You put your finger on the problem Iain. There is little point in decriminalising possession without controlling and licensing supply. The latter is the way to take the system out of the hands of organised crime. Many of us have been making this argument to no avail, in my case and that of like minded public health specialists for forty years.
I’d like to add three points.
First, it is still the case that heroin users die from infection through sharing gear, or overdose, usually because they are unaware of the strength of the drug they are injecting. The former can be managed through education and the supply of syringes and needles. The latter by drug testing and legalisation.
Second, the “war on drugs” has been lost. All you need to do is check the purity of street heroin, and the price of a bag, to see that supplies are effectively limitless (purity higher plus price lower equals more stuff on the streets)
Third, a point that was raised by my friends Donald Cameron and Iain Jones in an article in the Journal of Addiction in the early 80s, why are we no further forward in identifying the reasons why young people resort to the use of “drugs of solace”, and and likewise unable to change behaviour.
The policy makes no sense - in fact it could end up exacerbating the problem - unless it is backed up by major and meaningful support for users trying to come off.
Excellent piece, Iain. This latest manufactured grievance against Westminster is to deflect from the Nats’ failure to bring down drug death rates. We already know they’re bankrupt of ideas but this cynical ploy indicates a moral bankruptcy also as they use the most vulnerable in our society as a constitutional ping pong with the UK government.
This policy can only ever work as part of a comprehensive package, which has to include support and places in residential units for those who require it.
As usual, the politicians (and all parties do this) have not listened to those with actual lived experience of these issues, only to Third Sector career professionals who view projects such as this as something to add to their CVs in order to move onto their next promotion, leaving a trail of devastated lives in their wake.
The drugs industry in Scotland is in two parts - those who live and die in our communities, and those who make a living out of them - entirely legally.
The Scottish Government is forever talking about “sending a message”. This phrase sums up their attitude to governance for the last 12 years. Unfortunately those who actually respond are their own conference supporters & denizens of social media.
Systemic policy requires a holistic approach, and critically, listening to those whose experience has nothing to do with being what currently passes for a SNP MSP.
You put your finger on the problem Iain. There is little point in decriminalising possession without controlling and licensing supply. The latter is the way to take the system out of the hands of organised crime. Many of us have been making this argument to no avail, in my case and that of like minded public health specialists for forty years.
I’d like to add three points.
First, it is still the case that heroin users die from infection through sharing gear, or overdose, usually because they are unaware of the strength of the drug they are injecting. The former can be managed through education and the supply of syringes and needles. The latter by drug testing and legalisation.
Second, the “war on drugs” has been lost. All you need to do is check the purity of street heroin, and the price of a bag, to see that supplies are effectively limitless (purity higher plus price lower equals more stuff on the streets)
Third, a point that was raised by my friends Donald Cameron and Iain Jones in an article in the Journal of Addiction in the early 80s, why are we no further forward in identifying the reasons why young people resort to the use of “drugs of solace”, and and likewise unable to change behaviour.
The policy makes no sense - in fact it could end up exacerbating the problem - unless it is backed up by major and meaningful support for users trying to come off.
Excellent piece, Iain. This latest manufactured grievance against Westminster is to deflect from the Nats’ failure to bring down drug death rates. We already know they’re bankrupt of ideas but this cynical ploy indicates a moral bankruptcy also as they use the most vulnerable in our society as a constitutional ping pong with the UK government.
This policy can only ever work as part of a comprehensive package, which has to include support and places in residential units for those who require it.
As usual, the politicians (and all parties do this) have not listened to those with actual lived experience of these issues, only to Third Sector career professionals who view projects such as this as something to add to their CVs in order to move onto their next promotion, leaving a trail of devastated lives in their wake.
The drugs industry in Scotland is in two parts - those who live and die in our communities, and those who make a living out of them - entirely legally.
The Scottish Government is forever talking about “sending a message”. This phrase sums up their attitude to governance for the last 12 years. Unfortunately those who actually respond are their own conference supporters & denizens of social media.
Systemic policy requires a holistic approach, and critically, listening to those whose experience has nothing to do with being what currently passes for a SNP MSP.