Education 'plays a key role in tackling cocaine addiction'

Categories

Addiction Treatment
Alcohol
Drugs
Gambling
In the papers
On TV

News Archive

Home » News » Drugs » Education 'plays a key role in tackling cocaine addiction'

by Change | 16 Feb 2009

Bookmark

E-mail

Education has as strong a role as enforcement in the attempt to minimise the frequency of cocaine addiction, an expert asserts.

An expert has warned that educating potential users about the risk of developing a cocaine addiction problem must play a part in any attempt to tackle the issue.

Willie MacColl, a detective superintendent and national drugs coordinator for the Scottish Crime and Drugs Enforcement Agency, tells the Herald the approach taken needs to be wider than simply enforcement.

He calls for the agency to widen the scope of its work if it is to be successful at tackling cocaine addiction, which could include a bigger role for rehab clinics.

Citing an earlier campaign promoting the shared responsibility of users to producers in Columbia, he says this aimed to raise awareness of the drug's impact abroad, the newspaper reports.

Mr MacColl states: "It is important people are made aware of the harm caused by taking cocaine and in particular the adulterants added. Organised criminals use a mix of cutting agents, many of which are harmful."

Dee Cowen, a licensed clinical social worker, recently advised parents to familiarise themselves with the symptoms of drug addiction.

She says this can allow them to realise there is a problem, which could lead them to place their child in a rehab clinic.

Bookmark this: