Britain's drug policies could be wasting billions

The UK spends £3bn each year fighting drugs. But we've little idea if much of it is achieving anything
Ruth Runciman, Chair of the UK Drug Policy Commission (UKDPC)
The Guardian (UK)
Monday, October 15, 2012

runcimanDespite the successes of recent years, there are still approximately 2,000 drug-related deaths in the UK every year. Nearly 400,000 people have serious drug problems and the annual cost to society is estimated to be about £15bn. There is little or no evidence to support much of current expenditure on law enforcement and education in schools. We spend billions a year without knowing if it does any good. In boom years this was objectionable; now it is unsustainable.