Pubdate: Wed, 11 Jul 2007 Source: Scotsman (UK) Copyright: 2007 The Scotsman Publications Ltd Contact: http://members.scotsman.com/contact.cfm Website: http://www.scotsman.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/406 TREATMENT FOR DRUGS PLAN TO BE EXTENDED COURT Orders Which Have Helped Curb Drug-Related Crime Are To Be Extended To Cover More Offenders. The Scottish Executive said it wanted Drug Treatment and Testing Orders used for less serious offences as well as the more serious cases where they have so far been issued. DTTOs, which require offenders to turn up and be tested and treated for their drug addiction, are imposed as an alternative to jail sentences. And ministers have been impressed with the success of the orders. Nearly half of those issued with DTTOs had committed no further crimes two years later. Now the Executive says it will develop a new model of DTTOs for less serious offenders in the hope of preventing addicts from being drawn further into crime. Community safety minister Fergus Ewing said: "Too many of our young people fall into drug abuse and opt out of life. Extending the family of DTTO options could help us catch more of them before they fall too far." - --- MAP posted-by: Steve Heath