There has been the most remarkable event in addiction politics in yesterday’s budget when in return for their support for the Scottish Nationalist Budget the Tories in Scotland under Annabel Goldie MSP have got agreement that there would be a new Scottish Anti-Drugs Strategy by the summer and that there will be a sharp move away from dependence on Methadone maintenance with a new and greater emphasis on abstinence and residential rehabilitation.  The initiative represents a significant shift towards a new cross-party consensus around the handling of Scotland’s serious drug problems.

According to addiction expert Professor Neil McKeagney of Glasgow University the political shift is a challenge to those who work in the field to reduce dependence on Methadone, with a switch to expensive and difficult measures to get people off drugs.

Mr. Ewing wrote to Bill Aitken, the Conservative Justice spokesman, promising there will be more emphasis on promoting abstinence and more residential rehabilitation.  Officials are now starting a review of drugs budgeting, to report by Spring next year.

However Professor McKeagney said there has to be more done for children who live with addicts.  “They live in desperate circumstances and are among the most vulnerable people we have”.  He said drug workers will need re-training, he added, and with around 25,000 Scots on Methadone, there will be difficult decisions to be made about who takes priority for expensive treatment.

A Scottish government spokesman said last night the letters included only some of the strategy and meeting the needs of addict’s children would be part of it.

Personally, in my 28 professional years in the addiction field I have never come across drug addiction treatment strategy being horse-traded for voting support in a budget.  It raises the whole profile of addiction politics.