DRUG-RELATED DEATHS AT A RECORD LEVEL

THE number of people killed by drugs in Scotland has risen to an
all-time high, according to new statistics.

Scottish Executive figures show that drug-related deaths rose by 14
per cent to 332 last year, compared with 292 in 2000. Since 1996,
there has been a 36 per cent increase in drug deaths.

Heroin is still by far the biggest killer, with the drug being present
in 216 deaths - some 65 per cent. However, while still relatively
small in number, deaths involving cocaine and ecstasy have both increased.

Of those who died in 2001, 20 had used cocaine, while 19 had taken
ecstasy. The previous year, cocaine was only present in four deaths,
with ecstasy present in eleven. Police believe the rise is partly due
to a growing trend of injecting a mixture of heroin and cocaine. The
heroin substitute methadone was present in 69 deaths, prompting calls
for the drug to be more closely managed.

Last night, the Executive pledged to improve treatment and make
information about drug misuse more widely available. However,
opposition politicians accused ministers of going "soft on drugs" and
claimed their policies had failed.

The Association of Chief Police Officers Scotland (ACPOS) said the
report showed there was still "much work to be done".

Dr Richard Simpson, the deputy justice minister, said he was "deeply
concerned" by the figures. "These statistics continue to highlight the
dreadful toll drugs take on our communities," he said. "Too many
people are still risking their lives by taking drugs and we have to
get the message across that all drugs are harmful.

"The figures show, in particular, that people who take cocktails of
drugs, often involving alcohol too, are playing a dangerous game with
their lives."

Dr Simpson said the evidence that ecstasy was increasingly present in
drug deaths supported the government's recent decision not to
re-classify the drug. He added: "We must make sure that our
significant investment is being effectively spent."

However, Michael Matheson, the SNP's deputy justice spokesman, said
the figures proved Labour's policies were not working. He said:
"Despite Labour putting more money into their drugs education budget,
the number of people dying from drugs is on the increase.

"Labour pledged to reduce the proportion of under-25s being offered
and using drugs, and to reduce the incidence of drug misuse in
general, but total deaths have risen."

He said it was also "extremely worrying" that there had been a 73 per
cent increase in drug-related deaths involving ecstasy and a five-fold
increase in deaths involving cocaine, adding: "This is simply not good
enough. We need to have an urgent rethink of government policies to
ensure this trend is reversed."

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton, the Tory justice spokesman, accused the
Executive of "throwing in the towel". He said: "For years we have
warned Labour and the Lib Dems that their short-sighted and
irresponsible position sends out entirely the wrong message to our
young people and other potential drug abusers.

"These figures provide yet more evidence that our warnings were
justified."

An ACPOS spokesman said: "We are naturally concerned by the findings
and we remain committed to protecting life and reducing the harm that
drug misuse causes families and communities.

"As well as robust enforcement action, the police will continue to
make a full contribution to drug education, prevention and treatment."

The figures, compiled by the Registrar General for Scotland, showed
that heroin and morphine were the biggest killers, with diazepam and
methadone accounting for a large number of the remaining deaths.

The worst-affected area was Glasgow, with 96 deaths, while 54 people
died in Lothian and 46 in Grampian.

The largest increase in drug deaths was in Lothian, up from 37 in
2001. Deaths in Grampian were up from 31 in 2000 while Ayrshire and
Arran rose from 20 deaths to 35. However, there was some good news
with deaths in Glasgow falling slightly.

The Executive has invested UKP130 million over three years to tackle the
drugs problem, including prevention, education, treatment and care.