A national body which works closely with people affected by drug and alcohol misuse has criticised comments made in The Courier by Dundee’s housing convener.
George Burton, of the Scottish Training on Drugs and Alcohol (STRADA) group at Glasgow University, was stunned by remarks made by Councillor Jimmy Black at Monday’s city council development management committee.
The SNP councillor was commenting on a proposed pharmacy application and was seeking assurances that methadone users would not take their prescription in public.
Mr Black, who supports the application, said he ”hated” to see that happening in his pharmacy.
But his opposition to sharing a space with drug users has caused offence at STRADA, who emailed Mr Black and Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing Nicola Sturgeon to outline their upset.
Mr Burton wrote: ”I invite you (Mr Black) to consider how such views publicly expressed and reported upon fits with the Scottish Government’s Road to Recovery drugs strategy.
”I invite you to consider how factors such as stigma act as barriers to successful recovery for people affected by substance misuse and their families, and if you feel that comments which promote unhelpful reinforcements of stereotypes are appropriate.
”As an elected public official, I ask you to consider the implications of such comments for your constituents, many of whose lives are blighted by the spectre of addiction and dependence and find their roads to recovery blocked and their progress impeded by a society which does not seem willing to allow people to move on with their lives.”
The Coldside councillor, who has contacted Mr Burton, stressed he was giving an honest opinion on the planning matter.
He added: ”I completely understand why people don’t like to share the same space as drug users in chemists. You get people lingering outside the shop who are clearly on something and this can make it quite uncomfortable because you don’t know what you could face.
”There is obviously a stigma attached to drug addicts I am sorry, but that is the case.
”I believe rehabilitation is the best way forward and strongly support groups and organisations who help in this.”
The comments, Mr Black said, were made during a ”very difficult planning decision” and his duty to represent concerns held by constituents is of paramount importance.
”I am there to represent constituents and not a drug and alcohol organisation,” he said. ”Drug addicts need help and support and I am all for organisations that exist to deal with that.”
He continued: ”Drug users cost a fortune. Not just in terms of prescriptions but a large number of looked-after children have substance abuse parents.”