Aid for addicts

Published on Wednesday 23 September 2009 21:10

Your report (22 September) noting that only around 2 per cent of addicts in Scotland are referred for residential rehabilitation services contained a statement from the Scottish Government that "there is no clear evidence that residential services achieve better outcomes generally than community-based services".

In fact, the Drug Outcome Research in Scotland study, the largest evaluation of drug abuse treatment services ever undertaken in Scotland, jointly funded by the Robertson Trust and the Scottish Government, found that those drug users receiving residential rehabilitation were four times more likely to become drug-free than those treated in the community.

Those speaking on behalf of the Scottish Government would be well advised to ensure that they are familiar with research findings, including those funded by the Scottish Government itself.

NEIL McKEGANEY

Professor of Drug Misuse Research

University of Glasgow