ROW OVER PRISON DRUG ADVICE PACK

A political row has broken out over packs being given to prisoners advising
them how to handle illegal drugs on their release from jail.

The Scottish Prison Service has 25,000 plastic wallets containing
information designed to prevent ex-prisoners with drug problems from
killing themselves soon after release, when their tolerance levels may be
lower than normal.

But former solicitor general Paul Cullen, the Scottish Conservative's home
affairs spokesman, said: "I am quite astonished the way the advice is
given. It could easily be argued that prisoners are being encouraged to
take drugs as soon as they have left jail. This is a misguided venture and
it should be looked at again."

The wallets, produced by the Scottish Drugs Forum and Greater Glasgow
Health Board with government funding, feature a cartoon character called
Spike, who was created by prisoners in Barlinnie and Greenock. His advice
includes the warning to use small amounts. "If you use drugs and have just
got out of jail, your body will not be able to cope with the same levels of
drugs as it did before. So, you run a high risk of overdose."

Another warning is: "You're more likely to overdose if you take more than
one drug at the same time."

A senior police officer, who was last week involved in discussions with the
new drugs tsar Keith Hellawell, said: "I'm astonished by this advice
wallet. I've never heard of it, which is typical of the lack of
communication. What are we supposed to do when we arrest someone for
possessing heroin or cocaine and they produce the wallet and say they were
only acting on advice? It is almost condoning drug usage."

Scottish Home Affairs minister Henry McLeish responded to the criticism by
stressing the need for inter-agency support to reduce drug taking.

The Scottish Prison Service said they were acting with recognised drug
agencies and that the wallet also contained a warning that misusing drugs
was illegal and dangerous.

A spokeswoman said: "There has been concern for some time about prisoners
with drug related problems overdosing on release. We appreciate it is a
radical step. The wallets will only be given out to prisoners who it is
believed may take drugs again."

Dr Laurence Gruer, of Greater Glasgow Health Board, said that of 66 deaths
by drugs overdose in 1996, 17 victims had been recently released from jail.
"There is a recognised problem here which we are trying to address."

Checked-by: Mike Gogulski