London’s Drug Problem

London, like any capital city, is a hub of activity. It’s the UK’s business centre and tourist centre and its 7.5 million strong population is one of the most ethnically diverse in the world. The postcards show red phone boxes, open topped buses and Buckingham Palace. What they don’t show is the homelessness, alcohol and colossal drugs problem plaguing the capital. But take a typical drug rehab clinic London and you’ll find evidence of the massive issue prevalent across the capital.

In 2005 alone 5,184 recorded drug trafficking offences in London alone. There were a further 37,296 possession offences and 201 other drugs related offences recorded. Overall, the total number of recorded drugs offences was 42,681, equating to one offence for every 175 people. That’s an extraordinarily high proportion.

Another alarming statistic highlighting the issue is the fact that there are an estimated 70000 people residing in London, who are considered to be ‘Problematic Drug Users.’ Further studies into the number of PDUs in London suggest that there’s a rate of problematic crack cocaine use in the capital of 14.35 per 1000, compared with a national average of 9.93.

All of this adds up to a remarkably high cost on the capital, both in terms of health treatment for those who abuse the substances and in policing the problem. The figures indicate a connection between problematic drug use and crime and while it would be impossible to calculate an exact cost of drug related crime (given that drug users may commit crimes for reasons other than funding drug habits), one survey that interviewed arrestees in 2000, found that just over 10% of them had reported using crack, cocaine or heroin within the 12 months prior to their arrest.

So what is the capital doing to resolve its drug problem? Well, millions of pounds goes into funding anti drugs initiatives. One such initiative is the ‘Out of Crime into Treatment’ scheme, which places problematic drug users who commit crime, into treatment. But the issue remains that so much drug use goes on underground and remains undetected and while educating people from a young age about the dangers of drugs continues, we are not close to resolving the problem.