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SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE'S ANNUAL REPORT ON DRUG MISUSE
FOREWORD
In the previous Annual Report, Iain Gray spoke about the "many positive developments" in place, or in the pipeline, to tackle the scourge of drug misuse in our communities. A year on, I am pleased to say that the momentum is being maintained and that the impact of our
three-year package of new resources, amounting to around 128 million, continues to be realised across Scotland.
As this Report confirms, we are making steady and encouraging progress towards attainment of many of our published targets and standards. We have to acknowledge, however, that not all developments over the last twelve months or so have been positive. Particularly worrying is the current level of drug-related deaths, and waiting times for drug treatment which are too long in some parts of Scotland. Elsewhere in this Report, we have set out what we are doing to address these crucial issues.
No-one has ever claimed that turning around Scotland's drugs problem was going to be easy or quick. There are, after all, estimated to be nearly 56,000 opiate and benzodiazepine misusers alone. We are in a long game. Encouragingly, however, this Report shows many examples of where the Executive's record investment of new resources is making a difference. The Executive remains committed to the successful delivery of our Drugs Strategy, in partnership with Drug Action Teams and drug agencies.
However, if we are to succeed, we need the help and support of Scots of all ages to reverse the growing social acceptability of drugs in many communities, to tackle the dealers, and to show our young people that there are healthy and positive alternatives to taking drugs.
I commend this Report to you.
Hugh Henry, MSP
Deputy Minister for Justice at the Scottish Executive
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