Conclusion 5

The JCDU and departments have not put sufficient emphasis on the importance of addressing the specific needs of different cohorts of people who use drugs. It is unacceptable that drug-related deaths in England increased by 80% between 2011 and 2021, to nearly 3,000 people each year. Drug use is highest amongst younger people. In June 2022, 19% of 16–24-year-olds reported having taken drugs, with 5% reporting having taken Class A drugs. Despite this, the 2021 strategy makes little reference to age, gender or ethnicity, nor how people with different characteristics may experience drug misuse and treatment. We were also concerned to hear that reductions in treatment services over the past decade have meant there is insufficient focus on targeting different cohorts of people affected by drugs. For example, the number of young people in treatment for substance misuse fell by 50% between 2010–11 and 2021–22. Further, the JCDU says that it recognises the barriers and challenges faced by women needing drug treatment, but could not provide any specific examples of local treatment services for women. Recommendation 5: The JCDU and departments should ensure that the barriers faced by differing cohorts of people who use drugs (such as women, young people, people from minority ethnic backgrounds) are properly understood and assure themselves that local authorities are sufficiently targeting these groups.