Friday 30 May 2008 @ 11:35
Scottish Government
Scottish Government
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New approach to tackling drugs
The first national drugs strategy since devolution was launched recently.
Community Safety Minister Fergus Ewing hailed it as "a new era" in Scotland's approach to tackling drugs.
He said promoting recovery from drug problems would now form the focus of efforts to tackle drug use.
Ministers believe the strategy will help cut the estimated annual £2.6 billion financial burden of problem drug use to the Scottish economy and society.
Other key measures include:
* A recognition tackling problem drug use will only be done through effective policies on the economy, tackling poverty, and supporting families and children
* A fresh approach to drugs education, including the provision of factual information on drugs to every household with parents or grandparents in Scotland
* The tracking of investment in drug services and the outcomes they deliver
* A commitment to strengthen existing powers to seize assets from drug dealers
* A new approach to achieve better quality of drug treatment across all prisons
Speaking after his statement to Parliament Mr Ewing said:
"For two decades Scotland has been in the grip of drugs - reacting and responding to the impact they have had on our people, our public services, and our economic potential. Too many souls lost on a road to perdition. This strategy is about taking control of our lives again - as individuals and as a nation. A hard road. A long road. A road to recovery.
"Many people with problem drug use are motivated and determined to recover - we want them to have the best chance to do so. Person-centred care, whereby users can access the kind of treatment they need, will help deal with the addiction so that they can develop a healthy and meaningful life, earn a wage, and adhere to the law of the land.
"The current approach has highly-committed professional people behind it. While we will not second-guess clinicians, helping people with drug problems move on after getting into treatment will be a priority for the future.
"We will achieve this by reforming how drugs services are planned, commissioned and delivered. We are working with partners to to ensure that services deliver recovery outcomes within the context of new Single Outcome Agreements and NHS Accountability arrangements.
"I have been greatly encouraged by the constructive spirit of the cross-party discussions I have had over the past year. I hope that next Wednesday Parliament reflects the consensus that we have found in our extensive discussions with people and groups across Scotland and votes to support this strategy."
Minister for Children and Early Years Adam Ingram said:
"We all know how damaging parental drug and alcohol misuse can be to families, and that is usually felt by children the most. Every child in Scotland deserves to be safe and supported as they grow up and we must ensure help is in place for those at risk.
"Substance misuse is intrinsically linked to social ills like crime, poverty and poor health which hold too many people back in Scotland and we are committed to intervening early to break the cycles of disadvantage which are so damaging to children and families. This agenda represents a major step forward in making sure we work quickly, effectively and collaboratively to support the young people affected."
Councillor Ronnie McColl, COSLA spokesperson for Health and Wellbeing, said:
"The strategy gives us all a welcome opportunity to re-focus our efforts to address drugs issues. Along with our member councils we have been involved in the development of the strategy and now look forward to the most important part - working with the Government and our local partners in playing a full part in delivering the strategy."
Director-General of the Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency Gordon Meldrum said:
"I welcome the focus on recovery that runs through this strategy. Scotland's police service is absolutely committed to tackling the poisonous influence of illegal drugs in Scotland. We have never shirked from that task and, as our track record of success shows, we continue to deal significant blows to the criminal networks looking to profit from the undoubted misery that these products bring.
"Tough enforcement and innovative ways of breaking the supply chains will remain central to our long-term approach. However, in line with the overarching aims of the strategy, Scotland's police will also work with partners to find innovative ways of reducing the demand for drugs. Through raising awareness of the harm this callous trade has on lives, communities, and the environment - here and overseas - we will play our part in helping more young Scots to make the right choices about how they live their lives."
Chief Medical Officer Dr Harry Burns said:
"Recovery by individuals from the effects of drug use lies at the heart of this strategy and clinical, social and other services, working together, will offer each client the maximum opportunity to address the complex issues they face in dealing with their drug use.
"From a clinical perspective the strategy reflects the Drug Misuse and Dependence: UK Guidelines on Clinical Management which were published in 2007 and reinforces the need for a clear partnership when planning and delivering services.
"From enforcement to prevention to care and treatment and to addressing the underlying causes of drug use, this strategy sets out a clear set of integrated actions aimed at tackling the drug problem in Scotland."
Tom Wood, retiring chairman of the Scottish Association of Alcohol and Drug Action Teams (SADAAT), said:
"The new Strategy marks a very positive change in direction, towards recovery and away from the old war rhetoric and sterile debate. We know that recovery from addiction is achievable but it will only succeed if treatment is delivered properly and comprehensively. All services and service users will need to pull together."
The strategy will now be debated and voted on by Parliament on Wednesday, June 4, 2008.
A new National Support capacity is being set-up to help support local partners deliver the recovery approach in drug services, while recovery will be embedded within training and workforce development. The Scottish Government will also set up a Drug Misuse Recovery Network to facilitate the shift in thinking needed by both service providers and service users.
The programme of action will be supported by a package of £94 million over the next three years. Health Boards will receive a 3.8 per cent increase in funding for drug treatment services. Funds are also spent on tackling drug use from other general budgets allocated by Government to local authorities.
The strategy takes a broad approach to preventing problem drug use and recognises the strong evidential links between problem drug use and deprivation, negative early years experiences, mental health problems and poor educational attainment. The reform of Scotland's education system, through the Curriculum for Excellence, will help sharpen delivery of substance misuse education in our schools.
The Scottish Government will continue to support the police to disrupt drug-dealing networks and the organised crime groups behind them. It wants to strengthen the powers Scotland already has to seize assets from criminals who are benefiting from unlawful conduct, including drug dealing, to make a lifetime of crime open to a lifetime of recovery. These funds will continue to be channelled back into communities to give young people choices and chances to avoid getting into drugs.
The strategy sets out a new approach to achieve better quality and more consistency of drug treatment across all prisons, including the pilot of a new model of integrated care at HMP Edinburgh. The Scottish Prison Service will publish a new Substance Misuse Strategy this autumn.
The Children Affected by Parental Substance Misuse (CAPSM) agenda, which is being launched as part of the wider drugs strategy, highlights a dedicated approach to supporting young people and families affected by these issues in Scotland for the first time. An action plan to improve support services for young people and families affected through better inter-agency working, risk management and training for professionals will be developed under CAPSM.
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Community Safety Minister Fergus Ewing hailed it as "a new era" in Scotland's approach to tackling drugs.
He said promoting recovery from drug problems would now form the focus of efforts to tackle drug use.
Ministers believe the strategy will help cut the estimated annual £2.6 billion financial burden of problem drug use to the Scottish economy and society.
Other key measures include:
* A recognition tackling problem drug use will only be done through effective policies on the economy, tackling poverty, and supporting families and children
* A fresh approach to drugs education, including the provision of factual information on drugs to every household with parents or grandparents in Scotland
* The tracking of investment in drug services and the outcomes they deliver
* A commitment to strengthen existing powers to seize assets from drug dealers
* A new approach to achieve better quality of drug treatment across all prisons
Speaking after his statement to Parliament Mr Ewing said:
"For two decades Scotland has been in the grip of drugs - reacting and responding to the impact they have had on our people, our public services, and our economic potential. Too many souls lost on a road to perdition. This strategy is about taking control of our lives again - as individuals and as a nation. A hard road. A long road. A road to recovery.
"Many people with problem drug use are motivated and determined to recover - we want them to have the best chance to do so. Person-centred care, whereby users can access the kind of treatment they need, will help deal with the addiction so that they can develop a healthy and meaningful life, earn a wage, and adhere to the law of the land.
"The current approach has highly-committed professional people behind it. While we will not second-guess clinicians, helping people with drug problems move on after getting into treatment will be a priority for the future.
"We will achieve this by reforming how drugs services are planned, commissioned and delivered. We are working with partners to to ensure that services deliver recovery outcomes within the context of new Single Outcome Agreements and NHS Accountability arrangements.
"I have been greatly encouraged by the constructive spirit of the cross-party discussions I have had over the past year. I hope that next Wednesday Parliament reflects the consensus that we have found in our extensive discussions with people and groups across Scotland and votes to support this strategy."
Minister for Children and Early Years Adam Ingram said:
"We all know how damaging parental drug and alcohol misuse can be to families, and that is usually felt by children the most. Every child in Scotland deserves to be safe and supported as they grow up and we must ensure help is in place for those at risk.
"Substance misuse is intrinsically linked to social ills like crime, poverty and poor health which hold too many people back in Scotland and we are committed to intervening early to break the cycles of disadvantage which are so damaging to children and families. This agenda represents a major step forward in making sure we work quickly, effectively and collaboratively to support the young people affected."
Councillor Ronnie McColl, COSLA spokesperson for Health and Wellbeing, said:
"The strategy gives us all a welcome opportunity to re-focus our efforts to address drugs issues. Along with our member councils we have been involved in the development of the strategy and now look forward to the most important part - working with the Government and our local partners in playing a full part in delivering the strategy."
Director-General of the Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency Gordon Meldrum said:
"I welcome the focus on recovery that runs through this strategy. Scotland's police service is absolutely committed to tackling the poisonous influence of illegal drugs in Scotland. We have never shirked from that task and, as our track record of success shows, we continue to deal significant blows to the criminal networks looking to profit from the undoubted misery that these products bring.
"Tough enforcement and innovative ways of breaking the supply chains will remain central to our long-term approach. However, in line with the overarching aims of the strategy, Scotland's police will also work with partners to find innovative ways of reducing the demand for drugs. Through raising awareness of the harm this callous trade has on lives, communities, and the environment - here and overseas - we will play our part in helping more young Scots to make the right choices about how they live their lives."
Chief Medical Officer Dr Harry Burns said:
"Recovery by individuals from the effects of drug use lies at the heart of this strategy and clinical, social and other services, working together, will offer each client the maximum opportunity to address the complex issues they face in dealing with their drug use.
"From a clinical perspective the strategy reflects the Drug Misuse and Dependence: UK Guidelines on Clinical Management which were published in 2007 and reinforces the need for a clear partnership when planning and delivering services.
"From enforcement to prevention to care and treatment and to addressing the underlying causes of drug use, this strategy sets out a clear set of integrated actions aimed at tackling the drug problem in Scotland."
Tom Wood, retiring chairman of the Scottish Association of Alcohol and Drug Action Teams (SADAAT), said:
"The new Strategy marks a very positive change in direction, towards recovery and away from the old war rhetoric and sterile debate. We know that recovery from addiction is achievable but it will only succeed if treatment is delivered properly and comprehensively. All services and service users will need to pull together."
The strategy will now be debated and voted on by Parliament on Wednesday, June 4, 2008.
A new National Support capacity is being set-up to help support local partners deliver the recovery approach in drug services, while recovery will be embedded within training and workforce development. The Scottish Government will also set up a Drug Misuse Recovery Network to facilitate the shift in thinking needed by both service providers and service users.
The programme of action will be supported by a package of £94 million over the next three years. Health Boards will receive a 3.8 per cent increase in funding for drug treatment services. Funds are also spent on tackling drug use from other general budgets allocated by Government to local authorities.
The strategy takes a broad approach to preventing problem drug use and recognises the strong evidential links between problem drug use and deprivation, negative early years experiences, mental health problems and poor educational attainment. The reform of Scotland's education system, through the Curriculum for Excellence, will help sharpen delivery of substance misuse education in our schools.
The Scottish Government will continue to support the police to disrupt drug-dealing networks and the organised crime groups behind them. It wants to strengthen the powers Scotland already has to seize assets from criminals who are benefiting from unlawful conduct, including drug dealing, to make a lifetime of crime open to a lifetime of recovery. These funds will continue to be channelled back into communities to give young people choices and chances to avoid getting into drugs.
The strategy sets out a new approach to achieve better quality and more consistency of drug treatment across all prisons, including the pilot of a new model of integrated care at HMP Edinburgh. The Scottish Prison Service will publish a new Substance Misuse Strategy this autumn.
The Children Affected by Parental Substance Misuse (CAPSM) agenda, which is being launched as part of the wider drugs strategy, highlights a dedicated approach to supporting young people and families affected by these issues in Scotland for the first time. An action plan to improve support services for young people and families affected through better inter-agency working, risk management and training for professionals will be developed under CAPSM.
Related Information
