Pubdate: Fri, 31 Mar 2000
Source: Times, The (UK)
Copyright: 2000 Times Newspapers Ltd
Contact:  PO Box 496, London E1 9XN, United Kingdom
Fax: +44-(0)171-782 5046
Website: http://www.the-times.co.uk/
Author: Richard Evans and Peter Stoker

TIME TO RECLASSIFY ILLEGAL DRUGS?

From Mr Richard Evans:

Sir, I lectured in pharmacology for 25 years in a medical school and am
surprised that the Police Foundation inquiry (reports, March 29) should
suggest classifying amphetamines and other drugs with amphetamine-like
effects as being less harmful than either cocaine or heroin.

There are clear reasons in any general textbook of pharmacology as to why
the known actions of these substances on the cardiovascular system might,
under certain circumstances, have a lethal effect. I am sure most
pharmacologists would rank cocaine and amphetamines side by side in terms of
their dangerous potential.

It seems that the 16 to 24-year-olds who contributed to the survey may have
been better informed than Lady Runciman's panel.

Richard Evans
24 South Road, Portishead, Bristol BS20 7DW.

From Peter Stoker, the Director of the National Drug Prevention Alliance:

Sir, Your leading article gave some hope that not all the media have
gone entirely to pot. On the international research evidence there is
no basis for downgrading cannabis, Ecstasy or LSD; the Government's
rejection is soundly based. And yet elsewhere we see column inches
aplenty given over to endorsing a self-commissioned, self-selected
dozen or so people whose only effect on today's drug problems will
have been to boost the market.

Peter Stoker, Director, National Drug Prevention Alliance
PO Box 594, Slough SL1 1AA.
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