STRATEGY ON ADDICTS IS ATTACKED BY EX-DETECTIVE

A former police drug squad officer yesterday hit out at Government drug
policy at an Inverness meeting packed with councillors and attended by
Deputy Justice Minister Richard Simpson.

Badenoch East councillor Bob Severn, who served with Northern Constabulary
for 30 years, told Dr Simpson that current drugs education and methadone
programmes were failing to prevent drug-related crime in the Highlands.

He said: "What is really needed is a full and frank debate about how we are
going to address these problems. When is the Scottish Executive going to
tackle the problem and have an open discussion about drugs?"

Mr Severn then suggested that prescribing drugs to users was an option that
could remove the need for addicts to commit crime to fund their habit.

"The police can't solve the drug problem on their own," he said.

Dr Simpson was in Inverness to launch the Highland Youth Action Service
(HYAS) and other drug and alcohol misuse initiatives. He said: "It is only
by tackling these issues together that we can make a real impact on the
problem."

Dr Simpson stressed that the Executive was responsible for funding
community drug action teams, but it was local people on the ground who
would tackle drug problems.

He said: "The Highland Youth Action Service demonstrates what can be
achieved through agencies joining in partnership to tackle the needs of the
families and communities affected by crime and drug misuse. I am certain
that it will make a real impact."

However, he failed to specifically address Mr Severn's suggestion regarding
drug prescription and instead pointed out that legalising drugs was not
desirable.

A Scottish Executive spokesman, however, later said: "Evidence is strong
that the prescribing of methadone is effective. It should not be prescribed
in isolation, however, but as part of a programme of care which includes
other social support."

After the meeting Mr Severn said: "I totally support the initiatives put in
place by HYAS but we have to try to break the cycle that sees people having
to thieve and steal to pay for their drug habit?

"Until we do that we are never going to be able to address fully the issues
of drug rehabilitation and counselling."

Earlier in the day Dr Simpson met with drug action group Alness Mothers
Against Drugs (AMAD), who highlighted that addicts needed drug treatment
and drug detox facilities.

"The drug users who are coming to us are looking for local treatment," said
AMAD chairwoman Dorothy MacLennan. By giving the drug users what they are
asking for, it is going to help them and the community overall. What has
been tried before has failed."

She added: "Users are waiting too long for help. We need this treatment
now; it is no good down the line."

The Executive is giving UKP2million to the Highlands over three years to
tackle the drug problem and a further UKP400,000 to deal with youth crime.
HYAS aims to break the link between youth crime and substance abuse by
providing accessible prevention and support and treatment facilities for
young people.

The Highland Youth Action Service will work in partnership with NCH
Scotland - which has rebranded its youth services under the name Gael Og,
meaning Highland Youth.