Illegal drugs can be harmless

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Article #440, published by Samuel on March 11th, 2007 in HEALTH, PEOPLE and POLITICS.

Illegal drugs can be “harmless” and should no longer be “demonised”, a wide-ranging two-year study concluded today. The report said Britain’s drug laws were “not fit for purpose” and should be torn up in favour of a system which recognised that drinking and smoking could cause more harm.
The RSA Commission on Illegal Drugs ,set up in January 2005, also called for the main focus of drugs education to be shifted from secondary to primary schools and recommended the introduction of so-called “shooting galleries” - rooms where users can inject drugs. The report, compiled by a panel of academics, politicians, drugs workers, journalists and a senior police officer, also called for the Home Office to be stripped of its lead role in drugs policy.

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It recommended the Misuse of Drugs Act be scrapped in favour of a wider-ranging Misuse of Substances Act, and the current ABC classification system be abandoned in favour of an “index of harms”.
Current laws, the panel claimed, were been “driven by moral panic” with large amounts of money wasted on “futile” efforts to stop supply rather than going after the criminal networks behind the drugs on British streets. At the heart of the report was a call for an end to what the panel called the “criminal justice bias” of current policy in favour of an approach that would treat addiction as a health and social problem rather than simply a cause of crime. The report, which aimed to influence a government review of drug strategy next year, also called for jail sentences to be given for only the most serious drugs-related crimes and for addicts to be given jobs and housing as part of treatment. It also recommended wider access to treatment such as prescription heroin. Former Conservative leader Iain Duncan Smith, who is chair of the Conservative Social Justice Policy Group, described the report as “worryingly complacent” and accused the members of the commission of failing to do their homework. I find it most disappointing that the RSA report appears to endorse the failed harm reduction strategy of recent years and to ignore extensive evidence that residential rehab can lead to full recovery from drug addiction. He said the RSA had not surveyed the views of drug addicts or looked at treatment programmes in such countries as Sweden and Holland, where levels of drug abuse are much lower than the UK.
But commission chairman Prof Anthony King of Essex University and Current policy is broke and needs to be fixed. The report, which is likely to spark fierce controversy, said: “The use of illegal drugs is by no means always harmful any more than alcohol use is always harmful. It called for the concept of drugs to be extended to take in alcohol and tobacco. The evidence suggests that a majority of people who use drugs are able to use them without harming themselves or others. They are able, in that sense, to ‘manage’ their drug use … The harmless use of illegal drugs is thus possible, indeed common.” Describing the drugs trade as a business, the report said illegal drugs had been “demonised” by politicians and the media. It said a lot of money was wasted trying to achieve the “impossible” goals of completely stopping the importation of illegal drugs, as well as the production, distribution and sale of illegal drugs within the UK. Describing the Misuse of Drugs Act as unwieldy and inflexible, the report says: “It sends people to prison who should not be there. It forces people into treatment who do not need it (while, in effect, denying treatment to people who do need it).” While the report does not call for decriminalisation, it questions the idea of total prohibition. “Drugs policy should, like our policy on alcohol and tobacco, seek to regulate use and prevent harm rather than to prohibit use altogether,” the report concludes. The RSA is the Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce.

24 Responses to “Illegal drugs can be harmless”

1. Builder Mar 11th, 2007 at 2:07 pm
I support legalizing marijuana, but not legalizing other, “harder” drugs. The undeniable truth is that legalizing drugs increases usage of those drugs. While I’m
okay with increased marijuana usage, I’m not with increased crack or heroin usage. Those drugs ruin lives, including many innocent childrens’ lives.

2. Stipe Mar 11th, 2007 at 2:07 pm
The undeniable truth is that legalizing drugs increases usage of those drugs. So?

3. Hur Mar 11th, 2007 at 2:08 pm
Exactly. Humans have a natural urge to alter their experience of the world. Why are some approaches to this (meditation, religious practice, physical discipline,
certain blessed substances) considered ok, but others considered crimes?

4. Otto Mar 11th, 2007 at 2:08 pm
I think you make a good point, but I think the difference is that taking a drug is so simple. Physical discipline, meditation, and learning about religion all require
some kind of desire and effort to realize a new experience of the world; taking a drug doesn’t.

5. Hawking Mar 11th, 2007 at 2:08 pm
Something being easy is not a good argument against it. I’m taking away your car, your computer, your stove, and your central heat. It’s for your own good,
doing without these things that make certain human desires easy to fulfill will build character.

6. Antonio Mar 11th, 2007 at 2:09 pm
Well, I can’t say for the blessed substances(I think I follow on that), but I’ve never heard of a monk overdosing on meditation.

7. Karlo Mar 11th, 2007 at 2:09 pm
The vast majority of overdose cases are the result of conditions set up by prohibition. If heroin users had access to predictable strength doses, they wouldn’t
overdose unless they intended too. People who want to overdose will do so with whatever material is available, whether it’s junk or cough syrup.

8. Rayan Mar 11th, 2007 at 2:10 pm
They ruin lives because they have a high(er) tendency to addict users in a harmful way (e.g., leading them to neglect their spouses, children, work, societal
duties, etc.).

9. Marot Mar 11th, 2007 at 2:11 pm
I agree about the harder drugs, but it would be nice if, along with legalization of marijuana, there came a more rational viewpoint towards harder drugs too.
The current hysteria over drugs really needs to end.

10. Scott Mar 11th, 2007 at 2:11 pm
How do you and parent plan to define “harder drug”. Heroin is many folks favorite Demon drug. But it’s less addictive than nicotine and has more benign long
term effects on health than either tobacco or alcohol as an addiction. Methodone, the replacement narcotic they use to wean junkies off heroin is worse for you —
it’s only “advantage” is that it doesn’t produce such morally reprehensible highs.

11. Richard Mar 11th, 2007 at 2:12 pm
Unless it’s marijuana. It’s documented that marijuana users drive more carefully while intoxicated than normal people. Weed makes you more paranoid while not
affecting your judgement. So you know you’re intoxicated and you (over)compensate for it.

12. Rastaman Mar 11th, 2007 at 2:13 pm
“I haven’t tried any form of drugs” Proof that we need better education systems.

13. Reality Check Apr 26th, 2007 at 5:13 pm
Legalizing one drug won't do anything. All drugs are gateways to all the others. Everyone who has used drugs for any length of time knows that. Doesn't mean we
all take that gateway, but almost no one starts their drug abuse with needles. Most work their way through the list, and there's nothing that can stop that, so let's
not pretend legalizing drugs will change usage. What it WILL change is street violence.
I wish there were no drugs, but if anyone could go buy them the same way you get cigarettes and alcohol, you wouldn't have people getting shot over bad drug deals,
and you wouldn't have anyone dying from a bad cut of the drug either. I'd rather see everything known to man for sale, so that the streets will be safer. An awful lot
of violence comes from the sale of illegal drugs, and so does the money to continue the violence. Set a price and quality that the streets can't match, and these
problems will fade away over time. All the laws for driving intoxicated are still in effect, and so are terms of employment. Just as you can't go to work drunk, you still
won't be able to be under the influence of drugs in many jobs, so nothing becomes less safe, despite many opinions to the contrary. What DOES happen is you increase
personal accountability for one's life choices. Anyways, I think that the decrease in violence outweighs any philosophical objections.
We can still teach people to understand how their lives will be affected by drugs when they are legal. It might even be easier.

14. Dave Apr 26th, 2007 at 6:13 pm
You never heard of the monks who'd bury themselves and meditate until they ran out of oxy? look it up.. i'd call that more of an overdose than any use of mj EVER.

15. Drew Apr 26th, 2007 at 6:53 pm
Everyday pot is smoked, coke is snorted, crack is smoked. Clearly the laws and efforts of the government to stop these activities ARE NOT WORKING! Instead of
spending half of the budget in this "war on drugs" to arrest and prosecute stoners, why not legalize, regulate, safely culminate, tax, and distribute marijuana? Why
doesnt the government worry about crack and heroin and coke, and turn the pot hungry demand in the US into a lucrative machine instead of an impossible
and expensive endeavor??? After all, in FL, it is the number two export (unofficially that is), as it is not a legal cash crop...

16. Davo Apr 26th, 2007 at 6:59 pm
you fuck anyone who doesnt want weed to be legalised.

17. Dyjester Apr 26th, 2007 at 9:59 pm
???"The undeniable truth is that legalizing drugs increaces usage"??? Does saying something enough makes it true? Anything to back that statement up? Are you
implying you are not a crackhead simply because it is illegal or did you make a decision that you don't want to be a crackhead? Most people can decide for
themselves. I love drugs... have tried almost all drugs hard and soft yet could pass a piss test today. I'm not a crackhead because I choose not to be and therefore
don't repeatedly use crack... not rocket science. Besides that, as far as highs go crack sucks big time... no hysterical laughter...
no visual/auditory hallucinations... no social enhancement... no mystical/spiritual experiences etc. I prefer LSD, THC, MDMA, DMT, N2O, PCP, but dont wish to be
addicted to these either. Lets face some real facts here. Some people have problems.... wether it be hard. or soft drugs.... gambling. anger. or sex. Its really
pretty easy to tell who these people are and easy to help those who want help. I say let nature take its course with the rest and weed out the feebleminded.
Finally lets stop insulting the Dutch with ignorant, untrue statements which further the constant pressure on them to recriminalize recreational drug use.

18. Sensi Star Apr 26th, 2007 at 11:1 pm
'The undeniable truth is that legalizing drugs increases usage of those drugs'... Do your homework my friend, when they 'legalized' cannabis in Amsterdam, there wasn't a rise in the people who used it, it pretty much stayed as it was.

19. Alex Apr 26th, 2007 at 11:9 pm
I agree whole heartedly with the final comment, people claiming never to have tried 'drugs' are victims of the propaganda machine trying to stop supply etc. a chemical is a chemical and a more logical system is required, anyone noticed at present you hear less about 'heroin the demon' and more 'ice ice ice' with the shift in the media attention? Wheres all the studies into alcohol?

20. truthiness Apr 26th, 2007 at 12:5 pm
@Builder "The undeniable truth is that legalizing drugs increases usage of those drugs" incorrect you need to read a study or two before posting.. the cold hard TRUTH is that when you legalize something there will be a momentart increase in use ..(this surge will come from people to scared of getting caught or society looking down on them..trying it for the first time)..then you will see a fall off of usage back down to the normal level.. In countries where they turn the other way(Amsterdam..not legal there.. they treat it as a mental illness rather than a criminal act..) they show that the only raise in usage comes from the tourists that come to do the drugs... but it is proven that the general population is going to do drugs if it is legal or not.. and as far as which drugs are hard drugs and which are not.. well you would be a moron if you need me to answer this for you.. anything you can overdose on should be classified as a HARD drug..if we did this we could release all the people who got arrested for WEED and make room for people that rape little girls and rob people .. but maybe you people would rather see a real criminal out on the steets.. me pesonaly i would rather worry about the POTHEAD in front of me at the drive through taking forever because he is to high.. than the guy with the ski mask that is going to take your wallet and rape your daughter..but hey this is AMERICA and Rapists have rights...but those damn POTHEADS need to be stoped...lol

21. Big_DanMahony Apr 26th, 2007 at 12:9 pm
Absolute bullshit.I have no qualms with legalising drugs,but to say that they are harmless and have no effect on health,both mentally and physically is a complete lie.I just stopped smoking weed and my head is going back to normal.No more awkward train rides,due to having a "bong-over",My confidence is sky high and I will never look back.

22. Some K Apr 26th, 2007 at 12:50 pm
alcohol- addictive, able to 'overdose'
marijuana- not addictive, and i have yet to hear of someone overdose on marijuana
Alcohol- drunk driving anyone?
Marijuana- Driving high? fun as hell
im for marijuana
nothing else

23. Kevin Apr 26th, 2007 at 13:33 pm
No we are not religious at all. We are a country where all religions and faiths can gather and pray in peace and free of harm. Divorce rates, gay marriage, abortions happen all the time in America. I believe the divorce rate is 50%. However we do use God in everyday context is based from w hen America was FOUNDED. During those times everyone was deeply religious and so the word "in god we trust" or "god bless America" "one nation under god." just because those words are in pledges that were created at the birth of our nation does not mean that the entire nation believes in God. Please don't generalize America.

24. Evil Apr 26th, 2007 at 16:59 pm
I am not a drug user, I actually do advocate the legalization of drugs. Although I do have many sinister motives for this stance. Survival of the fittest, are humans who allow themselves to get addicted in such a manner the fittest to survive? It seems people who are very pro drugs or personal freedoms go out of their way to make the case for the legalization of drugs. The monk that mediated and sophicated killed himself. He didn't force his child to watch him sophicate. He didn't force his spouse to watch him sophicate. He didn't rob anyone to bring about this sophication. You clearly can't compare the 2. To me, drug use, or anything that will endanger YOUR life is fine by me...as long as you have no other responsibilities in the world. If you have children, a family...you shouldn't be allowed to drink yourself to death, overdose, become a crack addict...etc etc. To me these responsibilities nullify any freedoms you once possess. Maybe if this premise was adapted it would cut down on overpopulation and also the victims of drug abuse.

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