City drugs tsar to stand down

THE Capital's drugs and drink tsar is to stand down after more than three years in the post.

Former Lothian and Borders deputy chief constable Tom Wood (above) will leave the Edinburgh action team in the summer and hand over to council health chief Peter Gabbitas.

Mr Gabbitas, the director of health and social care, will face the difficult task of juggling both roles. Mr Wood's time has been marked by the rise of excessive drinking and cheap and accessible cocaine in the Capital.

However, he has also brought greater efficiency and co-ordination to the numerous agencies providing support and treatment for city users.

"The alcohol problem has been with us for a very long time but we have become more aware of it of late," he said.

"It will always be a bigger problem than drugs as it affects a lot more people. As regards cocaine, drugs come in trends, and in Edinburgh at the moment we are at the end of a heroin trend and the start of cocaine and other psycho-stimulants trend.

"Cocaine and alcohol are a lethal combination – that's a huge challenge for the future."

Mr Wood says that he has had to change his understanding of the issues surrounding illegal drugs since leaving the police.

While enforcement – cracking down on dealers – is still a major part of tackling the problem, addressing housing, employment, mental health and other issues are also key to reducing the number of people from all walks of life whose lives are blighted by drugs.

"A lot of people see drugs as something on its own, and not its relationship with other things such as mental illness, the use of alcohol, other medical conditions and homelessness," Mr Wood said.

"We have to convince people it's not something that just happens in some drab housing scheme but in all areas of society."

Mr Wood's efforts in joining up the different drugs and drink agencies in Edinburgh and setting them targets to try to measure real progress has been rewarded with a recent funding boost of £1 million from the Scottish Government.

This has allowed the action team to start new initiatives, including LEAP – a Leith-based abstinence programme, and PrePare, which helps pregnant women who have drink or drugs problems. However, despite all the progress made in the past three years, Mr Wood, who was as the first independent chairman of the action team, and was subsequently elected chairman of the Scottish Association of Alcohol and Drug Action Teams (SADAAT), believes more complicated challenges are just around the corner.

"We will see different and increasingly sophisticated drugs arrive on the scene," he warned. "Over the last ten years we have seen drug use evolving. Drug users have become even more discerning and sophisticated.

"Ten years ago we saw the rise of ecstasy and I think there will be other drugs to follow, such as crystal meth."

Mr Gabbitas, who joined the city council in 2005 following seven years as chief executive of East, Mid and West Lothian health care trusts, said: "I will be continuing with the excellent work that's been done."

• www.edinburgh.gov.uk
• www.actionalcoholdrugsedinburgh.org