EDINBURGH, Scotland - June 10, 2006 (UPI) -- Close to 1 million dirty needles used by heroin addicts in Scotland last year apparently were dumped, The Scotsman reported.

The news has sparked calls for Scotland to review strategies to prevent the spread of hepatitis C, the newspaper said.

The statistics released by the Scottish Executive show that more than 2.9 million needles were given to drug addicts at clinics nationwide. However, only 1.9 million appear to have been returned.

Drug workers are advised to give addicts new needles in exchange for dirty ones to prevent sharing of needles, which leads to the spread of hepatitis C. The program is also designed to curb the discarding of needles in streets and parks, the newspaper said. Scotland has put out specially provided safe bins for needle discarding.

The gap between needles handed out and those returned has alarmed citizens across Scotland, The Scotsman said.

Professor Neil McKeganey, director of the Center for Drug Misuse, has called for a crackdown on clinics that are too ready to distribute clean needles.

"There is growing concern that needle exchanges are adding to the level of discarded needles," he said.

Copyright 2006 United Press International