Why has Scotland got such a huge drug problem?

JenniRen I would hazard a guess that geography has something to do with it but that's opinion, not fact. In a similar way Scots have a reputation for being dour. I am sure I read somewhere of a genetic link to alcohol addiction but I don't have facts on that.

Maremia

I take hope, David, from the research that Plevey has described upthread.

IF addiction is a genetic problem and it's getting worse it's highly likely that it is a dominant gene that is getting replicated with the generations.
Probably there always was a small number of carriers but has become widespread, social problems could be addressed if they had the commitment but there isn't so nothing is going to improve.

Grandmabatty

JenniRen I would hazard a guess that geography has something to do with it but that's opinion, not fact. In a similar way Scots have a reputation for being dour. I am sure I read somewhere of a genetic link to alcohol addiction but I don't have facts on that.

Many experts on drink consumption believe people in the northern hemisphere drink more.
I’ve drunk with many nationalities but top prize goes to the Icelanders with Denmark comings close second.

www.thedrinksbusiness.com/2018/11/people-drink-more-alcohol-in-cold-climates/

petra

Grandmabatty

JenniRen I would hazard a guess that geography has something to do with it but that's opinion, not fact. In a similar way Scots have a reputation for being dour. I am sure I read somewhere of a genetic link to alcohol addiction but I don't have facts on that.

Many experts on drink consumption believe people in the northern hemisphere drink more.
I’ve drunk with many nationalities but top prize goes to the Icelanders with Denmark comings close second.

www.thedrinksbusiness.com/2018/11/people-drink-more-alcohol-in-cold-climates/

I thought that was Croatia!

Don't try out-competing them when the Slivovitz is on the table.

Didn't Finland use to have a similar problem?
Can't remember the details, but they changed policy and made great improvements to the nation's health?

I've often read that those people such as Russians, Scandinavians tend to be more miserable and prone to be drinkers, weather can affect disposition, so possibly a reason for the correlation between a higher propensity of drug taking. Last time I was in Scotland staying with friends in Edinburgh, we took off to Oban for a few days, in the height of summer it was tantamount to a nuclear winter, rained continually and freezing, so depressing! Usually those friends came down south, maybe it was coincidental but it was always blue skies and red hot when they were with us. I hate cold drizzly, grey weather it's very mood affecting. Probably why southern Mediterranean people are so much happier than those who endure such awful weather. I did think the Danes seemed reasonably upbeat when I was there though. It was the first time I remembet being supplied with wraps and blankets for outside dining then they are the nation that gave the world Hygge.

Scotland has months of sunshine and blue skies. Usually May and September. It doesn't mean that it's warm though!

Maremia

Slightly off post, but a couple of days ago there was an article online about ketamine bladder. Sorry, forget the source.
Awful symptoms, affecting mainly girls around 13, from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Did anyone else read this?

It affects all sexes. Bladder has to be removed in extreme cases

It's shocking. Thanks for the info MT62.

nanna8

We know quite a few Scots over here in Australia. All of them like a drink or three and all of them are very witty, argumentative and very loyal friends. Similar with our Irish friends, though we don’t know quite so many .

‘One for the road’ one for everyone’s road I use to say when my Scottish relatives got together.

Maremia

It's shocking. Thanks for the info MT62.

I was shocked too. I didn’t realise what a problem we had with that drug.
They either end up in incontinence pads, or bladder removed with kidney bags in place- all that for a high 😳
Oh isn’t it the Greens who wanted to legalise drugs- one good reason I don’t want them in.

lizzypopbottle

I understand peer pressure but I've often wondered who takes a depressed or vulnerable person on one side and tells them, "Try this highly addictive substance that will drive you to crime to feed the inevitable habit..."

" Cheer up. Try one of these, it'll make you feel better. And it's safe, my Granny takes it. She gets it from the doctor ".

I don't think the current drug problem is solely due to lack of income, poor education or decent jobs. I live near a small "quaint" rural town which draws in large tourist numbers with it beams, cobbled alleys and Olde Tea Shoppes in every street. Butter wouldn't melt in its mouth during the day but, if you walk through it after 9pm, the streets (and public lavatories) are littered with people whose faculties are clearly impaired by drink and/or drugs. Equally, when I visited Chester (allegedly a rather upmarket place to live), I saw exactly the same. Drugs represent a lucrative business investment for unscrupulous and powerful people whose aim is to keep people firmly attached to their various addictions. Maybe that's easier to do in Scotland (although I can't imagine why).

I don’t think that’s how it works with drugs. They wait for young kids coming out of school, and it is seen as cool to try them.

How are the drugs so readily available? Why do so many use them when they see all around them the damage they do? I can only think the people that take them have no hope and little regard for themselves. It is so sad. I cannot see how any drug programme can work if you do not get to why it happens in the first place. Children born into families that use drugs are most likely to end up like their parents, Perhaps the best people to ask are people that managed to overcome a drug problem and educate children from very young..

Allsorts

How are the drugs so readily available? Why do so many use them when they see all around them the damage they do? I can only think the people that take them have no hope and little regard for themselves. It is so sad. I cannot see how any drug programme can work if you do not get to why it happens in the first place. Children born into families that use drugs are most likely to end up like their parents, Perhaps the best people to ask are people that managed to overcome a drug problem and educate children from very young..

The police know exactly who is distributing drugs but there are so many that are either too loyal or too afraid and won't give evidence against the main dealers, so it's impossible to get a conviction. They only catch a few low level street dealers who are happy to spend a year or two in jail, betraying the gang is often fatal.
This is the problem with our legal system getting evidence to convict the gang leaders almost impossible

TerriBull

I've often read that those people such as Russians, Scandinavians tend to be more miserable and prone to be drinkers, weather can affect disposition, so possibly a reason for the correlation between a higher propensity of drug taking. Last time I was in Scotland staying with friends in Edinburgh, we took off to Oban for a few days, in the height of summer it was tantamount to a nuclear winter, rained continually and freezing, so depressing! Usually those friends came down south, maybe it was coincidental but it was always blue skies and red hot when they were with us. I hate cold drizzly, grey weather it's very mood affecting. Probably why southern Mediterranean people are so much happier than those who endure such awful weather. I did think the Danes seemed reasonably upbeat when I was there though. It was the first time I remembet being supplied with wraps and blankets for outside dining then they are the nation that gave the world Hygge.

Climate change is drastically changing our weather. A very long, hot dry summer here this year.

Who is in charge of Scotland's mess? The SNP.

Grantanow, not entirely. Westminster control a lot of what goes on. I think Snp need to address this with some urgency and John Swinney isn't the man to do it.

Grandmabatty

JenniRen I would hazard a guess that geography has something to do with it but that's opinion, not fact. In a similar way Scots have a reputation for being dour. I am sure I read somewhere of a genetic link to alcohol addiction but I don't have facts on that.

People of Scotland are ‘Dour’ I take that to mean miserable!
I don’t agree with that at all. All the Glaswegians I know are the most entertaining, funny people I know.
I love watching the family when they get together, just how they describe life in general.
I would say the English are way more boring as they take life way too serious.
You only have to watch a Scottish gig, compared to an English gig, the Scot’s know how to celebrate & party. Same with the Irish.
Maybe because there is drink involved.
The only dour people I knew were further up in Fife.
That is coming from an English person.

I don't say we are dour, merely we have a reputation for it. I agree with glaswegians being incredibly friendly. Many Scots I know enjoy a good party.

SNP have their hands tied as drugs and many other issues that are a problem are RESERVEDto Westminster !
If you don’t understand how devolution works I suggest you read up on it.
I find the opinions on here offensive..if Scotland osfull of drunks,drug abusers and dour umplrasant people in a depresseive climate ….WHY is it a magnet for tourists who sing its praises…or why are people flocking here from England shire?
The ignorance is astounding ,we may not get the high temperatures suffered by you but we in the main are happy with the low 20 ,s we do get.Our fields are green
Our farmers have good harvests and no water shortages.
The people are the friendliest most helpful you.ll find anywhere on the island .
Please don’t bet your information from a biased media…BRITNAT media…by there very existence they have to defend the union and run down and sign of any good north of the Tweed ….and they do
Scotlands drug statistics may well be bad but look closer and see that the statistics are gathered differently..like our Covid stats were and include not just illegal drugs but anyone who died for any reason not of drug taking but with drugs even prescription drugs in their system.
It’s complex but please don’t believe all you see on the media.
Scotland is a great country .

Grandmabatty

I don't say we are dour, merely we have a reputation for it. I agree with glaswegians being incredibly friendly. Many Scots I know enjoy a good party.

I don’t know who’s given you that reputation, probably same ones that say the Scots are tight!

It may be the weather, it may be genetic, but another factor could be that the further north you go, the less actual light arrives per year on the northern land surface than on more southerly parts. That light is less in quality as well as in quantity. Because of the curvature of the earth, each ray of light falling on Scotland has to travel a longer path through the atmosphere than the ones falling on Devon or Cornwall - the difference is even greater on the places between the two tropics, either side of the equator where their path is perpendicular, or nearly so.
People in Scandinavian countries have a reputation for heavy drinking - and also for depression. That and Scotland's drug-taking levels probably share similar causes why some of them need to bolster their jollity level with stimulants.
I have some maps/pics, but for some reason they won't load. I'll try again in ten minutes or so.

How true B&J. They are known as Cinderella drugs.
Some of the drugs the GPs hand out are every bit as bad & much worse to withdraw from.
Also a lot of the time there is no help from the Gp. You are left to get on with it.