Ludo Thierry
This is what ‘devolved’ Scotland is already achieving by ‘smart’ application of our existing powers – Imagine how ‘smart’ application of the full ‘Independent’ panoply of drug policy might achieve (as per Portugal). Where we sit right now – I suppose our best application of effort is to ‘shame’ Westminster into passing drug policy to Holyrood – If they refuse – then finding ways to make that a decision with heavy political costs for Westminster. Link and snippet below:
https://www.scottishlegal.com/article/justice-gets-smart-as-drug-prosecutions-fall
Drugs prosecutions in Scotland have plummeted following a change in policy.
Figures show that cases have halved in four years, with prosecutors applying what they say is “smart”, not “soft touch” justice.
In the last financial year, 2018-19, the number of drug prosecutions going to court stood at less than 1,800. This compares to 2015-16, when the figure was 3,500.
Prosecutors are increasingly dealing with drug possession as a social or health issue rather than a criminal one.
Scotland has a rate of drug deaths higher than Britain as a whole and higher than any country in the European Union.
Dundee is at the centre of the crisis and is suspected to have had 73 drug deaths last year, 11 more than its previous peak.
Much of the drug trade in the city is run by gangs from Manchester that have flooded the city’s housing estates with crack cocaine.
Lord Advocate James Wolffe QC has led the change in prosecution policy. He told The Times that he supported diversions, which see fiscals waive or defer prosecution to give addicts the opportunity to address their issues.
The number of diversions for simple possessions rose from 57 in 2017-18 to 324 last year.
Mr Wolffe said: “I support the use of alternatives to prosecution, including diversion, in appropriate cases. In particular, diversion may be used where the accused has an identifiable need that has contributed to the offending.”
Talking-up Scotland 'Albatraz' 
I’m at boiling point atm with the degree of propaganda increasingly spouted by media and I don’t even watch it!!! Those who do are having this message constantly telling them that Scotland is shite.
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To add a wee bit more to that here is the summary of the quarterly report on drug and alcohol published by ISD Scotland on 17th Dec 2019.
“”National Drug and Alcohol Treatment Waiting Times
The quarterly trend for Scotland as a whole since data collection began shows little change in performance. Of the 11,229 people who started their first treatment in the most recent quarter, 95.0% waited three weeks or less.
For the 5,894 people seeking alcohol treatment, 94.9% waited three weeks or less.
For the 5,335 people seeking drug treatment, 95.0% waited three weeks or less.
11 out of the 14 NHS Boards met the standard. NHS Boards that did not meet the standard were NHS Highland, NHS Lothian, and NHS Shetland.
In prisons, 1006 people started their first drug or alcohol treatment between July-September 2019 with 93.7% waiting three weeks or less.
At the end of this quarter, 2,664 people were waiting to start their first drug or alcohol treatment, of which 229 (8.6%) had been waiting more than six weeks. This is similar to the same quarter last year when 223 (7.4%) people were waiting more than six weeks.””
Opposition politicians love to harp on about money being cut from the service. Maybe it has been but it still seems to be functioning. As with treatment for any addiction it is the addict who needs to take the first step. You can’t pull them off the street and beat the addiction out of them.
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