Pubdate: Fri, 22 Sep 2006
Source: Herald, The (UK)
Copyright: 2006 The Herald
Contact:  http://www.theherald.co.uk/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/189
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v06/n1273/a06.html
Author: Alex McKechan

LAST THING YOUNG PEOPLE NEED IS DRUG DEBATE

I READ with interest Professor McKeganey's article, Random testing of 
teenagers would inform drugs debate (September 20). More "debate on 
drugs" is the last thing Scotland's young people need. Whenever the 
spectre of drugs rears its head in Scotland there seems to be an 
abundance of experts ready to wax lyrical on rising addiction rates, 
the increased number of schoolchildren taking "drugs" or some other 
worrying trend relating to "drug" use.

As yet I have seen no rational discussion on the reasons why people 
choose to experiment with drugs in the first place. Perhaps they have 
nothing else to do with their time, since young people have become 
increasingly marginalised in today's society -- note the recent 
curfew proposal in Dennistoun.

Note the lack of impetus shown by government in providing funding for 
outdoor activity centres, subsidised (ie, free) entry to sports 
facilities and the like. Such schemes (for the most part) rely on 
lottery funding, charitable donations, etc, while our taxes go to 
housing the ne'er-do-wells on the Royal Mile.

Give the kids something to do rather than leaving them searching for 
something to kill the boredom, then reacting with shock, horror and 
drug testing in schools when they fill the gap with drugs. Other 
people seek escape from their otherwise intolerable living conditions 
and overwhelming sense of hopelessness -- it's no accident that the 
highest numbers of opiate addicts live in areas with the highest 
levels of unemployment and poverty.

If Neil McKeganey wants to stop young people taking drugs, may I 
suggest that he dispenses with "debate", "meaningful debate" or what 
may also be described as "general wasting of time and money"?

Why can't Scotland stop looking the other way at the mention of drugs 
and tackle the social problems and lack of investment in our young 
people that are the root cause?

Alex McKechan, Saltcoats
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake