Committees

Drugs

Inquiry

The focus of the inquiry is on illegal drug use and its effects on society and the economy.

The inquiry considers the UK’s legislative framework on drugs and UK drug policy. The framework refers to, for example: the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971; the Psychoactive Substances Act 2016; and, where relevant, any subordinate legislation made under these Acts.

In particular, the inquiry considers the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 and its efficacy today. It assesses what impact the Psychoactive Substances Act 2016 has had since it came into force. The inquiry also looks at the impact of drug use in the UK, and at approaches to drugs adopted elsewhere.

Read the terms of reference to find out more about this inquiry.

Warning - some of the written evidence published as part of this inquiry may contain material that some readers may find upsetting.

This inquiry is no longer accepting evidence

The deadline for submissions was Thursday 24 March 2022.

Reports, special reports and government responses

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Third Report - Drugs
Inquiry Drugs
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HC 198
Report
Response to this report
First Special Report - Drugs: Government Response to the Committee’s Third Report of Session 2022–23
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HC 127
Special Report
First Special Report - Drugs: Government Response to the Committee’s Third Report of Session 2022–23
Inquiry Drugs
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HC 127
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Correspondence

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Letter from Minister for Crime, Policing and Fire on the Middlesbrough DAT programme, dated 11 November 2022
Inquiry Drugs
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Correspondence
Letter from Public Health, Middlesbrough Council on closure of the Middlesbrough Diamorphine-Assisted Treatment programme, dated 31 October 2022
Inquiry Drugs
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Correspondence
Letter to the Minister for Policing and Crime on closure of Middlesbrough Diamorphine-Assisted Treatment programme, dated 27 October 2022
Inquiry Drugs
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Correspondence

Oral evidence transcripts

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22 February 2023
Inquiry Drugs
Witnesses Angela Constance (MSP and Minister for Drugs Policy at Scottish Government), Chris Philp (Combatting Drugs Minister and Minister for Crime, Policing and Fire at Home Office), Marcus Starling (Deputy Director of the Drug Misuse Unit, Crime Reduction Directorate at Home Office), and Caroline Hart (Deputy Director for Drugs Supply and County Lines at Home Office)
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Oral Evidence
29 June 2022
Inquiry Drugs
Witnesses Charlie Doyle (Assistant Chief Constable at British Transport Police), Dr Richard Lewis (Drugs lead for the National Police Chiefs’ Council and Chief Constable of Dyfed-Powys Police), Steve Rodhouse (Director General of Operations at National Crime Agency), Nicky Hill (Head of Services at Abianda), Junior Smart OBE (Business development manager and head of SOS Gangs Project, St Giles Trust), and Dr Jack Spicer (Lecturer in Criminology at University of the West of England)
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Oral Evidence
15 June 2022
Inquiry Drugs
Witnesses Serena Kennedy (Chief Constable at Merseyside Police), David Thorne (Assistant Chief Constable at South Wales Police), John Campbell QPM (Chief Constable at Thames Valley Police), Andy Dunbobbin (North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner), Zoe Metcalfe (Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for North Yorkshire and the City of York), and David Sidwick (Police and Crime Commissioner for Dorset)
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Oral Evidence

Written evidence

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Visit to Glasgow and Belfast (DRU0119)
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Visit to Middlesbrough (DRU0120)
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Lived experience roundtables (DRU0121)
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Other publications

No other publications published.

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