Drug strategy
UK Government
The drug strategy is a cross-government initiative involving a variety of departments and agencies.
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The Home Office has overall responsibility for delivery
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The Department for Children, Schools and Families is responsible for delivery of targets relating to reducing drug use among young people
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The Department of Health is responsible for delivery of targets relating to increasing the number of individuals entering treatment. The Department of Health is responsible for all policy addressing the problem of alcohol misuse insofar as it affects the health of people in England
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Devolved administrations
The devolved administrations of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have put in place drug and substance misuse strategies which both mirror and complement the UK Drug Strategy, but which are tailored to the particular circumstances of each country.
The Government is committed to reducing the harm caused by drug misuse throughout the UK. However, in areas where responsibility has been devolved, it recognises the powers of devolved administrations to address the problems of drug misuse as they see fit. In Scotland, the Scottish Parliament has devolved powers in the areas of education, health, social services, criminal justice and policing. The position in Wales and Northern Ireland is similar, with the exception of the Criminal Justice System, including prisons and policing, which is reserved to the UK Parliament.
Local Delivery
In Scotland, the Drug Strategy is delivered at local level through Drug Action Teams. In Wales, responsibility for substance misuse is held by the 22 Community Safety Partnerships, which are supported by Regional Advisory Teams. In Northern Ireland, there are four Drug Co-ordination Teams, which operate in a similar way to Drug Action Teams, in that they bring together key organisations working at local level and develop common action plans.
