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Closure of drug rehab centre 'will cost lives' say recovering addicts



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Published Date: 10 July 2008
By MARK McLAUGHLIN
THE closure of a unique drug rehabilitation centre in Leith could cost lives, according to service users at the clinic.
The Links Project, on Links Place, is believed to be the only centre of its kind to offer residential drug rehabilitation and detox services.

However, the centre's service provider, Glasgow-based social care organisation Turning Point, has pulled out of Edinburgh following a less-than-expected allocation from the city council's health and social care budget.

In 2007, a new contract price of £487,030 was agreed by Turning Point Scotland – £23,000 less than the previous year.

Service users were told the total predicted shortfall this year was estimated to be £143,000.

Recovering addict Michael Hughes, 38, of Leith, said the centre saved his life after his drug abuse saw his weight drop to under eight stone.

He said: "I only started using at age 34 when I separated from my partner and my life just went off the rails.

"The Links Project got me stabilised and back on track and now I'm fit and healthy and ready to go out and see my kids again.

"I'll never go back to drugs, but God forbid if I ever do and the Links Project isn't here to help me you'll be seeing my name in the family obituaries column."

The centre is predicted to close no later than November 2008.

Netta Maciver, chief executive of Turning Point Scotland, said: "The service is running at a considerable deficit which TPS has met from its own financial reserves.

"TPS has explored alternative funding streams for this service for the past four years to no avail."

There are presently 465 users waiting for a six-week space in one of the project's 12 beds at the centre. Edinburgh has an estimated 3500 drug users.

Leith Labour councillor Gordon Munro said the centre was one of the first victims of the council's "hidden" cuts in community services.

He said: "I've seen no evidence that the need for this centre has disappeared, and I fear it won't be the last third-sector organisation to go this way."

However, the city council and NHS Lothian say they remain committed to providing services that address the needs of people with drug problems, and interim arrangements will be in place for when the Links Project closes.

Peter Gabbitas, director of health and social care at the council, said: "This will include expansion of our community detoxification programme, making places available within the inpatient Ritson Clinic for planned detoxification and spot-purchasing places at other residential drug services.

"In the longer term, we are looking to ensure that a high quality residential drug detoxification service is in place for people with drug problems that is able to evidence best practice in line with the new national drug strategy."


The full article contains 481 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
Page 1 of 1

  • Last Updated: 10 July 2008 11:14 AM
  • Source: Edinburgh Evening News
  • Location: Edinburgh
 
1

,

10/07/2008 12:27:31
Comment Removed By Administrator
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2

Mr Bob Dobalina,

10/07/2008 12:30:33
Reality is that it will cost so much more to re-establish something like this that is clearly working and with a queue of 465 users, clearly needed, than is going to be saved by closing it - pathetic - lets just hope none of these users die as a result.
3

,

10/07/2008 12:45:55
Comment Removed By Administrator
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4

James (1),

10/07/2008 12:47:41
#2 I disagree with you. I could not care less. I am all spent on caring about junkies. Its time we cared for victims and they do not fit the criteria.
Build more jails (although there is more chance of them overdosing inside).
5

,

10/07/2008 12:50:03
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6

,

10/07/2008 12:54:10
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7

Apple,

Edinburgh 10/07/2008 13:40:10
No surprises in the above comments. Places such as the Links Project exist to help drug users break the cycle of drug use thus helping them break the pattern of offending, etc. Without projects like this we'll see a lot more instances of offending from drug users who don't have the support necessary to come off drugs.

And I'm not a 'bleeding heart liberal', nor am I naive enough to think The Links Project is a cure for all the problems that occur as a result of drug use. I'd much rather though give those drug users who want help and support the opportunity to access it, as opposed to potentially remaining in a negative cycle of drug use, crime, unemployment, etc.
8

,

10/07/2008 13:51:50
Comment Removed By Administrator
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9

elayne,

10/07/2008 14:01:56
im no lover of drug users,but i think those who have a real ambition to turn their lives round and get clean deserve a chance to do so,and need help like this service provides acheive this,those who get clean(and stay clean) deserve respect,the ones who blame society,dont look after thier kids,jump the housing queue,commit crime and have no desire to help themselves,well they dont deserve anything.
10

Jooly,

Edinburgh 10/07/2008 14:18:21
Quite frankly I am quite disgusted at the uneducated and disrgraceful opinions of some of those indivduals whom I unfortunately share a community with (#1,3,4,5,6,8). God forbid any of your family need the help of an establishment such as The Links Project. You all want something done about drug misuse? Then wake up and smell the coffee people, it costs money!! The same paper stuff it sounds like you use to buy your porches and cigars!! Do the local Governament not see that by closing this service, local crime, child protection issues, deaths etc will rise? The very thing their constituency wants to avoid!!!!! Why close a successful project, create a gaping void in drug services, then re-design and open another one which will cost even more money. This is an utter disgrace, and I would urge those in power to think about their alternative provision for drug users in Edinburgh - THERE IS NONE!!!!!
11

ammy khan,

edinburgh 10/07/2008 14:29:01
People from all walks of life are affected by drug abuse. These people become desperate and unemployable and this leads to crime. In edinburgh there are many such people.

There- fore helping people out of there disperation will ultimatley cut crim and help the city as a whole.

Closing the links project and some of its service users ultimatly die-ing will not result in anything positive.

Closing a sevice that premotes recovery is against the current drugs startegy as the links project meets every one of its key-aims.

it also links other vital servies together such as social work drug referral team and Leap
12

James (1),

10/07/2008 14:39:30
#10 the majority are sick to the back teeth about having to care about junkies. You may well be disgusted but the ratio is 6 to 1 against your view. So whilst your super intelligence may be a comfort to you, try seeing it from the majorities side.
The junkies get treated like some sort of special case. Steal to feed their habit and get caught. Sentenced and reoffend and we are just meant to feel pity for them? Well no, their bed so let them lie in it.
Nobody maked these people take drugs. Our society today of non discipline allows this problem to flourish. Starting at school where no punishment for wrong doing can be given. This then goes on. Human Rights and all that. Well its their right to be a junkie and mine to not care!
13

,

10/07/2008 14:42:03
Comment Removed By Administrator
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14

Lizzy B,

Edinburgh 10/07/2008 14:55:18
I am also astounded with some of the cruel, narrow minded comments that have been posted so far. The Links Project provides a much needed service to people in crisis. Yes, these people may be addicts, but they are at the Links Project to get their life back on track, and this is only made more difficult by the kind of people who make comments such as some of those posted above.

The Lothians have very few resources for people struggling with addiction, and to take away The Links Project is, in my opinion, quite ridiculous. It is a 'high quality residential drug detoxificaiton service', so why the council feel the need to allow it to close when they recognise a need for that kind of service in Edinburgh is confusing to say the least.

I would think one of the hardest things to do when you are an addict is to admit you have a problem and ask for help. I feel so disappointed that the hundreds of people who have done this and are waiting to enter the Links Project are now faced with the news that their one source of help is to be closed. For them and their families, I can only hope the council sort themselves out and realise what a mistake they are making in allowing the Links Project to close.
15

bcisme,

edinburgh 10/07/2008 15:07:54
not all addicts are theifs,bad parents or bad people like in all walks of life people are diffrent some might not deserve your sympathy or help but most do and until you can understand the individual and not the "junkie" most people try to refrain from being judgmental.
16

jjkiller,

10/07/2008 15:08:41
Bigger jails,smaller cells, allowed 1/2 hr free time a day, no visits, then they might not re-offend.And sorry junkies can all drop dead for all I care,and before someone says what if it was your family, my uncles a heroin user and I've ignored him for 5yrs now.
17

Linda,

Edinburgh 10/07/2008 15:09:08
And Westminster government robbed Edinburgh's needy of £10 millions when it raided National Lottery Communities Fund of millions to bail out London Olympics overspend.
18

nonjudge mental.,

10/07/2008 15:18:06
#16 im sure if your uncle had been able to access help from somewhere like the Links Project you would not have been forced to ignore him for 5 years, however i do understand and this would explain your bitter outlook on life.

What gives people the right to be so sanctimonious about addiction? Everyone wants the drug problem fixed and off the streets, the Links Project provides that option so what are you all complaining about? Surely the support should be there to keep it open??
19

James (1),

10/07/2008 15:57:15
#18 this is not about being sanctimonious. This is about being fed up pandering to junkies. Throwing money at the problem rather than taking a VERY tough stance. We need really tough treatment for them.
I think it is ludicous for example that inside prisons, which most junkie end up in, we have a drug problem. Why is this? Because of liberal touchy feely types. Madatory drug test all prisoners. Those found with drugs in their system get no physical contact with visitors and no time off for good behaviour. Glass screen and telephone link to speak to your visitor. Sneaking drugs into prison should result in minimum sentence of 2 years custody for those caught.
Now is this too hard? Ok then let's just ignore it. I mean if we cannot deal with it inside a controlled environment then lets waste money trying to deal with it outside.
20

nonjudge mental.,

10/07/2008 16:03:44
That is a completely separate issue. This is not about the problems in prisons, this is about the people who ask for help to get clean and wont have the option.

The majority of addicts make one mistake in their life by trying drugs and spend the rest of their life paying for it and being discriminated against.
21

mollpops,

scotland 10/07/2008 16:15:13
my sister became a drug addict at the age of 30. According to the 'judge' she deserved no sympathy. I totally disagree. Who knows what path life will take you in?
"Junkies" are REAL people. Let's not forget that.
Services like the Links are important for people to recover.
Don't get me wrong I was never overly sympathetic to drug addicts - until my sister became one. I helped her detox - she showed real commitment in recovering. Do you know how difficult it is to detox? - to sweat and rattle? The guy in the article aged 34 is to be commended for his bravery in sorting his life around. We should be encouraging people like this guy, not slating them as if they are animals. They are real people - and could be your brother, sister, child etc.
Please stop being so niave and get a taste of the real world.
Having attended services and info sessions to help my sister I learned some of the most important lessons in life from "these junkies" you all so openly slate.
22

queen of the hill,

edinburgh 10/07/2008 16:27:14
methadone is more addictive than heroin, it has been doled out by the state unchecked for years therefore creating a monster habit among the people who are trying to quit drugs. the links helps people to detox from methadone and then they are able to pick up their lives again and become productive members of our community. we as a city have a duty of care towards methadone, alcohol and all other drug addicts as it is our society which has allowed this problem to go unchecked and in many cases glamourised the notion of 'getting out your face'.

how many of us out there have never tried a bevy, substance, pill or joint so that we can party. i think that some of the negative comments that have been said by the self appointed saints of edinburgh campainging for the final solution should change their chant to 'there by the grace of god go i'.

Drug users who need and seek help should get it, DO NOT CLOSE THE LINKS.
23

Destroy the Planet,

10/07/2008 16:31:02
I can tell you now, no junkie enjoys there life, there every step and move is governed by the drug and they all hate what theyve got into, its a shame that such positive projects have to fold.
24

sceptic,

10/07/2008 16:35:27
Even with 100% utilisation and a 50% success rate that works out at £10k per addict. Better to spend that kind of money on some worthwhile members of society, paying for three hip replacements for example.
25

E300,

10/07/2008 16:43:41
20 nonjudge mental.,
"The majority of addicts make one mistake in their life by trying drugs and spend the rest of their life paying for it and being discriminated against."
Not true, it takes persistent foolishness and law breaking over a period to become addicted to any illegal drug.
26

traprain,

10/07/2008 16:57:58
#24
"Even with 100% utilisation and a 50% success rate that works out at £10k per addict"
The success rate is more like 15-20% we could have ten decent responsible citizens walking without chronic pain for each addict.
27

Destroy the Planet,

10/07/2008 17:08:59
#25 Another ignorant Edinburgher, addiction happens in days, 3 £20 bags and yer hooked, thats the reality. And contrary to popular belief most dont involve theselves in direct crime against the individual, its begging or selling a bit that gets them through
28

E300,

10/07/2008 17:31:15
27
You haven't read much research. Very few addicts haven't gone through phases starting with tobacco and soft drugs before progressing to more addictive substances. Even 3 £20 bags as you describe it indicates a cavalier attitude to health and determined deliberate law breaking.
29

queen of the hill,

edinburgh 10/07/2008 17:48:21
26 it costs about £840,000 per addict over their life span, in lost employment, NHS, crime, social work involvement etc. that's a lot of hip replacements. surely a 6 week programme of detox and rehabilitation is cheaper. I know an ex-soldier back from afganistan who came back with a habit. I know a child who was abandoned by their extended family when their parents died who has a habit from care homes. I know posh people who have children who have habits because they thought they were boheimen. I know people from all walks of life who have habits. all in need of help. have you bought cd's produced by people with habits so that you can support their drug use by any chance, or clothes promoted by models with a habit?
30

James (1),

10/07/2008 17:59:00
#20 sorry! I thought that if you used drugs, no matter where, you were a junkie. How silly am I? I will need to be more selective about the terms I use after all when these "prisoners" come out having still had access to drugs whilst in a controlled environment on stepping through the gates will become "junkies". They will then need some form of help to get them off drugs.
This mamby pamby, help a select few and ignore the rest of the problem is doing nobody any good.
Zero tolerance regarding drug users is what we need not "I feel your pain" rubbish. We make choices in life. Good and bad and it is not a case of there but for the grace etc. It is your choice now pay the piper.
So if a junkie or indeed anyone ends up in jail then one thing they should be certain of is that there will be no drugs available for them. If that means tough restrictions then that is what is needed. Let's not forget (but we do) THEY ARE PRISONERS!

31

prince of the hill nearlyking..butdadsafighter,

YLT 10/07/2008 18:05:07
I have met alot of drug users in my years of drug-user-stalking(just kidding dont sue me), and i feel as though closing the links project, (where they are given a second chance at life) is unbelievable..

Fair enough, it costs money.. but i think life is priceless, no amount of money can make up for a lost life.

Imagine it was a relative or close friend... whos life depended on this Project, even with a 50% success rate, do you not feel 10k is worth spending?

YLT ontop ya raj. ken?

32

Schot,

10/07/2008 18:10:43
>Closure of drug rehab centre 'will cost lives'

some of you seem to have not grasped that the lives lost to addiction aren't limited to addicts. Their families, their occasional victims, those are innocent lives that can be saved by investing in treatment. Never mind the obvious prevention of the Afghani opium crop that British soldiers protect.
33

prince of the hill nearlyking..butdadsafighter,

10/07/2008 18:18:06
i think schot has got a point.. but opium is needed for education... ehh i mean medication..

that wasnt a dig at you #32.. i was just stating what opium is needed for.
34

nonjudge mental.,

10/07/2008 18:25:48
#30 again i would just like to point out that this service that is facing closure is NOT A PRISON!

Its a residential service that treat people with addiction; painkillers, alcohol and drugs etc. People voluntarily use the Links Project because they are making an effort to put their life back together not because they have been sentenced to be there.

They are asking for help.

Do you think that all alcoholics, smokers, gamblers or anyone with an addiction should be in prison?....god help the student population if you do...
35

Save the Cheerleader, Save the World,

10/07/2008 18:37:28
What has this city come to when we can't help people who really want to help themselves? we can throw the world's biggest and best Hogmanay party (apparently)for perfect strangers yet locals are put way down the list of causes to spend money on. Clearly these addicts are less important than office furniture. Shame on you Edinburgh City Council.

There is nothing in this article to say that this other provision at the Ritson Clinic (aka Royal Ed) is anything near the level of service that is desperately needed. Why close something that works?
36

queen of the hill,

10/07/2008 18:40:32
#35

only 2 beds at ritson clinic (aka royal ed hosp) and 1 extra community drug nurse to replace a 12 bed residential unit
37

prince of the hill nearlyking..butdadsafighter,

10/07/2008 18:41:17
#34 r00lz, i myself am a student, and i have lots of pals that are "junkies" or "junior junkies", i dont know the correct term for it at the moment, but i shall research it thoroughly.. that is due to them "trying it for da first tym and it iz well class m8"

also, i have heard !!RUMOURS!! that in prison, drugs can be accessed through "presents" or "gifts" from their "uncle sammypoo".

From what ive heard.. im not saying its a 100% true statement.
38

prince of the hill nearlyking..butdadsafighter,

10/07/2008 18:46:08
Queeny babes, maybe they could share a bed? and are limited to 5 minutes talking with the nurse, compared to the links.. who have Workers assigned to them?
39

Hairy Canary,

Edinburgh 10/07/2008 18:49:48
The Links Project is the only centre available to those in crisis in Edinburgh today. If it closes, the drugs epidemic will continue to spiral out of control, and for those who would have previously accessed it and progressed onto long term rehab projects such as Leap, there will be no available first stage support. More people will die and at a faster rate than ever before. More people will remain in a spiral of addiction that will force them into crime. More families will be affected, more children will their parents, more parents will lose their children.

The rich are alright though jack...those who have money can allways access one of the many private facilities in Scotland. Those who don't, like the 465 people hoping to access the services of the Links, will not have the luxury of any form of support. THE GOVERNMENT KNOW ITS POLICIES ON DRUGS DO NOT WORK YET CONTINUE TO ENDORSE POLICIES WHICH DENY THOSE WHO WANT HELP TO CHANGE....
40

queen of the hill,

10/07/2008 19:00:54
pretender #38

good idea, trams, trams, trams, trams but the nurse might get stuck in the traffic, trams, trams, trams and only have 3 mins to spend with each of the 465 drug addicts on the waiting list. That is 13.3 addicts an hour each discussing their issues with the nurse for 3 mins. dont call me babes coz i am a man.

41

Lizzy B,

Edinburgh 10/07/2008 19:04:04
James, you can talk all you like about throwing people in prison and forgetting about them, but this does not tackle the problem. Hiding from the fact that addicts exist and and carrying on with your life in glorious denial will not help anybody except yourself, and that's a pretty selfish and rather naive attitude to take.

Addicts do exist, and they need help. If everyone had the same attitude as you, the world would be a very sad place to live. Addicts do not need prison, they need the proper care and help to overcome their problems. The Links Project provides this much needed service in Scotland and Scotland is a better place because of their existence up till now.
42

ammy khan,

edinburgh 10/07/2008 19:23:36
Action on Alcohol and Drugs in Edinburgh
Strategic Workplan 2008-09

Strategic Priorities

The strategic priorities for Action Alcohol and Drugs in Edinburgh in 2008-09 are:

• Write and launch the City of Edinburgh’s Drug and Alcohol Strategy 2009-2013.
• Implement electronic single shared assessment for drug and alcohol misuse.
• Develop a suite of outcomes for people with addictions.
• Strengthen ties with other strategic partnerships.

Strategic Aim 1

Improve prevention of drug and alcohol misuse

Strategic links

• Communities that Care Risk and Protective Audit Report 2006
• Edinburgh Children and Young People’s Plan 2007-2010

Priorities

• Consider and where appropriate implement citywide, the recommendations of the Drug Education Review undertaken in north Edinburgh schools.
• Continue current work identifying hardly reached groups and providing culturally sensitive materials on drug and alcohol use.
• Extend partnership work undertaken with Heriot Watt University to other universities and colleges in the city.
• Roll out alcohol awareness training to professionals in statutory and voluntary sectors, whose client groups may have dependence.

Strategic Aim 2

Increase the number of people recovering from problem drug and alcohol misuse

Strategic Links

• Single outcome agreement indicators for drug and alcohol misuse
• 2008-09 HEAT targets
• City of Edinburgh Joint Health Improvement Plan 2008-2011
• Delivering for Mental Health, Commitment 13
• Edinburgh Homeless Strategy 2008-2012

Priorities

• Implementation of electronic single shared assessment and Edinburgh care pathways.
• Implement HEAT target (Lothian wide) of 2,359 brief interventions and 300 additional people into alcohol treatment services.
• Roll out of Edinburgh Integrated Drug Care Partnership.
• Work with in partnership with Pan Lothian Drug Deaths Group to monitor and establish interventions to prevent drug deaths in vulnerable groups.
•
43

ammy khan,

10/07/2008 19:25:04
• Review current service provision in line with emerging drug and alcohol strategies.
• Secure and where possible strengthen, current recovery based services.

PLEASE NOT FROM THE EDINBURGH DRUG ACTION TEAMS PLAN FOR 2008-2009

• Secure and where possible strengthen, current recovery based services.

WE WOULD HOPE THE ACTION TEAM WILL BE STEPPING IN TO SECURE AND STRENGTHEN, THE LINKS PROJECT A RECOVERY BASED CRISIS INTERVENTION CENTRE.
44

queen of the hill,

10/07/2008 19:33:54
ammy khan

very interesting, nothing about treatment for those who have fallen through the net. lots of education and plans though. i suppose the substance misuseres can wait a bit longer for help or they could all go at once to the ritsen clinic to see the nurse. the links project works, just keep it open, even better, open another one to compliment it. there is only links to service the whole of the lothians, fife, borders, it is not only an edinburgh issue but it is only edinburgh that do not want to purchase beds.
45

ammy khan,

10/07/2008 19:41:59
YES KEEP IT OPEN! SECURE AND STRENTHIN IT LIKE THE DRUG ACTION TEAM WANT.

WITH A TRAM LINK NEAR IT IS VERY ACCESSABLE
46

prince of the hill nearlyking..butdadsafighter,

10/07/2008 19:44:08
In reply to James(1), if you want them off the streets why not put them in a rehab centre, and give them the treatment they need to stop abusing drugs,if that will help you sleep at night.. but WAIT, why not put them in a prison for a couple of years, and when they get out you can go back to an online forum and ask them to chuck them back in the cell?..

personally i think the easier option would be to;
Help Drug addicts with their problem.

To quennypoo, you are witty but your ginger afro lets you down.
whats for dinner? can damien stay over tonight?
47

queen of the hill,

10/07/2008 20:02:30
pretender #46

for someone so sensitive to the issues of the day and the problems of drug misuse, i am surprised that you made a gingerist statement. come own ya gingers and save the links project.

come in fir yir tea and yes
48

Schot,

10/07/2008 20:03:06
37 Prnce of the Hill

"also, i have heard !!RUMOURS!! that in prison, drugs can be accessed through "presents" or "gifts" from their "uncle sammypoo". "

You can buy anything in prisons, certainly any drug. The trouble is the mandatory drug tests only successfully identify cannabis, not heroin. So effectively, by imprisoning people we are turning them into junkies. Which is bad.

That might not be an argument agianst prison but it is an argument against the criminalisation of cannabis.
49

queen of the hill,

10/07/2008 20:17:45
#41

how is it an argument against the criminalisation of canabis?
50

James (1),

10/07/2008 20:28:33
#46 yes put those who commit crime to feed their habit in jail, which will be most junkies. THEN make certain the cannot get more drugs whilst in jail (Shock, horror. Can he be serious? No drugs in jail?) and help them whilst their by treating & educating them.
If someone is in prison for a couple of years without having access to drugs then that is all the help they need to get off drugs.
Of course we can have these units helping junkies who fail and we try, try and try again. That is the "I feel your pain" way of trying to solve problems.
Don't try anything which might force that person to actually come off. Just sort of "give it a go and if you fail, well at least you tried".
For years we have had the soft approach to getting people off drugs and to state the obvious it does not work.
51

nonjudge mental.,

10/07/2008 21:05:08
oh dear number 50 - you just havent got this concept have you.

Why do you assume that all places are "touchy feely" Do you know what those hard working people do to help people when they ask for it? You are still hung up on the prison part - thats not what this is about. What have you done to "try try and try again"?
52

out of towner,

10/07/2008 21:23:41
It worries me a great deal that facilities such as the Links Project is under threat. Granted, there may well be other options available to addicts through the NHS, however this project provides a unique service which allows people to recover under the supervision of highly qualified staff and where the success rate is so much higher than those who are simply dispensed their prescription and left to fight on their own.

It disturbs me even more that some people are able to make such harsh comments on what should be done with 'people' who admit to having a problem. I highlight the word 'people' only to reiterate that none of us are without our issues. Most of us are equipped with the self-determination, control and support of others to be able to tackle the problems life throws our way, whereas some simply cannot cope - so ignoring the problem and hoping that by hiding these people away will deal with the issue is laughable.

I see so many vulnerable young people who are already users and despair at my own inability to be able to provide the right kind of support they need to avoid severe addiction. Projects like this are so invaluable that allowing it to close is an absolute outrage.
53

queen of the hill,

10/07/2008 21:45:03
schot #48

my comments to no 41 are for you, my mistake, i eagerly await your reply.

James (1) why are you bashing on about prisons, burglers, housebreakers, traffic offenders, poll tax protesters go to prison and surprise,surprise come out with drug addictions. Boredom and prison authorities turning a blind eye to the situation helps feed the addiction. That is why the links project is so desperately needed, a lot of people leaving prison go straight to the links for a detox, where will they go now?
54

Dragonlord,

10/07/2008 21:50:13
10# Do you /have you lived in a scheme /stair alongside junkies? No ? I didn't think so. Well I have and it makes life a misery. As for costing money, a box of 25- 12bore cartridges costs less than a tenner bag of scag. I know what I would buy,and give immunity, I would personally use them.These low life scum drag down everyone and everything they come in contact with and cost this counrty millions. Schemes like the links project may help one or two but how many return to drugs or continue to use even when attending? Too many for me.
55

queen of the hill,

10/07/2008 22:22:31
dragonlord #54

you sound like you are becoming aggressive. make sure you do not act out any of your fantasies or you will end up in jail, then maybe become an addict, then have no mamby pamby liberal do gooder to help you and the links will be closed as well, and you will not be welcome back at the scheme.
56

nonjudge mental.,

10/07/2008 22:23:41
yes i have lived in an area where people were affected by addiction, and yes it is difficult. This is exactly why the people on this site are commenting! Why let people with addictions continue to suffer in the community when there are places which can help?

Schemes like the Links have a far greater success than one or two, people dont continue to use when attending as its a secure residential unit for people who WANT TO GET BETTER!
57

jamtart,

Beechboro 11/07/2008 03:48:01
Jeeze all tyhe hobos go now !!!!
58

James (1),

11/07/2008 10:59:21
#51 Not true! I understand this problem clearly. What is the success rate for this project? With regard to what have I done? The answer is not take drugs, work, pay my taxes and be law abiding. You know, be a normal member of society. Not enough?

#53 I mention Prisons because that is a source of drugs and all roads lead there for junkies. Poor prisoner is bored so it’s acceptable to take drugs? I think not! As you say, comes out and needs a place to detox. Aye right! If the Prison service did its job and we stopped worrying about giving prisoners are hard time we could eradicate the drug problem in prisons.
59

Lizzy B,

Edinburgh 11/07/2008 16:31:04
#58 - Most of us work, pay taxes and are law abiding citizens, it's just that some of us like to try and make a difference and help other people too, being a 'normal member of society' isn't enough to some of us, no. I respect your right to an opinion, it's just that it frustrates me, that's all, I don't think prison is the answer to solving the drug problems of society.
60

thibor,

edinburgh 11/07/2008 17:15:34
Honest hardworking taxpayers addict sons and daughters WILL die because our glorious council and a badly managed johny come lately social care organisation (TURNING POINT SCOTLAND) cant agree on the colour of feaces..............Oh Woe are us . Well done TPS,Well done Edinburgh District Council..........There blood is in your pockets
61

queen of the hill,

11/07/2008 18:31:48
thibor I agree but......

it is not the colour of feaces that is in question here but good old fashioned money!!!!! the council will not cough up to pay for its social policies of no youth clubs, parents not taking responsibility for their children, social work chucking kids out of care homes on their 16th birthday, i could go on an on.... the point is, the links project has helped and continues to help people quit their addictions to alcohol, drugs, painkillers, canabis etc. it works to help methadone addicts kick the habit and through intensive group work programmes make them aware of how to. it detoxes people to send them to long term rehab, it arranges housing for rough sleepers, it helps people go onto further education, training and jobs. it should not be closed because of £140,000 a year, the council should pay up and put its money where its media campaign/scottish recovery stratagies lie. They are very silent about the alternative for the 465 waiting for help at the links to go for help other than 2 beds and doubling their staff (from one nurse to two). I hope that no one dies because of this but i fear there might. Substance abusers are in a dark, dark place of desperation and hopelessness and when they reach out for help they should have it.
62

Rehab Center,

LA 06/08/2008 11:15:01
It is true once we will close any of the rehab centers of city. Than it will very difficult to open them again. And it will be great loss to humanity as well. Because it is very difficult to find different recovery programs under one roof.
http://www.edrugrehabs.com/


 

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