PRESSURE ON DEALERS AS DRUGS TOLL IN STRATHCLYDE TOPS 100

THE Government promised yesterday to step up the war on dealers after the
toll of drugs-related deaths in Strathclyde this year climbed to 101.

The body of James Kiernan, 26, from Paisley, was found at a house in
Millgate Road, Hamilton yesterday. A post-mortem examination is expected to
confirm he died from an overdose.

The body of Catherine Devine, 23, was found at a house in Low Waters Road,
Hamilton, on Thursday. It is believed Ms Devine, who lived in Arden
Terrace, suffered from an overdose. A post-mortem examination will be
carried out.

This year, there have been more drugs-related deaths in Strathclyde than in
the whole of 1998, during which 99 people died. There were 51 suspected
fatal overdoses in 1997.

Dr Tom Gilhooly, the medical officer at Glasgow's Drugs Crisis Centre,
blamed the sudden increase over the past two years on a deadlier form of
temazepam capsules, known as "jellies" or "eggs", which heroin addicts are
also injecting.

He said: "The drugs death figure dipped two years agoafter temazepam
tablets were banned, but there is now a well-established illicit supply of
the drug in a form that is easier to inject. Users are injecting them with
heroin, sometimes in the same syringe, and the combination causes fatal
respiratory depression. The police have to find and shut down the factory
that is producing this drug."

Dr Gilhooly said that a recent clinical study in Glasgow suggested that
treatment with methadone, a heroin substitute, cut overdoses by up to 75
per cent and said: "We must have the resources to treat more people. We
know that this treatment will save lives."

He repeated calls for the prescription of the heroin antidote naloxone to
help save lives.

The reaction to the appalling number of drugs-related deaths this year in
Strathclyde - made before Mr Kiernan's body was discovered - was swift.

Alastair Ramsay, the chairman of Scotland Against Drugs, said: "In 1999 we
are facing the prospect of an all-time high drugs death toll. We have two
options. We can either give up or we can continue to improve the action we
take to create communities which are free from the drug misuse."

He said that, while the 100th death was a milestone figure, there had to be
just as much concern about the "33rd or 75th death". He added: "We must
continue to take action against drug misuse by providing education at a
younger age and working with local communities, the private sector, the
police and other drug organisations. It can be argued that, if it were not
for the significant work done in these fields, the death toll could be much
higher."

Mr Ramsay warned against the belief that heroin was not addictive if smoked
and said all agencies must look at the motives for using substances.

Angus MacKay, the deputy justice minister, said the Scottish executive was
determined to bring down the drug barons. "Every single drugs-related death
is a tragedy. These 100 deaths demonstrate why the government is making the
attack on the peddlers of this evil trade one of its first priorities," he
said.

"We are setting up a drug-enforcement agency which will help cut off the
supply of drugs into Scotland. We have established a cabinet committee
devoted to tackling drugs."

The deaths came as Strathclyde police mounted an operation that resulted in
the seizure of drugs worth UKP445,000 in Glasgow. Five men were arrested as
officers recovered 1kg of heroin and 68kg of cannabis in Easterhouse,
Shettleston and Hillington.

John Orr, the chief constable of Strathclyde, said: "The news of the 100th
death strengthens my personal resolve and that of the force to target the
drug dealers who peddle death and misery in Strathclyde.

"Yesterday's arrests demonstrate the efficiency and commitment of the force
as regards targeting criminals involved in the drugs trade.

He went on: " Of course, Strathclyde is not the only area where drug misuse
is taking its toll on lives.

"More than 90 drugs deaths have occurred in Scotland this year outside the
Strathclyde police force area, which shows the extent of the challenge
which faces communities throughout Scotland."