DRUGS experts have branded Scotland’s methadone programme a failure in the wake of a government-funded study that shows only 3% of addicts kick the habit.

The study, by Glasgow University’s Centre for Drug Misuse Research, has shown that the vast majority of addicts on the £6.5m-a-year heroin-replacement programme are still taking illegal drugs years later. According to the study, which followed 695 drug users from 33 addiction centres across Scotland, 97% were still taking methadone or illegal drugs three years after receiving their first dose.

The findings are in stark contrast to England, where almost 25% are free from illegal drugs within two years.

This year the Scottish executive’s budget for tackling drug abuse reached a record £67m. It is estimated that about 20,000 drug users are receiving methadone in Scotland. NHS spending on the heroin substitute has more than doubled over the past five years.

Neil McKeganey, who led the research, has blamed the programme’s failure on the policy in Scotland, which aims to stabilise addicts’ drug use rather than getting them permanently off drugs, as in England. Methadone treatment is supposed to wean addicts off drugs by slowly decreasing the amount prescribed. However, in some cases drug abusers are kept on a steady dose to avoid a return to heroin once the dosage drops.

Earlier this year Jack McConnell ordered a review of Scotland’s methadone programme following the death of two-year-old Derek Doran, who died after drinking the addictive painkiller, which mimics the effects of heroin.

“It is quite intolerable that such a low proportion of Scottish addicts treated with methadone are able to become drug-free,” said McKeganey. “It is necessary in the light of these results to identify why it is that they are unable to bring such a small number to recovery.

“There is no reason why methadone programmes in Scotland should be achieving such low results compared with England and it is frankly unacceptable.”

According to McKeganey’s study, which was funded by the Scottish executive and the Robertson Trust, addicts treated in residential rehabilitation centres were far more likely to kick the habit. Almost 30% were drug-free three years later.

Last night Annabel Goldie, leader of the Scottish Conservatives, described the findings as disturbing. “Clearly, the way forward if we are serious about reducing drug addiction in Scotland and helping to keep more people off drugs, is to expand rehabilitation facilities,” she said.

The Scottish executive said: “Different approaches and combinations of approaches work for different people. There is no ‘one size fits all’ solution.”

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