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Cannabis Campaigners' Guide News Database result:
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UK: End of 'Just Say No' drugs war
Liam McDougall, Home Affairs Correspondent Scotland on Sunday
Sunday 03 Mar 2002 JACK McConnell is dramatically to abandon the Scottish Executive's 'Just Say No' stance on drug abuse after admitting it has failed to halt the rising tide of addiction. In a major policy U-turn, the First Minister will give the go-ahead to a strategy geared instead towards helping young people make 'informed decisions' about drug taking. The controversial step, condemned by some anti-drug campaigners, will be unveiled later this month with the launch of the Executive's drugs communication strategy. McConnell will underline his commitment to making quality drugs information and advice available throughout the country. The surprise move represents the first public acknowledgement that the hard-hitting 'Just Say No' and 'war on drugs' rhetoric pursued by consecutive governments of differing political hues has done nothing to reduce the number of illicit drug users in Scotland. The policy reversal comes amid growing alarm in Labour ranks at the spiralling number of drug users and drug deaths. The latest research suggests there are as many as 55,000 people in Scotland misusing illegal drugs such as heroin and methadone - almost twice as many as previously estimated - while drugs claim the lives of more than 290 each year. A survey last month also added to McConnell's embarrassment after it revealed that at least 40% of schoolchildren between the ages of 12 and 15 had been offered drugs. It is understood the new strategy, although nationwide, will focus on 'grassroots', giving local communities access to 'consistent and comprehensive' drugs information through a leaflet and advertising campaign. Scotland on Sunday has learned the new approach had been prompted by research which shows that despite the millions pumped into reducing drug use there is still ignorance about the issue. It is expected the study will indicate that although 98% of Scots see drugs as a "very serious" or "serious" problem, few are aware of the variety and risks of the drugs that are circulating. It will also highlight the urgent need to reassess the "earlier messages" put out by government towards a less authoritarian campaign to reduce drug use. An Executive source said: "It is pretty clear that the 'Just say no' types of messages have not had any effect. They are not leading young people to try to find out more information about drugs, which is the best way of preventing them from taking drugs and to ensure they are informed about the dangers." However, news of the radical shift has infuriated anti-drug groups and parents of addicts, who have accused the Executive of condoning drug use. Maxie Richards, who runs a drug rehabilitation charity, accused the Executive of being "pro-drugs". She said: "This amounts to saying to young people that taking drugs is an acceptable way of living. It's a misinformed message and it's the wrong message. It encourages people to think they can take drugs, and it will cause havoc in our society. It's pro-drugs. This is telling people there is such a thing as safe drug use. Things can only get worse through this course of action." Gaille McCann, co-founder of the group Mothers Against Drugs, warned that the strategy could encourage drug-taking. "The Executive needs to be very careful with its message. They are in danger of promoting drug use, which opens up more avenues for people to experiment with drugs." "It's all very well the Executive saying they want to put out leaflets, but young people aren't interested in reading them. The ones who really need the help are not at school to pick up the leaflets and don't access health services. The Executive should be training young people to give that information to other young people on the street. No leaflet is going to address the problem." The Tory Home Affairs spokesman Lord James Douglas-Hamilton said: "Young people who are very impressionable need to be protected against dangerous substances. Any weakening of the stance on drugs is unacceptable." But the agencies on the Executive communications committee defended the moves. David Liddell, director of the Scottish Drugs Forum, said: "The new approach will get rid of the 'drugs war' rhetoric which tends to polarise the debate. We are very encouraged by what is being proposed. We have always taken the view that the notion of a drugs war is not the right way to tackle the problem. "Drugs are a problem that has continued to grow and are something we are going to have to learn to live with. The notion of trying to rid society of all drugs is clearly ridiculous," Liddell said.
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