While the world is trying to fight the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, Boris Johnson’s government is preparing to fight against the raging drug problem.<o:p></o:p>

On Monday, UK home secretary Priti Patel labelled the increasing drugs problem as a "scourge on our society". So, in a bid to make sure that the problem can be eradicated, the UK government has decided to come up with a plan against drug crime.<o:p></o:p>

The UK government has come up with a 10-year plan against the increasing drug crime, through which they hope to take on kingpins.

<o:p>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="wionews.com/india-news/massive-drug-haul-indian-authorities-reveal-how-heroin-worth-27-bn-was-busted-on-way-from-afghanistan-414687">Massive drug haul: Indian authorities reveal how heroin worth $2.7 bn was busted on way from Afghanistan</a></o:p>

As per the new plan, government officials will start publishing 'crime scorecards'&nbsp;that have been designed to identify and tackle the weaknesses and offences. <o:p></o:p>

In addition to this, drug testing will be expanded throughout the country. To make sure that students are warned against drug usage from the start, the government will also be launching advertising campaigns. Posters warning students about the harm that drugs cause to the body will be posted across campuses.<o:p></o:p>

One of the most interesting steps being taken is that the government will be sending a text message to middle-class drug users. In this, the police will start contacting the people whose names are found on the phones of drug dealers. The police officers will then start sending warning messages to these users, as per Daily Mail report.

<o:p>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/wrong-identification-of-tea-as-drugs-forces-mother-daughter-to-spend-months-in-australian-jail-430537">Wrong identification of tea as drugs forces mother, daughter to spend months in Australian jail</a></o:p>

Repeat offenders might also be out on home curfew, as per Home Secretary Priti Patel. In addition to this, officials will also be allowed to seize driving licenses and passports of offenders.

"Drugs are a major driver of crime. Abusers steal to fuel their habit and the substances are a major factor in murder and other violent offences," she said.

<o:p>On Monday, Boris Johnson confirmed that his government will be directing 300 million pounds&nbsp;($398 million approx.) to this cause. Through this programme, the British government is aiming to help 300,000 "problem drug users", who account for about half of burglaries, robberies, thefts and murders, Johnson claims.</o:p>

"You've got to recognise that, overwhelmingly, the problem is caused by 300,000 people whose lives are simply chaotic, who are who are torn apart by their own addiction," Johnson said. "But you've also got to come down hard on the gangsters who are who are making hell of people's lives."

While the world is trying to fight the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, Boris Johnson’s government is preparing to fight against the raging drug problem. On Monday, UK home secretary Priti Patel labelled the increasing drugs problem as a "scourge on our society".

While the world is trying to fight the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, Boris Johnson’s government is preparing to fight against the raging drug problem. On Monday, UK home secretary Priti Patel labelled the increasing drugs problem as a "scourge on our society". So, in a bid to make sure that the problem can be eradicated, the UK government has decided to come up with a plan against drug crime. The UK government has come up with a 10-year plan against the increasing drug crime, through which they hope to take on kingpins. Also read | Massive drug haul: Indian authorities reveal how heroin worth $2.7 bn was busted on way from Afghanistan As per the new plan, government officials will start publishing 'crime scorecards' that have been designed to identify and tackle the weaknesses and offences. In addition to this, drug testing will be expanded throughout the country. To make sure that students are warned against drug usage from the start, the government will also be launching advertising campaigns. Posters warning students about the harm that drugs cause to the body will be posted across campuses. One of the most interesting steps being taken is that the government will be sending a text message to middle-class drug users. In this, the police will start contacting the people whose names are found on the phones of drug dealers. The police officers will then start sending warning messages to these users, as per Daily Mail report. Also read | Wrong identification of tea as drugs forces mother, daughter to spend months in Australian jail Repeat offenders might also be out on home curfew, as per Home Secretary Priti Patel. In addition to this, officials will also be allowed to seize driving licenses and passports of offenders. "Drugs are a major driver of crime. Abusers steal to fuel their habit and the substances are a major factor in murder and other violent offences," she said. On Monday, Boris Johnson confirmed that his government will be directing 300 million pounds ($398 million approx.) to this cause. Through this programme, the British government is aiming to help 300,000 "problem drug users", who account for about half of burglaries, robberies, thefts and murders, Johnson claims. "You've got to recognise that, overwhelmingly, the problem is caused by 300,000 people whose lives are simply chaotic, who are who are torn apart by their own addiction," Johnson said. "But you've also got to come down hard on the gangsters who are who are making hell of people's lives."

SMS, crime scorecards, passport seizure - UK takes strong stand against drug use

In the first evaluation of its kind, an expert report showed that governments around the world have failed to address illegal drug use adequately.&nbsp;

Using recommendations set out by the United Nations, the Global Drug Policy Index examined&nbsp;how national drug policies measure up in terms of health, development, and human rights outcomes.

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30 countries were scored in categories such as criminal justice response, extreme enforcement and access to controlled medicines.&nbsp;

The report found that almost all national drug laws&nbsp;have punishing effects, that lead to issues like driving police violence and rights violations,&nbsp;preventing drug users from receiving adequate health care.

Norway was the highest-scoring nation, with high marks for police response and medical care. However, even the top-scoring nation could only obtain 74 points out of a possible 100 points.&nbsp;Across all nations, the median score was just 48.

"Scoring 100 only means that you're implementing what the UN system recognises as the minimum," said Matt Wall of Swansea University who helped develop the report's evaluation methods.

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"The fact that no country approaches that at all really paints a bleak picture," he added.

Portugal which decriminalised all drugs in 2001 treats the use of illegal substances as a public health issue ranked third. The country also received points for providing responses outside of the criminal justice system.

Brazil was ranked at the bottom and was one of four countries with scores below 50 for enforcement because of its extreme and rights-violating measures.&nbsp;

The project aims to provide an accountability tool for drug policies that goes beyond traditional effectiveness measures that are limited to only measuring arrests and seizures.

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Based on policy relevance, data availability, and the presence of civil society actors, experts chose 30 representative countries to evaluate.

The Philippines and the United States, both of which have faced scrutiny for their harsh drug policies, were not included.

Watch |&nbsp;New US Intelligence report suggests plenty of concerns for Biden administration

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/new-us-intelligence-report-suggests-plenty-of-concerns-for-biden-administration-427282/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Limited resources were available for&nbsp;this project, however, the consortium is seeking more funding to create new indexes every two years and to include other countries in the future.&nbsp;

A variety of experts from each country contributed to the compilation of this report, which was compiled by the Harm Reduction Consortium and the International Drug Policy Consortium.

(With inputs from agencies)

In the first evaluation of its kind, an expert report showed that governments around the world have failed to address illegal drug use adequately. Using recommendations set out by the United Nations, the Global Drug Policy Index examined how national drug policies measure up in terms of health, development, and human rights outcomes.

In the first evaluation of its kind, an expert report showed that governments around the world have failed to address illegal drug use adequately. Using recommendations set out by the United Nations, the Global Drug Policy Index examined how national drug policies measure up in terms of health, development, and human rights outcomes. Also read | 57.9 percent vote 'yes'; Twitter wants Elon Musk to sell 10 percent of his Tesla stock 30 countries were scored in categories such as criminal justice response, extreme enforcement and access to controlled medicines. The report found that almost all national drug laws have punishing effects, that lead to issues like driving police violence and rights violations, preventing drug users from receiving adequate health care. Norway was the highest-scoring nation, with high marks for police response and medical care. However, even the top-scoring nation could only obtain 74 points out of a possible 100 points. Across all nations, the median score was just 48. "Scoring 100 only means that you're implementing what the UN system recognises as the minimum," said Matt Wall of Swansea University who helped develop the report's evaluation methods. Also read | Glasgow protests: Protesters perform a zombie die-in; over 200 events planned worldwide "The fact that no country approaches that at all really paints a bleak picture," he added. Portugal which decriminalised all drugs in 2001 treats the use of illegal substances as a public health issue ranked third. The country also received points for providing responses outside of the criminal justice system. Brazil was ranked at the bottom and was one of four countries with scores below 50 for enforcement because of its extreme and rights-violating measures. The project aims to provide an accountability tool for drug policies that goes beyond traditional effectiveness measures that are limited to only measuring arrests and seizures. Also read | Great escape: Spanish authorities investigate suspicious Facebook ad after 12 vanish during emergency landing Based on policy relevance, data availability, and the presence of civil society actors, experts chose 30 representative countries to evaluate. The Philippines and the United States, both of which have faced scrutiny for their harsh drug policies, were not included. Watch | New US Intelligence report suggests plenty of concerns for Biden administration Limited resources were available for this project, however, the consortium is seeking more funding to create new indexes every two years and to include other countries in the future. A variety of experts from each country contributed to the compilation of this report, which was compiled by the Harm Reduction Consortium and the International Drug Policy Consortium. (With inputs from agencies)

Global Drug Policy Index: Countries are failing to address illegal drug use adequately

Ecuador's President Guillermo Lasso on Monday declared a state of emergency in the country grappling with a surge in drug-related violence, and ordered the mobilization of armed forces in the streets.

Ecuador grapples with rise in drug-related violence