Drugbusters Win Prize For Helping Offenders Turn Their Lives Around

A team of health workers has won a top award for helping to get drug addict offenders clean and back into work, education or training. Made up of nurses, social workers and a doctor, the 30-strong team provides an alternative to prison for criminals who have committed offences to fund their drug habits.

A joint venture between NHS Lothian and the city council, the specialists have worked with around 150 offenders every year in Edinburgh, Midlothian and East Lothian since 2003. More than 70 per cent of those treated do not re-offend within 18 months.

The award has come from the charity The Butler Trust, which rewards excellence amongst prison and criminal justice social work staff.

Social worker Val Lawrie, 52, from Currie, said: “We are very excited about winning the award. We are a multi-disciplinary team who have worked very hard. We have been successful in helping service users reduce and eliminate drug use and criminal behaviour and return to education and employment.”