Pubdate: Wed, 20 Dec 2006
Source: Evening Times (UK)
Copyright: 2006 Newsquest (Herald & Times) Limited
Contact:  http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3252

SCOTS SHOCK AS COCAINE USE SOARS

COCAINE use in Scotland has soared in recent years - and the use of 
crack cocaine has also risen sharply, figures show.

The figures also show the largest number of people receiving 
methadone, the heroin substitute, are in the Greater Glasgow area.

Five years ago fewer than 600 people, or 5% of all those reporting 
illicit drug use, were taking cocaine.

continued...This year the number increased to 1250, who accounted for 
11% of all those reporting illicit drug use.

Last year it was 982, or 8% of those reporting illicit drug use.

Meanwhile, the numbers using crack cocaine have increased from 190 in 
2001 to 484 this year.

The annual figures chart the numbers of drug users showing up for the 
first time at treatment services.

They also show there were more than 457,000 methadone prescriptions 
last year, at a total cost of UKP12.2million.

Methadone prescribing rates have gone up 45% over the past five 
years, with around one third of the prescriptions - 152,000 - in the 
NHS Greater Glasgow area.

The figures suggest the proportion of heroin users among new drug 
users was 68% last year, down from 77% in 2001.

Just under 30% of users said they had injected drugs in the month 
before turning up for treatment, against 38% in 2001. The numbers 
sharing needles was at its lowest for five years.

Overall, the number of drug users showing up for treatment for the 
first time was 13,971 this year, up 18% in five years although there 
was a dip last year.

There were 336 drug-related deaths in 2005, mostly among people under 
40, but with 14% of the victims under 25.

Justice Minister Cathy Jamieson said the Scottish Executive was 
having "some success" in key areas of its drugs strategy.
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MAP posted-by: Elaine