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<p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The Coalition Government's approach to preventing drug
and alcohol abuse in the UK is captured in the 2010 Drug Strategy and the 2012 Alcohol
Strategy.<br><br>The Drug Strategy 'Reducing demand, restricting supply, building
recovery: supporting people to live a drug-free life' balances three key themes: reducing
the demand for drugs, restricting the supply of drugs, and supporting individuals
to recover from dependence. We continue to do all we can to prevent people from using
drugs in the first place and intervene early with those who start to develop problems.
For example, we are taking action to break intergenerational paths to drug misuse
by supporting the UK's most troubled families and supporting practitioners working
with young people through the production of an on-line Alcohol and Drug Education
and Prevention Information Service.<br><br>We are confident that our strategic approach
is producing good results. Drug use has fallen to its lowest level since records began
in 1996, and people going into treatment today are more likely to free themselves
from dependency than ever before. <br><br>The Alcohol Strategy proposed a range of
measures to radically reshape the approach to alcohol and reduce excessive drinking
and tackle the crime and health harms associated with it. We have provided more powers
for local areas to restrict opening and closing times, control the density of licensed
premises, and charge a late night levy to support policing. In May we introduced a
ban on the worst cases of very cheap and harmful alcohol sales and are taking forward
a wide range of action to tackle alcohol-related crime and disorder. This includes
working with 20 Local Alcohol Action Areas to cut alcohol-related crime and disorder,
and reduce the damage caused to people's health. Underpinning this work is the goal
of promoting diverse and vibrant night-time economies that do not centre on drinking
alcohol.<br><br>Through the Responsibility Deal, the alcohol industry has adopted
a core commitment to ‘foster a culture of responsible drinking which will help people
to drink within guidelines'. This includes a pledge to give consumers a wider choice
of lower strength products and take one billion units out of the market by 2015. From
April 2013, the NHS Healthcheck included an alcohol risk assessment for adults aged
40-75 year olds, with an assessment every five years. The Chief Medical Officer (Dame
Sally Davies) is also reviewing the alcohol guidelines for adults.</p><p> </p><p>
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