This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
Listen
Annual report on drug misuse
31/01/2003
The Executive's 2002 annual report on tackling drug
misuse is published today.
It provides comprehensive information on progress being
made across the key themes of the Drugs Strategy; namely
supporting young people, helping communities, tackling the
availability of drugs, and treating those who have
developed drug problems.
Deputy Justice Minister Hugh Henry said:
"Solid progress is being made in delivering the
Executive's Drugs Strategy.
"Drugs are a global issue, and the many problems which
drugs bring are an enormous burden on governments,
communities, families and individuals across the world. It
is evident that there is no single, simple or rapid
solution, and Scotland is no different in these
respects.
"The Executive is investing record sums in a wide range
of activities - from educating children in schools about
the risks from drugs, supporting community initiatives
aimed at promoting drug-free lifestyles, providing new and
improved treatment and rehabilitation services, and
tackling those who bring fear and misery to communities
through dealing in drugs.
"There are some encouraging signs mentioned in the
annual report. Reported heroin misuse among the under 20s
has declined and there has been a very significant decline
in the percentage of young people reporting to services who
are injecting drugs.
"A recent study revealed that reports of new HIV cases
among injecting drug misusers are at their lowest levels
since 1985. In addition, police forces and other
enforcement bodies have seized record quantities of the
drugs which cause the most harm."
Mr Henry added:
"Balanced against these positive trends, the number of
people who lose their lives due to drug misuse remains
tragically high, and I am deeply concerned that waiting
times for drug treatment in several areas of Scotland are
unacceptably long. The annual report sets out what we are
doing, in partnership with Scotland's Drug Action Teams and
other agencies, to address these issues.
"A great deal is happening across Scotland to combat our
drugs problems. As well as setting out progress in 2002,
the Report outlines our priorities for the year ahead. Our
drive to tackle Scotland's drugs problems should also be
seen against our wider policy objectives of combating
Scotland's historical problems of poverty, deprivation and
social exclusion - these are the environments in which drug
misuse thrives."
The 10-year Drugs Strategy: Tackling Drugs in Scotland -
Action in Partnership was published in 1999.
The Executive's Drugs Action Plan, published in May
2000, set out the details of the Executive's plans to
implement the strategy. Delivery of the strategy, its aims
and targets, is supported by a 3-year package of £128
million over the period 2001-02 to 2003-04.
These resources fund measures across a range of key
strategic areas, including drug treatment and
rehabilitation, training and employment initiatives,
investments to protect children, young people and families,
social inclusion partnerships, the Know the Score drugs
communications strategy and funding for Scotland Against
Drugs, who support a wide-range of community-based
initiatives.