Commenting on the statistics from the National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse that reveal the number of 18-24 year olds seeking help for cocaine abuse has doubled in the last year, Liberal Democrat Shadow Health Secretary, Norman Lamb said:
“It is welcome news that more and more people are getting access to treatment for their drug problems but the sharp increase in the number of young people taking cocaine is a serious cause for concern. This Government has been obsessed with trying to look tough on drugs while failing to deal effectively with the drug-taking culture in this country. We need to target resources into cracking down on dealers while making sure treatment and rehabilitation facilities are available to those who need them. Ministers must do a lot more to make people aware of the serious damage that drug use can do to your long-term health.”
In Capital Health suggest that a problem can only be dealt with once it is properly identified. This is a challenge for GPs and occupational health specialists as these patients can be identified and hence helped – as part of a pre-employment, or employment health check. Drug analyst Martyn Egerton explains how we can first accurately identify a potential problem in his article for in Capital Health. Dr Robert Lefever, then sets out his argument for the best way to treat addiction.
