I
f ever the term "scourge" were used as a noun subsequent to its use to describe the Black Death or the Great Plague the calamitous addiction of so many in Scotland to narcotic substances would be a good place to start. It is a sad fact that Scotland has the highest number of per capita drug deaths in Europe. The latest figures show that drug deaths in Scotland fell to 1,051 last year from 1,330 the year before. However, this small reduction in deaths contrasts against fewer than 300 deaths total in 1996. It is fair to conclude that this awful statistic is the Scottish government`s biggest failure by design, incompetence or ignorance since its inception. Having belatedly accepted the situation there might be just the tiniest chink of intellectual light at the end of this abysmal social tunnel.
Decriminalisation is one of those words which brings out the best or the worst in many seasoned observers of drug addiction. For my part I have long been in favour of such a radical change in how society treats a problem which in addition to the misery inflicted on those involved and their families costs the UK £20 billion a year. Latest government information for England and Wales is available here. Drug misuse is estimated to have a total economic and social cost to Scotland alone of £3.5 billion a year. There are the very loud mouthed Cassandras who refuse to think of this catastrophe without looking through the prism of their fixed and stubborn right wing views which colour their thinking on most political endeavours whether drug addiction, immigration or other headline issues. I am anything but a supporter of Scottish independence in general or the SNP in particular but in this instance I wish the Scottish government nothing but goodwill for grasping this nettle.
There can be few in this country who have not reacted with horror at the conclusion of the Letby baby killer trial. That this monster refused to attend court for sentencing is the latest manifestation of arrogance exhibited by some of the most heinous criminals of this century. But for leading politicians to state publicly that Letby should have been dragged if necessary kicking and screaming into the dock to face the sentencing judge is populism at its lowest level. For those not faced with a whole of life sentence there is certainly an argument that such refusal as a contempt of court would invite an increased sentence but I doubt that in the few cases which would be likely to occur, additional time, e.g. an added year, would be no deterrent to those whose arrogance and possible psychopathy put them in the dock in the first place.
f ever the term "scourge" were used as a noun subsequent to its use to describe the Black Death or the Great Plague the calamitous addiction of so many in Scotland to narcotic substances would be a good place to start. It is a sad fact that Scotland has the highest number of per capita drug deaths in Europe. The latest figures show that drug deaths in Scotland fell to 1,051 last year from 1,330 the year before. However, this small reduction in deaths contrasts against fewer than 300 deaths total in 1996. It is fair to conclude that this awful statistic is the Scottish government`s biggest failure by design, incompetence or ignorance since its inception. Having belatedly accepted the situation there might be just the tiniest chink of intellectual light at the end of this abysmal social tunnel.
Decriminalisation is one of those words which brings out the best or the worst in many seasoned observers of drug addiction. For my part I have long been in favour of such a radical change in how society treats a problem which in addition to the misery inflicted on those involved and their families costs the UK £20 billion a year. Latest government information for England and Wales is available here. Drug misuse is estimated to have a total economic and social cost to Scotland alone of £3.5 billion a year. There are the very loud mouthed Cassandras who refuse to think of this catastrophe without looking through the prism of their fixed and stubborn right wing views which colour their thinking on most political endeavours whether drug addiction, immigration or other headline issues. I am anything but a supporter of Scottish independence in general or the SNP in particular but in this instance I wish the Scottish government nothing but goodwill for grasping this nettle.
There can be few in this country who have not reacted with horror at the conclusion of the Letby baby killer trial. That this monster refused to attend court for sentencing is the latest manifestation of arrogance exhibited by some of the most heinous criminals of this century. But for leading politicians to state publicly that Letby should have been dragged if necessary kicking and screaming into the dock to face the sentencing judge is populism at its lowest level. For those not faced with a whole of life sentence there is certainly an argument that such refusal as a contempt of court would invite an increased sentence but I doubt that in the few cases which would be likely to occur, additional time, e.g. an added year, would be no deterrent to those whose arrogance and possible psychopathy put them in the dock in the first place.
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