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Festive warning over cocaine use
27/11/2008
Festive party-goers across Scotland are being targeted in a seasonal campaign to warn about the dangers of taking cocaine.
More than 200 pubs and clubs across the country are expected to participate in the Know the Score Cocaine Awareness Weekends (CAWs) which will kick off in Glasgow and Edinburgh this weekend (Friday 28 - Sunday 30, November) and roll out to four other regions.
The CAWs are directly targeting 18-26 year olds and the general adult population to raise awareness of the health risks of taking cocaine. This initiative is part of Know the Score's cocaine awareness campaign in the run up to and during the December party season.
Minister for Community Safety, Fergus Ewing said:
"We're tackling the damage caused to our communities by drug misuse. We're equipping law enforcement agencies with the powers and resources to take out drug gangs and funding health and other local agencies to help those gripped by drug addiction to recover their lives.
"I'm delighted at the level of support from our local partners, in particular from so many licensees, for this important joint initiative.
"We are aware that many young people do not know the risks involved in cocaine use and we're trying to ensure they have all the facts by providing information in their own social environments.
"As well as making clear the legal consequences of drug misuse, people need to know the health risks, even from so-called 'recreational' use of cocaine. By doing just that, this campaign can help Scots enjoy the festive season in safety."
Gordon Meldrum, Director General, Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency (SCDEA) said:
"Cocaine is not the safe and clean drug some believe it to be - it is highly addictive and the harms are significant, particularly when mixed with alcohol.
"Evidence suggests that cocaine availability and use is on the rise, including an increase in seizures of the drug, as well as higher numbers of users accessing services. This is a major concern because the illegal drugs trade imposes significant costs on our justice, health and social systems.
"The efforts of the SCDEA and the Scottish Police Service remain steadfast in relation to enforcement to stem the flow of drugs into Scotland's communities. However, we also recognise the need to reduce the demand for these substances.
"The Cocaine Awareness Weekends provide an opportunity to change attitudes by engaging directly with young people to highlight the dangers of cocaine use, which we hope will encourage them to think twice about using this drug - the risks are higher than people believe."
A total of 80 venues across Glasgow and Edinburgh will be participating in the first weekend.
The initiative was launched at Lava & Ignite Nightclub in Edinburgh. General Manager Bill MacGregor, who is also co-Chairperson of Unight, a scheme with over 40 members and supported by Lothian and Borders Police in its bid to enforce a zero tolerance policy against drugs, assaults, and weapons, said:
"Members of Unight work in partnership with an aim to make the city's nightlife safer. The Cocaine Awareness Weekend is a worthwhile campaign that will help to educate our patrons about the dangers of taking this drug and we hope that, through our support, we can help to make a difference."
PC Mark Pickavance, Lothian and Borders Police, works with many of the Capital's pub and clubs. He said:
"Lothian and Borders Police fully support any initiative that highlights the health risks associated with the use of cocaine. Members of the public are often unaware of the long-term damage caused by use of recreational drugs and the associated damage caused to local communities
"Ensuring the safety of our communities against the problems associated with drugs misuse is a priority. The misuse of drugs, no matter how small, fuels the drugs supply chain, which is built upon a foundation of violence and anti-social behaviour.
"In order to break the chain and bring down the foundations of drugs misuse, we ask members of the public to play a vital role by supplying us with information on any drug activities. "
Stephen McBride, Chair of Glasgow Westend Pubwatch and manager of Oran Mor, said:
"Our members were very keen to get involved with this initiative, which we previously supported when it was first launched in 2006. As a group, we strive to make the west end a safe place to socialise and want to create a safe environment for our staff to work in. It's important to make people aware of the dangers of taking cocaine and if licensed premises can be one way of helping to get that message across, then we want to help."
Funded by the Scottish Government, Know the Score is Scotland's anti-drugs information and advice campaign which has its own free 24 hr confidential helpline 0800 587 587 9 and website: www.knowthescore.info
Previous Cocaine Awareness Weekends involved pubs and clubs in Lanarkshire, Aberdeen, the Borders, East Dunbartsonshire, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Tayside.
The 2008 Know the Score Cocaine Awareness Weekends will take place on the following dates:
- Nov 28-30: Edinburgh & Glasgow
- Dec 5-7: Inverness & Renfrewshire
- Dec 12-14: Dundee & Fife
The awareness campaign will involve staff in pubs across Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness, Renfrewshire, Fife and Dundee sporting 'Know the Score' T-shirts, displaying posters and distributing branded drinks stirrers and information leaflets which detail the health risks of cocaine use and highlight Know the Score's information and advice services. The activity supports Know the Score's anti-cocaine campaign message: 'Taking Cocaine Makes You Up to 24 Times More Likely to Have a Heart Attack'.
The initiative is being delivered in partnership with various licence trade schemes in each region including members from Edinburgh's Safeguard and Unight schemes, Glasgow's Westend Pubwatch, Dundee's Co-ordinated Anticrime Network and the Kirkcaldy and Glenrothes Pubwatch schemes. It has been delivered with the support of regional Police forces' community liaison teams and Scottish Alcohol and Drug Action Teams. This is the second time the activity has been carried out during the festive period and while it revisits Edinburgh, Dundee and Glasgow, it visits Inverness, Renfrewshire and Fife for the first time.