The UK drugs strategy 2017: contexts and analysis

The purpose of this paper is to examine the content of the strategy and assess its claims to be evidence based.

This study is a close-reading of the text with commentary on specific content and reference to wider contexts.

The strategy makes use of evidence in its sections on treatment. Much evidence, including that of the UK ACMD, is dismissed or ignored. The issue of funding in times of austerity is not considered in the strategy. The range and complexity of drug use and users are not fully considered.

The strategy can be seen as an idealised ambition with little basis in reality without funding to support its aims.

There is no consideration of the impact of macro-economic policy on the extent of drug misuse.

Other commentaries on the strategy are emerging. This paper is a more extensive consideration than has so far appeared.