The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
New strategy to help drug and alcohol offenders
Plan aims to steer problem users away from justice system and into support services
People committing drug-related offences could be directed away from the criminal justice system as part of a new national strategy to prioritise treatment ahead of punishment.
The Scottish Government’s plan to reduce drug and alcohol-related harm advocates approaching substance misuse as a public health issue, and will see problem users increasingly moved towards support services.
The strategy, announced at the Cairn Centre in Dundee yesterday, along with a £20 million annual funding pledge, aims to tackle issues with drugs and alcohol by addressing wider problems around housing and unemployment.
It found those facing addiction have often previously seen their lives impacted by social ills such as inequality, trauma and poverty, and suggests support rather than stigmatisation is needed to address the problem.
Public Health Minister Joe FitzPatrick insisted he will not shy away from “innovative, evidence-based approaches”, such as safe drug consumption rooms.
He said: “Improving how we support people harmed by drugs and alcohol is one of the hardest and most complex problems we face.
“But I am clear that the ill-health and deaths caused by substance misuse are avoidable and we must do everything we can to prevent them.
“Our strategy is about treating people and all their complex needs – not just the substance use – tackling the inequalities and traumas behind it and intervening early.”
Peter Allan, chairman of Dundee Alcohol and Drug Partnership, believes the new drug strategy could have a significant impact for people in recovery.
He said: “I think anything that recognises how important the recovery process is to people’s journey to recover from substance use is absolutely vital.
“This strategy clearly understands how prevention is important, good quality treatment is important but long term recovery is absolutely essential.”
Ministers have stressed that depending on the circumstances of individual cases, including the impact on victims, prosecutions will be made in the public interest, and conceded it is for the Lord Advocate alone to set prosecution policy.
The strategy is backed by submissions from people accessing support services and found that criminalisation often “only presents further challenges”.
It notes that there are a range of other sentencing options, including community payback orders and drug treatment and testing orders.
Davie Gardyne, 51 who is now a Dundee peer mentor and volunteer, spent time in prison after committing a crime with the intent of having himself locked away from drugs and alcohol.
He welcomed the opportunity for more people in recovery to access peerbased support and avoid the stigma often associated with addiction.
Mr Gardyne said: “I think it’s a brilliant idea because it means getting people involved with the services straight away.
“The first four or six-week period of someone in recovery is the most important time and I think utilising peer mentors more at that stage would help to defuse things and get people on their way.”
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Ill-health and deaths caused by substance misuse are avoidable and we must do everything we can to prevent them