Just ask why
Big numbers. In Scotland, 421 deaths caused by drugs in 2006. Between 40,000 and 60,000 children's lives affected by parental addiction. An estimated social cost of £2.5bn.
By contrast, a small number. "Drug users come in units of one."
That particular phrase jumped out at me as I listened to Communities Minister Fergus Ewing explaining his revised strategy on drugs to MSPs.
The new emphasis is upon recovery, rather than containment. This switch was partly prompted by the Tories in negotiations over the Scottish Government's budget.
But Mr Ewing is by no means a reluctant convert. Drugs ruined lives, he said. They were anything but glamorous. The aim should be to encourage abstinence. To get folk off drugs.
There has been, I feel, a degree of misunderstanding about the role of methadone.
The emphasis on recovery does not preclude methadone. But the aim will be to get people off methadone too, not merely to stabilise them with its use.
Which brings us back to that key phrase: "Drug users come in units of one."
To be clear, the minister is in no way disparaging collective, social assistance. To the contrary. He simply means that different, focused help will be required for each individual. What works for one may not work for another.
Politicians have frequently struggled to cope with the issue of drugs. Either they sound glib or they sound apocalyptic. Neither matches the mood in our troubled communities which more resembles taut despair.
To be fair, Mr Ewing and the others who spoke today know that. There was a consensual approach. They know that words which sound sensible in the Holyrood chamber can sound like platitudinous drivel around our towns and cities.
Drugs, crime, prostitution, family breakdown, younger and younger users. The sheer scale can drown out mere words, evoking a sense of hopelessness.
Just say no? Just ask why. Why an individual, not an amorphous "user" but an individual, turns to drugs. What might assist that individual to rebuild a life?
Is the core problem education? Or employability? Or family stress? Or social circumstances? Ask why - and try to help.
I'm 
© MMIX~RS~q~RS~~RS~z~RS~36~RS~)
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Drug and Alcohol abuse in Scotland is directly linked to poverty, dis-functional families and the lack of "responsible" parental role models. Unfortunately some young people from these backgrounds have very little chance of not being drawn towards crime and drug abuse.
The Scottish Goverments new incentive sounds great in principle and I'm not surprised it has cross party concensus, however for real progress to be made communities across the country will have to be involved.
As all our children could be a risk our "nothing to do with me" attitude will have to stop.
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I think this is a worthwhile step in the right direction.
Linked to our drug culture, but slightly OT, longer term, how do we as a nation foster a culture of aspiration, where there is hope for a better life and the opportunity through hard work of a better standard of living for all?
These more philosophical questions are what have recently turned me towards the SNP despite essentially being a Tory at heart.
I firmly believe that our nations' long term interests are best served by being self governed; that independence will drive confidence and aspiration, ultimately helping everyone in Scotland.
The thing that worries me most however, is the transition period after independence which would involve a necessary weaning off of public sector profligacy - this may ultimately prove to be an expensive move in social terms.
The paradox is that Labour's negative bickering about the benefits of independence push me further into believing it is the right thing for the nation.
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Im appalled that the BBC have chosen to blog on drugs.
Black Gold is the issue, even the dogs in the streets are talking about it !
Concerned Patriot, Wansanshoo.
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I will never forget the disillussioned and very drug and alcohol(if it was invented today it would be class A) oriented (plus extremely bored) young people on Mull in 2003. Yep, cultural poverty. Aspiration should be given, not taken away. Economic development should not just be about fishing, ferrying, shopkeeping or serving tourists. Arts and crafts movements should and could build faster; local think tanks comprised of young and old could develop activities and jobs and aspirations for young folks. Broaden people's horizons, and they might still dabble, but addiction would be nowhere near as acute,.
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Fergus Ewing deserves all our support on this. Drug addiction is a bit like unemployment when statistics are thrown about - if you're a victim, percentages and huge numbers mean very little. It's you. And it's 100 per cent.
As to why, Brian, I feel the main cause is peer pressure. After that there's a divide: poorer kids are victims of a sense of hopelessness, while better-off kids feel they're sufficiently bright to "handle it." They're not.
You highlighted the perception that politicians' words can come over like "platitudinous drivel." True (and they usually are!) but in this case the victims will be totally unaware of Ewing's remarks. So we should take him at face value, and, as you suggest, try to help.
How sad is wansanshoo, #3?
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The scourge of drug addiction obviously concerns our SNP bloggers not at all. It is frankly digusting that the only current issue on the blog, of any real importance in the real world, is ignored by the shrill little voices who'll sit all day spitting gibberish about oil and independence.
Only five comments in 10 hours is a shameful testament to the indifference of the overwhelming majority of contributors who are simply SNP ciphers.
I think it's a clear indication that they are a single issue pressure group, rather than a political party concerned for the welfare of Scots and Scotland.
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Brigadierjohn:
As long as there is money to be made - drugs will be sold.
As long as the chav-culture especailly exists - drugs will be taken.
Personal opinion?
There is to much red tape involved when handling drugs matters.
The Law is far to light and when you are talking about making 50,000 per week selling it is deffinetly worth it.
Go to Jail and I can a TV, Games console, medical looked after and even a menu for what I pick from to decide what I would like to eat.
My point?
I don't feel the Governments are seriose about drugs at all and never take their 'action' seriosly.
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Shame on you, Brigadierjohn!
A nasty little bile-infested post, even for you.
Perhaps you should take a lead from the "overwhelming majority" who are at least prepared to make constructive contributions on what is a very serious issue.
Failing that, you might as well kick the habit.
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6 BrigadierJohn
The unfortunate thing with drugs is that they are in the same category as sex in as much that hardly anybody wants to speak about the subject.
Independence and oil is a topical subject drugs are not. Not unless it happens to a person/family and they have to deal with it directly.
There is (as you know) as much money in the legality of drugs as there is in the illegal side of it and there is probably more if you include the whole world in the calculations.
But I'd rather we sorted our own country and the source of the problem. I agree drugs do not solely exist in poverty but there is a huge difference in most cases of what drugs a poor person takes to that of a rich person.
In poverty, education and good role models are linked. On many occasions a role model does not exist in the family so what is the point of a child trying hard at school. It is a vicious circle that will only be broken by the subject being properly tackled in the last year of primary school.
But come on what is going to happen here -the pressure groups (religious and otherwise) will go mental and nothing changes hence the cycle is not broken.
I like a balanced argument and I enjoyed reading your post 5 but you let yourself down right after it with number 6.
And yes I am an SNP member and supporter. I'd engage and encourage you when you write posts like 5 but are more liable to ignore you and not bother commenting on 6 in the future.
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OK Birsealmighty, I've got you. It's not your problem (yet!), it's not topical enough, and you really don't want to hear any criticism. So long as you're understood, eh?
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BrigadierJohn
Despite not being one of the SNP bloggers you rail against in post #6, I really must take exception to your comments.
The scourge of drugs is one that affects communities, families and individuals the length and breadth of Scotland (and the UK as a whole), irrespective of class, social status or political affiliation.
You are quick to condemn your political opponents but I notice that the near deafening silence on the part the ?pro-union? bloc of bloggers (and those contributors who are, as yet, undecided) goes uncommented on.
Maybe it is as birsealmighty suggests; it?s a subject people find difficult to talk about. That doesn?t make it any less important and it doesn?t make his comments worthy of the scorn you pour upon them.
As for me, I can offer no answers. I have opinions but I am in no way qualified to attest to the validity of those opinions having no direct experience of the subject at hand.
That said, I do feel that, as an issue, the country?s drug problem transcends party politics. It is something that has a bearing on society as a whole and it is those who try to use the suffering of those involved to score political points that deserve contempt.
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Unionists taking the moral highground over problems they have in part contributed to. Whodda thunk it...
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BrigadierJohn
I am a SNP supporter and I come from a town that has seen many drug related deaths and I have lost some good friends to drugs as well as family members.
The problem with discussing drugs is because it is a subject that everyone is uncomfortable with. No parent wants to accept the thought that their child could be smoking hash or onto even harder drug. It doesn't help that drugs are treated so casually by parts of the media and entertainment sources.
Even in schools where some drug education is given the whole exercise is treated as a joke by pupils and staff alike. Kids believe they can't get addicted or believe they can quit when they want to.
Dealing with drugs is not just something political parties have to deal with because as with alcohol Scotland's drug problem is a cultural problem.
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Some thoughts:
1If alcohol prices are raised,will it not lead to more crime?
2Is it a tax on drink?If so will it not just wing its way down to London?
3Will I be able to buy at English prices online?Will all companies incorporated in England be legally obliged to obey this SNP surcharge?Dual pricing in UK?
4What are the consequences for competition and tax policy in UK if this goes ahead?
5If SNP can increase the price of drink,why does it not unilaterally decrease the tax on N Sea crude?Or subsidise the cost of drugs to reduce crime?
Looks to me like another back of an envelope,ill-thought out policy.
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the "war on drugs" is a red herring.
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Brian:
War on drugs, are a very important society problem because it has a high cost on the society...
~Dennis Junior~
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