In September, Volteface published its seminal report The Children’s Inquiry examining how effectively the UK’s cannabis policies are safeguarding young people. The report was a wide-ranging examination of how easily young people are able to obtain cannabis and the type of cannabis they are using, the repercussions of this for their wellbeing and the support … Continued
In October, Canada became the first G7 nation to legalise cannabis, with the wheels set in motion for a fully regulated, legalised cannabis market to begin operating in all of its provinces. This change in the law, driven by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government, is being implemented with the aim of protecting young people … Continued
This week, MPs debated whether Spice should be reclassified as a Class A drug, in the wake of its devastating effects on those using it on the streets of towns and cities across the UK. Deemed a “serious national problem” by Conservative MP Ben Bradley, who secured the debate in Westminster Hall, a number of … Continued
Making Spice a Class A drug is likely to make its already devastating effects on vulnerable communities worse not better, politicians have been warned. In recent months, some MPs have called on the Government to consider reclassifying Spice as a Class A substance, with a debate to be held on the issue in Parliament’s Westminster … Continued
The extent to which drugs have taken hold in our jails was detailed by the Chief Inspector of Prisons in his annual report last month. “The ready availability of drugs in too many of our prisons sits behind much of the violence,” Peter Clarke said. “We are regularly told by prisoners how easy it is … Continued
“A couple of weeks before I went to prison, I spent six weeks in hospital with kidney failure because I actually tried to take my own life. Mental health is something I’ve suffered with for a long time, since my childhood. I suffered a lot of trauma as a child, I was in the care … Continued
Inmates are killing themselves after racking up huge drugs debts inside prison, the trade union for prison officers has warned. Joe Simpson, assistant general secretary of the Prison Officers Association (POA), said the Government’s plans to crackdown on drugs through targeting mobile phones, criminal gangs and drones would come to nothing without more staff to … Continued
The Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police has said that drugs should not be decriminalised but that the issue should be looked at through a public health, not criminal justice, lens. Cressida Dick was asked whether it was time for her police force, the largest in the country, and the Government to take a more liberal … Continued
“Spice changes your concept of time. If you’re street homeless and you want something to pass your time and misery, Spice is the perfect drug. A day on Spice just flips by, it’s gone.” Life for those on the streets has taken a terrifying turn for the even worse since the arrival of Spice. A … Continued
Stephanie Gaffney and her eight-month-old Elliana, pictured above, are at Cincinnati’s Children’s Hospital Medical Centre. It’s a clinic for babies with neonatal abstinence syndrome, which happens when babies are born to mothers addicted to heroin. The children can suffer from sleeplessness, seizures, tremors and other withdrawal symptoms. Gaffney used heroin and opiates for a number … Continued