John Mann MP's Drugs Manifesto Consultation

Dear Member, 

Gordon Brown has asked me to draw up policy suggestions on drugs and alcohol for Labour’s next election manifesto. As part of this process I am asking you for your ideas and suggestions – all you need to do is comment on the questions listed below. 

It is important that Party members and stakeholders across the country are able to have their say as we shape our policy on these crucial areas. The reality is that every community is affected by drugs and alcohol. Different areas are affected in different ways: coalfield communities, rural districts, inner-city estates. That’s why I want to hear from members in all parts of the country, to help ensure we can develop policies that don’t just sound good in Westminster, but that will work in all our different communities. 

In 2001 when I was elected as the MP for Bassetlaw, there were 11 heroin overdose deaths. I called a unique public inquiry which heard evidence from the police, the local prison, treatment providers, the NHS, schools, churches, employers and addicts and their parents. I know from this process that a successful drugs and alcohol policy must reflect the needs of the community, and crucially, that local people must be involved in developing the policy. 

Beyond commenting on the questions on this blog, I would encourage you to organise a meeting to discuss these important areas and to send me your ideas for Labour’s drugs and alcohol policy. This is your chance to influence one of the most important policy areas as we prepare for a fourth term of Labour Government. 

This blog includes everything you will need to hold a meeting. If you are organising a meeting and would like a Labour Party speaker please get in touch on john@labourdrugsconsultation.org.uk.

I look forward to receiving your recommendations for our Manifesto.

Dear Member, 

Gordon Brown has asked me to draw up policy suggestions on drugs and alcohol for Labour’s next election manifesto. As part of this process I am asking you for your ideas and suggestions – all you need to do is comment on the questions listed below. 

It is important that Party members and stakeholders across the country are able to have their say as we shape our policy on these crucial areas. The reality is that every community is affected by drugs and alcohol. Different areas are affected in different ways: coalfield communities, rural districts, inner-city estates. That’s why I want to hear from members in all parts of the country, to help ensure we can develop policies that don’t just sound good in Westminster, but that will work in all our different communities. 

In 2001 when I was elected as the MP for Bassetlaw, there were 11 heroin overdose deaths. I called a unique public inquiry which heard evidence from the police, the local prison, treatment providers, the NHS, schools, churches, employers and addicts and their parents. I know from this process that a successful drugs and alcohol policy must reflect the needs of the community, and crucially, that local people must be involved in developing the policy. 

Beyond commenting on the questions on this blog, I would encourage you to organise a meeting to discuss these important areas and to send me your ideas for Labour’s drugs and alcohol policy. This is your chance to influence one of the most important policy areas as we prepare for a fourth term of Labour Government. 

This blog includes everything you will need to hold a meeting. If you are organising a meeting and would like a Labour Party speaker please get in touch on john@labourdrugsconsultation.org.uk.

I look forward to receiving your recommendations for our Manifesto.

Dear Member, 

Gordon Brown has asked me to draw up policy suggestions on drugs and alcohol for Labour’s next election manifesto. As part of this process I am asking you for your ideas and suggestions – all you need to do is comment on the questions listed below. 

It is important that Party members and stakeholders across the country are able to have their say as we shape our policy on these crucial areas. The reality is that every community is affected by drugs and alcohol. Different areas are affected in different ways: coalfield communities, rural districts, inner-city estates. That’s why I want to hear from members in all parts of the country, to help ensure we can develop policies that don’t just sound good in Westminster, but that will work in all our different communities. 

In 2001 when I was elected as the MP for Bassetlaw, there were 11 heroin overdose deaths. I called a unique public inquiry which heard evidence from the police, the local prison, treatment providers, the NHS, schools, churches, employers and addicts and their parents. I know from this process that a successful drugs and alcohol policy must reflect the needs of the community, and crucially, that local people must be involved in developing the policy. 

Beyond commenting on the questions on this blog, I would encourage you to organise a meeting to discuss these important areas and to send me your ideas for Labour’s drugs and alcohol policy. This is your chance to influence one of the most important policy areas as we prepare for a fourth term of Labour Government. 

This blog includes everything you will need to hold a meeting. If you are organising a meeting and would like a Labour Party speaker please get in touch on john@labourdrugsconsultation.org.uk.

I look forward to receiving your recommendations for our Manifesto.

Should drugs policy make a clear differentiation between soft drugs and hard drugs, and if so how?

Should drugs policy make a clear differentiation between soft drugs and hard drugs, and if so how?

Should drugs policy make a clear differentiation between soft drugs and hard drugs, and if so how?

What is the best way for dealing with drugs and alcohol in the workplace?

What role should trade unions have in this policy and its implementation?

What is the best way for dealing with drugs and alcohol in the workplace?

What role should trade unions have in this policy and its implementation?

What is the best way for dealing with drugs and alcohol in the workplace?

What role should trade unions have in this policy and its implementation?

Should we continue to provide clean needles and health advice to all drug addicts?

Should we continue to provide clean needles and health advice to all drug addicts?

Should we continue to provide clean needles and health advice to all drug addicts?

How well known is the Government’s FRANK campaign? 

How common is it for drugs to be taken into schools or bought in or outside schools? 

Should there be drug tests and searches carried out in schools?

How well known is the Government’s FRANK campaign? 

How common is it for drugs to be taken into schools or bought in or outside schools? 

Should there be drug tests and searches carried out in schools?

How well known is the Government’s FRANK campaign? 

How common is it for drugs to be taken into schools or bought in or outside schools? 

Should there be drug tests and searches carried out in schools?

Aim

To discuss Labour’s policy on drugs and alcohol for the next General Election and to suggest three proposals for our Manifesto 

Methods

Your meeting should be broken down into small discussion groups (groups of 4-8 people work best); one person should keep notes of the discussion, and one person should report back to the main meeting. Alternatively, you could discuss the questions as one larger group. 

Activity

Guide your discussion using all or some of the questions above. Aim to conclude with recommendations that your group agrees with. Encourage people to contribute to the discussion with their views and ideas, and relevant professional or personal experience.

Aim

To discuss Labour’s policy on drugs and alcohol for the next General Election and to suggest three proposals for our Manifesto 

Methods

Your meeting should be broken down into small discussion groups (groups of 4-8 people work best); one person should keep notes of the discussion, and one person should report back to the main meeting. Alternatively, you could discuss the questions as one larger group. 

Activity

Guide your discussion using all or some of the questions above. Aim to conclude with recommendations that your group agrees with. Encourage people to contribute to the discussion with their views and ideas, and relevant professional or personal experience.

Aim

To discuss Labour’s policy on drugs and alcohol for the next General Election and to suggest three proposals for our Manifesto 

Methods

Your meeting should be broken down into small discussion groups (groups of 4-8 people work best); one person should keep notes of the discussion, and one person should report back to the main meeting. Alternatively, you could discuss the questions as one larger group. 

Activity

Guide your discussion using all or some of the questions above. Aim to conclude with recommendations that your group agrees with. Encourage people to contribute to the discussion with their views and ideas, and relevant professional or personal experience.

The following sources provide useful information about current drugs and alcohol policy in the UK. You might find it useful to look at some of these sources before your meeting, or to have some of them available for participants to look at.   

Government and Parliament 

Tackling Drugs To Build A Better Britain: second national plan (1998)
http://www.archive.official-documents.co.uk/document/cm39/3945/3945.htm  

Updated Drug Strategy (2002)
http://drugs.homeoffice.gov.uk/publication-search/drug-strategy/updated-drug-strategy-2002.pdf 

"The Government's Drug Strategy: Is It Working?"Third Report of the Home Affairs Select Committee, May 2002UK Assessment of Serious and Organised Crime 2001, National Criminal Intelligence Services 

The Heroin Inquiry: John Mann MP (October 2002) 

"Drugs: our community, your say": Home Office (2007)
http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/documents/drugs-our-community-consultation

European  

Annual Report of the State of the Drugs Problem in the European Union 2006, European Monitoring Service for Drug and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) http://www.emcdda.europa.eu/?nNodeID=419 

International 

World Drug Report 2000, UN Office of Drug Control and Crime Prevention (ODCCP) http://www.unodc.org/unodc/world_drug_report.html   

Pamphlets and interesting articles 

"The Real Deal" by John Mann MP (Fabian Society) 

"How much do drugs cost?" by DrugScope
http://www.drugscope.org.uk/resources/faqs/faqpages/how-much-do-drugs-cost.htm 

Guardian, 1st September 2007, "The End of the Tracks?" by Adrian Clark
http://www.guardian.co.uk/drugs/Story/0,,2159091,00.html  

Websites 

Home Office Drugs page
http://drugs.homeoffice.gov.uk/  

Home Office Alcohol Strategy
http://www.crimereduction.gov.uk/drugsalcohol/drugsalcohol88.htm   

Turning Point
http://www.turning-point.co.uk/ 

DrugScope
http://www.drugscope.org.uk/ 

Transform
http://www.tdpf.org.uk/ 

National Treatment Agency
http://www.nta.nhs.uk/default.aspx 

Alcohol Concern
http://www.alcoholconcern.org.uk/servlets/home 

Institute of Alcohol Studies
http://www.ias.org.uk/

The following sources provide useful information about current drugs and alcohol policy in the UK. You might find it useful to look at some of these sources before your meeting, or to have some of them available for participants to look at.   

Government and Parliament 

Tackling Drugs To Build A Better Britain: second national plan (1998)
http://www.archive.official-documents.co.uk/document/cm39/3945/3945.htm  

Updated Drug Strategy (2002)
http://drugs.homeoffice.gov.uk/publication-search/drug-strategy/updated-drug-strategy-2002.pdf 

"The Government's Drug Strategy: Is It Working?"Third Report of the Home Affairs Select Committee, May 2002UK Assessment of Serious and Organised Crime 2001, National Criminal Intelligence Services 

The Heroin Inquiry: John Mann MP (October 2002) 

"Drugs: our community, your say": Home Office (2007)
http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/documents/drugs-our-community-consultation

European  

Annual Report of the State of the Drugs Problem in the European Union 2006, European Monitoring Service for Drug and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) http://www.emcdda.europa.eu/?nNodeID=419 

International 

World Drug Report 2000, UN Office of Drug Control and Crime Prevention (ODCCP) http://www.unodc.org/unodc/world_drug_report.html   

Pamphlets and interesting articles 

"The Real Deal" by John Mann MP (Fabian Society) 

"How much do drugs cost?" by DrugScope
http://www.drugscope.org.uk/resources/faqs/faqpages/how-much-do-drugs-cost.htm 

Guardian, 1st September 2007, "The End of the Tracks?" by Adrian Clark
http://www.guardian.co.uk/drugs/Story/0,,2159091,00.html  

Websites 

Home Office Drugs page
http://drugs.homeoffice.gov.uk/  

Home Office Alcohol Strategy
http://www.crimereduction.gov.uk/drugsalcohol/drugsalcohol88.htm   

Turning Point
http://www.turning-point.co.uk/ 

DrugScope
http://www.drugscope.org.uk/ 

Transform
http://www.tdpf.org.uk/ 

National Treatment Agency
http://www.nta.nhs.uk/default.aspx 

Alcohol Concern
http://www.alcoholconcern.org.uk/servlets/home 

Institute of Alcohol Studies
http://www.ias.org.uk/

The following sources provide useful information about current drugs and alcohol policy in the UK. You might find it useful to look at some of these sources before your meeting, or to have some of them available for participants to look at.   

Government and Parliament 

Tackling Drugs To Build A Better Britain: second national plan (1998)
http://www.archive.official-documents.co.uk/document/cm39/3945/3945.htm  

Updated Drug Strategy (2002)
http://drugs.homeoffice.gov.uk/publication-search/drug-strategy/updated-drug-strategy-2002.pdf 

"The Government's Drug Strategy: Is It Working?"Third Report of the Home Affairs Select Committee, May 2002UK Assessment of Serious and Organised Crime 2001, National Criminal Intelligence Services 

The Heroin Inquiry: John Mann MP (October 2002) 

"Drugs: our community, your say": Home Office (2007)
http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/documents/drugs-our-community-consultation

European  

Annual Report of the State of the Drugs Problem in the European Union 2006, European Monitoring Service for Drug and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) http://www.emcdda.europa.eu/?nNodeID=419 

International 

World Drug Report 2000, UN Office of Drug Control and Crime Prevention (ODCCP) http://www.unodc.org/unodc/world_drug_report.html   

Pamphlets and interesting articles 

"The Real Deal" by John Mann MP (Fabian Society) 

"How much do drugs cost?" by DrugScope
http://www.drugscope.org.uk/resources/faqs/faqpages/how-much-do-drugs-cost.htm 

Guardian, 1st September 2007, "The End of the Tracks?" by Adrian Clark
http://www.guardian.co.uk/drugs/Story/0,,2159091,00.html  

Websites 

Home Office Drugs page
http://drugs.homeoffice.gov.uk/  

Home Office Alcohol Strategy
http://www.crimereduction.gov.uk/drugsalcohol/drugsalcohol88.htm   

Turning Point
http://www.turning-point.co.uk/ 

DrugScope
http://www.drugscope.org.uk/ 

Transform
http://www.tdpf.org.uk/ 

National Treatment Agency
http://www.nta.nhs.uk/default.aspx 

Alcohol Concern
http://www.alcoholconcern.org.uk/servlets/home 

Institute of Alcohol Studies
http://www.ias.org.uk/