Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson challenged Mr Salmond over his government' implementation of the drugs strategy, highlighting the cost of methadone treatment the almost doubling of babies born to drug addicted mothers and the number of prisoners taking methadone reaching a record high.

BBC: First minister's questions

They strongly object to criminal penalties for drug-addicted pregnant women, favouring rehabilitation instead.

ECONOMIST: Abortion

Treatment for obesity itself is not considered deductible even if many of those who are overweight equate being addicted to food in much the same way as drug addicts can be addicted to cocaine or heroine.

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The inquest into the death of Mr Thompson, of Gorton, heard he had a long history of drink and drug abuse and had been addicted to crack cocaine and heroin.

BBC: Edale House nurses struck off over patient death

But he said that the reasons for humans becoming addicted to any drug were more complex than simply their genetic make-up, and that a test for any gene uncovered by further research would not necessarily work.

BBC: NEWS | Health | Key differences in addicts brains

Voluntary drug rehab rarely works, as newspaper headlines about addicted celebrities frequently remind us.

FORBES: Fact & Comment

He noted that 4% to 6% of children become addicted to gambling, and that it has been linked with other high-risk behaviors, including drug use.

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