Policy background Changes to patterns of drug misuse
Patterns of drug misuse in both custody and the community are changing. These changes reflect new products on the drug market including increased prevalence of psychoactive substances, as well as increased levels of prescription drugs being misused to create sometimes lethal levels of toxicity. Drug testing technology has developed significantly in recent years and is now becoming more widely available and affordable. It is now possible to test simultaneously for a wide range of drugs. The changes to drug testing in this Act build upon the power of new technology to enable an approach for identifying and responding to drug misuse trends within the custodial and community environment, thereby facilitating continuity of support and intervention.
	Equipping Approved Premises with clear powers to test residents for a wider range of drugs, including prescription medicines, improves the ability to identify the misuse of substances. For those for whom escalating drug-misuse is directly linked to their offending and risk of harm to the public, improved identification of a range of substances enables Approved Premises to take appropriate action. This allows for the identification of those who need support to access appropriate community treatment services and facilitate the provision of more effective continuity in care at an individual level.