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The tragic deaths of five young people from a rogue batch of ecstasy put the war on drugs firmly back in the spotlight.

But an exclusive poll for the Daily Mirror today reveals 75% of people believe the Government has lost that battle.

And our survey also found 1.4 million Brits will use drugs this week.

Worryingly, some of those quizzed admitted they were as young as 11 when they started taking illegal substances.

After the shock findings, former police chief Tom Lloyd urged ministers to decriminalise drugs and take power away from the gang bosses who make millions from the sickening trade while destroying the lives of addicts and their helpless families.

(Image: PA)

As officers ­investigate the £2-£5 heart-shaped PMA ecstasy pills that were linked to the five deaths, including that of Charlotte ­Woodiwiss, 20, of Chapel-le-Firth, Derbys, our study by polling firm ­Survation found 29% of people admitted to taking drugs at some point in their lives.

The charity Drugscope said: “If the only measure of success for the war against drugs is that drug use would be stamped out, then clearly this was never a realistic goal and this is reflected in the Mirror survey and similar surveys conducted by government.

“That said, drug use has been falling in the UK for a decade and part of the reason is the significant government investment in drug treatment. Despite the financial difficulties we face, that ­investment must be maintained.”

(Image: PHIL COBURN)

Of those quizzed in our survey, 94% said they had used cannabis, making it the most popular drug. That was followed by ­amphetamines (39%), ecstasy (31%) and cocaine (30%).

Most users said they started before the age of 22. By far the most common reason was ­curiosity or experimentation.

Allied troops in Afghanistan have been involved in the war on drugs by seizing and destroying millions of pounds worth of heroin from the Taliban.

A film called Breaking the Taboo, by Richard ­Branson’s son Sam, uncovered the human costs of the illegal drugs trade including the 50,000 people who have died at the hands of warring cartels in Mexico in recent years.

Time to launch a new battle plan, by ex Cambridgeshire Chief Con Tom Lloyd

In over 30 years of policing, mainly in London, I saw quite clearly that our so-called War on Drugs wasn’t working.

Drug use has rocketed. Hundreds of thousands of lives have been damaged through pointless criminal convictions and avoidable death and disease.

What can we do? We should start treating our young people with respect and educate them about drugs with the truth.

If we don’t, they will make up their own minds and make mistakes.

We should decriminalise drugs now and boost spending on treatment, which is also proved to reduce crime; then work towards a system where each drug is controlled and regulated according to the harm it causes.

We should be in charge of the control and regulation of drugs, not criminals, and we can deprive them of their obscene profits if we make these changes.

Users and communities would be safer and we would see more of our police.