ABSTRACT
Many diverse factors have influenced the evolution of policy regarding the treatment of people with drug-related problems in the UK. Opiate dependence was first seen as a problem in the UK at the turn of the century. Prior to this time there had been little evidence of morphine or heroin dependence, with opiates readily available in medications used to relieve pain or promote sleep. Drugs regulations sought to exert further restrictions over ‘controlled drugs’ in the UK. In England and Wales the White Paper ‘Tackling Drugs Together’ continues the new, more coordinated approach for services dealing with drug-related problems which had been evident in UK Action on Drug Misuse. Statistics, however, are available from the customs, police and criminal justice system with relative ease. Numbers of arrests, drug-related crimes and seizures of supply are readily accessible and the availability of this evidence may reflect the relative power of enforcement strategies in government policy.
