Cuts in drugs research have ‘very damaging effect’

SEVERE staff cutbacks at the state’s drugs research body have had a “very serious and damaging effect”, the Government’s top drug adviser has said.

The National Advisory Committee on Drugs (NACD) – the official “research arm of the National Drugs Strategy” – has had no researchers for a year-and-a-half.

This has prevented the body from conducting research itself – including an urgent study on head shops – and has had to go through the costly and lengthy process of commissioning work.