Scottish Drug Misuse Information Strategy

The Scottish Drug Misuse Information Strategy was launched by Government in April 1998 after being fully endorsed by the Scottish Advisory Committee on Drug Misuse (SACDM). It outlines a coherent structure for the long term availability of appropriate information. This will assist the Scottish Office and SACDM, Drug Action Teams, service commissioners and deliverers, the voluntary sector, national bodies (including the Health Education Board for Scotland, the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities and the Scottish Drugs Forum) and a range of other information users, including the academic and business communities, to perform their respective tasks in dealing with Scotland's drug problem.

A key component of the Information Strategy was the establishment of ISD as the focal point for drugs information in Scotland. Under the strategy, ISD will channel information from a wide range of sources to those involved in tackling drugsmisuse, to promote standardisation ofdata collection, and to help identify important gaps in current information provision. The Information Strategy underlines the importance of co­ordination and collaboration if information is to be available where it is needed and expertise may be drawn from a range of information providers.

Contacts

Gregor McWalter (Team Leader) 0131 551 8204

Peter Knight (Head, Hospital and Community Information Unit) 0131 551 8739 Scottish Drug Misuse Information Strategy