Blunkett abandons 'unreal' drug targets

The Government is to abandon "unrealistic" drug targets, which include halving heroin and cocaine abuse among the young, as part of an overhaul of its anti-drugs strategy.

This week, David Blunkett, the Home Secretary, is also expected to announce increased spending on treatment for users who commit crime to pay for their habit. The number of doctors prescribing drug substitutes will increase.

The Home Office will also publish the findings of a study by York University that show the annual cost of drug abuse is nearly £19bn – or £11,000 for each seriously addicted heroin and cocaine user.

In 1998, Keith Hellawell, the former drugs czar, produced a 10-year strategy for reducing drug abuse. This included targets such as halving the proportion of people under 25 using Class A drugs by 2008.

A senior Home Office source said Mr Blunkett would unveil tougher, more streamlined targets on tackling drug abuse. "Targets like reducing the ability to acquire drugs are difficult to measure," said the source. "We intend to introduce ... more focused targets."

This month, the Association of Chief Police Officers will publish its strategy on cannabis, which will become a Class C drug next year. Users can still face a caution, a move criticised by politicians and drugs charities.

"Reform of the drugs laws should begin with the decriminalisation of cannabis. That means ... that no-one should be prosecuted for using cannabis," said Simon Hughes, the Liberal Democrats' Home Affairs spokesman.