Druglink article 2010 – Sink or swim by Susanne MacGregor

Britain now has arguably one of the best drug treatment systems in the world. But there are choppy waters ahead, says Susanne MacGregor.

The government’s 2008 drugs strategy aimed to “deliver new approaches to drug treatment and social reintegration”. It gave long overdue attention to children and families. It also mentioned injectable heroin and the more questionable, incentive-led ‘contingency management’. It said drug users have a responsibility to engage in treatment and then move on and reintegrate into the community when they can. ‘Personalisation’ carrots and welfare to work sticks might help, with drug co-ordinators in job centres, rather
ambitiously, aiming to link treatment with employment support and on to jobs.

Sink or swim (PDF)