UK Minsters are accusing the SNP Government of deliberately sabotaging a key policy that would force drug addicts to seek help or lose benefits. Work and Pensions Secretary James Purnell claims the Scottish Government is refusing to hand over details of the drug problem north of the border, effectively "blocking" the UK-wide policy. On Tuesday, Purnell will outline moves to stop benefits being paid to crack and heroin addicts unless they agree to try to break their habit. He says it is unacceptable for taxpayers' money to be effectively handed straight to drug dealers across Britain. [continues 262 words]
ROADSIDE tests for drug-driving are to be given the go-ahead in a bid to crack down on reckless motorists who go on the roads having taken illegal substances. Ministers will confirm later this month that new roadside kits capable of spotting traces of drugs will be used across the country. It follows shocking figures which found that almost 20% of drivers involved in fatal accidents had traces of drugs in their system. Police in Australia are already using the kits - known as 'drugalysers' - which test a motorist's saliva. Police here would be able to charge guilty motorists under drink-driving laws, if the test was brought in. [continues 462 words]
Wracked by his addiction to drugs, his career as Scotland's best known modern painter seemed to be on the verge of collapse. But now - cured and renewed - Peter Howson is throwing his weight behind a revolutionary trial of a new 'miracle' electric therapy cure for addicts which could bring about the biggest breakthrough in the war on drugs for a generation. Scotland on Sunday has learnt that Howson is funding a remarkable trial, to take place next month, which promises to get some of Scotland's most hardened addicts permanently clean - within a month - without the need for drug replacement. [continues 1020 words]
THE biggest shake-up of drugs policy for 20 years is to be pushed through by Labour in a bid to get Scotland's 50,000 addicts off heroin and other deadly substances. Drug users will be urged to ditch methadone and other softly-softly approaches in favour of "cold turkey" at addiction treatment centres, under the party's Holyrood election plans. Party chiefs are increasingly frustrated with "so-called experts" in the health service who continue to advocate that harm reduction - managing addicts' drug use - is the answer. [continues 778 words]
DRUG addicts will be told not to have children until they kick their habit under a controversial plan being considered for Labour's election manifesto. A paper obtained by Scotland on Sunday suggests addicts sign a 'social contract' requiring that - in return for benefits, methadone and housing - they agree "not to start a family" and to end their habit. If addicts agree to the contract but then breach it by having a family they face having their children taken into social work care, as well as the withdrawal of treatment and benefits. [continues 939 words]
DRUG addicts will be told not to have children until they kick their habit under a controversial plan being considered for Labour's election manifesto. A paper obtained by Scotland on Sunday suggests addicts sign a 'social contract' requiring that - in return for benefits, methadone and housing - they agree "not to start a family" and to end their habit. If addicts agree to the contract but then breach it by having a family they face having their children taken into social work care, as well as the withdrawal of treatment and benefits. [continues 938 words]
DAVID Davis ordered Conservative MPs not to answer questions about their drugs past 18 months ago - directly contradicting his call for leadership rival David Cameron to come clean on narcotics. Scotland on Sunday has been passed a dossier by insiders close to Cameron which they claim proves Davis has behaved "hypocritically" in the Tory leadership race. The contest has become engulfed by the question of Cameron's alleged drug-taking. The dossier was drawn up by Davis in January 2004 when the then Home Secretary David Blunkett said that politicians should answer the drugs question. [continues 573 words]
