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Save Substance misuse: 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.
Consultation on children, young people and alcohol (29 January 2009)
Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families (Ed Balls), Secretary for Health (Alan Johnson) and Chief Medical Officer (Liam Donaldson) announced a 12-week consultation on proposed guidance, advice and information on alcohol consumption by children and young people. For more information, read the full DCSF press notice and go to the Consultation on children, young people and alcohol resource 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.
Associated documents
Substance misuse Gov resp Cannabis Classification (2008)
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Last updated on 16/04/2009
