300 per cent increase in serious drug related illnesses among young people (North Bedfordshire Liberal Democrats)

North Bedfordshire Liberal Democrats <bedford@bedfordlibdems.org>

300 per cent increase in serious drug related illnesses among young people

March 20, 2009 10:07 AM

Henry Vann has uncovered figures showing massive increase in drug admissions among 18-21 year-olds as Labour government's policies fail to combat a growing problem.

Figures uncovered by Bedford and Kempston Liberal Democrat parliamentary campaigner have shown that the number of admissions to Bedford Hospital for drug related illnesses among people aged 18-21 has more than tripled in the past eight years.

In 1999/2000, 16 people between 18 and 21 were admitted to Bedford Hospital for drug-related illnesses, but by 2007/2008, the figure had reached 51.

The Liberal Democrats recently voted at their spring conference to oppose the government super-prisons policy, put 10,000 more police on the streets (paid for by scrapping ID Cards) and introduce effective rehabilitation programmes in prisons to reduce re-offending rates, and so reduce crime.

Henry Vann, Bedford and Kempston parliamentary campaigner for the Liberal Democrats, highlighted the figures saying: "This shows that the current policy is failing to combat the growing problem.

"It is quite clear that drug policy should be about facts and evidence, not partisan posturing on failed reactionary policies. Time and time again, it has been shown that "zero-tolerance" approaches just drive drug-use underground.

"Community policing, and rehabilitation are the best way to combat this growing problem. This is why I have called for 10,000 extra police nationwide, paid for by scrapping ID Cards, and better rehabilitation facilities in prisons.

"Both Conservatives and Labour seem unable to listen to the advice of experts, instead resorting to knee-jerk, dangerous policy which does nothing to combat drug associated illnesses and drug crime in general."