Scottish Drugs Forum
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May 2006
NOVELIST and comedian Ben Elton is to address the Scottish Parliament’s Cross Party Group on Alcohol and Drug Misuse on 31 May 2006.
Ben, whose award-winning novel High Society focuses on a Britain in thrall to illegal drugs, says that current drug policy is an “abject failure of which we are all victims” and will be calling for a new debate on solutions – including legalisation of drugs.
Ben – who does not take any illegal drugs – has been invited to speak at the Cross Party Group’s AGM as a guest of joint Chair and SNP MSP Brian Adam. The invite came about as a result of links between another Cross Party Group member, Banff and Buchan SNP MSP Stewart Stevenson and Fraserburgh minister Rev Stephen Brown.
Rev Brown – whose local MSP is Stewart Stevenson - met Ben Elton while both men were guests on the Channel 4 Richard and Judy Show. Rev Brown was in the studio to talk about his use of the TV cartoon characters The Simpsons for his ministry and while in the Green Room took the opportunity to talk to Ben about the themes raised in High Society.
Ben hopes that his appearance in Edinburgh will bring some attention to this ongoing issue, saying: “The current ostrich-like mentality of the Government, coupled with the appalling double standards in some sections of the media, represents a total abdication of responsibility which has in turn abandoned whole communities to the mercy of criminal elements and puts the police in the impossible position of trying to enforce laws which they know are unenforceable.
“The so-called 'war' on drugs has been lost. I intend to call for a new debate on the problem which considers without prejudice all possible solutions including that of legalisation.”
Rev Brown said: “High Society is a wonderfully compelling and thoughtfully written book and one of the things that Ben Elton said to me in the Green Room was that he was disappointed his book had not provoked a debate on the issue.”
The idea for inviting Ben arose when Rev Brown got in touch with Stewart Stevenson – who is Shadow Deputy Justice Minister and has a drugs brief for the party - after the TV appearance.
“As a minister, I have taken the funeral services of people in their 20s who have taken overdoses and have seen the unremitting tragedy of what drugs do to people and their families.
“When I got in touch with Ben to see if he would be interested in coming up to the Scottish Parliament, he said he was up for it on the understanding that he did not set himself up as any kind of expert but that he passionately believes that drugs legislation doesn’t work. The reason he said yes is that he is doing it out of a sense of duty as a citizen to take the opportunity to have his say.”
16 May 2006
STRATHCLYDE Police has issued a warning to drug users about high purity/increased deal sizes of heroin being sold in the Force area after a substantial increase in the number of deaths from overdose.
Between January 1 2006 and the beginning of May, there have been 82 inquiries into drug-related deaths in Strathclyde. This compares to 48 for the same period in 2005. Toxicology results are still awaited.
It is understood that this marked increase in deaths is currently being seen in Strathclyde only, according to a senior police source.
Police believe the increase is connected to the purity of heroin currently being sold, meaning heroin of a higher than normal strength is circulating in the Strathclyde Police Force area. In addition, a typical deal now contains 125mg of the drug compared to 100mg, as was the norm in the past, say the police.
Analysis indicates that, when all factors are taken into account, the average strength of a street deal is almost twice that of the corresponding period in 2005.
Strathclyde Police has called a multi-agency meeting, bringing together police, social workers, health workers and alcohol and drug action teams to determine how we can tackle this problem.
strength
Detective Superintendent John McSporran of Strathclyde Police said:
"Drug users should be aware that heroin of a higher than normal strength is being sold on the streets of Strathclyde. I would urge people who insist on taking illegal drugs to take the necessary precautions to make sure they are safe, such as making sure they are not alone when using heroin.
"There is also a need to reinforce the message that taking any type of illegal drug is inherently dangerous.
"In addition, should drug users wish more information in relation to reducing their exposure to risk, we would urge that they seek out that advice from health professionals."
innovative
A spokesperson from Scottish Drugs Forum said:
"The latest figure is of great concern but, in the absence of detailed information on each of the deaths, it is difficult to define any particular cause for this rise.
"For instance, purity and an increase of the amount of heroin in deals will only be part of the equation. International research also highlights other potential contributory factors such as poor overall health – particularly those infected with the Hepatitis C virus – as well as the age of the user and the length of time he or she has been a drug user.
"Last year's Scottish Executive-commissioned National Investigation into Drug-related Deaths in Scotland also highlighted the importance of easy access to good quality treatment.
"Nevertheless, the statistics underline the need to take innovative approaches to reducing drug deaths.
"A couple of areas in Scotland are already looking closely at approaches already taken in Liverpool, Manchester and Jersey where take-home overdose resuscitation kits are distributed to drug users.
"Another innovative approach, which Scottish Drugs Forum has backed for some time now, would be to look closely at introducing heroin prescribing to a small number of drug users who are most chaotic and not responding to conventional treatment.
"Meanwhile, Scottish Drugs Forum is rolling out on behalf of the Scottish Executive a programme of training and education to users, families and carers about the risks of overdose and how to respond to them effectively.
"Clearly it will take some considerable time for this to cascade to everyone, so much work on this – and a variety of other fronts – remains to be done."
12 May 2006
SCOTTISH Drugs Forum has dismissed a suggestion by a Member of the Scottish Parliament for contraception to be put into methadone.
Duncan McNeil, Labour MSP for Greenock and Inverclyde, made the suggestion in a debate in Holyrood on 11th May on the Scottish Exeuctive’s newly published document on child protection for the families of parents with drug and alcohol problems – Hidden Harm Next Steps.
An estimated 40,000 to 60,000 children in Scotland are affected by parental drug use and an estimated 80,000 to 100,000 children are affected by parental alcohol problems.
Mr. M cNeil’s remarks have been variously condemned by fellows MSPs and charities as unworkable and on human rights grounds.
Scottish Drugs Forum rejected the notion and said:“Methadone is known to actually increase fertility and therefore people on this prescription need to be advised of such."
“The real issue here is that too many women drug users are not getting access or receiving proper contraceptive advice and treatment, which the Hidden Harm document has recognised in its call for improved contraception and family planning service for people with drug and alcohol problems.”
Hidden Harm Next Steps brings together a range of actions and initiatives that the Scottish Executive is taking forward and will take forward improvements in the way in which agencies identify, protect and support children and young people living with parental substance use problems.
Key action points include: