Prison risks doing more harm than good for the rehabilitation of drug users
- 28 Jan 2008: New Commissioner brings leading expertise in health economics
- 24 Jul 2007: Government's drug consultation hampered by lack of proper evaluation
- 12 Jul 2007: Initial response to the Social Justice Policy Group's Breakthrough Britain report
- 18 Apr 2007: Launch of the UK Drug Policy Commission
