I wrote this piece for The Guardian a month or so ago, but thought it might be a good start to my blogging here.

Drug statistics can make depressing reading. According to a recent report nearly 35% of the UK population have tried illegal drugs – that's nearly 19 million people.  Of those, around 330,000 are addicts - that's about as many people the city of Leicester.  The Government's response is outlined in it's 'Drug Strategy', which is due to be replaced or renewed next year.  But despite the UK having spent countless billions of pounds on education, policing, and enforcement, a recent UK Drug Policy Commission report says that there's no evidence it has had any effect on the amount of use. In fact, if the report is to be believed,  there seems to be no evidence from any country, that its national drug policy has had any lasting effect on the number of recreational or dependant drug users at all. Ever.