Doctors' fears over drug proposals

More drug users will be dealt with in the community

Doctors who have been told to work more closely with addicts have voiced concerns over a £100m drug initiative.

They have expressed fears over proposals contained within new Scottish Executive plans to tackle abuse.

Drug users who are convicted of crime were told that they could avoid prison if they agreed to be treated in the community.

But GPs say it should not just be their responsibility - and say they do not have the resources to deal with them.

Some GPs say they do not have enough resources

The executive's proposals, which were announced by Deputy Justice Minister Angus MacKay last month, are designed to help break the cycle of drug offending.

They include new drug schemes for courts, better facilities for prisons - and more rehabilitation and treatment facilities for drug users.

Statistics showed there were 30,000 drug users and 340 drug-related deaths last year, and the executive is particularly keen to target those who offend.

GPs are being encouraged to increase their contact with drug users - but that idea does not sit happily with everyone.

'Create havoc'

Glasgow GP Kate Pickering said it was not easy to incorporate drug users into her surgery.

"On a day-to-day basis they can be heart sink patients," she said.

"If they create havoc in your surgery, create havoc with your staff, create havoc in your practice, vandalise your buildings and steal things from your surgery you don't have much goodwill left," she said.

Angus MacKay unveiled the propsals

However, she added that most people wanted to help those who genuinely wanted to achieve some success.

"It is almost an insoluble problem," she said.

Many doctors say they do not have the resources or the staff training to deal with drug users and fear the proposals could do more harm than good.

And some of those drug users who want to be rehabilitated say treatment in the community leaves a lot to be desired.

"What really does me is going into the chemist every day and having to swallow methadone in front of people - it is really embarrassing," said one addict.

Some of those working on the front line said they should not always be left to mop up society's problems and accused the executive of passing the buck.

But even they could not answer the question of how to tackle the problem.