Scots seek to tackle parental drug spree

A Scottish parliament think-tank is to look at new ways to tackle substance misuse after concerns about how parental drug use affects children.

The Scottish Futures Forum is to gather 250 people with experience and expertise in substance misuse in a series of meetings this year.

It will look at the role communities play in tackling substance misuse, policy and regulation, how treatment options can be improved, preventive work and the impact on young people.

Chief executive Robert Rae said a spate of cases where children were affected by their parents’ drug-taking had highlighted the issue. “There are 50,000 children affected by their parents’ drug-taking and 100,000 by alcohol abuse and we are concerned about future generations.”