New plan to tackle use of psychoactive substances in Wales

A plan to deal with the growing use and availability of new psychoactive substances in Wales is being developed to combat the harms they cause, Deputy Health Minister Vaughan Gething said yesterday.

Speaking in the National Assembly, the Deputy Minister revealed there has been a gradual change in drugs use over the last five years as demand for traditional illicit drugs such as heroin declines and the demand for new psychoactive substances increases.

In response to this change, the Welsh Government is developing the final three-year delivery plan for its 10-year substance misuse strategy Working Together to Reduce Harm.

One of the specific additions to the plan will be the importance of engaging and educating students in further and higher education institutions about the harms new psychoactive substances and other drugs cause. This expands on the work currently undertaken in schools across Wales.

All 14 recommendations set out in a report by the National Assembly’s health and social care committee, following an inquiry into new psychoactive substances, have been accepted by the Welsh Government. These will be considered as part of the final delivery plan and incorporated in it.

Mr Gething said: “Substance misuse is a major health issue which affects individuals, families and communities across Wales.

“We have witnessed a gradual change in drugs use over the last five years. Demand for traditional illicit drugs, such as heroin, is on the decline and the demand for new psychoactive substances has increased substantially over this time.

“Services, commissioners and policy makers have had to adapt to keep up with this fast-changing landscape. This is not easy to do, because as soon as you get to grips with one substance, a new one with a slightly different chemical structure is there to take its place.”  

He added: “The legislation and classification of drugs is a matter reserved to the UK Government and this is an area where we can see merit in having a UK-wide system for drug classification.

“However, we are keen to ensure that the UK Government responds with greater agility. Following the publication of the Home Office expert review panel’s report on the misuse of drugs in October 2014, the Minister for Health and Social Services wrote to the Home Office to push for a speedy UK legislative response to ensure law enforcement agencies have the best available powers, sending out the clearest possible message that the trade in these substances is reckless and these substances can be dangerous to health – even fatal.”