Drug Use in Scotland: A Shared Agenda for the Scottish Parliament
The Scottish Drugs Forum Policy Working Group fully believes that the overall aim of drug policy in Scotland should be to reduce the availability and use of drugs and to reduce the harm caused by the misuse of drugs. The Scottish Parliament will provide a unique opportunity to establish a distinctive Scottish response to problem drug use. The key task will be to ensure a high degree of consensus regarding any new strategy, and, in particular, to remove of the unhelpful heat from the debate which has polarised recently into one of abstinence versus harm reduction. The Working Group considers that this is unhelpful and ultimately wasteful as it often results in diversion of resources away from the most appropriate interventions. It is crucial that a holistic approach be taken to addressing issues relating to drug use. All too often, one aspect of drug policy is dealt with in isolation from others, resulting in a fragmented and, therefore less effective, response
