Scottish Government
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Drugs misuse
Reducing the number of problem drug misusers and disrupting the illicit drugs market can bring huge social and economic benefits to Scotland, Minister for Community Safety Fergus Ewing said today.
The Minister was commenting on the publication of two related research reports - Estimating the National and Local Prevalence of Problem Drug Misuse in Scotland, and Assessing the Scale and Impact of Illicit Drug Markets in Scotland.
Both reports were commissioned by the Scottish Government and ISD Scotland and are based on data from 2006 - and Mr Ewing said the figures highlight the pressing need for the Scottish Government's new drugs strategy.
Mr Ewing said:
"Today's reports give us the fullest picture ever obtained 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.
"These figures relate to 2006 and amply show why we needed to bring forward a new strategy to tackle drug addiction and help assist people into recovery.
"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.
"While progress is being made, it is unacceptable that some people are still having to wait months to get the help they seek. That is why we are working closely with our partners to develop a waiting times target for services, to improve access to appropriate treatment to promote recovery from addiction. We have also increased our funding to NHS Boards for drug treatment services to support work to tackle waiting times.
"But investment in successful drug treatment represents savings in other areas. Less crime is committed, more people can hold down jobs and contribute to their communities rather than be a drain on them.
"And the research shows that there are direct savings to our health services associated with getting individuals in to treatment. The hundreds of millions spent each year in dealing with the consequences of illicit drugs is money that could build more schools or hospitals, employ more teachers, more nurses, more doctors.
"Dealing with Scotland's drugs problem is not straightforward. It involves a combination of education, prevention, treatment and enforcement - and a shared determination. But we are committed to turning round lives and helping deliver a safer, stronger Scotland."
The National and Local Prevalence of Problem Drug Misuse in Scotland has estimated that 55,328 individuals, aged 15-64, were misusing opiates and benzodiazepines in Scotland in 2006.
Assessing the Scale and Impact of Illicit Drug Markets in Scotland has estimated that around £1.4 billion was spent on illicit drugs in Scotland in 2006, and that the associated economic and social costs amounted to a total of nearly £3.5 billion.
Scotland's National Drugs Strategy, Road to Recovery is supported by record investment - the Scottish Government announced in January 2009 NHS Board allocations for drug treatment services would increase by 13.5 per cent to £28 million over the next year, 18 per cent more than in 2006-07.
The Scottish Government has a target of reducing the estimated number of problem drug users in Scotland by 2011 - today's figure represents the baseline.
