A few aspects of British drug policies — an outside view

Abstract

Who has the authority to define and control addicition? The ‘British system’ was often seen as a medically oriented response, although the distinction between ‘treatment’ and ‘control’ was in reality often very blurred. During the 1970s the annual rise in the numbers of new addicts was relatively small and it was generally believed that the UK had finally brought the spread of drug use under control. This picture changed in the 1980s when drug use increased considerably. The Government's Central Funding Initiative had increased the accessibility of services and had re-shaped the helping scene. Similar changes are currently taking place in the Criminal Funding Initiative.