Pubdate: Tue, 03 Sep 2002
Source: Guardian, The (UK)
Copyright: 2002 Guardian Newspapers Limited
Contact:  http://www.guardian.co.uk/guardian/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/175
Authors: Roger Howard, Dr Geoffrey Watson
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v02/n1630/a07.html

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

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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
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MAP posted-by: Alex