New monkey dust task force launched in Stoke-on-Trent
City leaders join forces to address significant drug-related issues
Last updated 17th Apr 2026
A task force dedicated to tackling the monkey dust crisis in Stoke-on-Trent is being launched today, aiming to address the devastating impact of the synthetic drug on the community.
The initiative, spearheaded by Stoke South MP Allison Gardner, brings together key figures from local councils, police, drug clinics, and health services in a coordinated effort to find new solutions to the city's most pressing drug-related issue.
Dr Allison Gardner has highlighted the urgent need for joined-up working between services in Stoke-on-Trent, saying the lack of collaboration has made it difficult for addicts to recover.
The task force aims to foster collaboration among frontline organisations—such as the NHS, Staffordshire Police, Stoke-on-Trent City Council—and service providers, academics, and individuals with lived experience, ensuring a practical and integrated approach.
Dr Gardner emphasised that the expertise of those affected and frontline workers should guide the response, as she works towards an integrated care pathway encompassing substance abuse, mental health, and housing.
She stressed the importance of providing consistent support beyond immediate crises, building on the work of local projects like SPHERE—a scheme launched by charity Concrete in 2023 designed to aid psychoactive substance users in accessing housing and support.
Dr Gardner stated, "Monkey Dust is causing serious harm and doing nothing is not an option."
She warned against fragmented responses and easy answers, advocating instead for a comprehensive approach tackling addiction, mental health, housing, and crime.
Dr Gardner added, "This is about taking responsibility and taking action. If we want to tackle addiction, have safer streets and better outcomes for our city, we have to work together and face this problem honestly."
Highlighting the wider context, Dr Gardner said, "Monkey Dust does not sit in isolation. It is a symptom of the years of social deprivation and neglect that Stoke-on-Trent has experienced under previous Government."
She has called on the prime minister Sir Keir Starmer to address the "significant problems" caused by monkey dust in her constituency.
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