ABSTRACT
The consumption of illicit drugs receives considerable media attention. Interventions by the police and HM Customs and Excise which are directed at interrupting the drugs trade account for the majority of Government resources devoted to tackling drug-related problems (Sutton and Maynard, 1994). Efforts to reduce the demand for illicit drugs through prevention or treatment receive considerably less financial priority, but factors such as the potential spread of the HIV-virus through drug users sharing needles has had a considerable influence on the numbers and types of services available to those seeking help with drug problems.
