Tackling Problem Drug Use

The National Audit Office (NAO) is conducting a value-for-money study on the UK Government's 2008 drug strategy, ("the Strategy"). The NAO study, , focuses in particular on local delivery authorities' capacity and capability to effectively tackle problem drug use (PDU) through delivery of local services. To inform the NAO's value-for-money study, RAND Europe performed a literature review on problem drug use and reviewed the evidence base, both literature and data, underpinning the Strategy. One of the key findings is that the narrower focus in the UK on most significant harms may be useful, but also carries risks and drawbacks. In addition, we find that the Strategy draws on robust evidence in the area of drug treatment and drug-related crime; however, other topics would benefit from further context or detail, and in places it is difficult to relate the evidence base to implications for intervention and delivery of services.