Press Release
8th January 2001
Report "can be weapon in fight against drugs" - McNeil
Commenting on the publication today of a report into drug use in Inverclyde, MSP for Greenock & Inverclyde, Duncan McNeil, said:
"We are all involved in drugs. Drug abuse does not only harm addicts - it damages our whole community. The family who watch a loved one turn into a drug-addicted stranger, the child who lives with drug abuse in the home and the pensioner who is mugged in the street are all victims of drugs.
"We must face up to this problem and this report has helped us to quantify the local situation.
"However, until similar studies are conducted throughout Scotland, meaningful comparisons cannot be made with other communities. I therefore do not believe that it is helpful or accurate to label us the ‘heroin capital of Scotland’.
"The challenge is not to run from this report, but to use it to tackle drugs in our community. We should take this opportunity to use this report to develop and shape drug services, reduce drug deaths and increase education and youth work."
ENDS
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