The number of new heroin users in Scotland has quadrupled in five years and there are fears that the situation is getting out of control.
A report from the information and statistics division of the NHS in Scotland, published last week, says 1,281 new patients who used heroin were treated in 1992-93. This figure had risen to 5,163 by 1997-98. The total number of new registered users of other drugs increased from 2,980 to 8,573.
The statistics only cover new clients, defined as people who have never been treated or who have not been treated over the past six months, and therefore do not reflect the true figure for regular drug users. That is believed to be considerably higher.
The worst figures cover Greater Glasgow health board area which, by 31 March this year, had 2,142 new heroin users and 711 methadone users.
The board announced a five-year strategy to tackle drug misuse this week, backed by a£1m additional investment in services.
Greater Glasgow drug action team estimates there are about 8,500 drug injectors in the area. Injecting is the commonest cause of death among 15 to 35-year-olds, with 100 deaths reported by Strathclyde police last year.
Drug injectors are thought to spend£160m a year on drugs, most of which comes from the sale of stolen goods and dealing.
Drug action team chair and health board chief executive Chris Spry said the team had set up action plans to protect young people, reduce crime and improve treatment.
Recent police activity against drug dealers in Lothian has suggested that the heroin problem is worse than previously believed.
A spokeswoman for Lothian and Borders police said: 'We've noticed over the past few years that there is a growing problem with heroin usage and we put that down to its cheapness. It is more available, there are supplies now from many countries and it has become fashionable once again.'
Rural health boards have also experienced a dramatic increase in the number of heroin addicts. The information and statistics division report says Ayrshire and Arran health board area had 255 new clients, Grampian 804 and Argyll and Clyde 995 last year.
Stevie Lydon, information and research co-ordinator for the addiction services of Ayrshire and Arran primary care trust said: 'We now have around 700 methadone users and have had to revise our programme because of the cost.
'There is hardly a village in our area where we have not found intravenous drug use.'
Scottish health minister Susan Deacon acknowledged the need for continued monitoring of the situation.
Drug Misuse Statistics Scotland, 1998 Bulletin. Information and
Statistics Division, Trinity Park House, South Trinity Road, Edinburgh EH5 3SQ. Free.
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