ADDICTS URGED TO SMOKE NOT INJECT HEROIN

AN expert on drug abuse urged heroin users last night to "smoke it, don't
inject it", warning that a mystery illness among addicts could claim more
victims.

The comments by Dr Tom Gilhooly came as Scottish Ministers launched a
long-term drugs action plan and Strathclyde Police set up a special unit to
aid the investigation into the illness, which has killed eight heroin
addicts and affected a further 11 in the last fortnight.

Greater Glasgow Health Board said last night there had been no further cases
and no single cause had been identified, although contaminated heroin
remained the likely explanation.

Health workers in the city handed out information and staged impromptu
screenings of addicts, some of whom were said to be in a state of panic at
the "wipe out" of drug users.

Dr Gilhooly, a member of the Scottish advisory committee on drug misuse and
clinical director of Lanarkshire Drug Service, warned that the situation may
be far from over and said drug addicts should take action.

"First, I would urge heroin users to seek treatment and come off drugs, but
if they cannot then they should smoke heroin rather than use a needle," he
said.

"I know some people will find this suggestion shocking but as far as
infection goes it is a safer practice than injecting."

The doctor said he believed the spate of deaths was triggered by a number of
factors, adding that if bacteria had infected a batch of heroin then all
those who had used it would be at risk.

Addicts were often run-down and had depressed immune systems, he said. Due
to sub-cutaneous fat deposits in their bodies women often found it harder to
locate veins and "muscle-pop" the needles instead.

"This opens the body to even more risk of infection which in turn makes the
body weaker and less able to fight off anything serious," he said.

Deputy Justice Minister Angus MacKay yesterday launched the Executive's
Drugs Action Plan with a promise of an extra UKP 2m over two years to
improve rehabilitation and treatment facilities.

He also announced details of the first national drug misuse research
programme.

Referring to the Glasgow heroin deaths, he said such work would have been
"of tremendous value in these circumstances".

Mr MacKay told MSPs he was considering alternatives to sending drug users to
prison to halt the "cycle of despair" they faced. The strategy has been
influenced by his recent visit to study the workings of a drugs court in New
York, although specialist courts are not likely to be set up in Scotland as
has previously been suggested. It is more likely that drug offenders would
pass through the established court system, perhaps with new sentencing
options.

The plan, launched in Parliament, aims to improve access to work, training
and jobs for recovering users. Part of the plan involves setting targets,
which will be announced in the autumn. Other measures include having drug
strategy co-ordinators in prisons.

Strathclyde Police said a specialist unit of up to 12 officers had been set
up to investigate the spate of deaths, although the source of the drugs had
not yet been identified.

A spokeswoman said: "We have set up a Home Office Large Enquiries (HOLMES)
unit and appointed a senior officer to lead the investigation and liaise
with the health board."

Chief Constable John Orr said: "If there is a scintilla of evidence to prove
that someone knowingly supplied drugs to an individual who thereafter dies
it is incumbent on the police and everyone else to produce a case for that
person to appear before a court."

All the affected heroin addicts, including 14 women, have developed a
serious abscess as a result of injecting into muscle or accidentally outside
a vein.

Most of the early cases were around Govanhill in the city's south side, but
more cases have since been identified in the Royston area, north of the
Clyde.

The health board said some post mortem examinations were carried out
yesterday and more would be conducted today. A variety of bacteria have been
identified from blood and tissue samples but test results have so far proved
inconclusive.

The investigation is shifting away from citric acid - which is used to
dissolve heroin before it is injected - with "an unusual contaminant"
suspected. That may allow otherwise harmless bacteria to cause serious
infection.

A health board spokeswoman said it would not be a surprise if there were
more deaths.