National Mission on Drugs: Annual Monitoring Report 2024-2025

1. Executive Summary

• Overarching outcome - Reduce drug deaths and improve lives: drug deaths are lower than at the start of the National Mission but remain at a high level. Measuring progress towards the improving lives aspect of the National Mission continues to be challenging.
• Outcome 1 - Fewer people develop problem drug use: while there is some evidence of a slight decline in opioid dependence, gaps remain in our understanding of the extent of problematic use of other drugs.
• Outcome 2 - Risk is reduced for people who take harmful drugs: the metrics suggest some reduction in drug‑related harms since the start of the National Mission. However, interpretation of these metrics remains challenging, underlining the need for further intelligence, particularly in the context of changing patterns of drug use and an evolving drug supply.
• Outcome 3 - People most at risk have access to treatment and recovery: available evidence suggests access to specialist treatment and recovery services has been broadly stable, but there are limitations in understanding of the unmet need among those most at risk.
• Outcome 4 - People receive high quality treatment and recovery services: while access to publicly funded residential rehabilitation has improved, the number of people receiving other forms of treatment is below pre-National Mission levels. The evolving drug market highlights the need for adaptation of services alongside better understanding of unmet need and the quality of services as experienced by those who access them.
• Outcome 5 - Quality of life is improved by addressing multiple disadvantages: inequalities in drug related deaths and harms have reduced slightly but are still high. There is positive activity at the Alcohol and Drug Partnership (ADP) level in addressing wider health and social care needs through informed, compassionate services. Direct insight from people with lived experience would strengthen understanding of progress.
• Outcome 6 - Children, families and communities affected by substance use are supported: implementation of the Whole Family Approach is progressing. All ADP areas provide some support services for those affected by another person’s substance use but the extent and uptake of these services is unclear. There is no new evidence on public attitudes or the experiences of people with lived and living experience, families, and communities.