Drugs policy experts and local practitioners working to reduce drug-related harms will gather at a roundtable meeting organised by Caroline Lucas today, in the first of a series of ‘dialogue’ events aimed at building on recent success in drugs treatment in the city.

The meeting will follow the publication of recommendations from Brighton and Hove’s new Independent Drug Commission, convened by the Safe in the City Partnership in May 2012 in response to the MP’s initiative, this morning at the Brighthelm Centre.

Caroline’s event will bring together members of the Commission, including Chairman and author Peter James and Mike Trace, Vice Chair and former Deputy UK Drugs Czar, with health professionals, drugs service providers and the police to hear the initial findings of the Commission and discuss ways to move forward.

Speaking ahead of the meeting, the Brighton Pavilion MP said:

"As a national debate rages over the failed ‘war on drugs’, Brighton and Hove is really leading the way in exploring evidence based approaches, with the new Independent Commission bringing together experts and practitioners to weigh up drugs strategy and addiction treatment in the city.

"Here in Brighton and Hove, which has one of the highest drug death rates in the country, we know better than most the consequences of an approach to drugs which fails to address the realities of addiction or to treat drug harms as a health issue.

"Here and across the country, there has been a clear recognition of the need for an evidence-based approach to reducing drug related harms.

"The Commission is a fantastic example of collaboration between the Safe in the City Partnership, service providers and users, the police and NHS professionals which moves us closer to this goal."

ENDS

Photo: Participants in the UK 4th Recovery Walk gather on Brighton beach to celebrate recovery from drug and alcohol addiction