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| Cocaine users in Scotland 'spend £114 a day on their habit' | Cocaine users in Scotland 'spend £114 a day on their habit' |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| By Reevel Alderson Home affairs correspondent, BBC Scotland | By Reevel Alderson Home affairs correspondent, BBC Scotland |
| Cocaine users in Scotland spent an average of £114 a day to feed their habit last year, a new report has revealed. | Cocaine users in Scotland spent an average of £114 a day to feed their habit last year, a new report has revealed. |
| The figure has risen by 31% over the last five years. | The figure has risen by 31% over the last five years. |
| But the report, Drug Misuse Statistics Scotland 2011, said average daily spending by heroin addicts remained stable at £33 over the same period. | But the report, Drug Misuse Statistics Scotland 2011, said average daily spending by heroin addicts remained stable at £33 over the same period. |
| The majority of addicts seeking treatment (70%) said their drug use was funded by benefits. | The majority of addicts seeking treatment (70%) said their drug use was funded by benefits. |
| Heroin continued to be the drug most commonly abused, although the figure of 62% was a 5% fall over the year. | Heroin continued to be the drug most commonly abused, although the figure of 62% was a 5% fall over the year. |
| However, the report said the figure had fluctuated since 2006/7. | However, the report said the figure had fluctuated since 2006/7. |
| A third (33%) of heroin users also reported illicit diazepam use. | A third (33%) of heroin users also reported illicit diazepam use. |
| Cocaine use remained stable at 8%, but crack cocaine use was down to 3%. | Cocaine use remained stable at 8%, but crack cocaine use was down to 3%. |
| The report, published by the Information Services Division, said drug misuse appeared to be falling among young people. | |
| Young people | Young people |
| But it also suggested many addicts had been using drugs for more than a decade. | But it also suggested many addicts had been using drugs for more than a decade. |
| The minister for community safety and legal affairs, Roseanna Cunningham, said the report offered both good and bad news. | The minister for community safety and legal affairs, Roseanna Cunningham, said the report offered both good and bad news. |
| She said: "Significantly fewer young people are using illegal drugs and placing their health and lives at risk. | She said: "Significantly fewer young people are using illegal drugs and placing their health and lives at risk. |
| "However, we are seeing a cohort of hard-to-reach individuals who have been using drugs for more than a decade. | "However, we are seeing a cohort of hard-to-reach individuals who have been using drugs for more than a decade. |
| "They are getting older and their risk of drug-related death is greater." | "They are getting older and their risk of drug-related death is greater." |
| Drug treatment | Drug treatment |
| Older drug users were more likely to abuse heroin - 65% of those over 25 reported using the drug, compared to 23% of 15 to 19-year-olds. | Older drug users were more likely to abuse heroin - 65% of those over 25 reported using the drug, compared to 23% of 15 to 19-year-olds. |
| The figures suggested the proportion of new clients over the age of 30 being seen by drug treatment agencies had risen to 60% in 20010/11, up from 51% five years ago. | The figures suggested the proportion of new clients over the age of 30 being seen by drug treatment agencies had risen to 60% in 20010/11, up from 51% five years ago. |
| In the past year a total of 10,813 new clients were assessed for specialist drug treatment. | In the past year a total of 10,813 new clients were assessed for specialist drug treatment. |
| The government said it had invested record amounts in frontline drug treatment services to ensure those who wanted help could get it. | The government said it had invested record amounts in frontline drug treatment services to ensure those who wanted help could get it. |
| But the Scottish Liberal Democrats' health spokesperson, Alison McInnes said: "This survey shows that it is getting more difficult to reach long term drug users. | But the Scottish Liberal Democrats' health spokesperson, Alison McInnes said: "This survey shows that it is getting more difficult to reach long term drug users. |
| "Addicts need to be assured that if they want to get up and get on and leave the scourge of drug abuse behind, rehabilitation services will be available to them. | "Addicts need to be assured that if they want to get up and get on and leave the scourge of drug abuse behind, rehabilitation services will be available to them. |
| "The Scottish Government needs to ensure that this is the case." | "The Scottish Government needs to ensure that this is the case." |