Tories urge methadone rethink

A sharp rise in the use of the heroin substitute methadone proves that the Scottish Executive's drugs policy is not working, according to the Tories.

A parliamentary answer by Health Minister Malcolm Chisholm showed that methadone prescriptions rose from 98,131 in 1994 to 360,326 in 2003.

Tory deputy leader Annabel Goldie said the executive should consider whether it was actually helping heroin addicts.

The cost of prescribing the drug has climbed from £600,000 to £4m.


Ms Goldie said she was "shocked and alarmed" by the statistics.

She urged the executive to reconsider whether methadone was the most effective way to help heroin users kick the habit.