The Scottish Government has launched a new five-point strategy aimed at tackling the country's drugs problems.

The government said its focus would be on "recovery and helping people live drug-free lives".

Community Safety Minister Fergus Ewing told MSPs funding for health board drug treatment programmes would be increased by 3.8%.

The prison service is also to get an extra £94m over the next three years to tackle drug addiction.

Every household is to get an information leaflet so that parents can warn their children off drugs.

There are an estimated 52,000 problem drug users and a further 22,000 on the methadone programme, receiving a prescribed substitute for heroin.

Mr Ewing told MSPs: "In the past there has not been enough focus on achieving positive outcomes for people with drug problems.

"We must make this a priority for the future.

"We will achieve this by reforming how drugs services are planned, commissioned and delivered."

The national drugs strategy launched at Holyrood today is the first since 1999.

Mr Ewing pointed out Scotland has, per head of population, more drug addicts than most comparable European countries.

But he said: "That is not something we should accept as an inescapable fact of life."

Drugs claimed the lives of 421 people in Scotland in 2006, and it is estimated the problem costs society some £2.6 billion a year.

"If we want a more successful Scotland, with opportunities for all to flourish, then tackling problem drug use is not something that we can either avoid or ignore," the minister said.

"As a society we need to face up to Scotland's drug problem."

And he stressed: "Our vision is that the idea of recovery must be central to our new strategy, and the guiding purpose of all drug treatment services."

Mr Ewing described recovery as being "the principle that more than just reducing risk and harm, services should support people to move on towards a drug-free live as active and contributing members of society".

Holyrood is to debate and vote on the strategy next week.

The Scottish Government has estimated the cost of the country's drug problem at £2.6bn a year.