RHETORIC WILL NOT WIN WAR ON DRUG ABUSE

Another day, another announcement, as UK drugs tsar Keith Hellawell spells
out how we are going to win the battle against the scourge of drug abuse.

But with a new study highlighting growing cocaine use by young people at
Edinburgh dance events, and admissions by celebrities and sports stars to
using drugs, there is a growing feeling that the welter of action plans are
missing their mark.

Both those who advocate harm reduction and those who support a tougher
stance seem unhappy with recent political leadership on the drugs issue.

One well-placed source with close knowledge of the drugs prevention scene
says: "There are lots of reports, and lots of rhetoric but there is no doubt
that Hellawell is being seen as a disappointment at the highest levels
politically.

"He was brought in as a face - a former top police officer who was going to
put a bit of gloss on policy so people could relate to it. But he has fallen
far short of expectations. He has no presence whatsoever north of the
Border." And one frontline Edinburgh drugs worker admits he and his
colleagues are suffering from "policy fatigue."

"It might be time to let the people on the ground get on with the job of
providing a service for the people who need it," he says.

He adds: "I don't doubt the sincerity of the individuals involved but even
at local levels the people who are the movers and shakers in drugs action
tend to be the chief officers and executives who are removed from the real
situation. They need to listen to the views of the professionals involved
and those of drug users and experimental and recreational users.

"It's only by taking on board these views that you get a handle on the
bigger picture."

Dr Jack Cunningham yesterday told the Commons that resources were being
switched from dealing with the consequences of drug abuse to treatment and
prevention.

He announced that GBP 3 million seized from drug traffickers would be
ploughed back into tackling the problem during 1999-2000, with more to come
in the following years.

Unveiling Mr Hellawell's annual report, he spelt out targets for cutting
drug abuse in the short, medium and long term.

Meanwhile, in Scotland a Labour election pledge to seize assets from drug
crime, a measure criticised by the Lib Dems, has been dropped from the
agreement which formed the basis of the parties' power-sharing agreement.

Labour had pledged to change the law so money and other assets suspected to
be from drug dealing could be confiscated if an individual could not prove
they were legitimate.

But the coalition has instead promised to tackle drug-related crime and to
work to prevent drug addiction. It has also agreed to take tough action on
drug dealers, establish a Scottish drug enforcement agency and step up
action to stop drugs coming into Scotland.

David Macauley quit his GBP 40,000-a-year post as director of Scotland
Against Drugs last August, blaming a "lack of political will" on the part of
senior Government figures. He says he had had to fight a "confused message"
on the drugs problem.

He saw his organisation's budget slashed from GBP 2m to GBP 500,000 as
ministers decided to give it a new role as a purely fundraising body.

"This is a supply and demand equation," he said today. "In a situation where
you can't curtail the supply of drugs into the country, it seems reasonable
to try to reduce the demand.

"That means a concerted effort in the same way we have moved against drink
driving and the way we are moving against speeding.

"Yet we don't seem to be capable of doing that with drugs. We seem loath to
condemn drug users - we cast it in the light of 'it's entirely up to you'.
In that context it's unrealistic not to expect people to experiment."

On the other hand Mike Cadger, spokesman for the Edinburgh-based Crew 2000
agency, believes nothing can be achieved without accepting that for many
drug taking had become part of youth culture.

"We need to be much more honest about the current picture in terms of drug
use in the UK," he said. "A combination is needed of more research and more
up-front acknowledgement that young people are not only attracted to drug
use but are engaged in it."

But on a more positive note, he adds: "I do sense a greater pragmatism and
at the very least a tacit acknowledgement that particular drugs are more
harmful than others. As an agency we support that greater specificity - it's
important to differentiate between drugs."

Recent research carried out by the agency and Edinburgh University at dance
events in the city concluded that seven in every ten young clubbers took
illegal drugs as part of their regular night out in the city.

"In the last few years a 'normalisation' of illegal drug use has occurred
making the use of these substances as culturally acceptable as the use of
alcohol," says Mr Cadger. "The goalposts have shifted in relation to young
people's perceptions about drugs and therefore our responses need to change
as well. Prevention initiatives need to be targeted at ten to 14-
year-olds, and drug education programmes need to be consistent and thorough
and reflect real experience rather than an adult wish list.

"Wherever appropriate 'peer educators' should be used to deliver health
promotion and harm reduction advice in order to affect attitudes and enable
informed decision-making before the young people enter the dance/drug scene."

Mr Cadger said that for the active clubbing age group, information
initiatives needed to be developed with accurate drug information provided
at club venues.

"At a local and national level we believe it is time for us all to
acknowledge the full extent of drug use in Scotland," he says.

"We must engage in some 'joined-up thinking' to ensure our young people are
provided with the support and information they need to stay as safe as
possible."

It seems a common-sense approach but has no chance of success without
concrete support from Scotland's new political leaders.