This document contains information on various topics related to alcohol and other drugs in the UK, including: - The increasing number of new psychoactive substances identified by authorities. - Reduced funding for alcohol services in areas with high alcohol harms. - Decreased participation in teacher training on drug education after government funding was withdrawn. - Rising numbers of hospital admissions for cannabis-induced psychosis in young people. - Increasing sanctions for unemployment benefits recipients with drug and alcohol problems. - Hospital admissions for drug poisonings, highest for opiates in males. - Stable conviction rates in England and Wales for alcohol and drug offenses in recent years.

1. Interesting things
about alcohol and
other drugs you may
have missed
April 2015
Andrew Brown
Director of Policy, Influence and Engagement
DrugScope
@andrewbrown365

2. The number of
NPS, not
previously
encountered
either in
the UK or
at EU level,
identified by
the Home
Office Forensic
Early Warning
System (FEWS) 0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
January 2011-
March 2012
April 2012- March
2013
April 2013- March
2014
Source: http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/Commons/2015-02-26/225633/

3. “Local authority
areas tackling
the greatest
alcohol harms
appear most
likely to be
reducing funding
for alcohol
services and
activity.”
Alcohol Concern
0
1
2
3
4
5
Decrease Increase Stayed the same
Since the last financial year has the total actual
amount spent on alcohol services and activity
decreased, increased or stayed the same?
High Medium Lown = 24
Source: http://www.alcoholconcern.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/woocommerce_uploads/2015/03/A-Measure-of-Change_Final-Report.pdf

4. Participation figures for the National
Personal Health and Social Education
(PSHE) Continuing Professional
Development Programme for teachers
1723
1471
1937
334
202 175 175
1356
978
1331
282
170 145 141
2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14
Registrations Completions
“The Government’s intention in
2004 was for there to be a
certificated PSHE teacher in
every secondary school by
2006. Funding was withdrawn
in 2010; but the programme
still exists and is provided by
Babcock 4S in partnership with
the University of Roehampton,
at a cost of £700 to participants
for a three-day course.”
Education Select Committee
CENTRAL
GOVERNMENT
FUNDING
WITHDRAWN
Source: http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201415/cmselect/cmeduc/145/145.pdf

5. Count of finished
admission episodes
with a primary or
secondary diagnosis
of cannabis-induced
psychosis, for
patients aged 0-17 in
England, 2009-10 to
2013-14
27
32
24
22
38
2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14
Source: http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/Commons/2015-03-17/227980/
A finished admission episode (FAE) is the first period
of admitted patient care under one consultant
within one healthcare provider. FAEs are counted
against the year or month in which the admission
episode finishes. Admissions do not represent the
number of patients, as a person may have more
than one admission within the period.

6. The number of adverse ESA (Work Related
Activity Group) adverse sanction decisions for
each month from October 2008 to June 2014 for
people with drug and alcohol problems
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
Feb-09
May-09
Aug-09
Nov-09
Feb-10
May-10
Aug-10
Nov-10
Feb-11
May-11
Aug-11
Nov-11
Feb-12
May-12
Aug-12
Nov-12
Feb-13
May-13
Aug-13
Nov-13
Feb-14
May-14
Aug-14
Failed to Attend (FTA) or Failed to Participate (FTP) in mandatory advisor interview- Alcohol misuse
Failed to Attend (FTA) or Failed to Participate (FTP) in mandatory advisor interview - Drug misuse
Failed to undertake Work Related Activity - Alcohol misuse
Failed to undertake Work Related Activity - Drug misuse
Source: https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/esa_wrag_claimants_with_primary#incoming-632620
See: http://drugscope.blogspot.co.uk/2015/03/a-fair-chance-sanctions-and.html

7. The number of
people admitted to
hospital for
poisoning broken
down by substance
and a) 18+ Males b)
18+ females c) 0-17
year olds at
England level for
2013-14
NB – MDMA/PMA,
amphetamines, ketamine,
GBL/GBH, NPS not captured
by ICD-codes
- 5,000 10,000 15,000 20,000 25,000
Opium
Heroin
Other opioids
Methadone
Other synthetic narcotics
Cocaine
Other and unspecified narcotics
Cannabis (derivatives)
Lysergide [LSD]
Other and unspecified
psychodysleptics [hallucinogens]
Psychostimulants with abuse
potential
Male 18 + Female 18 + 0-17 years old
Source: http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/Commons/2015-03-17/227803/

8. Proportion of the population of England and
Wales convicted of alcohol and drug offences
0.11%
0.09%
0.09%
0.08%
0.07%
0.10%
0.11% 0.11%
0.10% 0.10%
2009 2010 2011 2012 2013
Alcohol offences Drug offences
Source: http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/Lords/2015-03-17/HL5791/