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National Drugs strategy launched in Scotland

The first national drugs strategy since devolution was launched in Scotland recently.

Community Safety Minister Fergus Ewing hailed it as "a new era" in Scotland's approach to tackling drugs.

He said promoting recovery from drug problems would now form the focus of efforts to tackle drug use.

Ministers believe the strategy will help cut the estimated annual £2.6 billion financial burden of problem drug use to the Scottish economy and society.

Key measures of the strategy include:
* A recognition that tackling problem drug use will only be done through effective policies on the economy, tackling poverty, and supporting families and children
* A fresh approach to drugs education, including the provision of factual information on drugs to every household with parents or grandparents in Scotland
* The tracking of investment in drug services and the outcomes they deliver
* A commitment to strengthen existing powers to seize assets from drug dealers
* A new approach to achieve better quality of drug treatment across all prisons

Speaking after his statement to Parliament Mr Ewing said:
"For two decades Scotland has been in the grip of drugs - reacting and responding to the impact they have had on our people, our public services, and our economic potential. Too many souls lost on a road to perdition. This strategy is about taking control of our lives again - as individuals and as a nation. A hard road. A long road. A road to recovery.

"Many people with problem drug use are motivated and determined to recover - we want them to have the best chance to do so. Person-centred care, whereby users can access the kind of treatment they need, will help deal with the addiction so that they can develop a healthy and meaningful life, earn a wage, and adhere to the law of the land.
"The current approach has highly-committed professional people behind it. While we will not second-guess clinicians, helping people with drug problems move on after getting into treatment will be a priority for the future.

"We will achieve this by reforming how drugs services are planned, commissioned and delivered. We are working with partners to to ensure that services deliver recovery outcomes within the context of new Single Outcome Agreements and NHS Accountability arrangements.

Article originally published on 26/05/2008 by DryOutNow.com, the alcohol specific website for Addiction Advisor

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