POLICE KNOW THEY ARE LOSING THE DRUGS WAR

I WAS interested to read Jeff Wood's letter (August 23) suggesting a return
to the controlled prescribing of heroin in a bid to curb the supply of
adulterated drugs and drug-related crime. This is just one option I have
been thinking about in recent months and which requires serious thought. I
am undecided but the situation throughout Scotland is so serious that every
avenue must now be explored.

From Grampian's perspective, it is certainly the case that new measures
must be introduced. Drug use in the region appears to be forever spiralling
upwards and drug-related crime has gone through the roof. At least four out
of every five prisoners randomly tested on reception at Craiginches Prison
test positive for drugs. We are experiencing a spate of robberies of
elderly residents in Aberdeen as some addicts show a willingness to stoop
to any level to ensure they can feed their habits.

In short, the police and agencies are fighting a losing war against drugs
and they know it. Grampian is severely lacking detox, rehabilitation, and
throughcare facilities at a time when drug deaths and drug crime are major
public concerns.

Grampian with by far one of the country's worst drugs problems needs better
leadership in the drugs field. The Scottish Government is not taking the
situation seriously enough and there is a fear that too many people in
positions of authority are on too high a salary to risk changing policy
given that they might find themselves out on their ear.

Society has to take some tough choices in the coming years or more people
will die, more people will be mugged or have their homes broken into, and
the justice system will collapse.

Richard Lochhead, MSP, The Scottish Parliament.