ECSTASY DEATHS SOAR IN SCOTLAND

ONE-THIRD of ecstasy deaths in the UK occur in Scotland, and the rate of
fatalities caused by the drug is rising more rapidly north of the Border
than elsewhere in the UK.

New statistics reveal that although deaths from ecstasy quadrupled in
England and Wales between 1998 and 2001, Scotland saw a sevenfold increase
over the same period.

There were 20 ecstasy-related deaths in Scotland last year, compared with
40 in England and Wales. Drug agencies cannot explain why Scottish users
make up such a high proportion of fatalities.

Kath Travers, spokeswoman for the Scottish Drug Forum, said: 'W e need to
see if we can find out why this is happening.

'Work related to drug deaths in Scotland has been targeted at users who
inject. We may need to put the same kind of effort into ecstasy and
psychostimulants. Treatment services are generally not set up to deal with
that kind of drug use.'

Ecstasy-related deaths frequently involve physical factors or other drugs .
Andrew Horne, director of the drug and alcohol misuse charity Turning
Point, said: 'Ecstasy is still predominantly a 'dance drug'. It is not an
overdose drug. Most ecstasy deaths are more about stupidity than quantity.
People suffer an allergic reaction, or drink too much or too little water.'

A spokeswoman for the Scottish Executive said UKP 128 million would be
spent tackling drug deaths.