Scottish Drug Misuse Information Strategy

Setting the scene

Tackling Drugs in Scotland: Action in Partnership

Scotland’s drug misuse strategy is laid out in Tackling Drugs in Scotland: Action in Partnership. It sets out objectives and action priorities for tackling drug misuse, as agreed by the Scottish Executive and the Scottish Advisory Committee on Drug Misuse (SACDM).

Tackling Drugs in Scotland: Action in Partnership recognises the importance of information and research in underpinning the implementation of Scotland’s drugs strategy. It highlights the role of the Scottish Drug Misuse Information Strategy, launched by Government in April 1998.

A key component of the Information Strategy was the establishment of ISD as the focal point for drugs information in Scotland. The importance of co-ordination and collaboration is underlined in making information available where it is needed.

ISD has drawn on the expertise and resources of other information providers such as the General Register Office for Scotland, the Health Education Board for Scotland, and the Scottish Centre for Infection and Environmental Health, as well as other parts of ISD. Close links have been established with the information and research units of Scottish Executive departments, key research organisations and the users and providers of information in the voluntary sector such as the Scottish Drugs Forum.

ISD aims to provide information on drug misuse and supporting expertise to Scottish Executive departments and their agencies, SACDM, Drug Action Teams, service commissioners and deliverers, the voluntary sector, national bodies (such as the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities) and a range of other information users, including the academic and business communities, helping them to perform their respective tasks in dealing with Scotland’s drug problem.

About Drug Misuse Statistics Scotland 1999

This publication continues to evolve to reflect the changing needs of organisations involved in tackling drug misuse in Scotland. This edition includes more data, from a wider range of sources, and this represents another stage in the transition towards the information digest envisaged in the Information Strategy. We intend that next year’s edition will see further improvements, in close consultation and collaboration with all contributors.

We thank all those who have contributed to this year’s publication.

Contacts

Gregor McWalter (Team Leader) 0131 551 8204

Peter Knight (Head, Hospital and Community Information Unit) 0131 551 8739