Civil Liberties Action · Research library
Evidence
Public research that readers can examine, challenge and return to the original sources.
Our evidence notes bring together research, law and policy relevant to Civil Liberties Action's campaigns. They are written for a general audience, linked to their underlying sources and reviewed as the evidence develops.
Explore the political finance database — search disclosed donations, compare parties and inspect annual accounts, with downloadable data, original sources and published limitations. Snapshot: 9 October 2026.
Research report · The UK illegal drugs economy
A detailed review of 29 sources on the scale of illegal drug spending, explaining why published estimates differ and separating official figures from CLA’s conditional UK scenarios. Published 14 October 2026; report updated 15 October 2026.
Read the report: The size of the UK illegal drugs economy
Download the evidence workbook (XLSX) · Download the one-page briefing (PDF). Supporting materials published 16 October 2026.
Policy briefing
Addiction and disability equality: a targeted amendment to restore individual assessment — CLA's concise policy case, intended for policymakers, practitioners and organisations scrutinising the proposal.
Evidence Note 001 · Addiction and neurodivergence
What current research says about the overlap between addiction and neurodivergence, especially ADHD, and why that matters for treatment, equality and public policy.
Evidence Note 002 · Addiction and equality law: why the UK is out of step
A comparison of the UK's categorical addiction exclusion with approaches in Ireland, the United States, Canada and Australia.
Evidence Note 003 · Disability protection is not permission
Why removing addiction's special exclusion would not create a right to take drugs at work, ignore safety rules or avoid proportionate action.
Evidence Note 004 · Addiction, choice and impairment
What clinical definitions of dependence say about impaired control, functioning and the limits of treating addiction as a simple question of choice.
Evidence Note 005 · Addiction, stigma and work
Why employment can support recovery, what the evidence says about stigma and workplace barriers, and why individual assessment matters.
A living evidence base
These notes are not intended to be the final word on their subjects. Where evidence is uncertain or mixed, we say so. We will update notes when stronger evidence, legal developments or material corrections justify doing so.
If you think we have missed relevant evidence, or you want to challenge an interpretation, contact policy@civillibertiesaction.org.uk.
Explore the evidence databases
Search, compare and download sourced records on workplace recovery, treatment access, employment cases, public responses, political access and the drugs economy.