BRITISH POLICIES ON OPIATE ADDICTION - 10 YEARS WORKING OF THE REVISED RESPONSE, AND OPTIONS FOR THE FUTURE

The purpose of this paper is to examine the elements of policy which together comprised the response to that epidemic, to consider the relative efficacy of different elements, and finally to look at options for the future. Often a social or health problem is tackled on a basis of muddling through or just hoping that it will go away, but the response to addiction in the 1960's provides an instance of Government strategy which was planned and highly intentional (Connell, 1969). As such, the story is not only about drugs and drug policies; it provides a case study in planning.