’s Crime and Disorder Audit 2004

Drug misuse (Draft)

‘use that is harmful, dependent use, or use of substances as part of a wider spectrum of problematic or harmful behavior’ (HAS, 1996).

Introduction The vast majority of people who have used drugs at Figure j1: Classification of drugs some stage in their lives do not become problematic drug misusers. For this group there is little evidence Class A of a clear link between drug use and crime. • Ecstasy However for the 3% of drug users who are • LSD (acid) considered to be “problematic” the evidence of a link between drug use and crime is overwhelming. They • Magic mushrooms prepared for often need substantial sums of money to finance use their drug use often engage in acquisitive crimes • Heroin such as shoplifting, handling stolen goods, car • Methadone crime, burglary and robbery. • Crack • Cocaine Home Office research underpins strong • Opium associations between drug use and certain types of • any Class B drug prepared for crime such as acquisitive crime (e.g. burglary and injection shoplifting). The research also suggests there are links between drug-related crime and areas of Maximum penalties deprivation unemployment. Possession: 7 years prison and/or a Legislative control of drugs fine Supply: life imprisonment and/or a The Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 (MDA) is the fine. principle Act that regulates controlled drugs. The Act divides drugs into three distinct categories as Class B detailed in Figure j1. • Amphetamines (speed) Drugs that are not controlled by the MDA include: • Barbiturates • Alcohol • Codeine • Gases, glue, aerosols Maximum penalties • Cigarettes Possession: 5 years prison and/or a • Amyl nitrates fine On the 29th January 2004 cannabis was reclassified Supply: 14 years prison and/or a fine. from a Class B to a Class C drug. The principle purpose of this action was to enable the police to Class C concentrate on action against the supply of drugs, • Cannabis particularly heroin and cocaine which cause • some tranquillizers like considerably more harm to both individuals and Temazepam communities, instead of dealing with offences of • supply of anabolic steroids. cannabis possession (The Runciman Report, 2000). Cannabis remains a controlled drug and sentencing Maximum penalties guidelines are illustrated in Figure j1. Possession: 2 years prison and/or a Drug Supply and Possession fine, Supply: 14 years prison and/or a fine. It is important to make the distinction between

Oxford’s Crime and Disorder Audit 2004

offences of drug possession and supply, or trafficking. The criminal justice system regards the supply of drugs as a considerably more serious offence than possession. Possession of drugs for personal use has a considerably shorter sentence attached. The police categorise drug dealers into three groups: • Level 3 International dealers concerned with the import and national distribution of drugs in the UK; • Level 2 Local dealers, usually crossing police force borders, targeted by police force drug squads; • Level 1 Street dealers, focusing on local distribution. Lower level street dealers are often users who operate in exchange for drugs. The National Drug Strategy In 1998, the government launched a ten-year drug strategy called “Tackling Drugs To Build A Better Britain”. It identified the need to tackle drug misuse nationally and locally in four inter- related ways: • Reducing supply • Young people • Communities • Drug treatment The strategy was updated in 2002 and activities to combat drug misuse in Oxford fall into these broad themes. High Crack Areas In 2003 Oxford was deemed a high crack cocaine area. This designation placed requirements on the Drug and Alcohol Action Team to put specific plans in place to target crack cocaine use and supply.

National trends in drug misuse Police recorded crime The total number of drug Table j1: 3-year drug offences trend – and Wales, offences increased in Oxford by Oxfordshire and Oxford 32% and nationally by % in the Year England and Wales TVP figure Oxford three years to 31 March 2004. 2001/02 121,393 4,093 353 It accounted for 1.7% of all crime in Oxford and % of all 2002/03 141,101 4,903 543 crime nationally in the 12 2003/04 141,060 5,404 419 months to March 2004. Source: HMSO Police recorded crime statistics are only one of a number of indicators in drug trends and patterns both locally and nationally. It does not reflect the quantity of drug use in the UK but is more likely to reflect police activity in this area. There is a dearth of accurate data regarding the prevalence of drug misuse in the UK; hence policy setting tends to be based on in-depth research into particular aspects of drug use. General UK drug use trends

Oxford’s Crime and Disorder Audit 2004

Over the last ten years there has been a Figure j2: Key findings from the 2001/2 substantial increase in the numbers of people British Crime Survey, ‘Geographical who have been found guilty in court or received Variations in Drug Use", December 2003 a caution for a drug related offence in the UK. In 1987, over 26,000 people were sentenced in Variations of drug use for 16 to 59- year court or received a caution. This figure has olds in England and Wales: risen sharply each year and reached over • Comparing 1996 data the South East 127,100 people in 1997. Of the 1998 figure saw an increase in the use of Class A over 78,000 people were sentenced in court drugs; and almost 60,000 were given a caution. • Use of any illicit drug highest in inner Various surveys and research studies over the city areas and lowest in rural areas. years have tried to identify prevalence rates of drug use nationally, regionally and locally. • Areas classified as high disorder tend These studies have been useful to identify to have higher levels of drug use than trends in drug use, particularly in respect to areas classified low disorder. different types of drugs, such as certain dance drugs, such as ecstasy or amphetamines, and hard drugs such as crack-cocaine and heroin. Results from the 2001/2 British Crime Survey detailed in table one suggests that 15% of men and 9% of women age 16 to 24 in England and Wales had taken an illicit drug in the previous year. The most commonly used drug by this age group was cannabis, which had been used by 33% of men and 21% of women in the previous year. The table below shows the drug use amongst 16-29 year olds. These include • Any illegal drug: these are amphetamines, cannabis, cocaine, crack, ecstasy, heroin, LSD, magic mushrooms, non-prescribed methadone, poppers, glues/solvents, steroids, non-prescribed tranquilizers, or anything that the respondent thought was a drug. • Hallucinogens: amphetamines, LSD, magic mushrooms, ecstasy or poppers. • Opiates: Heroin, methadone, cocaine or crack. Table j2: Drug use amongst 16-29 year olds Used any illegal Used any Used cannabis Used any drug hallucinates opiates England and Wales 25.4% 8.7% 22.7% 4.9% England 26.0% 9.0% 23.2% 5.1% London 27.8% 9.3% 25.4% 8.2% South East 29.8% 9.0% 27.3% 6.0% South West 27.4% 10.3% 25.3% 4.3% Source: British Crime Survey 2001-02 The main drug of choice is often cannabis. According to the British Crime Survey’s there has been no change in the prevalence of cannabis use amongst the general population aged 16-59 (since 1998 the use of cannabis has remained stable). For young people (16-24 year olds), there has been a gradual decrease in the prevalence of cannabis use, which has remained stable in recent years. Table j3: Proportion of respondents who report use of cannabis in the last year 1998 2000 2001/02 2002/03 2003/04 16-24 year olds 28.2 27.0 26.9 25.8 24.8*

Oxford’s Crime and Disorder Audit 2004

16-59 year olds 10.3 10.5 10.6 10.9 10.8 Source: British Crime Survey Young people in the UK Surveys of young people and drug use in Britain suggest that many young people have experimented with illicit Figure j3: Outcomes from the drugs. The proportion of teenagers among all problem Drugscope, Exeter Studies, ONS drug users is currently 10-12 per cent. Research has found that drug use often starts at around the age of 13 • The age of initiation into (Drugscope, Exeter Studies, ONS). substance use is getting lower. Some studies indicate that as Studies focusing on the level of exposure to drugs (such many as 20% of 11 years olds as ever being offered a drug; dealing with a drug offer have experimented with situation; knowing people who used drugs); the level of alcohol, cigarettes, and other drug use (from never tried, to levels of experimentation, drugs. such as having used a drug ever, to infrequent use, to more regular and frequent use). Many young people • Experimentation with drug is experiment with drugs, and the number is rising. becoming more prevalent among young teenagers with Drug misuse among young people has increased, but around 45% of the general there is evidence that only a small minority of these population admitting that they young people who use drugs recreationally will become had tried a drug at least once problematic drug users. in their lifetime; Following the reclassification of cannabis, the Home • There is an increased use of a Office launched an information campaign that was wider range of drugs by the fronted by FRANK, the national drugs helpline, to younger age group; educate the public about the changes to the law. The evaluation of that campaign, revealing 93 per cent of • There is increasing drug use young people understand cannabis use is illegal. among girls; Surveys of nearly 5,000 children attending secondary • Among those who use drugs, schools in England in 1998 were asked questions about poly drug use (the use of a drug use. number of drugs) is The survey revealed the following results. increasingly becoming the norm. • 30 per cent of respondents aged 11-15 years in England reported having ever taken drugs. Figure j4: National Centre for Social Research and the National Foundation for Educational • The prevalence of drug use varied Research "Drug use, smoking and drinking between sexes, with boys being slightly among young people in England in 2003" more likely to report drug use than their female counterparts. • 21% of pupils had taken drugs in the last year in 2003, an increase from 20% in • Up to 40 per cent of 11-15 year olds had 2002and 2001 used cannabis; • 12% of pupils had taken drugs in the last • 3 per cent had claimed to use cocaine month in 2003, the same proportion as by the time they are 15 years old 2001and 2002 • 20 per cent of 15 year olds have taken • The prevalence of taking drugs was hallucinogens. relatively stable between 2001 and 2003. • Only 1 per cent of 15 year olds had tried • 13% of pupils age 11-15 had taken cannabis opiates at some time previously. in the last year, being by far the most prevalent drug.

Oxford’s Crime and Disorder Audit 2004

In Oxfordshire, a number of drug awareness sessions are delivered to young people in school by a number of agencies. Self-completion questionnaires are given to young people who have attended or about to attend a drugs awareness session in school provided by Energy and Vision. The questionnaire is useful for uncovering the extent of young people’s knowledge about drugs. The section below looks at trends in young people’s use of alcohol, cigarette and illegal drugs. The percentage of those young people who have ever taken an illegal drug increases substantially, year by year. In Year 7 the majority have never taken an illegal drug. Only 3.6% have taken an illegal drug in Year 7, compared to 47.5% in Year 12. By Year 12, just over half of young people would have tried an illegal drug at one stage in their life. It is important to note that there is still a significant number of young people who have not taken a drug, and probably never will.

Graph j1: Percentage of schoolchildren who have ever taken an illegal drug

100% 80% 60% 40% 20% 0% Year 7 Year 8 Year 9 Year 10 Year 11 Year 12

Yes No Not known

Source: Energy and Vision The graph above clearly shows that there is a significant increase through the age groups in the proportion of those who have ever tried a drug. By Year 11 47% of young people would have taken a drug, compared to 34% in Year 10, 22% in Year 9 and 10% in Year 8. As can be seen the proportion of those who take drug almost doubles year by year. It is not uncommon for young people to experiment with drugs. A young person might try a drug only once. Certain types of drugs are more commonly used than others. The table below shows how certain drugs are more often used than others.

Oxford’s Crime and Disorder Audit 2004

Graph j2: Comparison of type of drugs ever taken by young people in Years 7 and 12

80% 60% 40% 20% 0% Solvents Cannabis/Weed LSD/Magic Dance Heroin, Crack, Mushrooms Cocaine

Year 7 Year 12

Source: Energy and Vision Young people were given a list of drugs and asked which ones they had taken, if any. The graph shows that the most common drugs used by young people, regardless of age, is cannabis and weed. Cannabis and weed were listed separately, and it is not clear how many ticked both, cannabis and not weed, or vice versa. However in Year 12, 41% of young people said that they had used cannabis, and a further 25% said that they had used weed. This meant that nearly two-thirds of young people had admitted to have ever used cannabis. A much smaller proportion of young people admitted to having used solvents (2% in Year 7 and 12% in Year 12). 10% of young people in Year 12 said that they had used hallucinogenic drugs, such as LSD or magic mushrooms compared to 1% in Year 7. 4% of those in Year 12 had admitted to having taken a dance drug such as Ecstasy or amphetamine (Speed) compared to 0.7% in Year 7. Only a small proportion of young people in Years 7 and 12 have taken cocaine (0.3% and 4.0% respectively). 0.6% had taken crack, and 0.4% had taken heroin in Years 7 and 12. Some of these drugs have been grouped together and will be discussed in greater detail below.

Graph j3: Percentage of young people who are currently using drugs

100% 80% 60% 40% 20% 0% Year 7 Year 8 Year 9 Year 10 Year 11 Year 12 Year 13

Yes No Unknown

Source: Energy and Vision Compared to the numbers of young people who have ever taken an illegal drug, a smaller proportion of young people currently take illegal drugs. There is however a marked difference between the proportions of young people who are currently taking illegal drugs in Year 9 (7.6%) compared to those in Year 10 (20.4%). Clearly there is quite a jump in patterns of drug

Oxford’s Crime and Disorder Audit 2004

use between Years 9 and 10. This dramatic increase does not continue and around 20% of young people in Years 10 or above report to currently use drugs. Young people were asked when what the last time they took an illegal drug. • 16% of those in Year 12 said that they had taken an illegal drug in the last two weeks compared to 12% of those in Year 10. • 5% of those in Year 12 had said that it was longer than three months ago since they had taken an illegal drug. • 2% of those in Year 12 had taken an illegal drug 2-4 weeks ago.

Graph j4: Types of drugs currently being used by schoolchildren in Years 7 and 12

35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 s s s e t ack, agic et oom Weed M Dance Cr Alcohol D/ caine Solvent bis/ o S Cigar on, i L C Mushr Her Canna

Year 7 Year 12

Source: Energy and Vision The most common drugs used regularly by young people are cannabis, alcohol and cigarettes. Cannabis and weed were listed separately, and it is not clear how many ticked both, cannabis and not weed, or vice versa. 30% of young people in Year 12 had used cannabis/weed recently, and 26% had drunk alcohol. A small proportion of young people use dance drugs, hallucinogens or ‘harder’ drugs such as crack, cocaine and heroin. Some of these drugs have been grouped together and will be discussed in greater detail below. Cannabis Cannabis is the most widely used illegal drug in the UK Table j4: Percentage of people having used cannabis and easily the illegal drug 2002/2003 most likely to have been tried 16-19 20-24 25-34 35-59 16-59 by young people. Recent Last year 24.6 27.2 14.9 4.3 10.9 surveys, such as the British Last month 15.3 17.1 9.4 2.5 6.7 Crime Survey (2002), show Source: British Crime Survey 2003 that though overall use may be falling among teenagers, cannabis has been used by over half (55 per cent) of young men and over a third (44 per cent) of young women aged 16 to 29 years. Twenty seven percent of this age range have used in the last year and 14 per cent in the last month. In total over 8.5 million people have tried it at least once and roughly 2 million use it on an occasional basis.

Oxford’s Crime and Disorder Audit 2004

Consumption varies vary widely, and the majority of British users consume the drug only occasionally. Very heavy users may consume around 30 grams a week. Cannabis is the most widely used illegal drug in the UK. Around half of all teenagers will experiment with the drug. Only a very small proportion use the drug after they reach their mid-twenties and much less by their thirties. The great majority of people who have ever used any illegal drug have used cannabis.

Graph j5: Percentage of schoolchildren reporting to have used cannabis and/or weed

60 40 20 0 Year 7 Year 8 Year 9 Year 10 Year 11 Year 12 Year 13

Cannabis Weed

Source: Energy and Vision The table above shows that the numbers who have tried cannabis and week increases considerably with age. There is a significant increase between Year 8 and 11 (from 10% to 70%). The high result is due to the fact that cannabis and weed was listed separately and so young people may have ticked both columns indicating that the smoke both cannabis resin and leaf. Solvent use In the UK solvent use has fluctuated widely over time but use is largely restricted to a small proportion of 12-16 year olds. Recent British studies suggest that typically 4-8% of secondary schools pupils have tried solvents, and that sniffing peaks around the Year 9 and Year 10 in secondary school (Balding, 1998; Parker, et al, 1998, Ives, 1990). There is consistent evidence to suggest that many young people who try solvents use them only experimentally, often only on one or two occasions, and only take one or two breaths (Parker, et al, 1998; Ives, 1990; ACMD, 1996) and a much smaller proportion of schoolchildren would continue to sniff solvents for several months or longer. At any one time perhaps a tenth of these who have tried solvents will be currently using them. The numbers of young people who have tried solvents varies according to the area lived. Solvent misuse seems to become common in very localised areas (Parker, et al, 1998) and use if often sporadic and isolated to hot spots or localised areas. LSD and magic mushrooms The use of LSD amongst school children has increased in the 1990’s but more recently there has been a slight decline in the numbers of teenagers taking it. Surveys of young people in the 1990’s confirmed that use of the drug is on the increase, ranging from 7% in 1989 (MORI, 1989), through 10% in 1992 (ISDD 1993) to 11% in 1995. It is very difficult to know exactly how many young people have tried LSD or use it on any regular basis because in surveys have often lumped it together with other drugs like amphetamine and ecstasy. As many as 11% of those aged 16-29 said they had tried it at least once (BSC, 2001) and two per cent said they had tried it during the year preceding the survey. At any one time it is estimated that LSD is used by about the same proportion as cocaine (3%, BSC, 1996). One survey of club goers listed LSD as their fourth favourite' drug to take behind cannabis, ecstasy

Oxford’s Crime and Disorder Audit 2004

and amphetamines and that is probably a fair reflection of a more general UK league table of illicit drug use. It is thought that of teenagers taking LSD is in decline. About 2% of 13-year-olds are thought to have use psychedelics, which include LSD and magic mushrooms. Among 14 and 15-year- olds, more boys than girls are interested in such drugs. The latest figures show 7% of 14-year- old boys, and only 3% of 14-year-old girls had tried psychedelics. Among 15-year-olds, the figures do not rise considerably.

Graph j6: Percentage of schoolchildren reporting to use and have used LSD and/or majic mushrooms

12 10 8 6 4 2 0 Year 7 Year 8 Year 9 Year 10 Year 11 Year 12 Year 13

Ever Current

Source: Energy and Vision Around 10% of young people would have tried LSD or magic mushrooms. The graph above shows that only about 2% of young people currently take hallucinogens and the majority only start doing so in Year 10 and above.

Graph j7: Percentage of schoolchildren who use or have used LSD / Magic Mushroom

10

8

6

4

2

0 Year 7 Year 8 Year 9 Year 10 Year 11 Year 12

LSD Magic Mushrooms

Source: Energy and Vision Of the hallucinogenic drugs, magic mushrooms seem to be more commonly used that LSD. Oxfordshire is quite a rural county so this could perhaps explain why magic mushrooms are preferred as they are more readily available. Less than 2% of those up to Year 9 have used hallucinogenic drugs. The figures do not rise that considerably after Year 11.

Oxford’s Crime and Disorder Audit 2004

Crack, cocaine and heroin use

Graph j8: Percentage of schoolchildren reporting to have used crack,cocaine or heroin

12 10 8 6 4 2 0 Year 7 Year 8 Year 9 Year 10 Year 11 Year 12 Year 13

Ever used Current use

Source: Energy and Vision A small percentage of young people were as young as 11 when they first used heroin, crack or cocaine. Throughout the age groups, the use of these drugs is quite small.. There is however a considerable increase in the level of use between Year 12 and Year 13. The use of cocaine is more common than heroin or crack. In Year 8 5% of young people had ever used cocaine, compared to 8% in Year 13. The numbers of young people who currently use heroin, crack or cocaine are small, between 0.1 and 0.5%. In Year 13, 4% of young people said that they were currently using cocaine. Crack is also the only drug more prevalent among black people, particularly young black men, than whites or other ethnicities. Use of crack, unlike cocaine, is often localised and linked with social exclusion and deprivation in inner city areas. Dance Drugs Ecstasy remains a popular drug among young people, especially young adults in particular. Ecstasy use had increased during the 1990’s due to the rise of the dance/rave culture. In England and Wales respondents aged 16-59 ecstasy use ‘ever’ has increased from 2% in 1994, 3% in 1996, 4% in 1998, 5% in 2000 to 6% in 2001. Use in the last 12 months remained stable at 1% in 1994, 1996, 1998 to 2% in 2000 and 2001 (BCS, 2002, in press). 8% of males had ever used ecstasy in 2001 compared to 4% of females. In 1998, 5% of males had ever used ecstasy compared to 3% of females. Ecstasy use ‘ever’ for respondents aged 16-24 was 11% in 1998 and 12% in 2001 and use in last 12 months was 5% in 1998 and 6% in 2001 (BCS, 2002, in press). 10% of males aged 16-24 had used ecstasy in the last 12 months compared to 3% of females in 2001. In 1998, 6% of males had used ecstasy in the last 12 months compared to 4% of females. Ecstasy is more the concern of the young professional club-goer than it is of the teenager. Only 2% of 16 to 24-year-olds use ecstasy compared to 13% of 25 to 34-year olds, according to the most recent figures. There have been over 200 reported deaths in the UK related to ecstasy use over the last 15 years, reaching an all time high of 43 in 2001 in England and Wales alone.

Oxford’s Crime and Disorder Audit 2004

Graph j9: Percentage of schoolchildren reporting to have used dance drugs

10 8 6 4 2 0 Year 7 Year 8 Year 9 Year 10 Year 11 Year 12 Year 13

Ever Current

Source: Energy and Vision Of the dance drugs, ecstasy seems to be more commonly used than amphetamines (speed) SD. 8% of those in Year 13 had taken ecstasy. The use of speed is less common, although the figures do not tend to rise after Year 11. To summarise the results from this sample shows • There is little difference between the extent of use amongst those who attend independent schools and state schools. Although there are slight differences, the levels of experimentation certain drugs, in particular cannabis is similar, regardless of whether the pupil is from a independent or state school. • Often a focus in drug prevention work is on illegal substance, however, young people’s regular use of alcohol is worthy of concern. • The extent of ketamine use amongst young people is not known. Ketamine is a drug widely used as an animal tranquilizer by vets in a pet surgery. There is anecdotal evidence from youth workers and drug education workers in Oxford that ketamine use has increased recently. The questionnaire does not include ketamine on its list of drugs • Solvent use is almost exclusively the preserve of young schoolchildren. Response to two dummy drugs, lobs and sunbeams, suggests that in some cases 1% may have provided false details on the drugs they have used. This may not be necessarily due to dishonesty but could represent a young persons confusion concerning what drugs are on offer. This suggests limited over-reporting within this survey. This concurs with a recent survey (MORI, 2004) which asked young people in Oxford what was important in keeping young people safe and out of trouble. In Oxford, nearly three- quarters of respondents (73%) cited education about drugs (73%) as being the most important. Alcohol Alcopops are alcoholic drinks that do not taste of alcohol such as alcoholic lemonades and fruit juices. There has been concern over the years, that alcopops have been targeted to those in the younger age rage to start drinking and to get them to drink more. Younger children often do not like the taste of alcohol when they first try it. Alcopops do not have the taste. Drinking alcopops can also make it easier to get drunk without realising it. Many alcopops have a high alcohol content. Young people drink more alcohol than older people. In the late teens and early twenties alcohol consumption is 40-50% higher. Despite the licensing laws about 60 per cent of 13 -17

Oxford’s Crime and Disorder Audit 2004

year olds have bought alcohol in a pub or off-licence. The proportion of 11-15-year-olds who drink alcohol at least once a week has risen from 20% in 1988 to 24% in 2000 (WiredforHealth, 2003).

Graph j10: Percentage of young people who have tried alcohol

100%

50%

0% Year 7 Year 8 Year 9 Year 10 Year 11 Year 12 Year 13

Yes No

Source: Energy and Vision In all years, over 90% of young Table j5: Number of young people who have tried alcohol people have tried Year 7 Year 8 Year 9 Year 10 Year 11 Year 12 Year 13 alcohol. In Year 7 1066 1282 1285 1510 866 866 143 over three- Source: Energy and Vision quarters (75%) had reported to have tasted wine and over two-thirds (68%) had drunk beer or larger. In this year group, only a third had said that they had tried spirits and it was the least popular type of drink. In Year 12 91% had tried lager and 83% had tried wine. In Year 7 only a third (37%) said they had a drink 2 weeks ago Table j6: Cost of drugs in Oxford compared to over 80% in Year 12. Drug types Cost This means that as young people Amphetamine powder £8-15 per gram get older they will drink more often. In year 7 the majority (85%) said Amphetamine paste (base) £10-£15 a gram they drunk with their parents. Year Cannabis resin & weed £40-90 per ounce 12 were more likely to say that they drank with friends (94%) and 62% Cocaine powder £40-60 per gram said they drank in pubs Crack cocaine £20 per rock Responses were from 6253 school Ecstasy £2-7 per tablet children from Years 7 to 13 who attended a school or college in GHB £10-15 a bottle Oxfordshire during 2003-4. The Heroin £40-60 per gram young people attended one of 12 schools in Oxfordshire. There was Ketamine £10 per tablet a mix between schools that were Khat £4 for a bundle of leaves based in the city and more rurally, and the level of average education Poppers (nitrites) £3-5 a bottle achievement within the school LSD £1-5 per dose varies enormously in the same. Methadone £1 per 10 ml Cost of drugs in the UK Benzodiazepine £2 per tablet The price of drugs varies between Sources: 1] UK Drug Prices 2002, Independent Drug different localities and over time. Monitoring Unit. 2] Street drug prices. Druglink: Jan.-Feb., 19(1), 2004, p.25. (Druglink fact sheet 6).

Oxford’s Crime and Disorder Audit 2004

Prices tend to fluctuate with fashion (demand) and availability (supply). An indication of the cost of drugs in the UK can be found in Table j6. Other factors affecting the price of a drug include how well they know the source, the amount they buy and how regularly they buy. Recent evidence suggests that while cannabis and LSD prices have remained remarkably stable for over ten years, prices of cocaine, heroin and ecstasy are falling. Risk and Preventative Factors to Problematic drug misuse Figure j5 details the conditions that are often referred to as ‘risk factors’ that in the lives of some children Figure j5: Risk and protective and young people could increase the likelihood that factors they will use alcohol, tobacco, and illicit drugs. In Risk factors include: contrast, protective factors could help to prevent or modify risk factors or improve circumstances in the • Substance availability lives of young people, thereby reducing the likelihood • Extreme economic of substance misuse. Researchers believe that it is deprivation necessary both to reduce risks and to enhance • Use of substances by protective factors to maximise the prevention of parents adolescent substance abuse. • Family conflict • Early and persistent A small proportion of young people who are using behaviour problems drugs are more at risk than their peers at developing • Academic problems and/or problems with their drug use. Recently a number of low commitment to school drug education initiatives have been targeted at • Attitudes favourable to drug vulnerable young people who are most at risk of harm use from drug misuse. This requires a holistic approach and involves multiple-agencies such as the Youth • Early onset of drug or alcohol use Service, Schools, CDRPS, Probation, Public Health and the local Councils. Protective factors include: Some drug education and prevention initiatives try to • Positive temperament enhance protective factors. These are provided by the • Intellectual ability Education Department and are often facilitated by • A supportive family experts from outside organisations and voluntary environment sector organisations. These include: • A social support system that • Compulsory drug education in school for all those encourages personal efforts over the age of five; • A caring relationship with at least one adult. • Training parents in drug awareness and encouraging them to communicate effectively with their children from an early age, and throughout their teenage years; • Drug awareness sessions run in schools to promote essential life skills and promote confident and ability to make informed choices about drugs; • Information and support for those who are worried about their own or someone else’s drug use. Such programmes are not designed to stop people taking drugs, just to delay the onset. Promoting abstinence is only one aspect of prevention. Another aspect is focusing on treatment and ways of minimising the harm that drug users do to themselves.

Oxford’s Crime and Disorder Audit 2004

Impurities in controlled drugs It is often difficult to know whether a powder, pill, resin, herb or liquid is a particular drug, how strong the dose is or whether it contains other drugs or substances to bulk it out. Illegal drugs may contain: • Impurities – substances present in the drug as a natural result of how it was made rather than deliberately added. For example, opiate alkaloids may be present in heroin from refining opium into heroin. • Adulterants – these are drugs that deliberately mimic or enhance the effects of the drug being offered. Examples are the way caffeine and/or ephedrine is often found in amphetamine or ecstasy. • Dilutents – these are mainly sugars such as glucose, lactose and mannitol. These are added to bulk out the deal and assist the process of dilution of the drug for injection. A strong dose may leave someone disorientated and they may panic, freak out and be more likely to be involved in accidents. Similarly taking what you think is one type of drug and finding that it is another, with possibly very different effects. While impurities and dilutents can, in themselves, be dangerous to consume the likelihood of this happening has often been exaggerated. While rumours circulate about drugs cut with rat poison, strychnine and brick dust such contamination is very rare. Purity of street drugs and what they contain varies between different places and can also change within a matter of days. Below is a guide to national patterns of drug impurity and should not be relied on to determine the content of substances circulating in your area. • Amphetamine: The most impure illegal drug. Purity may be up to 10 per cent but is more commonly less than 5 per cent with some samples as low as 1 per cent purity. Amphetamine is often cut with sugars, caffeine and/or ephedrine and sometimes with paracetamol, Vitamin C, chalk and talcum powder. • Cocaine: Purity can vary from 20-90 per cent with an average around 50-60 per cent. The rest is usually made up of sugars such as glucose, lactose and/ or mannitol. • Crack cocaine: Usually 70-75 per cent pure cocaine freebase and up to 100 per cent pure in some samples. • Ecstasy: The amount of ecstasy (MDMA) in one tablet may vary. Some tablets sold, as ecstasy may contain no MDMA and be other drugs. Many ecstasy tablets also contain other drugs – ketamine, amphetamine, caffeine, ephedrine, and the tranquilliser flunitrazepam, have all be found. Some tablets also contain other ecstasy type drugs such as MDA or MDEA. The average amount of MDMA in a genuine tablet is 70–80 milligrams, but occasionally much larger amounts may be present. • Heroin: Usually 30-80 per cent pure, averaging at 45-50 per cent pure. The rest is usually paracetamol, other opiate alkaloids, sugars and sometimes methaqualone or diazepam (valium). Varying purity has often been connected to fatal overdose through injecting heroin when people take a higher purity dose than they are used to. • LSD: Now rarely seen by police or customs. Usually sold as small paper squares, cut from larger sheets that have been soaked in the drug. Most squares do have LSD but fakes with no LSD at all can be sold. The dosage of LSD on one square can vary significantly.

Oxford’s Crime and Disorder Audit 2004

Community views on drug misuse in Oxford Concerns about drugs and crime are widely supported in local consultation exercises and is Figure j6: Drug misuse: a priority often reported as being a top community safety community concern concern amongst local people. The impact of TalkBack Crime Survey, July 2004 problematic drug misuse on individuals and • When determining what defines a good communities also raise concerns over its place to live, most respondents cited impact on acquisitive crime, drug-related traffic tackling problems regarding people accidents, health issues, discarded needles using or dealing drugs and fear induced by open drug use or dealing. The Oxford City TalkBack Recruitment Survey, • Top priority when asked to order crime February 2004, asked respondents what they and disorder priorities thought the spending priorities of Oxford City Oxford City Council Budget Consultation Council should be. Residents were most likely 2004 to want Oxford City Council to spend more • Spending priorities should include money to improve issues relating to drug and drugs and community safety alcohol misuse (42%) and improving community safety (33%). It is significant that a The Oxfordshire Citizen's Panel Survey, high proportion of respondents favoured extra 2004 spending in drug and alcohol prevention as • Young people in Oxfordshire were well as crime prevention. Residents in the mostly worried about drugs South East of Oxford were most likely to want greater investment in the prevention of drug Young people’s school survey, 2004 and alcohol abuse and community safety and • Wanted heavier focus on drugs prevention work. education It is important to note that when comparing the Draft Crime and Disorder Strategy views of different groups of people by age and consultation, 2004 social class, older people are more likely to think that this is a serious problem than young • When people were asked to take people. In the TalkBack Crime and Disorder everything into consideration and name Survey 2004, two in five respondents had not their "top five" community safety issues seen any evidence of people using or dealing that require attention in the local drugs in the last 12 months. However, a community, drugs misuse, both dealing significant minority (16%) had reported to have and using, was rated highest. seen evidence of drug use or drug dealing at least once a month. Those respondents who lived in the Central, South and West Area Committee area were more likely to have seen evidence of people using or dealing drugs in their local area in the last 12 months.

Drug misuse in Oxfordshire In 2003, the DAAT and the five Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships in Oxfordshire commissioned a research project to investigate the nature and extent of drug misuse in the county. The report focused heavily on national research and data but did use some local data sourced from voluntary and statutory services. The report estimated the extent of prevalence of drug use in Oxfordshire, considered the scale of the problem and predicted the way patterns of drug use would change over the years. It was used in helping to determine the commissioning of drug treatment and young people services in Oxfordshire.

Oxford’s Crime and Disorder Audit 2004

Graph j11 : areas where problematic drugs users live

60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% Oxford City Cherwell South Vale West Oxfordshire Oxfordshire

Local Authority area

Source: The report estimated that approximately 2500 problematic drugs users live in Oxfordshire. There are clearly different levels of problematic drug misuse within the county, the highest portion being in Oxford (49%) and Cherwell (26%). The precise numbers of those who have used drugs or continue to do so is not known. It is difficult to gauge accurately the extent and level of drug use amongst people in Oxford. Drug use is often quite hidden, although evidently there are instances of use and abuse becoming more visible. Recorded crimes in Oxford The areas where drug possession is highest are in the City Centre and East Oxford. There is no particular pattern to the times and dates of recorded offences and as mentioned previously, caution should be applied when using police recorded crime statistics to pattern the prevalence of drug misuse. However, there have been a number of police enforcement operations in certain areas of the city where dealer networks are known to operate. These areas are reflected in the sector level analysis in Graph j14, that shows the City Centre and East Oxford as having higher levels of recorded drugs offences. The availability of illegal drugs appears to be Oxford wide, with significant supply activity reported by Youth Service Detached Workers in the City Centre. Changes in market price have made heroin more easily available and relatively cheaper than cannabis. Anecdotally, youth workers have also reported an increase in the use of ketamine that was a growing concern to those working with young people. In response, special emphasis was given on ketamine during drug awareness sessions, particular during the spring and summer of 2004.

Oxford’s Crime and Disorder Audit 2004

Graph j12: Drug offences by ward level April 2001-March 2004

160 140 120 100 80 60 40 20 0 City Centre West North Cowley Rose Hill & East Oxford Blackbird Leys Iffley

2001/2 2002/3 2003/4

Source: Thames Valley Police and Oxford City Council City centre characteristics The city centre contains a number of services that offer support and housing to vulnerable and chaotic clients. Many of these clients have drug misuse problems and access services in support of these needs. There are also pockets of deprivation in the city centre and the Carfax area has the highest mortality rate in the county, reflecting the lower life expectancy of its residents due to the high level of complex needs. East Oxford characteristics East Oxford contains a number of dealer networks trading primarily in heroin. The area has a significant number of problematic drug misusers and high than average drug-related crime levels. Hypodermic needle finds in Oxford All hypodermic needles that are found in the city and are reported to Oxford City Council are collected by City Works as soon as possible. The data gives an indication into the areas where street injecting is more prevalent. The numbers of finds are comparatively low when compared to the number of needles given out through the countywide Needle Exchange Scheme. Current data indicates that more needles are found in the City Centre than in any other area. This is mostly due to the collection from sharps bins in public toilets. The larger circles represent locations with repeated occurrences. The data suggests that needle finds are not isolated to one or two areas of the city but are found throughout most areas. It is important to note that one needle find could represent many needles. Young people in Oxford Survey work carried out in a range of school settings by the Energy and Vision Project, who deliver drug education programmes in Oxfordshire schools, indicates a more homogenous picture of drug experience and knowledge among Year 10 pupils. Energy and Vision research indicate similar issues between the state and independent sectors. In 2002, the DAAT commissioned the Thames Valley Partnership to investigate drug misuse by young people in Oxfordshire.

Oxford’s Crime and Disorder Audit 2004

The report found that the population of Oxfordshire Figure j7: Young vulnerable users in is 610,000 with approximately 160,000 children Oxfordshire aged 0 -18. Overall, there is a wide availability of drugs, significant pockets of need and increased Key findings of the Eaton report: concern over heroin and crack cocaine. Local drug • 42% of young offenders in the availability and activity is substantially affected by county used drugs in 2002. the operation of small dealer networks in the market towns, producing bubbles of activity and concern, • 44% of cases of children in care, which recedes after police intervention. This pattern parental drug use was a factor. underlines the importance of intelligence-sharing • 40% of homeless young people in and prompt responses. Oxford city, between 16 and 24 Despite the range of drug services there is limited may have a drug problem. provision for young people with serious problems, and it is difficult to estimate the true nature of unmet need. The report highlighted an urgent requirement for direct access provision and more self-contained accommodation with well- funded floating support. The report also noted gaps in specific information about the drug- related needs of truants and young people with disabilities, and the lack of provision for relapse prevention among young people. Further gaps identified by the report relate to lack of services for parents, foster parents and carers, especially those with drug and alcohol difficulties themselves. Parents who use drugs In the UK there are estimated to be between 250,000 and 350,000 dependent children living with parental drug misuse, and 920,000 living with parental alcohol misuse (HMSO, 2003). Parental substance misuse can cause considerable harm, with children being at risk from emotional and physical neglect as they grow up. They also risk developing emotional and social problems later in life. Local research was published in 2001 that focused upon support needs of families where parents use drugs. This report indicated that between 3,000 and 5,000 children and young people in Oxfordshire are vulnerable as they are living in families where a parent has a mental health, drug or alcohol problem. This equates to approximately 1,200 families. A summary of the main issues is as follows: • A significant number of families had a parent with dual or sometimes triple diagnosis, or lived in families where both parents were disabled/ill; • The study includes over 65% of the children on the Child Protection Register as at March/April 2001; • Good practice depended too heavily on individual workers’ commitment. • There were many anomalies about service provision and access to it; • The services valued most highly were those which offered practical and direct support to families, for example; Homestart; Family Centres; Carers Centres; and access to youth counseling services. • Children and young people of parents with mental health and addiction problems need to be consulted carefully about the support they want and may need information about their parents’ condition. • A number of children from these families have begun to develop a substance misuse problem of their own.

Oxford’s Crime and Disorder Audit 2004

Mental health Research suggests that 66 per cent of problematic users have some form of personality disorder and that the same numbers suffer anxiety or depression. The research by Ingram suggested that 27 per cent felt that drug misuse had a detrimental effect on their mental health. A third have thoughts of suicide (Gossop et al, 1998; Coid et al, 2001). Based on this it can be expected that in Oxfordshire between 1,107 and 1,847 problematic drug users suffer anxiety of depression and/or have a personality disorder and between 550 and 923 will have had thoughts of suicide (see Eaton and Eaton, 2003). In his report on dual diagnosis in Oxford, Stafford (1999) suggests that at any one time between 5 and 20 Table j7: Percentage of users that people will be leading extremely chaotic lives through have some form of personality having a dual diagnosis and that up to 315 will also disorder have problems of dual diagnosis but will be less Number of Problems chaotic. respondents A report on dual diagnosis amongst patients seen at the Financial 56 Luther Street Project, which provides medical care for Emotional 48 the homeless in Oxford, suggests that 24 per cent of patients seen suffer from both mental health and drug Physical 42 problems and a further 4 per cent have a triple Psychological 38 diagnosis; drugs, mental health and alcohol (Evans, 2000). Criminal 40 From the Luther Street Drugs Survey, (205 Relationships 53 respondents) here were only 4 respondents who indicated that they do not feel their drug use causes Yes No any other problems. The table below shows the total of Mental health respondents who did feel their drug use causes other 38 25 problems, and what these are. problems Most respondents ticked more than one box in order to Overdosed 44 20 answer this question. 17 indicated that they feel their drug use causes all six problems. More than half (38) of Overdosed Number of the respondents who take Class A drugs have respondents experienced mental health problems. Almost 70% (44) indicated that they had overdosed and more than half of Once 6 these (27) had overdosed more than twice. Nine had Twice 9 overdosed twice and six had overdosed once. More than twice 27 Of the 38 that had experienced mental health problems, 31 had overdosed at some time, 18 of these more than Source: Luther Street Medical Centre twice. The Elmore Team operate in Oxford city and focus on homeless and vulnerable people who have mental health problems. They operate as a referral service to the Oxfordshire Mental Health Trust for patients with clinical mental health diagnosis and manage their own caseload. They have experience of supporting clients with dual diagnosis. Drug-related deaths From 2001-2003 there were 29 drug-related deaths in Oxfordshire, 24 men and 5 women. Nearly half of these occurred in Oxford, all of whom were aged between 20 and 29 years old. However, there is likely to be an under-reporting of drug-related deaths, as data may not include those deaths where drugs may have been a secondary factor in the cause of death. As

Oxford’s Crime and Disorder Audit 2004

an example, a person may have died of internal injuries as a result of an accident, and Graph j13: Drug-related deaths illegal drug use at the time of death would not necessarily have been recorded as an 16 influencing factor. 14 Accident and Emergency data 12 10 Oxfordshire Accident and Emergency 8 Departments record where an incident involved 6 4 illegal drugs. This data includes both people 2 using illegal drugs and those affected by others 0 e e

using illegal drugs. r r i i well h In Oxfordshire, between 2003/04, 901 people sh sh rd rd her out West C were involved in an incident where illegal drug S

use was a factor, 41% were from Oxford. Oxfo Oxfo Slightly more males than females presented themselves to A&E departments with drug Male Female related injuries. The majority of those were Source: Drug-related deaths in local authority pooled aged 20 - 29 years and 30 - 49 years. data. Crude rates per 100.000 population source; mortality file There were a slightly higher number of females 1999-2003. than males attending. The incidents that Resident population based at mid 2002 based on 2001 occurred generally happened in the home, on census for ONS. the streets, with a few incidents occurring in commercial premises - including pubs and clubs - in sports facilities and in schools. A large number of incident locations were recorded as unknown.

Graph j14: Percentage of people from Oxford who attended Oxford A&E departments, following an incident involving drugs 1 April 2003 to 31 March 2004

100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 0-4 5-14 15-19 20-29 30-49 50-64 65+ Unknown

Males Females

Source: Oxford City PCT

Oxford’s Crime and Disorder Audit 2004

Cost of drug-related crime Research has estimated that users may need between £15,000 to £30,000 a year to fund drug habits. To make such amounts of money from stolen goods police often suggest multiplying by three – on the basis that stolen goods will fetch about one third of their normal value. There are estimates of between 130,000 and 200,000 problematic drug users in the UK. This has led some researchers to suggest that well over half of all acquisitive crime is drug-related and that the market value of goods stolen involved could be between £2-2.5 billion each year. There are other contributing factors to the link between drugs and crime:

• Many people who are dependent on drugs like heroin and crack cocaine were involved in criminal activity before becoming dependent on drugs, so the drug use may not be the cause of the crime. • Poverty, unemployment and social exclusion are often underlying factors rather than the drug use itself. • Drug misusers may commit crimes in order to feed, clothe and house themselves and their families. • Some users have jobs, benefits or other forms of income that are used to purchase drugs. • Dosage and frequency of use may fluctuate and users may also have access to other substitute drugs, such as heroin users being prescribed methadone. • Most people who use illegal drugs (the majority are non-problematic users) do not commit crimes to get money to pay for the drugs.

Drugsscope estimate that between 1% and 20% of the total cost of acquisitive crime is associated with people who were dependent on heroin. Research suggests that drug users commit as many as 117 drug offences per user annually and 146 non-drug offences. It is noted that these are halved amongst those in treatment. The social costs of self-reported crime by problem users not in treatment are estimated to be £30,827 for those in not in treatment. (Godfrey et al, 2002). In Oxfordshire this would suggest costs of between £51m and £86m. For those in treatment costs would be halved. There is evidence that many drug users do not seek help until they are engaged with the criminal justice system. In the north-west of England research based on capture- recapture models has estimated that that many younger problematic drug users are not in contact with treatment agencies or criminal justice agencies, approximately 79 per cent aged less than 25 (Benyon et al, 2001); in some districts figures can be as high as 94 per (Eaton and McVeigh, 2002). NDTMS arrest referral information suggests that there were 856 contacts with drug users in Oxford. This number refers to those who have asked to be assessed not necessarily all those who have a drug problem. It is therefore difficult to make assumptions about the number of arrestees identified as potentially drug users by arrest referral worker. It is however known that nationally workers screen 6 per cent of those arrested through police custody suites; in the Thames Valley approximately 8 per cent are screened (Sondhi et al, 2002). Crack Cocaine and Heroin ‘The Oxford City Crack Research Project’ contacted a sample of crack cocaine users in Oxford City. The research study tried to examine for the first time, factors associated with crack cocaine use in Oxford. Access to this ‘hard to reach group’ was enhanced by using eight Privileged Access Interviewers (PAI) who contacted and interviewed a sample of crack cocaine users who did not necessarily access treatment services. The majority of crack cocaine users in treatment tend to have a concurrent heroin problem and have access treatment for this

Oxford’s Crime and Disorder Audit 2004

reason. Importantly the research findings have reflected similar findings from other research in the UK and USA concerning crack cocaine use. All the respondents were between 18-47 years old, lived in Oxford and were current users. Two-thirds of respondents were male, 74% were White British, 10% White /Irish and 6% mixed White/Black Caribbean. The median age for first time use was 19. The most frequent method of administration was smoking ready-made crack in a pipe (61%), and over 40% used crack on a daily basis. This amount varied but the average daily use was around £50. Most respondents reported the easy availability and accessibility of crack cocaine. 90% of respondents claimed to be able to obtain crack cocaine within half an hour. The availability of cocaine powder was more restricted. The home was the preferred place of use for over half of the respondents (55%). 19% used on the street and 5% in a crack house. Crack houses were described as ‘noisy, dirty/untidy, crowded/busy, family homes or squats with drug paraphernalia scattered around’. The activities within the crack house were also often referred to, focusing in particular on sex work, dealing, using and ‘scrounging’. The atmosphere within a crack house was described as unsafe, scary and paranoid. The concept of ‘powder power’ came up on a number of occasions in reference to the authority held by dealers. In terms of funding their drug use, 34% reported shoplifting, 24% funded their drug use through being in receipt of benefits and 16% through a job. The survey revealed that 24% had exchanged sex for drugs, with most often with a dealer. The report concluded that there was a need for: • More awareness about crack use • More safe houses or chill out spaces • 24 hour help line and drop in • Medication to relieve withdrawal and cravings • Paraphernalia for crack users

These findings are supported by a study of crack cocaine use in the South East (Cragg, 2003) in four High Crack Areas, , Hastings, Oxford, and Reading. This report highlighted that a large majority of respondents had early involvement with petty crime, often prior to any significant drug use. In addition a number had been in prison at least once and usual several times. This was also true of a smaller proportion of female than male respondents. In addition, the report also looked at crack houses and many of the comments reflected the findings from above. These are that crack houses seen to be where crack was readily available, often on a 24-hour basis. The atmosphere in crack houses according to respondents was often tense and distressing with a significant risk of violence. The research confirmed that crack houses are places where female users (or the partners of users) might be offering of sex services in return for money or crack. These figures equate closely with data from national surveys that indicate that heroin use normally commences before the age of 24, often between 16-19. The youngest age of first use amongst respondents was 13 and there appears to be a significant number of users coming into contact with cocaine around the age of 15. Vulnerable homeless users A survey of clients accessing the Luther Street Medical Centre investigated the prevalence of drug misuse within the client group. Nearly 200 respondents completed the survey.

Oxford’s Crime and Disorder Audit 2004

Class A drugs are used by a total of 67 respondents and 131 answered that they did not use Class A drugs. Those respondents who had indicated that they took Class A drugs were asked to indicate which drugs they used and whether they injected, smoked, snorted or took them orally. Many of the 67 using Class A drugs were using more than one type. Heroin and crack cocaine are the most used. Drugs indicated in the “other” category include butane, cannabis, diamorphine and hashish. Alcohol was taken by 26 of these respondents. Respondents were also asked to indicate how much they spent either by day or by week. One heroin user indicated they spent over £200 per day. Apart from this, most users indicated they spent less than £50 per day and up to £100 per week. Snowballing is the practice of injecting crack and heroin together. The graph below shows the amount spent per week by drug taken. Higher rates of expenditure are associated with harder drugs such as heroin and crack. Respondents may have completed this for more than one drug.

Graph j15: Amount spent of drugs per day s t 30 25 20 sponden e 15 r

of 10

ber 5 0 Num Heroin Crack Snow- Cocaine Diazepam Alcohol Other balling

Up to £20 £21 - £50 £51 - £100 £101 - £150 £151 - £200 More than £200

Source: Luther Street Medical Centre

Reducing supply and drug-related offending in Oxford It is clear that there is evidence that dependent users of drugs, particularly heroin and crack cocaine, commit crimes such as theft, burglary, fraud and shoplifting to get money to buy drugs. However, drugs and crime are also linked in a number of other ways including: • The number of people who use or supply illegal drugs are committing offences; • People who commit violent offences while under the influence of drugs, particularly alcohol; Drunkenness is associated with a majority of murders, manslaughters and stabbings and half of domestic assaults (see Chapter on Alcohol) • Violence involving drug dealers and rivals or drug users who owe them money; • Alcohol and drug-related driving offences. Drug Intervention Programme The Government has allocated money to each DAAT area for through-care and aftercare based on the Drugs Intervention Programme (DIP). This programme targets those offenders who have a drug misuse problem associated with their offending. Suspects arrested for acquisitive crimes such as burglary, car crime and theft are tested for Class A drugs on arrival in custody. If necessary the offender is referred to a Substance Misuse Arrest Referral Worker

Oxford’s Crime and Disorder Audit 2004

who gives support and advice to the individual. For more information see the Offending chapter. Prolific and Priority Offenders The most prolific offenders who are convicted of crimes such as burglary, car crime and robbery can be put on the IRIS project. The majority of offenders on the scheme in 2004 had a serious drug misuse problem and funded their drug habit through crime. The scheme targets these offenders whilst providing intensive support to assist in their rehabilitation. For more information see the Offending chapter. Drug Treatment and Testing Orders DTTOs were introduced under the Crime and Disorder Act 1998. The DTTO is targeted at problem misusers aged 16 or over who commit crime to fund their drug habit and show a willingness to co-operate with treatment and are before the court for an offence that is sufficiently serious to attract a community sentence as penalty. The DTTO has three main requirements: • A treatment requirement – to undergo ‘treatment’ at a specified place for a set period of between six months to three years • A testing requirement – an offender who is subject to DTTO must be ‘tested’ regularly for drug use and the results, together with the treatment provider’s reports, provide a clear indication of progress, and • a court review requirement – for the first time in English and Welsh law, the courts have a formal and vital role in the ‘reviewing’ progress. These reviews are designed both to motivate the offender and give the court confidence that the treatment is being complied with. Drug casework group Oxford Council’s CANAcT team manages a case-working group that targets drug related anti- social behaviour those that perpetrate it. Drug House Protocol Under Section 2 of the Anti Social Behaviour Act 2003 the Police have the power to close so- called ‘crack houses’, after consultation with the Local Authority. In Oxford, the Police, local authorities, housing organisation and the voluntary sector have worked together to successfully launch the Drug House Protocol. The launch took place with a very large amount of media coverage in December 2004. The Protocol was the first initiative under the Action area. Those who have signed up to the agreement include Thames Valley Police-Oxford, Oxford City Council, Oxford County Council, Ealing Families, Oxford Citizens Housing Trust, Cherwell Housing Trust, Oxford PCT, Oxford Night Shelter and SMART. In January of this year the Drug House Protocol was successfully applied to a vulnerable female. A number of agencies including Thames Valley Police, Housing, and Homelessness Network have worked together to put together a support package. The young woman was moved to another property elsewhere in the city and signed an acceptable behaviour contract (ABC) in which she agreed to seek drug rehabilitation. On 3rd February 2005 Thames Valley Police – Oxford were granted their first Drug House Closure Order in the Oxford area. The flat at 3a Leys Place, Cowley was ordered to be closed by Oxford Magistrate Court for 42 days from the date of the hearing and has since been made secure.

Oxford’s Crime and Disorder Audit 2004

Environmental improvements OSCP has funded a number of environmental projects aimed at improving an area and making it less suitable for those who use and deal drugs. Examples include the cleaning up of a churchyard used by drug users, closure of alleyways, lighting improvements and CCTV. Offender profile Table j8 : Drug possession or supply gender profile – arrested and processed Gender 10-17 18-25 26-33 34-41 42+ Total Male 8 56 26 17 13 120 Female 1 9 3 5 1 19 Source: Thames Valley Police, return on bail not included The tables above indicate that the majority of Table j9: Contributing factors to offending suspects arrested and processed by the police 2003-2004 are male and aged between 18 and 25. Drugs 60% Table j9 shows that drugs are the most common contributing factors to offending. Employment 13% Many offenders starting a probation order had Alcohol 9% a combination of factors contributing to their offending. Accommodation 7% Mental Health 2% Source: Probation Service Prevention and Education services in Oxford Schools All children from the age of five are provided with drugs education, as part of the curriculum in Personal Social and Health Education lessons. Drugs education is often provided in a format that builds upon the prior knowledge of the child and the topics and subject material are often age specific. In 1990 the healthy school standard was launched and introduced the implementation of personal, social health frameworks in all schools. A number of primary (99%) and secondary schools (100%) in Oxford have established drug education polices in their schools which cover how drug related incidents are dealt with in the school. Other youth organisations A wide body of agencies, in a multi-agency style, delivers drugs education and prevention interventions. These agencies consist of Thames Valley Police force, Youth Service, the DAAT, the YOT, School Health nurses, social workers, and a number of voluntary sector organisations. The drug education and prevention work that is delivered can take many forms. A variety of programmes, interventions and sessions are run throughout the county in order to tackle drug misuse amongst young people. The main programmes of work can be summarised as follows: • Training and supporting teachers to deliver drug education programmes in the classroom; • Increasing drug awareness amongst children (e.g. Body Zones, Life Education Centres) and young people as well as parents and careers; • Providing endorsed educators into schools; • Providing diversionary activities (e.g.. Positive Futures which provides a constructive programme of work for those at risk of not achieving their potential aged 10-13)

Oxford’s Crime and Disorder Audit 2004

• Developing drugs education and support for parents; • Implementing drugs education to those young people excluded from schools, who attend Pupil Referral Units. Needle and Syringe Exchange Needle and syringe exchange in Oxfordshire is run under a scheme known as "SWOP". The scheme is managed by the DAAT. A number of pharmacies throughout the county take part in the scheme. The majority of SWOP places are in Oxford, however there are a number of pharmacies throughout the country who take part in the scheme. Advice leaflets offering advice on safe injecting, needle disposal and hepatitis are offered with the packs. According to the Luther Street drug survey, of the 67 respondents who used Class A drugs, over half indicated that they used a needle exchange. One noted that they were clean now and three left this blank. The remaining 34 used needle exchanges at various locations, and 12 indicated that they used more than one location.

Oxford’s Crime and Disorder Audit 2004

Drug Treatment services in Oxford

Drug and Alcohol Action Team The DAAT's role is to implement the revised National Drug Strategy 2002 across Oxfordshire and is therefore responsible for commissioning of adult and young people’s drug treatment

Oxford’s Crime and Disorder Audit 2004

services. The DAAT have a Board and a number of sub-groups that focus on treatment, prevention and education, communities and reducing the supply of drugs. The DAAT Director is also a member of OSCP. The DAAT and OSCP have put measures in place to work more closely together at a strategic level to target drug-related offending. The Oxfordshire DAAT is developing a database to record the prevalence of drug misuse across the county using treatment data and data from Thames Valley Police and Probation. Drug Reference Group The Oxford City DRG is a network of agencies who work with drug misusers in the city. They provide education, treatment and support. The DRG is chaired by the City Drug Co-ordinator and get support from the DAAT who are the principle commissioner. Oxford User Treatment forums – improve treatment and services in Oxford. Other data can be useful to draw upon in order to help build up a picture of the complexity of drug use in Oxford. For instance, the numbers of those who attend treatment services, the numbers of treatment services that exist. These figures however, only indicate how many people are linking in to treatment services and again only form part of the picture of actual drug use. A rise in those in treatment services does not necessarily mean that there are more people taking drugs. Key findings where: • The amount of heroin and crack being used in the city has increased in the last five years. • There are an estimated 822-1,370 problem drug users in Oxford (DUIO study). • Oxford has been identified as a high priority crack area. • The cost to the city and its communities in economic and social costs is clearly very high. • There is a significant level of unmet need, in terms of treatment and support especially for young drug users, and support for those whose parents use drugs. • Illicit drugs and in particular heroin and crack appear to play a significant part in the level of criminal offending in Oxford. This is particularly the case for some types of acquisitive crime, most notably shoplifting and burglary. Specialist Community Addictions Service The Specialist Community Addictions Service (SCAS) is a community based drug and alcohol team providing support to primary care and working in partnership with many other services which impact upon the health of people with addictive behaviours. The team contains over a century of experience in addictions and comprises of Nurses, Psychologists, Psychiatrists, Counsellors, Specialist GP and support workers. Table j10: Referrals to the Specialist Community Addictions Service between April 2001 and March 2002 SCAS referrals April 2001 to March 2002 Average Age of Drug User Cherwell 34% 205 26 West Oxfordshire 12% 71 28 Oxford City 22 134 30

South Oxfordshire 17% 67 28 Source: DAT

Oxford’s Crime and Disorder Audit 2004

Oxford City – Drug Projects A number of the areas concerned have been the subject of partnership funding initiatives with central government, and the St. Clements and East Oxford Wards have been the subject of an initiative by the Oxford Safer Communities Partnership on crime reduction associated with drug use. Several high profile estates have attracted significant levels of youth centred provision, notably Blackbird Leys and the Barton Estate, where the Libra Drugs Agency has provided a community based drugs prevention programme for young people for a considerable time. The Family Resource Centres are an important resource for young families in need and there are said to be significant numbers of young parents with drug problems. The African Caribbean Community Action Network has produced a Drugs Misuse Needs Assessment following research under the auspices of the University of Central Lancashire. This notes the high concentration of black and ethnic minority people in East Oxford and the Blackbird Leys/Greater Leys areas. It notes the limited levels of service provision, their poor uptake by black people and the lack of responsiveness of current provision. Similar conclusions emerge from work undertaken with the Asian community. Barton Healthy Living Project As part of a co-ordinated approach to substance misuse in Oxford, the post of a Community Drugs Project Development Worker for Barton was created. The aim is for the Development Worker should be responsible for facilitating community consultation through participatory methods, working with residents to draw up action plans and then co-ordinating their implementation, with an emphasis on local people being involved in all stages of the project. This includes: • improving awareness of substance misuse issues • work aimed at preventing substance misuse • efforts to improve access to treatment. East Oxford Healthy Living Initiative A project continues in East Oxford aiming to reduce drug related crime and improve the health of the community. Outreach work, and other services, such as drop-ins, particularly targeting black and ethnic communities in the South and East Oxford. Cranston Drug Service - Libra Project This is the only major non-statutory community based specialist agency operating in Oxfordshire and has until recently concentrated its provision on those over 18 years old. A worker with a specific brief for young people has been appointed. The worker was at that stage regularly visiting Thornbury House, within the ‘looked after’ sector and was seeing a number of young people there. So far as community based referrals and self-referrals were concerned numbers were averaging about one per week, but some of these were from the YOT. Frequently self and non-statutory referrals involved problems broader than drug use and the main drug issues so far had been to do with alcohol, cannabis and ecstasy. The Gap The Gap provides day support for a range of homeless young people (up to the aged of 25). Its team establishment includes substance misuse, mental health workers, IT and training workers. In an average day, staff could be dealing with around fifty young people. Approximately one-quarter will have substantial substance misuse needs and one in three have offending histories. A few would have been housed in one of the direct access hostels, but in general few have had access to supported housing.

Oxford’s Crime and Disorder Audit 2004

The project enables individuals to access a range of services from needle exchange to primary care through referral to the Luther Street Medical Centre for homeless people. Workers also made referrals to a variety of other agencies and stressed that lack of substance misuse provision and co-ordination of services were major problems. The Bridge The Bridge provides accommodation for young people aged 15 to 25. A significant number of residents at the project are 18 or under, and as with The Gap the client group includes many in multiple need including substance misuse problems. Other housing projects Some projects offering supported housing for young people do not cater for substance misusing young people and requires clients to be free of drugs for three months before moving in. This provides a drug-free environment for ex-users. Drug Recovery Project Lucy Faithful House, an ECH facility runs a small detoxification facility in North Oxford. Diversionary activity OSCP has invested heavily in diversionary activities to steer young people away from crime and drugs over the past three years. Many of these interventions and services will continue. For further details of the types of services that are provided please see the Project Summaries Appendix. Young Persons Drug Worker There are agencies that provide some support to young people who present with substance misuse issues such as the Youth Service Detached Youth Worker, Libra Cranstoun and The Gap. The Young People’s Need Assessment 2002, commissioned by the DAAT, raised the issue about the lack of a specific Young Persons Drugs Worker in Oxford City. This view was also supported by the Educational support services in Oxford city, a Educational Psychologist, Educational Social Workers, Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties Outreach Teachers and other adolescent specialists, who all have expressed a need for a Youth drugs worker who they can refer to, and work with. There are other agencies such as The Youth Service, The Police, Social Services and voluntary sector who were seen to benefit from the support of a Young People’s Drug worker. As a result a Young Persons Drug Worker post was established recently in Oxford. The worker has been able to assess the young person’s level of drug use and put into place an appropriate support package based on the young person’s needs. This work is undertaken with the young person’s consent and agreement. The post worker works directly with young people who are involved in drug use or identified as being of increased risk of drug abuse. She does this by supporting the young person in understanding the consequences of their drug use and helping them to deciding what action the young person needs to take by empowering them to take control of their own lives. The worker works with agencies, including schools and Oxford City Police, across the city that may refer young people to the service. A variety of drug education programmes are delivered to teachers, youth workers and other professionals as well as a range of targeted youth work. Training and development with ethnic minorities Training and development work on substance misuse with ethnic communities such as Bangladeshi, South Asian, Afro-Caribbean families in Oxford funded through the Home Office (Community Against Drugs) for three years.

Oxford’s Crime and Disorder Audit 2004

OXCAD Leys Communities Against Drugs Project (OXCAD) was set up in April 2002. This was a capacity building, community based project. Work includes preventative drugs work, a drop in, education and signposting service; drugs awareness and training session for schools and parents; outreach workers; needle exchange/bins; encouraging other agencies to engage on the estate (reducing isolation and promoting networking). Restorative Justice Training Restorative Justice Training for teachers, Connexions workers and Educational Social Workers in Secondary schools. Detached Youth Workers The Oxfordshire Youth Service have a number of detached youth workers who operate in the city, principally in city centre. They are in contact with many young people in the city centre and discuss issues of concern, one being drugs. Trends in drug use by young people are discussed and the necessary support given.