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Scotland: Doors shut on drugs advisory body

BBC News

Friday 31 Mar 2006

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The publicly-funded advisory group Scotland Against Drugs (SAD) is to
close its doors on Friday.

Its main functions are being transferred to a new body, The Scottish
Centre for Healthy Working Lives.

SAD insisted education and not rehabilitation was the best way to tackle
the problem.

However, Deputy Justice Minister Hugh Henry said drug users needed wider
support, particularly in finding work.

SAD was set up 10 years ago by the then Scottish Office to help raise
awareness about drugs and the dangers of drug taking.

Mr Henry said it had done exceptional educational work, but he believed
a broader approach was required.

SAD director Alistair Ramsay said the closure would have a negative
impact on the fight against drugs.

Mr Ramsay said only SAD's employment project was being transferred to
the new centre in Hamilton.

"I am not aware of any plans to take forward any of the other pieces of
work," he said.

Policy concern

"They are important, so it is disappointing. We have given out thousands
of grants, trained thousands of teachers and provided tens of thousands
of high quality resources in support of community projects.

"Studies show that fewer 13 to 15-year-olds are taking drugs now than in
1999. I am happy to take some credit for that."

Steve Bell, director of the new centre, said: "The business and
employability strands of Scotland Against Drugs will be coming under the
auspices of the Scottish Centre for Healthy Working Lives.

"The education and school-focused elements of the previous programme
will be going into NHS Scotland."

Scottish Conservative leader Annabel Goldie said the closure proved
ministers were losing the fight against drugs.

"SAD was a banner under which many different strategies could be
deployed, but always working towards the same clear goals," said Ms Goldie.

"However, once this executive came to power the whole attitude towards
drugs abuse in Scotland wandered off into the wilderness."

 

 

 

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