URGENT ACTION NEEDED OVER “ESCALATING” USE OF METHADONE
Scotland is "over-dependent" on methadone, stated Conservative leader Annabel Goldie. She has written to first minister Alex Salmond claiming annual costs had risen 19% to £25.7million in recent figures.
Goldie welcomed the government's national drug strategy, which recognises recovery and abstinence. “But it is all too evident that we have become over-dependent on methadone as a treatment [rather than engagement] ,” Goldie wrote. “And when we still have addicts waiting for over two years to get other forms of rehabilitation, the scale of the problem becomes clear.
"It is urgent that we move from the aspiration of a new approach, as outlined in the new national drugs strategy, to real action."
Goldie asked the first minister if any guidelines had been issued to regional drug and alcohol action teams following the "welcome change of political direction".
Community safety minister Fergus Ewing added that "The drugs strategy recognises the need to help people move on from methadone through other treatments. The challenge is to make sure that the right support is available at the time it is needed, rather than promoting one particular type of treatment."
METHADONE COSTS
Ayrshire and Arran: £2,218,779
Borders: £112,715
Dumfries and Galloway: £609,197
Fife: £1,226,978
Forth Valley: £990,629
Grampian: £2,100,936
Greater Glasgow & Clyde: £11,588,654
Highland: £453,687
Lanarkshire: £1,428,528
Lothian: £3,663,332
Orkney: £2,211
Shetland: £22,985
Tayside: £1,293,937
Western Isles: £48
TOTAL: £25,712,616
Source: Parliamentary answer by health minister Shona Robison, 13.11.2008.
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