The National Audit Office’s latest report, “Tackling Problem Drug Use”, shows that the cost of providing effective drug treatment to addict individuals has decreased by 20% in the last five years.  The total funding for treatment per adult in effective treatment stands at £3,000 compared to £3,700 in 2007 which is a 23% fall.

CEO of the National Treatment Agency, Paul Hayes, states: “Anyone who now needs treatment can get it quickly, and record numbers of drug users are receiving help. The numbers dropping out of treatment early are falling, the numbers staying in long enough to benefit are rising, and the numbers successfully completing treatment for dependency are increasing year on year. We have always known that society benefits from effective drug treatment because it cuts crime, improves public health and fosters stable family relationships. We can now demonstrate how the treatment system has risen to the challenge of delivering greater productivity for taxpayers as well.”