DEATH TOLL FOR DRUGS AT HIGHEST LEVEL EVER

Drugs Death Toll In Scotland Hits Record High

Scotland's drugs-death toll hit a record high of 455 last year,
figures released yesterday have revealed.

The total rose eight per cent last year but has doubled in a decade,
from 224 in 1997.

A report by the General Register Office for Scotland showed the death
toll had risen in eight of the last 10 years and warned: "The
long-term trend appears to be steadily upwards."

Community safety minister Fergus Ewing said he was "disappointed" at
the record high and conceded it may rise further before the
government's new drugs strategy takes effect.

He added: "I am confident many of the changes it proposes will have a
positive impact in reducing drug-related deaths."

But he said it could take years to achieve and warned that "the
scourge of drugs will not disappear overnight".

Heroin or morphine accounted for 64 per cent of last year's deaths,
with methadone involved in 114, 25 per cent of the total.

Diazepam was involved in 79 cases, 17 per cent. There were 47
involving cocaine and 11 involving ecstasy. Alcohol was also a factor
in 157 of the deaths.

Tory leader Annabel Goldie said relying on methadone as a treatment
had failed and added: "The challenge now is to expand rehabilitation
services and move to abstinence and recovery."