Pubdate: Mon, 21 Aug 2000
Source: Independent, The (UK)
Copyright: 2000 Independent Newspapers (UK) Ltd.
Contact:  1 Canada Square, Canary Wharf, London E14 5DL
Website: http://www.independent.co.uk/
Author:  Gerard Seenan

DRUG DEATHS UP 25%

Special Report: Drugs In Britain

The number of drug deaths in Scotland rose by almost a quarter last 
year despite high profile attempts to tackle the problem.  

The latest figures, published by the Scottish executive today, reveal 
that 340 people died from drugs in 1999, compared with 276 in 1998.  

Most worrying for the executive is the number of young victims: more 
than a quarter were under 25.  

Angus MacKay, the deputy justice minister, said that with around 20,000 
intravenous drug users in Scotland, there could be no hope of an 
immediate reversal of the trend of recent years.  

"Our drugs action plan launched in May anticipated that deaths for 1999 
would surpass the 300 mark," he said.  

Drug workers put some of the rise down to the volume, purity and 
relatively low cost of the heroin available.  

Mr MacKay said another, less dramatic, rise in deaths was expected this 
year. Thirty people have already died this year after using a rogue 
batch of heroin.  

While the number of victims aged under 25 is high, the vast majority 
are aged 25-44. Alistair Ramsay, of Scotland Against Drugs, said this 
was partly due to a phenomenon known as "bottoming out" - where long-
term heroin users hit rock bottom and either come off the drug or die. 
"That is a problem inherited from a period of 10 to 15 years ago when 
drug education was not very effective," he said.  

Most of Scotland's drug users are concentrated in the Strathclyde 
police force region - particularly in Glasgow's housing estates.  

Grampian had the second highest number of deaths, overtaking Lothian - 
which includes Edinburgh - with 42 in 1999, up from 31 the year before. 
Outside the urban centre of Aberdeen much of Grampian's problem is 
concentrated in Fraserburgh, which has a serious problem with young 
men, particularly fishermen, becoming heroin addicts.  

A spokesman for the Scottish National party said: "The fact that 27% of 
victims were under 25 shows quite clearly that the Scottish executive 
has failed this age group."  

Deaths among users of methadone - the controversial prescription drug 
given to addicts trying to quit heroin - fell slightly last year, with 
62 people dying, compared with 64 the year before.  
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