However, I do not seek to diminish the excellent work—indeed, I pay tribute to it—that is being done by many dedicated men and women throughout Scotland as they struggle to make a contribution to the fight against the awesome and, from the evidence, overwhelming challenge of drug abuse in Scotland.Although the evidence of what is now a modern-day plague blighting Scotland is frightening, it also commands attention. In 2003, more than 40,000 drug-related crimes were recorded—that represents a 38 per cent increase since 1997, or a drug-related crime every 12 minutes.