Simon McLean argues that prosecution services must be held accountable for their actions, contending that drug prosecutions fail to serve the public interest. He claims law enforcement successes in drug cases create negative consequences that ultimately benefit organised crime while costing billions over decades.
McLean criticises rehabilitation services as profit-driven industries, noting that approximately 289,215 adults accessed drug and alcohol services in England and Wales between April 2021 and March 2022. He questions whether pharmacists have incentives to help clients achieve sobriety when they profit substantially from methadone maintenance programmes.
He advocates for redirecting resources from supply-line enforcement toward demand-side intervention. McLean proposes identifying individuals when they first seek illicit substances and providing them access through licensed outlets — retail premises, doctors, or pharmacies — rather than unscrupulous dealers. "Only then can we break the cycle of destruction" and create safer communities.
His piece emphasises that institutional blind adherence to existing drug laws, despite their harm, perpetuates systemic dysfunction. He suggests that responsible drug education, modelled on alcohol introduction practices, would be preferable to the current approach of criminalising users.