Closed call for evidence

Drug prevention policies and landscape across the UK: query letter (accessible)

Published 5 January 2024

ACMD

Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs

ACMD Chair: Professor Owen Bowden-Jones

ACMD Prevention Committee Secretary: Daniel Komolafe

1st Floor (NE), Peel Building
2 Marsham Street
London
SW1P 4DF

Tel: 020 7035 1121

Email: ACMD@homeoffice.gov.uk

Friday, January 5, 2024

Insight into drug prevention policies and landscape across the UK home nations

Dear Sir or Madam,

The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) has been commissioned by the government to provide advice into drug prevention for young people, supporting the government’s wider 10-Year National Drugs Strategy. The ACMD Prevention Standing Committee has therefore been established to provide advice to the government and aims to publish a report by Spring 2024 consisting of a whole-system response embedded with national and local measures.

As part of the evidence collection for this report, the ACMD seeks to gather insight into current government-led drug prevention measures and the drug prevention landscape across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. This understanding of prevention activities across the home nations will support the ACMD when making possible recommendations regarding effective interventions and service models to promote drug prevention and harm reduction.

Please see guiding questions below that the ACMD would be grateful to be answered.

May I request that your response to this letter be sent to acmd@homeoffice.gov.uk by 13th February 2024.

I look forward to your responses and once again, thank you for agreeing to help.

Yours sincerely,

Professor Owen Bowden-Jones

Chair of the ACMD

Guiding questions

  1. What noteworthy drug prevention measures and activities are being implemented currently in your respective home nation, either at the local, regional, or devolved administrational level?

  2. How would you describe the drug prevention landscape in your respective country? Descriptions could include the level of funding, degree of cross-departmental integration and specialism dedicated to prevention.

  3. What are the significant barriers currently faced for the implementation of effective prevention interventions?

  4. What are the most effective prevention interventions and service models in your home nation and how would you evaluate the impacts?