§ Mr. McMasterTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what information he has on the misuse or abuse of prescribed drugs in Scotland; what studies are currently
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Bathing Waters Directive Scottish Results 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 Nairn (East Beach) Pass Fail Pass Fail Pass Pass Cullen Pass Pass Pass Pass Pass Pass Fraserburgh Pass Fail Pass Pass Pass Pass Aberdeen Pass Pass Pass Pass Pass Pass Montrose Pass Pass Pass Pass Pass Pass Arbroath Pass Fail Fail Fail Fail Pass Carnoustie Pass Pass Fail Pass Fail Pass St. Andrews (West Sands) Pass Pass Pass Pass Pass Pass Kinghorn (Pettycur) Pass Pass Pass Pass Fail Fail Aberdour (Silversands) Pass Pass Pass Fail Fail Fail Gullane Pass Pass Pass Pass Pass Pass Yellowcraigs Pass Pass Pass Fail Pass Pass North Berwick (Milsey Bay) Pass Fail Pass Pass Pass Pass Dunbar (Belhaven) Pass Pass Pass Pass Pass Pass Pease Bay Pass Pass Pass Pass Pass Pass Sandyhills Pass Pass Pass Fail Pass Pass Girvan Fail Fail Pass Fail Pass Fail Turnberry Fail Fail Fail Fail Fail Fail Ayr (South Beach) Fail Fail Fail Fail Fail Fail Prestwick Pass Fail Fail Fail Fail Fail Troon (South Beach) Pass Fail Pass Pass Pass Pass Irvine-Gailes (New Town) Fail Fail Fail Fail Fail Fail Salcoats/Ardrossan (South Beach) Pass Fail Fail Fail Pass Fail being undertaken; what plans he has to introduce measures to reduce the illegal sale and use of prescribed drugs; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Stewart[holding answer 27 November 1992]: The misuse of prescribed drugs is a significant problem in Scotland. The Scottish drug misuse database bulletin for the year ending 31 March 1992, a copy of which is in the Library, shows that of 2,653 drug misusers seen for the first time by a range of services, 1,439 were misusing benzodiazepines and 957 were misusing buprenorphine—Temgesic. Many of those seen were misusing a number of different drugs.
Action is being taken on a number of fronts. In particular the police are continuing their efforts to identify those who traffic unlawfully in prescribed drugs; we published a description of the harmful effects of misusing prescribed drugs in the booklet "Drugs: A Guide for Young People in Scotland", which was issued as part of the public education material in connection with European Drug Prevention Week; and the chief medical officer in Scotland has drawn the problem to the attention of health board chief administrative medical officers. The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs is also considering whether further measures should be recommended in respect of Temazepam, which is the most frequently misused of the benzodiazepine drugs.