Don't write off drug addicts warns minister

Published on Tuesday 31 March 2009 09:44

DRUG addiction and alcohol dependency are not inevitable and those seeking help must not be written off, Minister for Community Safety Fergus Ewing has said.

Mr Ewing was commenting ahead of the What's Your Story? event yesterday, which aimed to bring together recovering individuals and voluntary groups providing support to those with drug and alcohol problems.

Mr Ewing said: "All of us working to tackle the misuse of drugs are in no doubt about the often considerable challenges which we face. We are rightly realistic. But we must never be fatalistic."

Susan Deacon, Professor of Social Change at Edinburgh's Queen Margaret University, chaired the event in Glasgow. She said: "

Too often the debate on drugs policy is dominated by statistics and soundbites at the expense of a human dimension.

"This conference provides an opportunity for people to share their views and experiences and so help shape future policy and services."