TACKLE DRUGS AS A SOCIAL ISSUE

In the light of the recent research showing widespread alcohol related
problems among young people, Chronicle Comment made a number of pertinent
points concerning our drug policies.

I totally agree that a combined substance abuse policy would go a long way
to reducing the harms of all drugs, legal or illegal. Unfortunately, such a
sensible recommendation is unlikely to be implemented by the government in
the forseeable future. The concept of harm reduction (reducing the harms
caused by drugs and the harms caused by drug prohibition) is anathema to
the Labour government, who see drugs policy primarily as a law and order
issue rather than a health and social issue.

Clearly alcohol and tobacco are the major drug problems in society today.
Even as someone who likes an occasional drink, I was shocked to find that
one in eight deaths of men under 30 is directly caused by alcohol. Compare
this to deaths caused by cannabis - no recorded overdose death in 5000
years of recorded use.

Of course cannabis is not completely harmless, and people are more prone to
accidents when under it's influence, but if I was to hazard a guess, I
would reckon the death rate attributable to cannabis use would be nearer 1
in 8 million rather than 1 in 8 as it is for alcohol.

The Anne Widdecombe's of this world should think about that they next time
they swig champagne in public whilst preaching "zero tolerance" about the
"scourge of illegal drugs". The health of the nation should take priority
over drug war rhetoric.

All Things In Moderation