Appendix D

 

Drug and Alcohol Misuse

 

The consumption of alcohol must be addressed because it increases substantially the risks of people becoming involved in criminal and disorderly behaviour, as well as leading to underachievement at work or school, and poor health which may lead to additional problems in later life.

 

Alcohol is classified as a legal drug but there are a number of drugs that are illegal and this need addressing as well. Under the auspices of the United Kingdom Anti-Drugs Co-ordination Unit, an Isle of Wight Drugs Action Team has been set up to reduce the dependence on illegal drugs and it is this Team that will lead the drug part of this priority

 

Findings

Home Office

 

Alcohol misuse contributes significantly to crime levels, through –

 

·        Alcohol specific offences; for example being drunk and disorderly in public

·        Offences against the licensing laws; such as selling or serving alcohol to under-age drinkers, or,

·        Offences committed under the influence of alcohol; it has been estimated that 40% of violent crime, 78% of assaults and 88% of criminal damage cases are committed while the offender is under the influence of alcohol. Offenders, and victims, prior to the offence being committed often consume alcohol, and it is inextricably linked to disorder around licensed premises. In addition, fear of alcohol related violence or intimidation might well mean that large numbers of people avoid town centres on weekend evenings.

 

Drug misuse contributes significantly to crime levels, through –

 

·        18% of offenders of violent incidents are judged to be under the influence of drugs.

·        Research on drug misuse reported that around half young people aged 16 to 24 try drugs at some point in their lives and that cannabis is most widely consumed drug by all age groups.

 

Isle of Wight College

 

From a recent survey carried out by Public Services Year 1 Course 2000/2001 of 1,846 young people: -

·        Drugs were thought to be the third most common crime after Theft and Vandalism

·        35.7% admitted to have taken an illegal substance

·        49.7% knew somebody who dealt in illegal substances

 

Examples of Good Practice on the Isle of Wight

 

Arrest Referral Scheme

 

The aim of Arrest Referral is to use arrest as a key point at which to invite the individual to address his or her drugs misuse, including onward referral to appropriate treatment and/or other services.

 

Isle of Wight Objectives

 

 

Targets

 

  1. To reduce the proportion of people under the age of 25 reporting use of illegal drugs in the last month and previous year substantially, and to reduce the proportion of young people using heroin and cocaine by 25% by 2005 and by 50% by 2008
  2. To reduce levels of repeat offending amongst drug misusing offenders by 25% by 2005 and by 50% by 2008
  3. To increase the participation of problem drug misusers, including prisoners, in drug treatment programmes which have a positive impact on health and crime by 66% by 2005 and by 100% by 2008
  4. To reduce access to all drugs amongst young people (under 25) significantly, and to reduce access to drugs which cause the greatest harm, particularly heroin and cocaine, by 25% by 2005 and by 50% by 2008
  5. To increase the number of problem drug misusers in drug treatment programmes by 15% in 2002/2003, on 2001/2002 baseline
  6. To undertake a research project to obtain baseline data in order to inform future planning by December 2002
  7. To undertake a feasibility study of setting up an alcohol referral scheme similar to the current drug referral scheme by April 2003
  8. To reduce crimes committed to finance the drug use, mainly domestic burglary and shoplifting by 6% and 2% respectively, during 2002-2003.