Pubdate: Tue, 9 Sep 2008
Source: Herald, The (UK)
Copyright: 2008 The Western Morning News Co. Ltd
Contact:  http://thisisplymouth.co.uk/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4406
Author: Stephen Naysmith, Society Editor
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/hr.htm (Harm Reduction)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)

THE DRUG THAT COULD BRING A NEW 'ICE AGE' TO SCOTLAND

Experts are set to warn that the dangerous illegal drug crystal meth 
could rapidly make inroads in Scotland, with devastating effects on 
the physical, mental and sexual health of those who abuse it.

The drug, methamphetamine in its crystalline form, also known as ice' 
is usually smoked in a similar way to crack cocaine. As yet its use 
has been relatively confined to the gay club scene in London, but 
evidence from other countries has shown how rapidly an epidemic' of 
the drug can take hold.

This week a conference hosted by NHS Grampian in Aberdeen: Sex and 
Drugs and Crystal Meth, will assess the likely impact and how public 
sector agencies should respond now to reduce the danger. Backed by 
Grampian Police, the two day event is also supported by Aberdeen and 
Aberdeenshire councils.

Leaders in the field of harm reduction, public health and psychiatry 
from London and Manchester will describe their experiences of dealing 
with crystal meth.

The conference on Thursday and Friday will also examine the impact on 
sexual and mental health of other substances including cannabis and 
alcohol, and thorny issues such as how best to support women drug 
users who become pregnant.

Colin Tyrie, senior Public Health Development Advisor with 
Manchester's public health development service argues that the 
rapidity of the spread of Crystal Meth in the USA and Australia 
illustrates why the NHS and drug agencies need to be ready. "In 
Manchester, like London, it is more in pockets, particularly around 
the gay club scene, but there is a sense that this is a coming 
storm," he told the Herald.

Crack was around in other countries for a long time before making 
rapid inroads in the UK, he points out. At present, it may only be 
the relatively cheap cost of established drugs such as heroin and 
cocaine that is keeping crystal meth at bay. "If cocaine became less 
available, we may see an increase in crystal meth use. We would be 
worried if we got caught off our guard, particularly with the sexual 
health issue."

Crack brought with it a rise in HIV transmission in some areas and 
the fear is that if drugs like heroin, which suppress libido and 
fertility are replaced by crystal meth, sexual health problems could spiral.

Tyrie's main contribution to the conference will be to describe a 
ground-breaking, but controversial research project in Manchester 
which will involve profiling young people, predicting the likelihood 
that they will take drugs or take part in other risky behaviour, and 
exploring whether it is possible to intervene.

A pilot scheme will target children already known to be at greater 
risk, primarily children in care and children who have been excluded 
from school and intervene to improve their life skills' such as how 
they weigh the consequences of their actions and how they negotiate.

"We know that drug users don't tend to come into contact with 
services until a year after they have begun risky behaviour," Tyrie 
says. "If we are really serious about preventing infections and other 
consequences, should we be profiling people to see who is likely to 
engage in those risks?"

The scheme will target 11-15s with a DVD and other materials in an 
attempt at prevention rather than attempting harm reduction at a 
later stage. However, while the project - a UK first - has attracted 
European interest, Tyrie acknowledges there are ethical issues to be 
considered. Some find the idea of profiling alarming. "Schools find 
it very politically sensitive and people feel anxious about the 
stigma. It taps into the concerns people have about the amount of 
information collected about them. But the real danger is people can't 
break away from their early experiences, and we don't make it 
possible for people to to change."

Dr Mary Hepburn, consultant obstetrician at Glasgow's Princess Royal 
Maternity hospital is known for ground-breaking work to improve the 
outcomes of disadvantaged women who become pregnant. She argues that 
crystal meth is a significant threat, although uncommon as yet in Scotland.

"We don't have huge amounts coming through the maternity service," 
she said. "But crystal meth is an issue and we need to know about it."

But she will tell the conference that the biggest concern is the lack 
of dedicated services for disadvantaged parents.

Hepburn blames the widening gap between rich and poor and calls the 
results tragic'.

"We are seeing more poverty-related ill health. It is more 
entrenched. Twenty years ago when drugs first came into this country 
the majority of drug using young women were 17-24. They tended to be 
fairly healthy but for their drug use.

"Now women are older and the social factors that cause ill health are 
more entrenched."

The results are "awful", she says, with indigenious Glaswegian 
mothers increasingly having worse outcomes to their pregnancies even 
than asylum seeking mothers, who also attend Hepburn's clinic for 
socially disadvantaged families.

"Glaswegians who are disadvantaged have worse outcomes than 
disadvantaged incomers, including higher rates of prematurity and 
mortality, more babies born preterm, and lower birthweights."

Hepburn is also calling for earlier intervention - in this case, 
getting information to drug-using women about planning their pregnancies.

However this doesn't go down well in some quarters against a 
background where some would back removing babies from drug users or 
even pay them to use contraception.

This is unrealistic and immoral, Hepburn argues: "Putting in extra 
support applies for women who have for example mental health problems 
or a learning disability or a condition like diabetes, but women who 
use drugs are seen as responsible for their own problems."

This is simplistic, she says. "Problem drug use is overwhelmingily 
linked to poverty and social disadvantage."

However the Princess Royal's specialist maternity ward for 
disadvantaged mums has been closed and they are now managed in 
mainstream wards, which has meant a step backwards, according to Hepburn.

"One thing we could do to improve babies' chances of being healthy 
was persuade women to breastfeed. We were delighted that we were able 
to get the rate up to 20% but we haven't been able to maintain those 
rates on mainstream wards."

Some of those attending the conference are not keen to talk up the 
dangers of crystal meth. Tim Bottomley, a senior practitioner with 
Salford Drug and Alcohol Service, is to give a talk entitled The New 
Ice' Age. However he said there was a danger of fuelling hysteria 
about the drug. "It has the potential undoubtedly to be problematic 
and you can see that where it has taken hold in the US, the far east, 
the Czech republic and Australia.

"We need to look at what we might do if and when it becomes an issue, 
but we need to be wary. When heroin users started using crack in the 
1990s some of their curiosity was undoubtedly fuelled by headlines 
and politicians talking it up."

[sidebar]

METHAMPHETAMINE FACTS

Methamphetamine is a psycho-stimulant drug which can be snorted, 
injected, ingested or inhaled.

t has gained popularity in some countries such as Australia, where a 
2001 heroin shortage led users to switch and 73,000 Australians are 
now addicted - double the number using heroin.

Small quantities of crystal meth have been reported in Shetland, 
Grampian, Ayrshire and Glasgow.a.. Effects can include euphoria, 
agitation and increased libido. 
- ---
MAP posted-by: Richard Lake