LONDON BOROUGH'S PLAN

London Borough's Plan for Reducing Drug - Related Harm in Public

Table of Contents

Introduction1

Discussion2

Local Needs2

Drug Market4

Drug Market And Distribtion Network5

Current Services7

Tier 19

Tier 29

Tier 39

Tier 410

Services Gaps10

Recommendations13

References16

London Borough's Plan for Reducing Drug - Related Harm in Public

Introduction

Alcohol misuse is considered to be an implication for people, societies, and public of cross cutting implications. The misuse of alcohol accounts for around ten percent of the U.K. disease burden and it is surpassed by the level of high blood pressure and tobacco to which alcohol is a significant factor of contribution. The death rate per year in England is twenty thousand because of substance misuse and the rate is rising rapidly. Also, it is associated with range of conditions such as alcoholic liver disease, different cancers, high blood pressure, coronary heart disease, stroke, depression, and level of anxiety among people. In addition, the crime rate per year is 12 million criminal activities with alcohol and it is a factor in sixty to seventy percent of homicides, seventy five percent of stabbings, seventy percent of beatings, fifty percent of fights and domestic assaults, six percent of road casualties, and seventeen percent of road accidents that occur when driver crossed the legal limit for driving (Manning et al. 2009: pp. 377-389).

The paper will look at the extent of the alcohol misuse issue in Camden and the government strategies for improving the condition of drug addicts in Camden. As the selected borough of London is Camden, it is recognized by the government that healthy and productive workplaces, safe conditions while working, and environment free from the impacts of drugs and alcohols are essential for employees and general public of Camden (mindincamden.org.uk). It is also recognized that the drug abuse creates several issues at workplaces that include increased injuries on job, increase in absenteeism, enhanced financial burden on health and benefit programs, and a reduction in the quality of products and services.

Discussion

Local Needs

Camden has a young and mobile population. Just over 60% of its population (an estimated total of 227,500 people) are under 40 years old - and population turnover is high, particularly due to its large student population. Nationally the highest prevalence of drug use is in the 20-35 age groups - but this age group is least likely to be engaged in treatment (only 6% of 18-24 year olds, 118 people, were engaged in treatment in 2006-07). This places a greater emphasis on Camden to vigorously target this young population within this strategy (NHS Camden and London Borough of Camden Council 2010).

Drug use is a serious problem in Camden. The borough has approximately 4,444 adult problematic (opiate and/or crack) drug users according to Home Office estimates. Rates of opiate use in Camden are the second highest in London and rates of crack use are the third highest in London. Nearly 40% of Camden's estimated drug users were engaged in treatment during 2007/2008. We do have some evidence that there is a willingness to manage drug use risk, but a disinclination to ...