MSP WELCOMES FIRST MINISTER'S COMMENTS ON TACKLING MEPHEDRONE ABUSE

MSP WELCOMES FIRST MINISTER'S COMMENTS ON TACKLING MEPHEDRONE ABUSE

Brian Adam, MSP for Aberdeen North has today questioned the First Minister on the Scottish Government action to tackle the use of the so called legal high Mephedrone.

The First Minister said that the Minister for Community Safety, Fergus Ewing MSP, has twice written to the UK Government and the Scottish Government have commissioned training resources to help alcohol and drug partnerships raise awareness of so called local highs such as Mephedrone.

The Scottish Government budget for front line drug services has increased over 20% since the SNP came to power to £28.6 million for the year 2010/11.

Mr Adam, a former toxicologist, said:

“I welcome today’s comments from the First Minister which shows the action the Scottish Government are taking to combat this so called legal high, Mephedrone.

“While currently in Scotland we don’t have the power to ban such drugs, Fergus Ewing has written to the UK Government asking them to do so at the earliest possible opportunity.

“Within the powers of Holyrood the Scottish Government are doing all they can, providing the necessary resources to help educate people, especially the young, over the dangers of Mephedrone.

“The First Minister also reassured the Parliament that, despite a reducing budget, the Scottish Government has increased spending on front line drug services.

“While we will need to wait for a decision from the UK Government to remove this harmful drug from our streets the First Minister’s comments today show that the Scottish Government are playing their part in educating young people of the dangers of Mephedrone.”