A “No, punish harder” approach to drug policy simply doesn’t work

The UK already has some of the toughest drug laws in Europe, yet we suffer a third of all drug‑related deaths on the continent and spend £19 billion a year on drug harms while investing only £0.5 billion in treatment. The Home Office’s own research shows no link between harsher penalties and lower drug use, but strong evidence that enforcement increases violence by destabilising illegal markets. Most people prosecuted as dealers are vulnerable—young, exploited, or addicted—and imprisoning them doesn’t disrupt supply. In contrast, countries like Portugal and Switzerland saw overdose deaths fall by over 80% and crime drop dramatically when they shifted to health‑led models. Treatment saves £4 for every £1 spent and cuts reoffending far more effectively than prison. The data is clear: punishment fails, while health‑based reform saves lives, reduces crime, and costs less.