Drug addicted US troops sent to Scotland for help

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Drug addicted US troops sent to Scotland for help


Iraq veterans in rehab with NHS patients

By Liam McDougall, Health Correspondent



A PICTURESQUE Scottish hospital is being used by the US military as a base to treat drug and alcohol addicted troops who have fought in Iraq, the Sunday Herald can reveal.
The US department of defence is sending up to 40 damaged servicemen and women a year – including marines, army and airforce personnel – to Castle Craig rehabilitation clinic to undergo intensive treatment.

The remote centre, which sits in 50 acres of scenic grounds in West Linton, Peeblesshire, has become so highly regarded, it has been classed as a “preferred provider” by military chiefs who are flying in addicts from American bases across Europe.

The controversial clinic is best known for treating Scots alcohol and heroin addicts who have been referred there by the NHS. It also takes in private patients, such as the artist Peter Howson, who enrolled at the clinic in 2000 to overcome alcoholism.

But it has now emerged that the centre has landed a huge contract to treat addicts from the military who have turned to drink and drugs after suffering harrowing ordeals in Iraq. The hospital also treats close relatives of military personnel who become addicts.

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