Scottish Government

SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE'S ANNUAL REPORT ON DRUG MISUSE

IMPLEMENTING THE WHOLE DRUGS STRATEGY

PROGRESS

We have:

• redesigned the national drugs website to facilitate better access to up-to-date drug misuse information for professionals and the public
• strengthened the National Association of Drug Action Teams (DATs) by funding a national officer post which will, amongst other things, support the sharing of good practice across DAT areas
• held a joint conference with the DAT Association focused on effective practice in the treatment and care of drug users
• launched a new Drugs Communications Strategy, using the Know the Score logo, which provides more information about the effects of drugs and the risks they present, and where help and support can be obtained by individuals and their families

The Know the Score website - an integral part of the National Drugs Communications Strategy

• undertaken two national mass media advertising campaigns aimed at raising awareness of drugs issues, and encouraging people to find out more so that they can make informed choices
• established a Know the Score website and a free information line, providing a single point for information, advice and literature
• appointed a National Communications Co-ordinator to drive forward implementation of the communications strategy, and to work with DATs and other key partners to help in the development of local communications strategies
• held five full-day media training seminars across Scotland to help DATs establish good communications practice
• published:
  • a Know the Score Directory of Services;
  • Cannabis: Know the Score;
  • Hepatitis C: Essential Information for Professionals;
  • Hepatitis C: Your Questions Answered;
  • Harm reduction materials (distributed to drugs services, prison service, etc.) on avoiding overdoses, hepatitis B immunisation and breaking the cycle of initiation into dangerous injecting practices; and
  • A drug driving guide [with the Scottish Road Safety Campaign]
• produced a monthly communications newsletter, with wide distribution to DATs and agencies, to brief on developments under Know the Score, and disseminate good practice
• given support for local initiatives across Scotland - e.g. Highland Youth Voice video with Highland Council, the 'Fit 4 It' event with Youth Scotland, a Drug-Related Deaths leaflet with Aberdeen DAT ( Know the Score articles have also been published in students' and young peoples' newspapers and magazines).

PROGRESS

We have:

• demonstrated our commitment to involving the voluntary sector in tackling drug misuse by committing 2 million, over three years, to the Lloyds TSB Foundation's Partnership Drugs Initiative (a 4.5 million programme, increasing to more than 9 million as the local DAT identifies equal match funding for each proposal)
• through Scottish Training on Drugs and Alcohol (STRADA), provided multi-disciplinary training throughout Scotland (working closely with DATs) and developed new training modules to respond to identified need
• undertaken a comprehensive review of the Scottish Drugs Forum (SDF), resulting in a revised three-year strategic plan focusing on user and carer involvement; community engagement; employability and developing the organisation's role as a membership agency (in order to deliver this plan, we virtually doubled SDFs core funding)
• the SDF has:
  • continued to publish a regular, monthly bulletin to those working in the field;
  • published Volatile Substance Focus on a quarterly basis, highlighting specific issues and concerns in relation to volatile substance use;
  • published Drugfax, an easy-to-use guide for professionals working with problem drug users;
  • updated its drug service information for the Know the Score initiative and for a searchable directory on SDFs website sdf.org.uk;
  • led a visit to a European conference in Frankfurt and co-ordinated service visits; and
  • supported a European study looking at responses to psychostimulant use, held a conference looking at the issues and undertaken a survey into user perspectives/views for the Scottish Advisory Committee on Drug Misuse (SACDM).

THE FUTURE

We will:

• undertake another national prevalence survey of problem drug use in 2003 to identify trends in use and measure the impact of our policies and practice
• produce:
  • a new parents' guide to drugs [and one on alcohol];
  • a clubber's guide to drugs;
  • a club owner's guide to drugs;
  • a cannabis guide for young people;
  • new material on psychostimulants, such as cocaine and crack; and
  • a guide to reducing the risks from drug-related sexual assault
• reinforce our support for voluntary sector work with children and young people affected by drug misuse through the continuation of our partnership with the Lloyds TSB Foundation for Scotland
• provide, through STRADA, leadership training for DAT members
• through the Scottish Drugs Forum (SDF):
  • play an enhanced role in supporting the active involvement and participation of users, carers, community groups and SDF members in delivering the drug strategy;
  • undertake a range of consultations and briefings with its membership on specific issues e.g. Section 8 (d) of the Misuse of Drugs Act;
  • work with the DAT Association to benchmark innovative practices in other countries;
  • undertake further needs assessment work/tracking of the emerging crack cocaine problem;
  • develop specific information material for users on overdose through user involvement groups; and
  • deliver or facilitate the delivery of critical incident training to carers and service users, community groups and service providers in order to encourage improved responses to drug overdoses.