The UK Government has set out a new three-year direction for the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD), with the ACMD 2025 work programme aiming to address key drug-related challenges that intersect with public safety, health, and social harm. The letter, dated 2 June 2025, outlines targeted areas of research and recommendations that will support evidence-informed responses to emerging drug trends while aligning with broader national missions such as Safer Streets and the Health Mission.

Among the top priorities in the UK drug policy review is a call for further insight into the role of drug use in acquisitive crime and antisocial behaviour. The Home Office is seeking international examples of effective deterrence strategies, including treatment-based sentencing, electronic monitoring, and interventions that reduce reoffending by dependent users.

Women and Girls at the Forefront

A significant addition to the ACMD 2025 work programme is a thematic review of drug use among women and girls. This focus aligns with the Government’s goal to halve violence against women and girls, and to understand the unique vulnerabilities and barriers faced by this cohort. The review will explore the connections between substance use, domestic abuse, and victimisation, while also identifying what works to prevent drug misuse in these communities.

Special attention will be paid to how treatment services can be made more accessible for women, particularly those from ethnic minorities, the LGBT+ community, and individuals with disabilities. Early intervention and tailored support strategies will be a central part of the council’s investigation.

Cannabis-Based Products Under Review

The UK drug policy review also includes a renewed look at the legal and medical framework surrounding Cannabis-Based Products for Medicinal Use (CBPMs), first approved in 2018. The government is asking the ACMD to assess whether the legislative changes have had the desired impact and to identify any unintended consequences. Concerns include the impact of private prescribing on clinical research and barriers to NHS accessibility.

This review may also have implications for the future regulation of other controlled substances such as psilocybin, as the government seeks to explore research-led pathways for safe and effective treatments.

Further Reviews and Legislative Updates Expected

Other critical areas in the ACMD 2025 work programme include an urgent harms assessment on ketamine, responses to rising cocaine use, and analysis of internet-facilitated drug markets. The government is also preparing for potential future commissions in response to new drug trends, continued international obligations, and necessary updates to the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971.

The Home Office emphasises the importance of long-term prevention efforts and signals a future focus on parental substance misuse and its impact on children, building on the 2011 Hidden Harms report.

As the ACMD continues its evidence-led work, this new commission reinforces the government’s emphasis on public safety and health, while ensuring the UK’s drug laws remain fit for purpose in a rapidly evolving landscape.

Source: dbrecoveryresources