HEROIN VICTIMS: DECLARE WAR ON TAX-FREE KILLERS

Tough Talking: Ministers Told To Stop Being Soft On
Dealers

REFORMED drug users and parents of child addicts have called on the
Government to declare war on the dealers.

Scottish Executive Minister for Communities Wendy Alexander and her deputy,
Jackie Baillie, yesterday met people whose lives were wrecked by the scourge.

And the Glasgow Association of Family Support Groups told them the only
solution was to lock up the pedlars they call "tax-free murderers".

They believe the law is too lenient with dealers and the questions came
thick and fast for the MSPs:

"Why are drug dealers given such short sentences?"

"Where is the justice?"

"Why isn't every drug death treated as a homicide?"

"Where is all the Government money targetted at fighting drugs going and
what is it being used for?"

The minister also heard there is not enough support for drug users who want
to kick their habit - or for the relatives of addicts.

It was a grim message for the politicians, with harrowing tales from some
people at the meeting.

John, the father of an addict, said: "Our biggest problem is that our kids
are on drugs. All the problems we have after that stems from there."

None of the people were willing to be identified. They still live in
communities where suspicion and fear are at the heart of everyday life.

But they were desperate to tell the minister how drugs had devastated their
lives.

One recovering addict said: "My mother tried to bring me up with good
morals and values but I caused a whole lot of hurt to my family with the drugs.

"My Ma was one of the old school, one of those people who brushed things
under the carpet.

"I have managed to get off but it is only through coming to schemes like
this one and being given hope.

"But this is run by volunteers and there is just not enough help out there."

The Glasgow Association of Family Support Groups is the only organisation
of its kind established specifically to care for the families and friends
of drug abusers.

One mother, Sharon, said: "I have a young boy who has been on drugs for 10
years and this place is working miracles for me.

"You don't want to talk to family about your problems, there is such a
stigma about addiction, so this place is a life-saver.

"We come here and everybody understands what we are all going through.

"There should be more money for groups like this and more groups."

Alexander assured the group that the Scottish Parliament was looking at
more ways to target dealers.

The minister revealed that deputy justice minister Angus Mackay was
visiting Ireland next month to look at the way the courts there seize the
dealers' assets.

In the Irish courts dealers have to prove they did not get their money from
drugs, whereas in Scotland the prosecution has to prove that drugs are the
source of the criminal's wealth.

Dealing with the dealers is just one part of the battle.

One woman wanted to know what was being done to help women left to raise
their grandchildren because their mothers are junkies.

Questions and ideas from the group were ceaseless:

"There is not enough support when junkies come out of prison."

"Why are addicts who want to get off drugs dealt with at places where there
are still users?" Another reformed addict said if the help was provided the
benefits would be enormous.

He said: "The best thing is seeing a mother after her son or daughter has
been helped off drugs.

"There is so much of a difference. You are giving people their lives back
and it is wonderful."

After the meeting, Alexander said such face-to-face encounters were crucial
if the Government were to form policies that would win the battle against
drugs.

She said she would be taking some of the suggestions forward to today's
meeting of the Glasgow Alliance. She said: "This meeting was about meeting
families and understanding how drug use wrecks lives.

"They had a lot of remedies and solutions and we have to listen.

"We have to find a way of capturing these insights and magnifying them so
their voices can be heard.

"We have to make sure the people who run the support services have
opportunities to talk to people at the sharp end.

"It came across clearly that these people feel like they are the forgotten
victims."