OUT OF TOUCH ON DRUGS

Your report (Ecstasy not dangerous, say scientists, September 2) highlights
the current quagmire of drugs policy and the urgent need for the government
to provide us with some clarity. This is the second high-profile study
within a matter of months to suggest that much of the current evidence
around ecstasy is unreliable, selective and riddled by bias.

The danger of overstating the risks is obvious. As soon as a government
message appears to be out of touch with reality, young people will not only
disregard the information given on ecstasy but will also ignore our
warnings on drugs like heroin and crack cocaine.

This new research reinforces the need for the home secretary to refer the
classification of ecstasy, as a matter of urgency, to the experts on the
advisory council on the misuse of drugs. Only then can we be sure that all
the evidence has been independently reviewed and we have a policy on the
risks of ecstasy that we can better trust.

Roger Howard

Chief executive, DrugScope

Young people stop believing us when we shout loudly about drugs being
"extremely dangerous" when they are not. Drugs differ widely and some are
indeed dangerous. But, as Milton Friedman said, prohibition makes things
worse, not better. With legalisation, we should mount campaigns on how to
use drugs properly, how to combat addiction and how not to start at all. At
present we educate very ineffectively in these areas. Addiction then
becomes a health problem not a criminal one.

Dr Geoffrey Watson

Winchester, Hants