Street Drugs in the Northern Powerhouse: Perspective and Policy

13 Apr 2018

World experts in the field of substance misuse have gathered in Manchester for a ground breaking symposium that considered reforming drugs policy in the UK.

An audience of more than 200 clinicians, pharmacists, academics, students, charities, police, former drug users and members of the public attended to hear from high profile speakers about the benefits to revisiting our approach to street drugs.

President and Vice Chancellor Dame Nancy Rothwell opened the event by highlighting the work taking place at the University on substance misuse.

Speakers included Professor David Nutt, former chair of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs in the UK and founder and chair of Drug Science who presented some fundamental changes to radically reform UK drugs policy; Neil Woods, former undercover drugs police officer and author of Good Cop Bad War, who explained how he infiltrated the world of organised crime by posing as a street drug user and shoplifter; and President of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, Ashok Soni, OBE who provided pharmacist perspectives.

Professor Jo Neill, Professor of Psychopharmacology and President at the British Association of Psychopharmacology, said: "Whatever your personal opinion on this topic, there are several key facts that cannot be ignored: people have always, and will continue to, use drugs recreationally; prohibition does not work to reduce this and causes more harm than good; interrupting the production and supply of illegal drugs leads to more harmful substances being produced; a large proportion of the police do not support criminalisation of individual drug use; drug safety testing reduces harm; there are several medicinal uses of street drugs and research is impeded by our drugs policy.

"Other countries are way ahead of the UK in leading the way on drug policy reform. The discussions that evolved throughout the day showed that people are taking this issue seriously and are keen to work together to come up with a solution."

Further reading:

• A full account of the day, written by Professor Jo Neill, can be found HERE
• David Nutt’s presentation on the day can be viewed HERE
• The Loop
• LEAP
• Drug Science