Anti-Drug Campaigns 'Can Raise Drugs Risk'

Anti-drugs campaigns have "little impact" and can actually increase the chance of people taking drugs, a report to Home Secretary Theresa May has found.

Publicity campaigns, drug awareness sessions in schools and media campaigns did not help to prevent young people from taking illegal substances, the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs found.

The report found: "International evidence suggests many popular types of prevention activity are ineffective at changing behaviour, and a small number may even increase the risks for drug use."

It added that there was "little clear evidence of what works in drug prevention".

Professor Les Iversen, who chairs the ACMD, said: "This research demonstrates that there is more to be done in order to understand the complex network of substance abuse prevention programmes operating in the United Kingdom.”

It comes after Nick Clegg announced Liberal Democrat proposals that would mean those caught with small amounts of drugs would not face criminal prosecution and doctors would be able to prescribe cannabis for medical use.

Mr Clegg said: "The victims need to be treated with compassion, with treatment and all the best expertise that clinical excellence can deliver to wean them off their habit.”

A Home Office spokesman said: "Preventing and reducing drug misuse is a key part of our drug strategy and there are positive signs our approach is working.

"There has been a long term downward trend in drug use over the last decade, the number of heroin and crack cocaine users in England continues to decline, and more people are recovering from their dependency now than in 2009-10.

"Our evidence-based approach recognises the importance of having a range of prevention initiatives to give individuals the confidence to resist drugs."