Public views on drug policy are more complicated than you might think
In the context of figures showing that the number of drug related deaths in the UK in 2021 rising to record levels - almost 6,000 early and preventable deaths in one year – a new public opinion survey has been commissioned by the cross-party Parliamentary Group for Drug Policy Reform and conducted by accredited pollsters Redfield and Wilton.
The opinion survey sought views on the UK’s drug laws and the Government’s track record on dealing with the harms associated with drugs. It polled a representative national sample, as well as a sample of so-called ‘red wall’ voters – those living in the 40 parliamentary constituencies the Conservative Party won in the 2019 election, mostly former Labour heartlands.
The results show that, although clear majorities of those surveyed said that the UK still has a significant drug problem, and that government efforts so far have failed to reduce supply or consumption, the public has mixed and diverse views on what policies would be more effective.
These results fly in the face of conventional political wisdom – seemingly held by both Labour and Conservative leaderships – that assumes that the public want a simplistic ‘tough on drugs’ approach – that condemns all those who consume drugs for whatever reason, and increases law enforcement and punishments.
There are small majorities calling for the authorities to do more to clamp down on drug dealers, but little faith that these policies will work to reduce drug supply. At the same time, a majority report a preference for those caught in possession of drugs to be offered education or treatment rather than criminal punishment (an idea included in the recent government proposals for ‘middle class drug users’, proposed by London Mayor Sadiq Khan, and already implemented in 14 police force areas).
In a further demonstration that public opinion may be ahead of the politicians, clear majorities support the implementation of public health measures that help users consume drugs more safely – prioritising the protection of life and health above a ‘zero tolerance’ approach:
- 67% support the wider availability of naloxone, the emergency medicine that can save lives through reversing heroin overdoses.
- 61% supported the introduction of drug safety testing schemes that advise users of the contents and risks of the drugs they are planning to take.
- 49% support, and 18% oppose (the rest didn’t have a view), the introduction of overdose prevention centres – health clinics that allow users to take drugs in safe and medically supervised conditions, where staff are available to prevent and manage overdose deaths.
Another finding seems to confirm previous surveys on attitudes to cannabis legalisation – 49% reported being in favour, with 27% against and 24% undecided.
The Labour leadership in particular seems to be concerned that swing voters in red wall seats have authoritarian views on drug policy issues, so any departure from tough messaging about clampdowns and condemnation would lose votes. But our survey found that the results of the survey of red wall voters mirrored the national picture pretty closely.
We should avoid reading too much into one survey, that delivered mixed and sometimes contradictory results – but it is important for politicians to understand that the public recognises the complexity of the issues at stake, and has moved on from a blanket war on drugs sensibility. This presents a challenge for all parties’ manifesto writing teams – promising a continuation of the war on drugs, nor claiming that there is some other simple solution to the complex challenges of drug supply, consumption and addiction, is no longer good enough for the public.
Mike Trace 11th August 2022