Frank drugs campaign branded a waste of money
Joe Lepper
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
The government's Frank campaign to reduce drug abuse among young people has been condemned as a failure in a hard-hitting report by the think-tank the Centre for Policy Studies (CPS).
Called The Phoney War On Drugs, the report criticises government efforts to combat drug abuse as a waste of money and for not concentrating enough on prevention and enforcement.
The Frank campaign, which launched in 2003, was among a number of high-profile drugs policy initiatives singled out for criticism.
The campaign has too great a focus on reducing the harm that drugs cause rather than halting its use among young people, according to the report.
"It now epitomises the government's low aspirations for reducing young people's drug use," the report says, adding: "It now endorses, rather than seeks to prevent, young people's drugs use."
The think-tank says the campaign also led to the closure of charity helpline services as they have been "instructed by the government to steer all their advice calls to Frank".
A Home Office spokesman branded the CPS report as "inaccurate" and gave assurances that the Frank campaign will continue.
"Young people need to be aware of the dangers and Frank is the ideal messenger for this as an established and trusted service. Our multi-media Frank campaign will continue to ensure young people are well aware of the risks," he added.
