DRUGS CZAR CALLS FOR TESTING OF EMERGENCY STAFF

DRUGS czar Keith Hellawell has called on Scotland's emergency services to
lead the way in the anti-abuse war by introducing screening programmes in
the workplace.

The former police chief, speaking ahead of an address to Fire '98, the
national firefighters' conference in Glasgow on Monday, emphasised he did
not believe there was a problem within the ranks of the emergency services,
but said there was a clear need for such initiatives to eradicate the drug
menace across Scotland.

Mr Hellawell, who was appointed Britain's anti-drugs manager last year,
said the move would be in line with a blueprint to have such regulations
eventually implemented through health and safety rules.

Grampian Police are among those who have already introduced a drugs testing
programme.

Speaking exclusively to The Herald, Mr Hellawell said: "I believe that. as
we move forward all organisations, particularly those who have difficult
jobs that risk not only their own lives, but the lives of their colleagues
who rely on them in difficult dramatic situations - such as the fire
service - need to know that their colleagues are on full operating capacity
and that drugs are not interfering or affecting their behaviour.

"I am not suggesting many way that this is the case, but I'd like to see
such organisations start to introduce voluntary drugs testing schemes for
staff."

Mr Hellawell emphasised the importance of introducing the testing as part
of an occupational health programme, but stressed the need to involve the
workforce in developing such schemes.

>From the experience of forces in New South Wales, Australia, which
implemented drugs testing, the drugs ambassador said: "There is a
recognition that drugs testing and drugs and health programmes are
necessary for the safeguard of individuals as well as the people they
operate with.

"People with problems should have the opportunity to work through these
problems with medical staff and counsellors. Only then and after then do
you start introducing mandatory drugs schemes which allows them to have a.
part in developing and accepting the programme.

"These sort of schemes, where they have been introduced are very
successful. That's the way I would like to see Scottish industry go."

He added: "I am looking for the whole industry over the next 20 years to
have policies in relation to drugs that are part of their health and safety
policy within the organisation. I do think those that are at the forefront
of life-and-death situations ought to be introducing these policies sooner
rather than later."

He also restated the need for treatment programmes for addicts behind bars.
and for training for GPs to ensure they can tackle drugs problems in their
area.

Mr Hellawell said he wanted to canvass opinion in Scotland on arrest
referrals for addicts and the possible establisitient of an US-style drugs
court, where offenders could he sentenced to a treatment and testing order,
but brought back to court for sentence if they failed to comply with the
order.

He emphasised the importance of investment in a network of drugs treatment
programmes and claimed low-security prisons could be a potential location
for community-based schemes, offering access to addicts in and out of jail.

Mr Hellawell felt there was now a recognition that the answer to tackling
drugs did not lie in the courtroom.

He is opposed to the legalisation of cannabis, but he did not rule out the
use of a derivative of the drug for the treatment of certain medical
conditions under closely controlled conditions.

Checked-by: Pat Dolan