Police in Tayside have announced the launch of a new community taskforce to tackle all aspects of drug abuse, including drug-dealing and the associated issues of anti-social behaviour and underage drinking.

Source article on this is north scotland

A suggestion for a prison needle exchange project has been put forward for a pilot in Aberdeen with the aim of reducing the spread of infections such as Hepatitis C commonly contracted through sharing dirty needles and syringes amongst prison inmates.

Source article on this is north scotland

There has been a sharp increase in the number of cannabis factories uncovered by police in Scotland from just two in 2005/06 to more than 70 last year.

Source article on The Courier

Smoking a cannabis joint is equivalent to 20 cigarettes in terms of lung cancer risk, scientists in New Zealand have discovered, as they warned of an "epidemic" of lung cancers linked to cannabis.

Source article on Reuters UK

A survey published today by the road safety charity Brake, has found that one young driver in ten has driven while under the influence of illegal drugs.

Source article on The Telegraph

Scotland's crime lords are to be targeted by new legislation with new offences of directing or being involved in organised crime being proposed by Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill.

Source article on Scottish Government

Money seized from organised criminals is to be used to expand two crimefighting units. Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill has said the move would help tackle problems such as the drugs trade and people trafficking.

Source article on BBC News

Soldiers in the armed forces are to be offered treatment for alcohol and drug problems even if they are to be discharged. The Ministry of Defence is currently inviting tenders for contracts to run in-patient mental health services for soldiers who are suffering from combat stress, drug and alcohol misuse, and eating disorders.

Source article on Scotland on Sunday

The UK's first family drug and alcohol court is due to open in London with the aim of helping parents beat drug and alcohol misuse problems so they can keep their children.

Source article on BBC News

Quarterly statistics for the period up to September 2007 were released last week from the British Crime Survey (BCS) for England and Wales. The survey indicates a 21 per cent rise in drug-related offences. However, Home Office research has suggested a link between this overall increase and the introduction and growing use of police powers to issue cannabis warnings.

Source article on Drugscope

A quantity of heroin and crack cocaine with an estimated value of £108,000 has been seized by Grampian Police in Stonehaven.

Source article on BBC News

A funding package of more than £500,000 from the Big Lottery fund has been awarded to tackle drug and alcohol issues in the Borders.

Source article on BBC News

The Scottish Government has commissioned a massive study into heroin and cocaine use following a rise in the number of drug-related deaths in 2006 from the previous year.

Source article on The Scotsman

The debate on whether heroin users who are hard to treat be prescribed heroin is examined in this week's issue of the British Medical Journal with contributions from Jurgen Rehm, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Benedikt Fischer, University of Victoria, British Columbia and Neil McKeganey, Professor of Drug Misuse Research, University of Glasgow.

Source article on Medical News Today

Feature on Lothians and Edinburgh Abstinance Programme (LEAP) drug treatment project.

Source article on Drink and Drug News

The number of adults seeking medical help for cannabis misuse has risen by 50 per cent since downgrading of the drug, health authority figures show.

Source article on BBC News

Details of a pilot of a new model of drug treatment and testing orders (DTTOs) to be tested in the majority of courts in the Lothians and Borders Community Justice Authority area were announced last week by the Scottish Government.

Source article on Scottish Government