Funding For Cocaine Project Cut

The Scottish Executive is to cut funding to a project dealing with cocaine addiction, BBC Scotland has learned. The scheme in Aberdeen is one of only two of its kind north of the border. A working party is to be set up to recommend how to tackle the growing problem. A similar investigation was ordered five years ago.

Drug workers described the move as short-sighted and said the number of cocaine users was rising steadily.

The executive funded two cocaine addiction projects after a study in 2002. But three months ago the Incite Stimulant Users Project in Aberdeen had its  £25,000-a-year funding terminated. An evaluation of the pilot is yet to be published.

John Arthur, who runs the Edinburgh Stimulant Users’ Service, said the number of people addicted to cocaine had been rising steadily.

The executive said that along with the working party, it was re-running its advertising campaign warning of the dangers of cocaine.

Drugs groups said the problem was identified five years ago and it had got worse since then.

The Scottish Conservatives said cutting funds to the Aberdeen project was perverse and incomprehensible.