Report criticises UK drug services

The UK Drug Policy Commission (UKDPC) report found more could be done to flag up the health risks associated with new substances as they emerge on the market and it singled out drug abuse among disabled servicemen as a growing area for concern.

The report said services were ill-equipped to deal with certain sectors of society and identified a series of concerns.

It found "recreational" use among lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender groups to be significantly higher than among their heterosexual counterparts, especially among gay men, and said these communities could be neglected owing to a focus on heroin and crack cocaine.

The report found overall drug use was most prevalent among those from mixed ethnic backgrounds, mainly due to high levels of cannabis use, but it said specialist drug services for these communities "will not be sustainable in many areas".

It also identified an increased risk of problems among disabled people. The review said current drug services were often "ill-equipped" for those with learning disabilities and said prisoners were "particularly vulnerable".

The report stressed that "Consideration and further information about the needs of the apparently large number of people with learning disabilities within prisons is needed".