10 things about alcohol and other drugs you may have missed30 June 2014

Andrew BrownDirector of Policy, Influence and EngagementDrugScope

@andrewbrown365

The amount of khat that was being imported to the UK every week from Kenya

Source: http://www.worldpress.org/Africa/4013.cfm

80 tonsbringing in $470,000 per consignment

Photo by Flickr user eesti

Numbers of under 18s in treatment for cannabis as primary substance

2005-6

2006-7

2007-8

2008-9

2009-10

2010-11

2011-12

2012-13

0

2,000

4,000

6,000

8,000

10,000

12,000

14,000

16,000

Source: http://www.nta.nhs.uk/uploads/annualypstatistics2012-13-final[0].pdf

50% increase over the period

Issues surrounding alcohol cost

employers with 200 staff around

£38,000 a year through absence and performance

issues

Source: http://www.hrmagazine.co.uk/hro/news/1144882/unclear-drug-alcohol-policies-problematic-warn-experts

Photo by Flickr user Annie Mole

Defendants proceeded against at magistrate courts and found guilty at all courts for drink-driving offences, England and Wales, 2009 to 2013

2009 2010 2011 2012 20130

10,00020,00030,00040,00050,00060,00070,00080,000

Proceeded against Found guilty

Includes the following offences under the Road Traffic Act 1988: Driving or attempting to drive a mechanically propelled vehicle while unfit to drive through drink or drugs—drink; Being in charge of mechanically propelled vehicle while unfit to drive through drink or drugs—Drink; Driving or attempting to drive a motor vehicle while having a breath, blood or urine alcohol concentration in excess of the prescribed limit; In charge of a motor vehicle while having a breath, blood or urine alcohol concentration in excess of the prescribed limit; Failing without reasonable excuse to provide a specimen of breath for a preliminary test; Driving or attempting to drive a motor vehicle and failing to without a reasonable excuse provide a specimen for a laboratory test or two specimens for analysis of breath; In charge of a motor vehicle and failing without reasonable excuse to provide a specimen for a laboratory test or two specimens for analysis of breath; Failing to allow specimen of blood to be subjected to laboratory test: (a) driving or attempting to drive, (b) all other cases.

Source: http://www.theyworkforyou.com/wrans/?id=2014-06-24a.200852.h

Typical odds ratios for injury or death as a result of a car crash while under the influence of alcohol, medicinal or recreational drugs

Alcohol 0

–0.49 g/l

Alcohol 0

.5–0.79 g/l

Alcohol 0

.8–1.2 g/l

Alcohol ≥

1.2 g/l

Amphetamines

Antidepressants

Antihistam

ines

Benzodiaz

epines

Cannab

is

Cocaine

Opioids0

10203040506070

Source: Drug use, impaired driving and traffic accidents, second edition EMCDDA, Lisbon, June 2014

Number of positive checks for drunk drivers per 1,000 inhabitants (2009)

CY SI FR BE PL HU PT FI EL IE ES LV SE DK RO GB IL SK LT NO EE IT0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

Source: Drink Driving: Towards Zero Tolerance, European Transport Safety Council (2012)

NB – BAC limits for UK higher than other countries and number of roadside tests lower than other counties

12% of those tested in UK above legal limit against a 3.6% average

Proportion of population able to name the correct alcohol level allowed for driving

CZ FI LU SK DE LV LT BG PL IE ES UK NL CY0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

3

Source: EU citizens’ attitudes towards alcohol, Eurobarometer 2010

495,000The estimated number of 15 – 24

year olds in the UK who took a New Psychoactive Substance (NPS)

last year

Source: Young people and drugs - Flash Eurobarometer 401 - Fieldwork: 03–23/06/2014

What do young people (15-24 years) think we should do about NPS

Introduce regulation

Ban - if risk to health

Ban under any circumstances

Do nothing

Other

Don't Know

0 10 20 30 40 50 60

EU UK

Source: Young people and drugs - Flash Eurobarometer 401 - Fieldwork: 03–23/06/2014

Changes in UK young people’s (15-24 years) perceptions on what is effective in reducing drug harms

Information and prevention

Treatment

Tough measures against drug dealers

Making drugs legal

Reducing poverty and unemployment

Tough measures against drug users

Diversionary activities for young people

0 10 20 30 40 50 60

2010 2014

Source: Young people and drugs - Flash Eurobarometer 401 (2014) and 330 (2010)