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Drugs charities have accused the government of using the Drugs Bill as a "political vote winner" for the next election rather than the promotion of effective treatment and prevention measures.

Critics are concerned that drugs legislation is being placed "at the centre" of the crime reduction agenda and warn that it will not lead to improved care.

The Drugs Bill, which is waiting for a second reading, will introduce powers to test offenders on arrest and require those who test positive to undergo an assessment by a drugs worker.


Other proposals aimed at drug dealers will give the police greater powers to detain those who swallow drugs, and put people on antisocial behaviour orders with drug misuse problems in treatment.

A source from one charity said: "This is part of an election strategy to put drugs into the heart of the criminal justice manifesto instead
of a broader social welfare and health agenda."

Charities including Drugscope and Turning Point are concerned the bill, unveiled last month in the Queen's Speech, could be rushed too quickly through parliament, and are lobbying for alternative proposals.

A spokeswoman for Drugscope said: "We do not feel that the measures in the Drugs Bill address the need to provide treatment to drug users in the community, who have not committed a crime and who can be prevented from committing a crime in the future by prompt access to treatment."


Charities also believe that the measures in the bill will not lead to an improvement in the success rate of referrals into treatment or a reduction in drop-out rates on drug testing and treatment orders (DTTOs).

Recent figures from the National Audit Office showed an estimated 34 per cent of drug users who receive treatment drop out within the first 12 weeks, with only 28 per cent completing a DTTO in 2003.

Charities are calling for the bill to include proposals on meeting complex needs such as mental health, better aftercare, greater use of heroin prescribing and more investment in staff training including GPs.