Mixing drink and drugs: ‘underclass’ politics, the recovery agenda and the partial convergence of English alcohol and drugs policy

Alcohol policy and illicit drugs policy are typically presented as separate and different in academic discussion. This is understandable, to a degree, as the criminal law upholds a ‘great regulatory divide’ (Seddon) separating the licit trade in alcohol from the illicit trade in substances classified as either class A, B or C under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. This paper takes a different stance. In doing so, it draws upon Berridge's argument that policies governing various psychoactive substances have been converging since the mid-twentieth century and seeks to elaborate it using recent developments relating to the control and regulation of drugs and alcohol in the broader areas of criminal justice and welfare reform. Significantly, the article examines how recent policy directions relating to both drugs and alcohol in England have, under the aegis of the ‘recovery agenda’, been connected to a broader behavioural politics oriented towards the actions and lifestyles of an apparently problematic subgroup of the population or ‘underclass’. The paper thus concludes that, although the great regulatory divide remains intact, an underclass politics is contributing towards the greater alignment of illicit drugs and alcohol policies, especially in regards to the respective significance of abstinence (or abstinence-based ‘recovery’)

An exploration of the progress of open crime data: how do ongoing limitations with the Police.uk website restrict a comprehensive understanding of recorded crime?

Open-source crime data provided by the Police.uk website was introduced in 2008. This provision challenged what had been termed a ‘top down’ political culture and was introduced to help increase government transparency and accountability. We examine these concepts here and outline some of the significant developments over the last decade related to the information contained within the Police.uk resource. Our focus then moves towards limitations of the data set provided, some of which are as pervasive today as they were when this online data source was first introduced. We explore whether these drawbacks are irresolvable and consider the practical implications they will have when this open data set is utilised by members of the public and researchers. Ultimately, we give an assessment of the efficacy of this source of information for the user within the context of the government rhetoric which accompanied it

Introduction to Intoxication: self, state and society

In this introductory chapter, we outline how this book will explore and examine intoxication from a social and cultural perspective. We set out a rationale for studying both alcohol and drugs and also suggest the importance of thinking about intoxication across several scales: self, state and society. We then consider how drugs are defined and their use measured. In considering how readers from different backgrounds and with different interests may use this book, we also explain a number of pedagogical features which aim to enhance the readers learning. Lastly, a brief outline of the structure of the book is offered.</p

Heroin assisted treatment for key health outcomes in people with chronic heroin addictions: a context-focused systematic review

Background and aims: Randomised controlled trials in Europe and Canada have shown that supervised heroin assisted treatment (HAT) is an effective treatment option for people with long-term heroin addictions for whom the standard opioid substitution treatments (OST) have not been effective. This review aims to evaluate the effectiveness of supervised HAT and analyse the significance of context and implementation in the design of successful HAT programmes. Methods: PubMed, CENTRAL, Embase, and Web of Science were searched to identify randomised controlled trials (RCT) and systematic reviews evaluating supervised HAT compared to any other OST. Studies were eligible for inclusion if they were published in English, evaluated a supervised form of HAT, and included illegal drug use and/or health as a primary outcome measure. There were no restrictions on publication date. The following outcomes of the included studies were analysed using narrative synthesis and meta-analysis where possible: retention, street drug use, health, and social functioning. Results: Nine randomised controlled trials spanning eight studies (n = 2331) and three systematic reviews met the inclusion criteria. Seven of the eight studies compared HAT to methadone maintenance treatment (MMT). One study compared HAT to injectable hydromorphone in a double-blind non-inferiority trial. Meta-analysis was performed on pooled results of retention across all included studies and found that HAT has a statistically significant effect on retention [Z = 7.65 (P > 0.0001)]. Five of the eight included studies found that supervised HAT reduces participants’ use of illegal drugs more significantly than MMT. Evidence of improved health in participants receiving supervised HAT compared to other OSTs was inconsistent; positive effects were observed in three of the included studies (n = 1626). Conclusion: When compared to methadone maintenance treatment (MMT), heroin assisted treatment (HAT) more consistently retains people with heroin addictions in treatment and reduces their consumption of illicit drugs. Trial registration: PROSPERO registration: CRD42022341306.</p

Engaging parents to reduce youth violence: evidence from a youth justice board pathfinder programme

The Youth Justice Board’s 2019-2022 strategic plan set youth violence as a priority. As part of this, a ‘pathfinder’ approach was launched to assist Local Authorities and their partners to devise, develop, and disseminate whole systems approaches to serious youth violence (Youth Justice Board, 2020). In partnership with a regional Violence Reduction Unit, seven local Youth Offending Teams worked together with a programme that facilitated peer support networks for parents of children known to the youth justice system. The programme presented a challenge to a view in statutory youth justice of parents as part of the problem (Burney & Gelsthorpe, 2009). The aim of the programme was to engage parents of young people involved in the youth justice system, facilitating peer to peer support through a blend of online and face to face meetings. Taking a mixed-methods approach, the research sought to investigate the impact of the programme on participants’ wellbeing and perceived competence with parenting. A secondary aim was to explore experiences of the self-care and peer support activities offered by the programme. The quantitative findings showed statistically significant increases in parents’ self-reported wellbeing and perceived competence with parenting during engagement with the programme. Effect sizes reached the minimum important difference for all of the quantitative measures, with a large effect for wellbeing The qualitative findings highlighted that the self-care focus was important in engaging parents and helps distinguish the programme from statutory services. The findings are combined in the paper to produce a potential model of peer support for parents of children known to the youth justice system. Future research should investigate the impact on the children of parents who took part in this programme with a specific focus on youth violence.</p

Understanding preventative intervention in youth justice: Executive summary

This is an exective summary. Related reports and appendices can be accessed from the References links.</p

Understanding preventative intervention in youth justice: report content and appendices

This document provides the report contents list and appendices for Understanding preventative intervention and youth justice. Related reports can be accessed from the References links.</p

Understanding preventative intervention in youth justice: Testing and refining programme theories

This is a report. Related reports and appendices can be accessed from the References links.</p

Searching for context: a review of “what works” reviews of interventions to prevent youth offending using the EMMIE Framework

Purpose:  This study aims to examine the extent to which “What Works” reviews in youth justice enable understanding of the features of effectiveness (what works, for whom, in what circumstances and why?) specified in the Effects–Mechanisms–Moderators–Implementation–Economic cost (EMMIE) framework.  Design/methodology/approach:  The EMMIE framework examined findings within a sample of “What Works” style reviews of preventative youth justice intervention effectiveness.  Findings:  “What Works” style reviews of evaluations of preventative youth justice interventions often omit the requisite details required to examine all of the necessary elements of effectiveness contained within the EMMIE framework. While effectiveness measures were typically provided, the dominant evaluation evidence-base struggles to consider moderators of effect, mechanisms of change, implementation differences and cost-effectiveness. Therefore, “What Works” samples cannot facilitate sufficient understanding of “what works for whom, in what circumstances and why?”. The authors argue that Realist Synthesis can fill this gap and shed light on the contexts that shape the mechanisms through which youth justice interventions work.  Originality/value:  The authors extended the approach adopted by an earlier review of effectiveness reviews (Tompson et al., 2020), considering more recent reviews of the effectiveness of preventative interventions using the EMMIE framework. Unlike previous reviews, the authors prioritised the utility of the EMMIE framework for assessing the factors affecting the effectiveness of preventative interventions in youth justice.</p

Understanding preventative intervention in youth justice: Identifying and analysing programme theories

This is a report. Related reports and appendices can be accessed from the References links.</p