Drugs, Science and Social Realities: A Fresh Debate

The conference is prompted by the continuing crisis posed by substance abuse and dependency, their far-reaching consequences, and an awareness of the need for further debate and new policy initiatives. There is a widespread impression that the current drug policies in the UK are not working; it is also clear that there are divisions of opinion, especially over the issue of decriminalisation that invoke strongly-felt social, emotional and moral principles. There has been a lack, moreover, of open parliamentarian debate.

The recently published report “A Fresh Approach to Drugs”, published by the UK Drug Policy Commission (the fruit of five years’ investigation) called for progress in the task of “enhancing drug treatment and recovery efforts”, and the prosecution “of members of serious and organised criminal networks.” It also called for fresh debate, based on objective evidence.

The report concludes that a “new approach” must focus “on the twin goals of how society and government can support and enable people to behave responsibly and how they can stimulate and help individuals recover from drug dependence.”

We recommend that participants access the report as appropriate background for our discussions at http://www.ukdpc.org.uk/publication/a-fresh-approach/

The University of Cambridge is well placed to report on advances in the understanding of the neurophysiology and psychopharmacology of substance use and dependence. Hence the first segment of the meeting will be devoted to presentations led by Professor Barry Everitt of the MRC and Wellcome Trust Behavioural and Clinical Neuroscience Institute, University of Cambridge, and a further presentation by Professor Nutt of Imperial College.

In the second segment we report and discuss drug policy initiatives and their outcomes overseas, especially in Europe, and, at the same time, recognise the international nature of the criminal aspect of the problem.

In the third and fourth sections speakers will outline the principal social realities of dealing and dependence: the social and economic contexts; crime, policing, and sentencing; current provision of treatments and rehabilitation.

The final segment will address policies. The UKDPC’s report commented that “drug policy is currently a mix of cautious politics and limited evidence and analysis.” It added that interpretations tend to be “strident and contested”. Basing our concluding discussion on the latest evidence heard in earlier segments (especially from medical-science), we will seek to find common ground in recommendations for fresh approaches.

All enquiries: John Cornwell jc224@cam.ac.uk