BID TO PULL SCOTLAND OUT OF CRACK AND COCAINE SPIRAL

HUGE increases in crack and cocaine use will prompt Scottish ministers to
mount their first major offensive against the highly addictive drugs.

A report to be published by the Scottish Executive this week is expected to
outline the massive surge in drug-taking and seizures.

The paper, the first commissioned by the Executive to examine crack and
cocaine use, will recommend a number of measures to prevent addiction
spiralling out of control, as it has done south of the Border.

The report on the group of drugs known as psychostimulants, which also
includes amphetamines, was drawn up by a working group of the Scottish
Advisory Committee on Drug Misuse, which advises the executive on drugs policy.

It is expected to highlight the fact that the number of new referrals to
drug treatment services where users have taken crack or cocaine has soared
almost 300% from 75 in 1996 to 273 last year.

Police seizures have gone up even more, with officers recording a 100-fold
increase. In 1997, police seized 0.25kg of cocaine and last year that rose
to 25kg because of increased availability on the streets.

Ministers are expected to adopt many of the suggestions contained in the
report, including the need for a poster and leaflet campaign in pubs, clubs
and even libraries, sports centres, gyms and youth clubs.

They will also attempt to improve services for addicts as most are
currently aimed at heroin users.

The changes are thought to involve controversial harm-reduction methods
rather than a 'just say no' approach.

The new report is likely to conclude that cocaine use has not reached
epidemic level because the overall numbers are small compared with abuse of
heroin and other drugs. However, concern is expressed at the significant rises.

It will underline the serious physical and psychiatric problems associated
with using pyschostimulants.

Alex Meikle, Scottish Drugs Forum researcher, said users in Scotland were
traditionally divided into clear categories - heroin addicts, recreational
drug users and those who took soft drugs, such as cannabis. However, the
distinctions were starting to blur, with people increasingly taking a
cocktail of different drugs.

He added: "We used to say that Scotland was the most conservative country
when it came to drug use. There were three clear categories and never the
three shall meet, but the margins are breaking down between these categories.

"There were only a handful of people taking crack and cocaine but there has
been a significant increase over the last several years."