Scotland- Drug Addiction Capital of Europe

Shocking new figures reveal the extent of Scotland’s drug problem, with Glasgow, West Dunbartonshire and Dundee as the main black spots for the highest prevalence of drug users. With drug use costing Scottish taxpayers £3.5 billion a year, it’s a huge burden on our criminal justice system, the NHS and society.

According to the new estimates, more than £180 million per year is spent by the NHS treating addicts and prescribing substances such as the heroin substitute methadone.

The annual cost of drug-related crime is about £610 million, and this includes frauds and forgeries, £120 million of thefts from homes totalling £120 million and shoplifting.

Care costs, such as employing social workers to look after addicts and their families, amount to £112 million and the estimated loss to the economy attributed to drug users not working is £819 million.

Meanwhile the economic cost of “the emotional and physical pain” endured by addicts, their relatives and friends is put at more than £1.7 billion.

On average, problem drug users are estimated to cost the public purse an average of more than £60,000 each per year.

With a Glasgow University report revealing over 2500 problem users in the city of Dundee alone, other local authorities in Tayside and Fife were also estimated to have a dramatic number of problem users living within their boundaries.  Conversely, neighbouring areas of Angus and Perth has a smaller percentage of users than the main offenders.

A new strategy for tackling Scotland’s drug problem is clearly needed, and it’s something Minister for Community Safety Fergus Ewing is keen to address.

Mr Ewing said: “Today’s reports give us the fullest picture ever about the extent of the damage that drug misuse brings to communities. It shows the scale of the problem, both in human terms and in financial terms.

“Our National Drugs Strategy — endorsed unanimously by the Scottish Parliament — sets out our commitment to get people off drugs.

“Key to this is making sure people can recover from their addictions by accessing the treatment and support they need, when they need it.”

The need to tackle the problem is imminent, and a downward turn in statistics will make for less crime, greater employment and thus a greater contribution to the economy. Government action includes increased funding in NHS drug treatment services, with the acting head of Dundee City Alcohol and Drug Partnership saying that organisations must link together much more closely to tackle drug misuses in the broadest possible manner.

The need to really engage those who misuse drugs to use the available services is huge, with the Dundee City Alcohol and Drug Partnership currently funding Addaction, which will “allow greater access to services and trying to reduce waiting lists so people can get access to treatment quickly, especially if there is an issue about child protection or if they are in a high priority group.”

CHILDREN 1^ST have also been asked to undertake additional work with parenting capacity. A spokesperson explained:

 “We have also employed a child protection nurse, who is based with Tayside Substance Misuse Service. Her role is to work with all front line staff to screen for and assess child protection issues and to deal with them and link in with local authority.”

In a many pronged attack, the organization is also working with the Scottish Ambulance Service on an overdose prevention training programmne to ensure quick responses to reported overdoses.

 CHILDREN 1^ST also have a downloadable pdf on the subject of Parental Substance Abuse and makes the following recommendations:

1. Investment in early years to prevent children becoming at risk due to substance misuse

2. Targeted family support services for substance misusing parents and parents to be, with a new emphasis on fathers

3. Greater use of peer education to help children and young people avoid becoming dependent on substances

4. Mainstreaming FGCs across Scotland, to enable every child faced with a life changing decision to have their wider family involved in decision making

5. Improvement of the public care system so that children at risk of harm from the effects of parental substance misuse are given a safe and secure childhood

CHILDREN 1ST is Scotland’s leading child welfare charity, and has received over £800,000 in support from the People’s Postcode Lottery.