CITY PUSH FOR DRUGS CASH

Moves are to get under way to push for Glasgow to get increased funding in
a bid to tackle the city's mounting drugs problems.

There is concern that lack of money is threatening services for those with
drug dependencies, including babies whose mothers are addicts.

The city council has expressed concern at the cost of keeping 4,000 addicts
on a methadone programme.

However, with an estimated 14,000 drug injectors, Greater Glasgow Health
Board argues that the city should get a larger slice of Scotland's
available funding.

Babies born with their mothers' drug addiction receive intensive treatment
at Rottenrow Maternity Hospital in Glasgow.

The mothers receive methadone, their babies phenobarbatone to combat
craving for heroin or methadone developed in the womb.

They receive treatment for up to three weeks, ensuring that both baby and
mother have been stabilised.

The problem for Glasgow is that cash for tackling the drugs problem in
Scotland is allocated on the basis of population rather than need.

Glasgow Health Board, which records 40% of Scotland's drug deaths and
drug-related hospital admissions, receives 21% of Scotland's drugs money -
half of what it needs.

Poverty problems

Dr Mary Hepburn, who set up the Women's Reproductive Health Unit, said
funding would help develop their work with the city's drug-addicted babies.

She said: "We should recognise that deprivation comes with lots of
problems. It has lifestyle problems like smoking, poor diet, problem drug use.

"All these things make life much more difficult, as well as making people
less healthy.

"We should be offering extra support to people with these sorts of
problems, not condemning them because of their background of poverty.

Doctor Laurence Gruer, Greater Glasgow Health Board's addictions
co-ordinator, says drug treatments are necessary to cure the wider health
problems of Glasgow.

"Many people who want to get treatment can't get it because we don't have
enough staff to deal with them.

"There are enormous numbers of people getting treatment who aren't getting
enough support for the rehabilitation that they need so that they can move
that stage further away from drugs."

Councillors have, however, expressed concern that the methadone programme
is not working.

A review of the policy is to go before the council on Wednesday.