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Written question asked by Diana Johnson (Labour) on Thursday, 4 December 2014, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 9 December 2014 (named day). A holding answer was provided on Tuesday, 9 December 2014. A substantive answer was provided by Baroness Featherstone (Liberal Democrat) on Wednesday, 10 December 2014 on behalf of the Home Office.

Drugs: Misuse

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the contribution of 1 December 2014 by the Minister for Crime Prevention in the First Delegated Legislation Committee, how much her Department spent on public awareness campaigns on legal highs aimed at (a) UK festivals, (b) fresher's week and (c) school holidays in the last year; and what estimate she has made of the number of people reached in each period.

Answer

On 30 October the Government published its response to the new psychoactive substances review expert panel’s report. We set out new actions across legislation and enforcement as well as prevention, health services and
information-sharing. This will enhance the comprehensive approach that the UK Government has already taken to further reduce the threat to the UK posed by new psychoactive substances, which have been associated with paranoia,
psychosis, seizures, dependence and fatalities.

The Department has spent £89,455 on public awareness campaigns on NPS (New Psychoactive Substances), or so-called ‘legal’ highs, in the last year.

The objective of the campaign activity was to deter "contemplators" and "dabblers" from trying or taking NPS by:

• Raising awareness of the risks, consequences and harms of NPS use amongst those contemplating using these drugs
• Increase contemplation of the risks and dangers of NPS
• Signposting FRANK as a source of information about NPS

The table below gives a breakdown of the timing, target audience and percentage of target audience reached:

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
217163
Session
2014-15
Attachment
Target audience
Related items
Subjects
Drugs Publicity Misuse
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk