Home Office Research Report 02 - The Drug Interventions Programme (DIP): addressing drug use and offending through ‘Tough Choices’
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Executive summary
Main report

This paper examines the way that the Drug Interventions Programme (DIP) engages and directs Class A drug misusers from the point of arrest or charge to the point of treatment. It also examines whether the implementation of Tough Choices in April 2006 changed the characteristics of people coming through DIP, and whether it improved the retention of drug users in the system (including in treatment). It also examines offending patterns before and after DIP. Two cohorts are examined consisting of all positive testers coming through the custody suite during two time periods; one before and one after Tough Choices. The study found indications that offending levels reduced following contact with DIP. Methodological limitations (the absence of a control group) mean that this does not represent a full outcome evaluation and accordingly we cannot calculate how much of the observed change in offending was due to DIP. The study found that individuals entering treatment via DIP were retained in treatment at rates similar to non-CJS referrals. The research also shows that the implementation of ‘Tough Choices’ and Required Initial Assessment increased engagement in the programme.