Source: Scotsman (UK)
Contact:  http://www.scotsman.com/
Pubdate: Sat, 21 Mar 1998
Author: Jenny Booth - Home Affairs Correspondent

REVAMPED DRUGS GROUP ATTACKED

Past controversies revived as campaign comes under fire for excluding
experts from steering committee

THE new look Scotland Against Drugs campaign was attacked last night for
failing to include anyone with detailed knowledge of drugs work in its new
steering committee.

Major drugs organisations expressed "surprise" that they have not been
included in the new, slimmed down group.

Marilyne MacLaren, the convener of the Scottish Liberal Democrats, said
that SAD, whose Scottish Office funding was slashed after its director
clashed with frontline drugs agencies last summer on how to present the
anti-drugs message, was in danger of reviving past controversies.

Critics claimed that SAD was being deprived of up-to-date knowledge of the
drugs field vital to its new job of drumming up private sector funding for
drugs work.

The row threatens to reopen the damaging splits between SAD and frontline
anti-drugs agencies.

David Liddell, the director of the Scottish Drugs Forum, said the lack of
drugs agencies on the new committee was a setback after SDF had made
efforts to re-establish good relations with SAD. He added: "We were
surprised that we weren't included, as we are the umbrella body for drugs
agencies.

"We believe it is crucial for SAD to have direct links with those working
in the field. We are keen to avoid a repetition of the damaging public rows
about the direction of drug policy in Scotland."

Ms MacLaren said: "SAD is in danger of perpetuating the same problems that
bust the campaign last summer. It has been reformed on a smaller scale and
with a smaller budget but is in danger of making the same mistakes."

When SAD was founded by the former Tory Scottish secretary, Michael
Forsyth, its committee of 40 included representatives from Scotland's
community drug problem services, and from SDF.

Drugs agencies ranging from Calton Athletic, which advocates total
abstinence, to Crew 2000, which offer a harm reduction service to
recreational drug users, were also represented.

Last summer, Mr Macauley polarised the drugs debate and alienated half of
the committee by condemning harm reduction groups for "peddling death".

Drugs agencies retaliated by accusing SAD of wasting millions of pounds on
glossy media awareness campaigns, at a time when grassroots projects
helping drugs users were being starved of cash.

Following the row, Labour announced it was reforming SAD's steering
committee and cutting its budget and ordered SAD to concentrate on raising
private sector funding. Mr Macauley was to remain in post.

But drugs agencies said the only member of the new steering committee,
announced by the Scottish Secretary Donald Dewar three days ago, who is
connected with drugs work is the Runrig musician Peter Wishart, a director
of the drugs agency Fast Forward.

They conceded that SAD's deputy chairman, Sandy Cameron, is a member of the
Drug Action Team Association, but added that by profession he is a director
of social work, not a drugs specialist.

Liz Skelton, of Crew 2000, said: "For SAD to raise money is probably the
best way forward for them, but it still requires there should be an
official representative from the drugs field. Fast Forward isn't really
representative. Scottish Drugs Forum is the umbrella body and could have
fed in what is happening on a whole range of levels.

"All we are seeing at new SAD is a scaled-down version of the old SAD. That
is very concerning, as it is very clear that - bearing in mind what
happened last year - any strategy for SAD should include practitioners on
the ground.

"To raise funds they should know what is going on on the ground and have
some method of consultation, and that doesn't seem to be happening."

Ms MacLaren condemned SAD for hijacking the direction of anti-drugs work in
Scotland, saying: "The really sad thing, if you will forgive the pun, is
that SAD is such a waste of money.

"There are individual groups in the communities struggling to keep going
because they are not properly financed. They are doing good work with
addicts and young people but they can't find a few thousand pounds to keep
going.

"Yet we have had slick advertising posters and television ads, whose worth
one seriously questions, and hundreds of thousands of pounds have been
spent on that."

Mr Macauley said last night: "I didn't appoint the committee. I would
direct you to the Scottish Office, who appointed them. I have no comment to
make."

The row erupted as SAD launched its new initiative to raise cash from the
private sector for drugs education.

The Scottish Office has pledged 1 million a year to SAD for three years,
starting in April. The lobby group's task is to persuade private business
to double the money, to train teachers to persuade children not to start
taking drugs. Surveys conducted by SAD in Scotland show that more than 55
per cent of schoolchildren have tried an illegal drug by the time they are
16.

Several companies including Kwik-Fit, Marks & Spencer and ScottishPower
have already agreed to help and the Scottish education minister, Brian
Wilson, met representatives of other companies at a business breakfast in
Glasgow yesterday.

He told them: "Business flourishes in thriving communities and relies on a
steady workforce free of drugs.

"It reaps the benefit in a drug-free community and this is an opportunity
for companies to invest in the future of children. The evidence shows that
those children are increasingly in danger."