ALCOHOL POSES GREATER THREAT THAN DRUGS

A handful of young people
tragically die apparently from the use of mephedrone and there is a
public outcry for its immediate ban. Hundreds, young and old, die
every week from the use of alcohol and there is a deafening silence.
As Prof David Nutt, who was sacked as a drugs adviser to the
Government, said recently, alcohol is the gateway drug that remains
the greatest threat to society and the Government's failure to address
the problem epitomises its disregard for scientific evidence. He also
said that if alcohol was discovered tomorrow it would definitely be
illegal. It is a dangerous drug, there is no doubt about that.

I suspect that, in each of the recent deaths, allegedly from
mephedrone, alcohol played a prominent part. Yet I hear no public
clamour for a ban on alcohol. We live in a strange society.

Ronald B Low, Hyndland, Glasgow.