TREATMENT FOR DRUGS PLAN TO BE EXTENDED

COURT Orders Which Have Helped Curb Drug-Related Crime Are To Be
Extended To Cover More Offenders.

The Scottish Executive said it wanted Drug Treatment and Testing
Orders used for less serious offences as well as the more serious
cases where they have so far been issued. DTTOs, which require
offenders to turn up and be tested and treated for their drug
addiction, are imposed as an alternative to jail sentences.

And ministers have been impressed with the success of the orders.
Nearly half of those issued with DTTOs had committed no further crimes
two years later.

Now the Executive says it will develop a new model of DTTOs for less
serious offenders in the hope of preventing addicts from being drawn
further into crime.

Community safety minister Fergus Ewing said: "Too many of our young
people fall into drug abuse and opt out of life. Extending the family
of DTTO options could help us catch more of them before they fall too
far."