| Title: | The National Drug Strategy Symposium: Building on the Past, Solutions for the Future |
| Date: | Tuesday 30th September 2008 |
| Time: | 10:00am – 3:40pm (followed by networking drinks) |
| Venue: | One Whitehall Place, Westminster, London |
“Drug misuse wastes lives, destroys families and damages communities. It costs taxpayers millions to deal with the health problems caused by drugs and to tackle the crimes such as burglary, car theft, mugging and robbery which are committed by some users to fund their habit. The drug trade is linked to serious organised crime, including prostitution and the trafficking of people and firearms. Drugs remain a serious and complex problem that we – along with all modern societies – must face.”
— Hon Jacqui Smith MP, Home Secretary, February 2008
Since the 1998 launch of the ten year drug strategy Tackling Drugs to Build a Better Britain there have been many positive strides in the fight against drugs and the dangers they pose to public health and community safety, but the struggle is by no means over. Although the percentage of people using illicit drugs has declined over the last ten years, the use of dangerous Class A drugs has remained stable, burdening the UK with an estimated £15 billion in economic and social costs, with the proportion of cocaine users actually climbing. The 1998 strategy highlighted the need to improve the accessibility of drug treatment and rehabilitation facilities, with recent statistics indicating notable successes in reducing waiting times and exceeding the targets for participation in programmes.
Building on the progress made in recent years and responding to new concerns, such as the recent explosion of large scale cannabis grow houses, the government has devised a new ten year policy, Drugs: Protecting Families and Communities - the 2008 Drug Strategy, and a 2008-2011 Action Plan. The new package of measures centre’s around four main objectives:
This one-day national symposium, hosted by the Centre for Parliamentary Studies, will provide an invaluable opportunity for stakeholders and local practitioners including police, local authorities and health services to assess the key objectives of the new strategy. Delegates will consider how improved services can be implemented fully and effectively through a coherent partnership approach to begin to finally break the cycle of drug use and associated crime that affects all too many families and communities in this country.
Some of the themes to be addressed at the conference include:
| 09:30 | Registration & Morning Refreshments |
| 10:15 | Chair's Welcome and Introduction |
| 10:30 |
Panel Session One: Building Healthier Communities – Developing Better Drug Prevention Techniques and Supporting Rehabilitation and Reintegration |
| 11:15 | Morning Refreshements |
| 11:30 | Open Floor Discussion & Debate with Panel One |
| 12:30 | Networking Lunch |
| 13:30 |
Panel Session Two: Building Safer Communities – Tackling the Supply of Drugs and Developing Better Enforcement Strategies |
| 14:15 | Afternoon Refreshments |
| 14:30 | Open Floor Discussion & Debate with Panel Two |
| 15:30 | Chair's Summary and Closing Comments |
| 15:40 | Networking Drinks |
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