The Government's National Drugs Strategy

In December 2002 the Government launched the Updated Drug Strategy 2002 . This built upon, and adapted the Government's Drug Strategy Tackling drugs to build a better Britain , launched in 1998.

Aiming to reduce the harm that drugs cause to society - communities, individuals and their families - the Drug Strategy has four main elements: -

• Young people - preventing today's young people from becoming tomorrow's problematic drug users;
• Reducing supply - reducing the supply of illegal drugs.
• Communities - reducing drug-related crime and its impact on communities;
• Treatment and harm minimisation - reducing drug use and drug-related offending through treatment and support. Reducing drug-related death through harm minimisation.

Further information including publications, events, Drug Action Team Directory, public drugs campaign resources, government press releases and the national drug strategy can be found at http://www.drugs.gov.uk

Sandwell Drug and Alcohol Action Team (DAAT)

Sandwell Drug and Alcohol Action Team (DAAT) brings together representatives of all the local agencies involved in tackling the misuse of drugs, including the health authority, local authority, police, probation, social services, education and youth services, and the voluntary sector.

Local representative contact details are as follows;

Drug Strategy Co-ordinator
Sandwell Drug and Alcohol Action Team
3rd Floor West House
Lombard Street West
West Bromwich
B70 8EG
Tel: 0121 580 4331
Fax: 0121 525 7980

Sandwell Drug Concern

Drug Concern
West House
Lombard Street West
West Bromwich
B70 8EG
Telephone Helpline: 0845 120 3745
Telephone Office: 0121 580 4338
Fax: 0121 525 7980
Email: info@drug-concern.co.uk
Website: www.drug-concern.co.uk

Drug Concern is a non-governmental agency that supports those concerned about another person's drug use. It also offers drug awareness training and works with parents and carers of young offenders or those at risk of offending. Based in Birmingham with a second office in Sandwell, Drug Concern has worked with parents, carers and others affected by drug use since 1994. In all its areas of work Drug Concern seeks to offer support confidentially and in a safe environment and tries to identify other local agencies with which it can work.