Pubdate: Sun, 27 Oct 2002 Source: Guardian, The (UK) Copyright: 2002 Guardian Newspapers Limited Contact: http://www.guardian.co.uk/guardian/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/175 Author: Stephen Khan SCOTLAND HAS ONE THIRD OF ALL UK ECSTASY DEATHS Demand for urgent action as government strategy on drugs is called into question Scotland was branded an ecstasy disaster zone as it was revealed that almost a third of the people who died after using the drug in the UK last year lived north of the border. Official statistics show that there were 20 ecstasy-related deaths in 2001, while in England and Wales 40 people died. Politicians and drug workers were shocked to learn that Scotland, with just 10 per cent of the UK's population, had lost so many young people to the drug. They also expressed concern over the rate at which ecstasy deaths have increased over a three-year period. Since 1998 the number of Scottish deaths has risen steadily from just three, representing a sevenfold increase, while in England and Wales the figure has quadrupled. The statistics were provided by the General Register Office for Scotland and the Centre for Addiction Studies at St George's Hospital, London. Alistair Ramsay, director of the Scotland Against Drugs campaign, claimed that a focus of attention on the reclassification of cannabis had deflected attention away from the dangers of ecstasy. 'The message about this very dangerous and unpredictable drug has become lost in legislation changes on cannabis,' he said. 'In certain circumstances ecstasy can cause death, however much young people think "it will never happen to me". But clearly it did happen for 20 young Scots.' Drug workers have reported that there appear to be fewer people using heroin and some fear former addicts may be turning to alternatives. They have also suggested that a batch of ecstasy containing an ingredient that has a devastating effect on certain individuals could be circulating in higher numbers in Scotland. The Scottish National Party claimed the figures posed serious questions about the Scottish Executive's drugs strategy, entitled 'Know the Score', which critics say does not do enough to persuade young people not to start taking drugs in the first place. Its implementation was widely regarded as bringing an end to the 'Just Say No' approach of the Eighties. The SNP Shadow Deputy Justice Minister Michael Matheson said: 'Every drugs death is a tragedy, but for Scotland to account for a third of all ecstasy deaths is a disaster. What is even more worrying is that things are getting worse. 'We have heard serious criticism levelled at the Executive's Know the Score campaign and these figures make it clear that we have to act quickly and effectively to turn this situation around. We cannot afford to get it wrong. 'We need policies that reinforce the message that you can resist the pressure to start taking drugs in the first place, while delivering real harm-reduction education to those already taking drugs.' The Scottish Executive defended its approach. 'Ministers are committed to tackling the number of drug-related deaths in Scotland and have invested UKP 128 million to improve treatment, rehabilitation and education,' said a spokesperson. 'More than half the drug-related deaths were caused by cocaine and ecstasy, and while the problem is relatively small it does represent a worrying increase, which is why the Executive is constantly looking at how to improve these services. This also reinforces the Government's recent decision not to reclassify ecstasy from a Class A to Class B drug as ecstasy can, and does, kill unpredictably. 'The Know the Score strategy aims to provide consistent, quality information for users and treatment providers to make sure that those who seek help will receive the right information. This was a recommendation of a recent working group report on psycho-stimulants which the Executive is addressing as a matter of urgency.' - --- MAP posted-by: Josh