Commission to examine drink and drugs

DUNDEE City Council is set to launch a Drug and Alcohol Misuse Commission in a bid to address the city’s troubled relationship with substance abuse.

The panel will involve experts, as well as recovering members of the community, in order to examine the issue “forensically”.

Councillor Ken Lynn, the city’s lead for health and social care, said he intended to confront the issue “head-on”.

“Dundee, like most cities, has a problem with drug and alcohol misuse which impacts on all sections of the community,” he said.

“We intend to confront these issues head-on and leave no stone unturned with a new approach which will involve those who are best-placed to bring forward real change.”

The panel will be modelled on the Fairness Commission, which examined underlying issues related to deprivation and followed that up with an action plan to tackle poverty-related problems.

Mr Lynn added: “I’m proud that we are taking forward this commission approach, involving key stakeholders, services and people who are working through their recovery.

“The end result will be a forensic report and a detailed action plan which pulls the various elements together to begin to make the kind of sea change that we all want to see.”

Other new initiatives proposed by the SNP-led council administration include raising its target for new-build social housing from 650 to 1,000 by 2021 and expanding nursery provision across Dundee.

It also plans to mark the national Year of the Young Person with an event celebrating the successes of the city’s youth.

Council leader John Alexander said the administration’s endeavours were a “continual process of raising the bar...despite the obvious challenges.”

Pictured are Andrew, Elayne and Kyle Buchan with pictures of Jamie.