Serious concerns have been raised about the blas attitude shown by some Scottish adults towards taking illegal drugs.
MSP Murdo Fraser spoke out after a string of young professionals appeared in the dock at Perth Sheriff Court to face charges after the T in the Park music festival.
On Monday a promising young lawyer found her fledgling legal career in ruins after being convicted, following trial, of possessing ecstasy at last year’s event.
Justine Siebenaler (26), from Glasgow, was fined £200 after a sheriff found her guilty of taking drugs, concealed in her underwear, into the festival.
On Tuesday, an oil worker who earns £4,000 a month revealed that his future prospects were in jeopardy as he admitted taking £220 worth of cocaine into this year’s T in the Park.
Nathan David Wood, South Esk Place, Montrose, was one of seven people facing festival drugs charges at Perth.
The 30-year-old was fined £1,350 after pleading guilty to possessing the class A drug at Balado on July 7.
Neither he nor Miss Siebenaler had any previous convictions and claimed never to have had involvement with drugs before attending the festival.
Wood worked for a firm that operated a strict anti-drugs policy and was subjected to regular screenings.
Mr Fraser said it was time Scotland’s young adults and young professionals in general had a change of attitude towards illegal substances.
”Two recent court cases have challenged common-held stereotypes about those taking drugs,” he said. ”Television and music often glamorises drug abuse and young people with promising careers are being drawn into experimenting with narcotics.
”The ‘work hard play hard’ maxim adopted by many young professionals has created a dangerous attitude towards recreational drug abuse. Perhaps our young people need to be reminded once more of the dangers posed by class A drugs.”
Also appearing at court on Tuesday was Amanda Sargenti (30), of Alexander Road, Glenrothes, who was fined £400 after she admitted possessing ecstasy and amphetamine at the event on July 6.
Gavin Welch (26), of Strathmartine Road, Dundee, was fined £500 after he admitted possessing cocaine on the same day.
Wayne Hutchison (37), of Veronica Crescent, Kirkcaldy, was fined £600 after admitting possessing cannabis and cocaine on July 6.