200605797

IDENTIFY AND REFLECT ON DRUG CULTURE IN LOCAL

COMMUNITIES TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION WHAT
APPROACHES MIGHT BE USEFUL TO MINIMIZE EFFECTS ON
LOCAL AREAS.

In this assignment I will identify and reflect on drug culture in local

communities, I will also take into consideration what approaches

might be useful to minimize the effects of drug culture in local

areas. To identify drug culture I will review the changing patterns of

drug misuse and changing responses. To establish the

effects drug culture has on local communities I will analyse

information provided by the Home Office and Local Drug Action

Teams. I will consider which communities suffer most from serious

drug problems and look at the reasons for this. I will also identify

what the drug related problems are and how they effect the local

area. I will consider government intervention programmes and

strategies in an attempt to establish which approaches may

minimize the effects of drug culture within local areas.

In 1979 Margaret Thatcher came to power as an ‘unrepentantly

right wing Prime Minister armed with a mission to introduce a

radical programme in economic and social policy’ (Barton, 2003:

23). The changes in parliament in the early 1980’s led to record

levels of unemployment, urban decay, crime and social dislocation.

1
200605797

It is apparent that drug culture and the government’s reaction to it

changed in the 1980’s and 1990’s and there are a number of

reasons for this change. Firstly, problematic drug use continued to

rise despite domestic and international attempts by the

government to control it. Secondly, increased use of heroin

(especially intravenous use) in the early 1980’s created a public

health concern over the transmission of HIV and AIDS. Thirdly, the

rise in popularity of dance music saw an increasing use of

recreational drugs by large numbers of young people (also known

as ‘rave’ or ‘club’ culture). According to Gilman (1999) a further

contributory factor relating to this issue was that drug culture itself

had changed with the ‘advent of recreational drug users’, who

according to Gilman (1999) had knowledge about pharmacology

and therefore knew how to maximise the effects of their chosen

drugs and substances. As this was the case, over the past two

decades drug users saw drugs as an integral part of a number of

cultures for example club and rave culture. (Ibid: 23)

It became fact that many areas within youth culture became openly

associated with substance misuse and in effect drug culture

moved from the margins of society into the mainstream.

In brief, present day drug culture is identified as members of

2
200605797

society directly involved with the misuse of drugs and the drug

related problems this causes . Whilst many illicit drug users do not

face difficulties the fact is that by doing so there is a risk that

problems may occur for the individual and for communities alike.

The use of illicit drugs effect individuals and societies worldwide it

is a major problem and it is said that nothing harms communities

more than drug misuse. Members of society misusing drugs are

not all living in poverty or on low incomes yet drug culture is often

associated with deprived areas. The Advisory Council on the

Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) suggest that problematic drug use is

most damaging in poorer communities for the following reasons:

Drug use and dependency on drugs effects people who lack social

or family support, feel socially excluded or are cut off from

community life. People living in deprived communities do not reject

drug use and in turn support illegal activity (for example by buying

stolen goods from drug users thus enabling the user to purchase

drugs). People can earn more by selling drugs than if in

employment due to the types of paid work available for their ability.

For some impressionable young people law breaking and violence

are seen as attractive and drug users and suppliers are admired.

There is a concentration of residents with psychological and

personal problems including drug users taking drugs to solve other

3
200605797

problems. Local motivation to tackle drug problems is ‘eroded by

the physical state of the environment, a sense of powerlessness’,

and easy access to drugs and crime.

httpwww.drugs.gov.ukpublication-searchcommunitiestackling-

drugs-neighbourhood.pdfview (20th December 2006)

The association between problematic drug use and deprived

areas can to some degree be identified locally by referring to the

‘East Riding Safe Communities Adult Drug Treatment Plan

2005/6’. The plan states that although the East Riding of Yorkshire

is a relatively prosperous and rural area it has ‘pockets of

deprivation’ with significant problems with drug misuse, namely

areas within Goole and Bridlington. Due to the drug problems

within Goole and Bridlington services have been developed and

reconfigured to improve outreach and advice services and provide

an agency based needle exchange within these areas.

http//nta.nhs.uk/treatmentplans0506/docs/EastRiding_treatment

plan_part1_200506_180305.pdf (21st December 2006)

As previously stated the misuse of drugs can effect any individual

or any community, it must be noted that the level of drug misuse in

poorer areas must not be generalised and it is not the case in all

4
200605797

communities of this type. The research is based on the levels of

problems the drug misuse can lead to and not the level of drug

users within it. As well as drug misuse harming the community so

can drug related crime and the fear of such crime.

I will now reflect on what the drug related problems are and how

they can effect the local community. According to the Home Office

the links between drug use and crime are clearly established and it

is a fact that around three quarters of crack and heroin users rely

on acquisitive crime (shoplifting, burglary, vehicle crime and

robbery) to feed their addiction. Another type of drug related crime

which can effect communities is gun crime, although it must be

noted that not all gun crime is drug related. However according to

the Home Office, firearms have and are used between gangs who

often deal drugs and to enforce payment for drugs.

http:/www.homeoffice.gov.uk/crime-victims/reducing-crime/drug-

related-crime (20th December 2006)

Further evidence linking drug use to crime has been identified via

the ‘Arrestee Survey Statistical Bulletin, 23rd November 2006’. The

survey states that arrestees who used heroin and crack in the last

year were more likely than other arrestees to have been arrested

for an acquisitive crime; 57% of heroin and crack users had been

5
200605797

arrested for an acquisitive crime compared with 28% for others.

Acquisitive crime committed within their community or that of

another, nevertheless such crimes are committed at the expense

and inconvenience of innocent members of society in order to fund

a drug addiction. Of all arrestees using heroin and crack 36%

committed crime to buy drugs within the four weeks previous to the

arrest. http://www.drugs.gov.uk/news-events/latest-news/arrestee -

survey (21st December 2006)

As well as drug related crime drug misuse can damage health and

even cause death, it can lead to homelessness, begging and

prostitution. An example of this is the recent killings in Ipswich,

according to The Guardian (16th December 2006) ‘a desperate

craving for heroin and crack drove all five victims to sell sex’. A

spokesperson from an independent drug treatment centre in

Ipswich made the following statement to The Guardian which was

published on 16th December 2006;

Ipswich has had sex workers for decades, and

they have always used drugs in some form.

The difference in the past three to five years is

that dealers from London and other big cities have

6
200605797

come to regard small, rural market towns as their

next big opportunity. Ipswich is the second cheapest

place in the country to buy crack, at £20 for a rock,

according to the national drugs charity Drugscope.

(The Guardian, 16th December 2006)

The spokesperson also stated that women addicted to such drugs

are often tremendously difficult people to connect with because

of the desperation of their circumstances, he stated that ;

Men can commit the physical crimes, burglary for

instance, if they are desperate for money. But with

these women, if they have sunk this low, all they

have left is their bodies. People have got to understand

the potency of addiction.

(The Guardian, 16th December 2006)

The above statements highlight how the availability of drugs in

local areas is often accompanied by disruption, violence and

intimidation within the communities where drugs are easily

accessible. The fact that drugs are easy to come by may make it

more difficult for ex-drug addicts to stay drug free and easier for

young people to develop drug addictions. It sustains drug users

who in turn not only damage themselves but their families and their

7
200605797

communities as well as the wider society. Drug problems within

communities often impinge on peoples lives, with children being

victims of drug culture, and crime and violence being accepted as

part of every day life.

Having identified drug culture and how drug related problems can

effect local areas I will now analyse what action is being taken by

government to tackle these issues. In 1998 the government

launched it’s 10 year Drug Strategy in an attempt to reduce the

harm caused by illegal drugs. The strategy focuses on the most

dangerous drugs, the most damaged communities and those

causing most harm to themselves. With four key aims the strategy

concentrates on young people, communities, treatment and

availability. Firstly I will focus on how the government aims to

prevent today’s young people from becoming tomorrow’s drug

misusers and the key achievements so far. The government

accepts that a new approach is required and therefore a ‘Young

People and Drug Delivery Plan’ is being implemented which will

focus on providing effective services, early prevention and support

for key risk groups in line with ‘Every Child Matters’. However a

number of national education and prevention initiatives have been

set up such as the ‘Frank’ campaign (a website and helpline

8
200605797

providing better drug information to young people and their

families), Blueprint (a drug education research programme for 11

to 13 year olds) and Positive Futures (a programme which aims to

positively influence the futures of deprived areas). Since the Drug

Strategy was launched in 1998 the use of Class A drugs by young

people remains stable at 8% according to the British Crime

Survey. The ‘Frank’ website received over three million visits and

over six hundred and fifty thousand phone calls. Improved drugs

education programmes are in place in schools as part of the

National Curriculum. More that fifty thousand young people

participated in ‘Positive Future’ projects. Over sixty million pounds

was available to local areas to fund comprehensive interventions

for young people through Young People’s Substance Misuse Grant

in addition to mainstream investment.

http://www.communities.gov.uk/index.asp?id=1135821 (21st
December 2006)

Another of the key aims of the Drug Strategy is to keep

communities safe from drugs by reducing drug related crime and

the fear of drug related crime. The updated Drug Strategy, 2002

focuses on reducing drug related crime through The Drug

Interventions Programme. The programme directs drug misusing

9
200605797

offenders out of crime and into treatment thus improving

community safety. According to the National Treatment Outcome

Research Study there is clear evidence that treatment works and

for every £1 spent on treatment at least £9.50 is saved in crime

and health costs. The number of individuals entering drug

treatment programmes in 2004/05 was 89% higher than in

1998. Drug related crime significantly contributes to the level of

acquisitive crime, in 2005 acquisitive crime fell by 11% according

to recorded crime figures.

http:/www.drugs.gov.uk/drug-interventions-programme/strategy/

(21st December 2006)

Treatment is another key aims of the strategy, it is said that

effective treatment helps communities as it breaks the link

between drug misuse and offending. There are various drug

treatment services currently available as part of neighbourhood

renewal such as Drug Dependency Units which offer substitute

prescribing, counselling, needle exchange, detoxification,

phsychiatric and psychological services. Another treatment service

is provided by Community Drug Teams which offer a similar range

of services to Drug Dependency Units but are mostly based in

local community settings. There are Street Agencies (community

10
200605797

advice and information services), support groups, structured day

care programmes, family and parenting services, needle exchange

services and residential rehabilitation services.

The final aim of the Drug Strategy is availability. A community

based ‘street level up’ approach is viewed as vital to tackle drug

dealers and drug suppliers. Research shows that increasing

quantities of drugs are being seized and organised crime and drug

dealers are being disrupted. It is believed that making drugs less

available will reduce the risk of people falling into drug misuse.

http://www.drugs.gov.uk/drug-strategy/facts-and-statistics/

(21st December 2006)

Having identified and reflected on drug culture in local

communities and having taken into consideration what approaches

might be useful to minimize effects on local areas it is clear that

drug awareness is more apparent nowadays than it was ten years

ago, however there is still room for further improvements. It has

been recognised that the range and type of problems caused by

drugs to different communities are huge and that what may be true

in one area is not true in another. Through these findings the

relevant services can be provided in the specific areas where

11
200605797

needs are greater. Services are becoming more flexible and the

needs of different user groups marked by diversity such as culture,

race, sex and age are now being recognised. The Drug Strategy

appears to have two main focuses, firstly, to prevent young people

becoming tomorrow’s drug users through education and

awareness and secondly, to rehabilitate today’s drug users

through treatment and services. It is felt that community is the key

to solving drug related problems and that effective partnerships

working at a national and local level, between the public, private

and voluntary sectors is vital. Overall it is apparent that the

community needs to be made aware of what is being done to

tackle drug culture and the impact the work is having. This is

essential in order to form strong and empowered communities who

can work together to resist drugs and the harm and destruction

they can bring to society.

12
200605797

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Adrian Barton, 2003. Illicit Drugs Use and Control.

London, Routledge Falmer

Philip Bean, 2004. Drugs and Crime, Second Edition

Cullompton, Devon. Willan Publishing

Ross Coomber, 1994. Drugs and Drug Use in Society

Dartford, Kent. Greenwich University Press

Glenn D Walters, 1994. Drugs and Crime in Lifestyle Perspective

London. Sage Publications, Inc.

Linda Tock, Communities Responding to Drug Misuse

Unpublished

Adult Drug Treatment Plan 2005/06

Hull Drug Action Team

Adult Drug Treatment Plan 2005/06

East Riding Safe Communities

National Community Safety Plan 2006-2009

The Guardian (16th December 2006)

WEBSITES

www.communities.gov.uk

www.drugs.gov.uk

13
200605797

www.gos.gov.uk

www.homeoffice.gov.uk

14