Some of the latest facts and figures on drug misuse published by the Department of Health:

-  For every £1 spent on drug treatment there is a saving of £9.50 to society as a whole
-  The Government is investing £604 million in drug treatment in 2008/09
-  £54.3 million of new funding is being invested to expand inpatient detoxification and residential rehabilitation services
195,000 people received treatment in 2006/7, 130% more than in 1998
-  Three out of four people stay in treatment for at least 12 weeks (staying in treatment for 12 weeks has a lasting positive impact and is a measure of successful treatment)
-  96% of drug users are receiving treatment within three weeks of being assessed
-  Drug related deaths have fallen by 13% since 2001 following sharp increases in the 1990’s
-  Drug related crime has reduced by 20% since 2003 among those individuals referred for drug treatment through the Criminal Justice System
-  83% of young people are aware of FRANK, the government’s drugs awareness campaign.  The number of 15-18 year olds agreeing that smoking cannabis damages the mind went up from 45% to 61% as a result of this campaign.