Police back heroin clinic trials

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Scotland's largest police force has come out in favour of calls to give the worst addicts heroin on the NHS.

Strathclyde Police drug squad officer Kenny Simpson said a properly controlled trial could be a useful addition to current treatment.

A former health minister has also said that recent trials in Germany may hold lessons for Scotland.

However, the Scottish Executive said there were no plans for any similar heroin projects.

A spokeswoman said ministers were awaiting the results of a limited pilot programme in England.

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The three-year German project saw addicts receive injections at clinics in seven cities.

Drug deaths dropped by 40% during the time of the project.

Research director Dr Christian Haasen of the University of Hamburg said there were "statistically significant" differences between the groups of users on heroin and those on methadone.

Those taking heroin stayed in treatment longer, were less likely to drop out and used fewer illicit drugs.

On Monday, former drugs minister Dr Richard Simpson said the time was right to trial a similar scheme in Scotland.

'No soft option'

That call has been backed by Det Sgt Kenny Simpson, one of Scotland's longest-serving drug squad officers.

He told BBC Scotland: "In principle we would support a pilot, but it has to be very clearly thought-out.

If we are serious about reducing the number of drug-related deaths and the amount of drug-related crime in our communities then we have to be willing to at least consider all the options Susan Deacon Former minister

"It has to be something that is properly and accurately communicated to the public because this is not a soft option when you are a heroin user.

"This is the last step in a process to try and get them into treatment and try and get them off a controlled drug."

Former health minister Susan Deacon said the success of the German trial meant it should be considered.

She said politicians were too often guilty of knee-jerk reactions when it came to drugs issues.

"If we are serious about reducing the number of drug-related deaths and the amount of drug-related crime in our communities then we have to be willing to at least consider all the options," she said.

Public backlash

Ms Deacon pointed out that a number of countries had run pilot projects, including Switzerland and Holland.

"I don't know if this is necessarily the best way forward, but I certainly don't think that politicians should dismiss it out of hand," she added.

Glasgow GP Dr Tom Gilhooley, an advisor on drugs policy to the executive, said Scotland had not followed Europe's lead because politicians feared a public backlash.

But he said there had been no major reaction in other countries and predicted that people in Scotland would also be "pragmatic" about such a step.