Topics discussed included reducing drug deaths,
treatment and recovery and the impact of the
coronavirus pandemic on illegal drug taking.
There was also a focus on opportunities to work
together to tackle drug harms.
,
Minister for Crime and Policing, said:
Illegal drugs ruin lives and corrode the foundations
of society.
We are continuing to work closely across all nations
within the UK to tackle drug misuse and the harm that
it causes.
Minister for Prevention, Public Health and Primary Care
said:
Drug misuse can have a tragic impact on people’s
lives, health, and families, causing untold pain and
suffering for some of the most vulnerable in our
society.
It is essential we tackle the root causes of
substance abuse, to prevent drug use in our
communities, help people recover and stop lives being
lost needlessly.
I am committed to ensuring that illegal drug users
are able to access appropriate services and treatment
and to understanding the impact that the coronavirus
pandemic is having on this important issue.
Those attending the meeting included Dame Carol Black,
Professor Catriona Matheson, a professor in substance
use at the University of Stirling and Chair of the
Ministerial Drug Deaths Taskforce for Scotland, and
Professor Owen Bowden-Jones, chair of the Advisory
Council on the Misuse of Drugs.
In February, the Home Office hosted a UK-wide Drugs
Summit, which brought together a variety of experts
from across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern
Ireland to discuss the best ways to tackle problem drug
use.
The Summit coincided with the publication of the first
part of Dame Carol Black’s Independent Review of Drugs.
The second part of the independent review is focusing
on prevention, treatment and recovery.
