Policy priorities and hot topics
DrugScope does not work for the drugs field or for the government. DrugScope works with the drugs field and with the Government and other stakeholders to improve outcomes for drug users, service users and ex-users, families and carers, neighbourhoods, communities and society.
We have strong relationships with politicians and civil servants and are involved in a range of advisory bodies. For example, we provide secretariat support for the All-Party Parliamentary Drug Misuse Group and our Chief Executive, Martin Barnes, sits on the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs.
Our policy priorities for 2008-11 reflect our current focus on joined up approaches to drug problems. A key message is that drug problems do not occur in a vacuum and cannot be addressed in a silo. That is why we are working on holistic approaches to drug treatment, dual diagnosis and complex need, social inclusion and stigma and discrimination.
We are committed to joint work with organisations working on issues like housing, mental health and criminal justice. We are working with Clinks, Homeless Link and Mind to develop the campaign Making Every Adult Matter (PDF 1.3MB).
We are involved in a number of cross-sectoral campaigns and initiatives, including We Need To Talk, Smart Justice and the Criminal Justice Alliance.
We also contribute to international drug policy. We were a key partner in the Beckley Foundation Drug Policy Programme and belong to the International Drug Policy Consortium
