Epilogue Future directions

Summary

In this book the attempt has been to analyse, in varying degrees of depth, most of the important current issues which pertain to the treatment of drug misuse. In this brief final section we will look ahead, to predict some likely developments, and also the subjects which clinicians will need to particularly address in the short-term future.

The scope of treatment

In many areas the indicators of drug misuse simply rise steadily, as do those of the various broadly related social trends. We are likely to be faced with increasing demands for treatment services, which although good for job security gives us problems such as lengthy waiting lists. The only potential for a really major impact on these trends would lie in radical measures such as legalization of addictive drugs – extremely unlikely in most of our areas in the foreseeable future – or in enhanced law enforcement. Education and preventive initiatives have their extremely important roles, but in general these are not effective enough to stem the rising tide, while enforcement policies have actually become less severe in recent years, partly because the criminal justice system is also more than full due to the same social trends. Indeed, the courts are increasingly likely to turn to us as on alternative disposal, with the use of formalized treatment orders if necessary.

The direction in which our own drug treatment policies have shifted in recent years has also contributed to the congestion in drug services.