Scots ministers underestimate drug problem

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Ananova

Thursday 07 Dec 2000

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Scots ministers 'underestimate drug problem'

Ministers have been accused by an all-party committee of MSPs of failing
to understand the scale of Scotland's drugs problem.

Their present anti-drugs strategy is failing to take full account of the
link between drug misuse and deprivation, said a report by the
Parliament's Social Inclusion Committee.

One member of the committee, Liberal Democrat Keith Raffan, accused the
Executive of doing worse than Monty Python would manage in their
approach which concentrated too much attention on enforcement instead of
rehabilitation.

Of the treatment of prisoners, the Mid Scotland and Fife member said:
"You are spending a huge amount of public money in incarcerating these
people then they come out of prison, relapse, recommit offences and then
they are back in prison.

"It makes no sense. Monty Python could do better in terms of producing a
logical policy."

The report said the committee, which has been studying then impact of
drug misuse on deprived communities, was "not convinced" that the
Executive recognised the deep-rooted extent of drug use in deprived
communities throughout Scotland.

Mr Raffan said: "We are facing a massive problem, and the Scottish
Executive does not appear to recognise the scale of that problem."

Fiona Hyslop, deputy convener of the committee and SNP MSP for Lothians
region, said: "Although they say they recognise it, our evidence shows
that this is not followed through in the provision of services."

She cited Glasgow council's social work department which she said was
not getting enough resources despite the pressure it was under because
of the drugs problem.

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