Applicable to: United Kingdom

The Government’s 2004 Spending Review (HM Treasury 2004a) set out departmental spending plans for the financial years  2005/06 to 2007/08.  Associated with this are Public Service Agreements (PSAs), which commit Government Departments to particular objectives and targets.  These include targets that aim to reduce the harm caused by illegal drugs to individuals, their families and the community by (HM Treasury 2004b):

• reducing drug use amongst young people and preventing problematic drug use, especially amongst the most vulnerable;
• having a long-term impact on the supply of Class A drugs;
• using the Criminal Justice System to target drug-using offenders, engaging them in treatment and reducing drug-related crime; and
• increasing the numbers in treatment by 100 per cent by 2008 (from a baseline of 100,000 in 1998), and to yearly increase the proportion successfully being retained or completing treatment.

References
HM (Her Majesty’s) Treasury (2004a). 2004 Spending Review. Stability security and opportunity for all: investing for Britain's long-term future. July 2004 new public spending plans 2005-2008. HM Treasury, London.
(Please click here to access the report online.)

HM (Her Majesty’s) Treasury (2004b). 2004 spending review. Public service agreements 2005-2008. HM Treasury, London.
(Please click here to access the report online.)