Drug policy

That this House notes with concern that deaths related to drug poisoning in Britain have risen inexorably in recent years to record levels; further notes that hospital admissions for poisoning due to drug misuse also continue to rise, with NHS Digital reporting there were over 18,000 admissions in England alone last year; believes that the current criminal justice approach to drug policy is counterproductive and that a public health approach should be adopted, as recommended by recent Health and Social Care Committee and Scottish Affairs Committee reports on drugs; endorses the views of both committees that problem drug use has reached the level of a public health emergency; and calls on the Government to recognise that cuts to drug treatment have had a serious impact and that significant investment in services is urgently required to address this crisis.