UK government publish report on increasing crack use

Public Health England and the Home Office have published an investigative report on the rise in crack cocaine use in 6 areas of England

Public Health England (PHE) and the Home Office have today, Monday 25 March 2019, published a summary of findings from the Increase in crack cocaine use inquiry, an investigative report on crack cocaine use in 6 areas of England.

This publication follows evidence reported in the 2018 Serious Violence Strategy, that drugs have been an important driver of the increase in serious violence in England and Wales since 2014.

Key findings from the ‘Increase in crack cocaine use inquiry’ include:

• the majority of people using crack were observed to be existing heroin users, often with co-occurring mental health problems and at risk of being homeless
• the rise in crack use is likely to be caused by increased availability (linked to a surge in global production of cocaine), affordability and aggressive ‘marketing’ by dealers
  changes in attitudes and stigma associated with crack use, and a reduced focus by police on drug dealing
• clear evidence of ‘county lines’ operations – but this varied across different areas

The latest comprehensive prevalence estimates by Liverpool University – published today alongside this report – show that while there was a sharp rise in crack use between 2011 to 2012 and 2014 to 2015, it has now levelled, but remains much higher than previously.
However, figures for overall use of crack as well as heroin between 2014 and 2015 and 2016 and 2017 have increased by 4.4%.

Rosanna O’Connor, Director for Drugs, Alcohol, Tobacco and Justice at PHE said:

“This report will come as no surprise to those working on the frontline, who will have seen first-hand this surge in crack use in their communities.

“Local areas, more than ever, need to continue to invest in effective drug services if we are to stop the creep of this highly addictive drug into the wider community and people’s lives being torn apart.

“Treatment is cost-effective with every £1 spent yielding a £2.50 saving on the social costs, including reducing crime. Services need to reach out to crack users and offer more attractive and tailored support to meet their specific needs.

“And more needs to be done to improve the links from the criminal justice system into treatment services, for example through greater availability of arrest referral schemes and improved monitoring of drug rehabilitation requirements.”

Victoria Atkins, Minister for Crime, Safeguarding and Vulnerability said:

“The government is committed to tackling the illicit drugs trade, protecting the most vulnerable and helping those with drug dependency to recover.

“The Home Secretary also recently appointed Professor Dame Carol Black to carry out a major review of drug misuse, including the workings of the illicit market.”

The data and this inquiry indicate that the upward trend began to develop several years ago around 2013.

This investigation has identified several factors which may have influenced the rise in crack use, including:

• a surge in global production of cocaine since 2013
• increased availability and affordability of crack
• aggressive “marketing” of the drug by dealers

Organised crime groups are using sophisticated techniques to aggressively market crack in large cities, as well as towns and seaside locations. They are largely exploiting existing demand by targeting existing heroin users, but some participants suggested that dealers are also opening up new markets, with a different group of first time younger users.

Diane Abbott MP, Shadow Home Secretary, responding to the findings of a Public Health England and Home Office investigation into the increase in crack cocaine use in England, said:

“This report is truly shocking and highlights the reprehensible cuts to treatment centres and policing made by the Tories. This government is failing the families and communities damaged by drug use.

“We cannot have a meaningful strategy on drug abuse without looking at the issue of resources. Labour in government will recruit extra police to tackle the drugs crisis and review the priorities to ensure they are appropriate.”

Addaction public policy manager Steve Moffatt offered perspective from the UK drug abuse charity:

“The rise in crack use is concerning, particularly when there’s a ‘hidden’ group who aren’t accessing support or treatment services. We need to get a much better understanding of this group, who they are and what their lives are like. The more information we have, the more we can improve ways of reaching them.

“The fact people are being ‘aggressively’ marketed to makes it vital people have access to up to date facts and advice to make informed decisions and that drug and alcohol services are adequately funded.

“It’s concerning how long it took for the rise in crack use to be clear at a national level. Government needs more up-to-date information on the trends in heroin and crack in order to take action sooner.”

There was clear evidence of ‘out of town’ dealers from criminal groups based in cities such as London, Liverpool, Manchester and Birmingham infiltrating local markets. However, the impact of these county lines operations varied between areas.

Other reported factors contributing to the increase were changes in the stigma about crack, as well a reduced police focus on targeting drug dealing.

The findings support existing evidence, including information from the National Crime Agency, about the expansion of ‘county lines’ activity in recent years. There was a widespread view among all interviewed that county lines groups were much more likely than local groups to engage in serious violence, and to exploit vulnerable young people and drug users.

The participants were largely unanimous that the increases are primarily among existing heroin users, but there have also been suggestions of a new ‘hidden’ group of crack users who are not using heroin and who have not engaged with treatment services. Research is needed to explore the demographics of this group and what is leading or causing them to use crack.

The Home Secretary, Sajid Javid, replied to the urgent question of increasing serious and violent crime:

“There is no hiding from this issue […] serious violence is on the rise, communities are being torn apart and families are losing their children.”

Louise Haigh, the Shadow Home Office Minister for Police, replied to the Home Secretary and said that the House was united in grief at the loss of young lives to knife crime. She went on to call on the Prime Minister to step in and provide national leadership, asking;

“Will she step up and convene a crisis summit, backed with emergency funding?”

The United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime reported that global opium production increased by 65% in 2017.