orcainn

Anyone know what time the boat is due into Lerwick today (Thursday 10th October 2013)

First of all, I don't think anyone is saying that the drugs dog charity has been instrumental in causing the heroin problem in Shetland, so yes that statement would be absolute rubbish, what has been discussed is the possibility that since the drugs dog started operating in Shetland, that there appears to be an increase in heroin use that could be caused by a shortage of your so called softer drug. The drugs dogs may be spending a lot of time in schools educating youngsters to the dangers of drugs but there are still plenty of school leavers deciding that despite what they've been warned about drug use, they want to find out in person what the attraction is. I found this article about heroin use in Shetland, it's from a magazine called Druglink, Sept-Oct 2010. Here's an interesting quote from it, http://www.drugscope.org.uk/Resources/Drugscope/Documents/PDF/Publications/DruglinkSept-Oct2010.pdf "Figures from community alcohol and Drug services shetland (caDss), the isles’ main treatment agency, highlight the extent of heroin’s penetration. in 2001, caDss treated a small pocket of heroin users, around three-quarters of whom were incomers from elsewhere. nine years on, around 70-80 per cent of its heroin-using clients have been born or brought up in shetland. contrary to sensationalist headlines slamming shetland for having ‘scotland’s worst heroin problem’, the numbers are relatively low. caDss now treats around 100 heroin users, a fraction of most urban caseloads. Yet worryingly, while treatment agencies across britain are witnessing an ageing heroin-using population, shetland is bucking the trend. under-25s now account for around half of caDss drug treatment clients, compared to a quarter in 2006." These stats from the community alcohol and Drugs services shetland would suggest that up to 2010 there has been an increase in heroin use and that it has predominantly in the under 25s. In fact nearly every stat in this article would suggest that young heroin users have increased throughout the period the drugs dog have been in use. So maybe the education needs to be worked on. As I left CADSS on Monday and had worked as a substance misuse worker for 4 years I can assure you that things are very different in 2013. I am not aware of any 'new' users coming into service in the last year and the under 25s are now over 25s. Heroin is still used in Shetland but the whole scene has changed and more people are on substitute prescribing which takes the chaos out of users lives and improves the chances of accessing the services that lead to recovery. I spent 4 years working with drugs and alcohol clients and sharing their journeys so I do know what I am talking about.

Unlinkedstudent - I am also a parent and I have done a lot thank you. However, I am still grateful for the services others provide in terms of education and support.

Just to let you know that although folks think of these at 'legal'. What is not legal is to sell them for human consumption so if you are aware of people buying these in bulk from the internet and selling them on please give the police a quick call and it will reduce the availability of these. And please remember to tell anyone doing this that it is in fact not legal to sell it on.

Policing is just one issue with the drugs and alcohol situation in Shetland and I just wanted to remind everyone about the work that the Community Alcohol and Drugs Service Shetland (CADSS) does. They work with those with drugs and alcohol issues and also the families affected by this. In addition the young person's worker provides education in schools and visits schools and youth clubs providing support for young people who have their own problems with alcohol or drugs and are dealing with a family members use. They provide an amazing service and if you want advice for yourself or someone else or if you want training for your organisation you can drop in and see a duty worker or call them on 695363. If you want to know more about what they do then they have a good website with help and information http://www.cadss.shetland.co.uk/ Jane