TORIES URGE CHANGE IN DRUGS PLAN

THE Conservatives called on the Scottish Executive to change its drugs
strategy today as new figures revealed a dramatic rise in the use of
the heroin substitute methadone.

A written parliamentary answer by Health Minister Malcolm Chisholm
revealed the number of methadone prescriptions had gone up from 98,131
in 1994 to 360,326 in 2003.

At the same time, the cost of prescribing the drug has spiralled from
nearly UKP600,000 to more than UKP4 million.

Tory deputy leader Annabel Goldie MSP said she was "shocked and
alarmed" by the figures.

And she said the Executive must investigate how addictive methadone is
and look again at whether it is the best way of helping heroin users
kick their habit.

She said: "We now need answers to some crucial questions to assess
whether methadone is part of the solution to Scotland's drug problems
or whether it is part of a growing problem.

"Firstly, how many methadone addicts are there? Secondly, does this
treatment work? And finally, are addicts being given access to
effective and immediate rehabilitation treatment?"

Ms Goldie added: "Drugs are the scourge of Scotland, the ruination of
lives and communities and the reason for alarming levels of crime."