Policy update
This page contains the latest information regarding developments relating to substance misuse. Further guidance and reports are available on the practitioner guidance and resources page.
FRANK cocaine campaign (December 2008)
A new hard-hitting £1 million TV and online FRANK advertising campaign which shows the dangers of cocaine use was unveiled by the Government. For more information see the full DCSF press notice.
Drug and Alcohol Education (23 October 2008)
The DCSF has published the report on the delivery of Drug and Alcohol Education in schools; and the Government response to the report. For more information, the full press notice and reports are available on TeacherNet.
Cannabis reclassification (13 October 2008)
The Government's decision to reclassify cannabis as a Class B drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 was announced by Home Secretary Jacqui Smith on 7 May 2008.
The necessary legislation will be debated in both Houses of Parliament this autumn and, if approved, reclassification will take effect from 26 January 2009. Until the reclassification is approved, cannabis remains a Class C drug. The decision follows a review of cannabis classification which was carried out by the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) at the request of the Prime Minister.
The Government accepted 20 of the 21 recommendations from the ACMD report and published their response to the ACMD report on the 13 October 2008. Both reports are available below.
Documents
ACMD
report (7 May 2008)
Government
response to ACMD report (13 October 2008)
This page was last updated on 16 December 2008
