Greater emphasis is to be placed
on drug prevention and education in a bid to prevent more young people
from getting involved with drugs, Justice Minister Cathy Jamieson
announced today.
Addressing the ACPOS Drug
Conference in Turnberry today, Jamieson stressed the importance of
tackling both the supply and demand for drugs if they are to
successfully tackle Scotland’s drugs problems.
Justice Minister Cathy Jamieson
said: "Crime in Scotland is falling and violent crime is at its lowest
level since devolution. However, illegal drugs - all illegal drugs -
still represent a serious threat to our communities. Tackling that
needs a comprehensive approach that includes uncompromising
enforcement, treatment and rehabilitation, support for communities
suffering the effects of drugs, and prevention and education.
"The SCDEA is continuing to
disrupt the supply of drugs into Scotland. We have made real headway in
punishing the dealers through the Proceeds of Crime Act and initiatives
like 'Drug Dealers Don't Care'. And we have plans to sharpen up the
delivery of treatment and rehabilitation - aimed at helping more
addicts achieve long-term abstinence.
"But it doesn't matter how
successful we are at reducing the supply of drugs, if we don't at the
same time reduce demand. That's why I want to give higher priority to
prevention and education. Just as young people have become highly
sophisticated consumers, we must be equally sophisticated in our drugs
education messages - in our schools and through our Know the Score
Campaign.”
As well as the Know the Score
Campaign Jamieson outlined plans for greater support for young people
who grow up exposed to drugs as a result of drug abusing parents,
including pilot plans for ‘voluntary contracts’ for parents.
She continued: "And we must take
action to support those young people put at risk because of the
decisions made by their parents. That's why we want to develop
voluntary supportive contracts for drug abusing parents which will
ensure they are clear about their responsibilities to their children
and the consequences if they let those young people down. This is not
about taking children off drug users, but about being honest and
recognising the real risks these young people face.
"As our campaign says, drug
dealers don't care. But many people working to tackle Scotland's drugs
problem do care. Our challenge is to channel that commitment into areas
where it will have the greatest impact. We need to work together across
organisations to make that a reality. But if we do, I believe we can
prevent more young people from making drugs the biggest mistake of
their lives."
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