Shock figures over injecting drug users

Oct 16 2009

THERE are more injecting junkies in Ayrshire and Arran than anywhere outside Glasgow.

The shocking news was revealed this week that an estimated 2372 addicts living in the area regularly inject themselves with illegal drugs.

And the revelation has shocked Ayr MSP John Scott who demanded only a revolution in treatment will help.

East Ayrshire bears the brunt of the problem with 998 injecting junkies. In South Ayrshire the figure drops to 618 and in North Ayrshire it rises again to 756.

Mr Scott explained: “Clearly these figures are very concerning and they underline the extent of the problem faced both here in Ayrshire and across Scotland as a whole.

“We need a greater emphasis on rehabilitation and getting addicts off drugs rather than an over reliance on maintenance treatments like methadone.”

The figures were revealed in a report by Glasgow University commissioned by the Scottish Government.

Mr Scott: “It is estimated that some £1.4 billion is spent on illicit drugs each year and the associated economic and social costs amount to nearly £3.5 billion – more than one-tenth of the entire Scottish budget.

“Home Office figures have also suggested that every £1 spent on treating addicts saves nearly £10 in other budgets.”

And he insists that a determined effort must be made to confront the issue head on.

He added: “But if expanding rehabilitation services and moving more to a policy of encouraging abstinence and recovery makes financial sense, much more important is the benefit it would bring to the lives of those people caught in the misery of drug addiction and the communities that suffer the crime and antisocial behaviour resulting from drug misuse.

“The new national drug strategy, which was unanimously agreed by the Scottish Parliament last year, is definitely a step in the right direction.

“But we need to see it driven forward by the government and by the other agencies involved, with a determination that matches the scale of the problem.”