SCOTLAND HAS ONE THIRD OF ALL UK ECSTASY DEATHS

Demand for urgent action as government strategy on drugs is called into
question Scotland was branded an ecstasy disaster zone as it was revealed
that almost a third of the people who died after using the drug in the UK
last year lived north of the border.

Official statistics show that there were 20 ecstasy-related deaths in 2001,
while in England and Wales 40 people died. Politicians and drug workers were
shocked to learn that Scotland, with just 10 per cent of the UK's
population, had lost so many young people to the drug.

They also expressed concern over the rate at which ecstasy deaths have
increased over a three-year period. Since 1998 the number of Scottish deaths
has risen steadily from just three, representing a sevenfold increase, while
in England and Wales the figure has quadrupled. The statistics were provided
by the General Register Office for Scotland and the Centre for Addiction
Studies at St George's Hospital, London.

Alistair Ramsay, director of the Scotland Against Drugs campaign, claimed
that a focus of attention on the reclassification of cannabis had deflected
attention away from the dangers of ecstasy.

'The message about this very dangerous and unpredictable drug has become
lost in legislation changes on cannabis,' he said. 'In certain circumstances
ecstasy can cause death, however much young people think "it will never
happen to me". But clearly it did happen for 20 young Scots.'

Drug workers have reported that there appear to be fewer people using heroin
and some fear former addicts may be turning to alternatives. They have also
suggested that a batch of ecstasy containing an ingredient that has a
devastating effect on certain individuals could be circulating in higher
numbers in Scotland.

The Scottish National Party claimed the figures posed serious questions
about the Scottish Executive's drugs strategy, entitled 'Know the Score',
which critics say does not do enough to persuade young people not to start
taking drugs in the first place. Its implementation was widely regarded as
bringing an end to the 'Just Say No' approach of the Eighties.

The SNP Shadow Deputy Justice Minister Michael Matheson said: 'Every drugs
death is a tragedy, but for Scotland to account for a third of all ecstasy
deaths is a disaster. What is even more worrying is that things are getting
worse.

'We have heard serious criticism levelled at the Executive's Know the Score
campaign and these figures make it clear that we have to act quickly and
effectively to turn this situation around. We cannot afford to get it wrong.

'We need policies that reinforce the message that you can resist the
pressure to start taking drugs in the first place, while delivering real
harm-reduction education to those already taking drugs.'

The Scottish Executive defended its approach. 'Ministers are committed to
tackling the number of drug-related deaths in Scotland and have invested UKP
128 million to improve treatment, rehabilitation and education,' said a
spokesperson.

'More than half the drug-related deaths were caused by cocaine and ecstasy,
and while the problem is relatively small it does represent a worrying
increase, which is why the Executive is constantly looking at how to improve
these services. This also reinforces the Government's recent decision not to
reclassify ecstasy from a Class A to Class B drug as ecstasy can, and does,
kill unpredictably.

'The Know the Score strategy aims to provide consistent, quality information
for users and treatment providers to make sure that those who seek help will
receive the right information. This was a recommendation of a recent working
group report on psycho-stimulants which the Executive is addressing as a
matter of urgency.'