Cut supply at source

THE tens of millions of pounds and hundreds of thousands of man hours successive governments have ploughed into drug-prevention initiatives since the 1980s have failed dismally, according to a new in-depth report by the UK Drugs Policy Commission. More young people than ever are using recreational substances such as a cannabis and harder narcotics such as cocaine and heroin, and the UK's chronic drug problem is intensifying rather than reducing. Even more worrying is the fact that the introduction of punitive laws targeting dealers and traffickers has not made the slightest dent in the flow of "product" to a booming buyers' market. The bottom line is that both deterrence and preventive persuasion have been a waste of time and money, and it is time for a radical rethink on intervention at every level.