SNIFFER dogs are to be sent into schools across Scotland to tackle spiralling drug abuse among pupils. Dealers and users have already been caught in a series of unannounced raids at schools in Dumfries and Galloway, the Borders and Highlands. Now, the police dogs will be used to carry out random checks at schools across Scotland amid mounting evidence that cannabis is replacing tobacco as the drug of choice behind the bike sheds. According to a recent survey, a third of 15-year-olds have used cannabis and almost one in eight has tried drugs such as cocaine, speed and ecstasy. Among 13-year-olds, more than one in 10 claims to have used drugs. Last year there were about 250 drug-related incidents involving pupils at primary and secondary schools. [continues 472 words]
A NEW report has undermined the credibility of the government's UKP7m methadone programme, claiming drug addicts are less likely to commit crime and more likely to find work if they are forced to go through "cold turkey" withdrawal. Research by Professor Neil McKeganey, one of Scotland's foremost experts on addiction, revealed that half of addicts who take methadone are likely to offend, compared with less than a third of those on abstinence programmes. It also found that those who went cold turkey were twice as likely to try to get a job. [continues 425 words]
A GLOBAL war on drugs, with minimum set penalties for drug traffickers across the European Union, was called for by Tony Blair last night. The Prime Minister said that, as a parent, he was "terrified" about the threat posed by the deadly substances and has moved to ensure that the issue is raised at an EU summit in Portugal. "Dealers must know that they will face severe penalties wherever they are caught," he said, in his first address to the Scottish Parliament. "I want the war against drugs to be a much higher priority for the European Union." [continues 479 words]
The 23-year-old son of the Cabinet Office Minister Ian McCartney was found dead by his mother yesterday after he took a heroin overdose. The body of Hugh McCartney was discovered at 10am yesterday in his two-room flat in a tenement block in a rundown area of the East End of Glasgow known as "shooting alley", where heroin is part of daily life. His mother Jean Murray, who was divorced from Mr McCartney, had made regular trips to the flat to plead with her son to give up drugs. [continues 234 words]
Exclusive: Survey Shows That Business Of Pubs Would Be Boosted By A Ban A SCOTTISH health board is set to urge the licensed trade to ban smoking in certain areas in pubs, clubs and bars, after a new survey found it would generate extra business as well as protect employees and customers from killer diseases. A System Three study for Greater Glasgow Health Board reports that the vast majority of Glasgow drinkers are concerned about passive smoking and a quarter would go to pubs and bars more often if there was a choice of smoking and non-smoking areas. [continues 673 words]
