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)