Pubdate: Sun, 27 Oct 2002
Source: Sunday Herald, The (UK)
Copyright: 2002 Sunday Herald
Contact:  http://www.sundayherald.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/873
Author: Stephen Naysmith

ECSTASY DEATHS SOAR IN SCOTLAND

ONE-THIRD of ecstasy deaths in the UK occur in Scotland, and the rate of 
fatalities caused by the drug is rising more rapidly north of the Border 
than elsewhere in the UK.

New statistics reveal that although deaths from ecstasy quadrupled in 
England and Wales between 1998 and 2001, Scotland saw a sevenfold increase 
over the same period.

There were 20 ecstasy-related deaths in Scotland last year, compared with 
40 in England and Wales. Drug agencies cannot explain why Scottish users 
make up such a high proportion of fatalities.

Kath Travers, spokeswoman for the Scottish Drug Forum, said: 'W e need to 
see if we can find out why this is happening.

'Work related to drug deaths in Scotland has been targeted at users who 
inject. We may need to put the same kind of effort into ecstasy and 
psychostimulants. Treatment services are generally not set up to deal with 
that kind of drug use.'

Ecstasy-related deaths frequently involve physical factors or other drugs . 
Andrew Horne, director of the drug and alcohol misuse charity Turning 
Point, said: 'Ecstasy is still predominantly a 'dance drug'. It is not an 
overdose drug. Most ecstasy deaths are more about stupidity than quantity. 
People suffer an allergic reaction, or drink too much or too little water.'

A spokeswoman for the Scottish Executive said UKP 128 million would be 
spent tackling drug deaths.
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