Pubdate: Thu, 16 Jun 2016
Source: Guardian, The (UK)
Copyright: 2016 Guardian News and Media Limited
Contact:  http://www.guardian.co.uk/guardian/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/175
Author: Sarah Boseley

DECRIMINALISE DRUG USE, SAY HEALTH PROFESSIONALS

Britain's two leading public health bodies, representing thousands of 
doctors and other professionals, are making an unprecedented call for 
the personal possession and use of drugs to be decriminalised.

The Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH) and the Faculty of Public 
Health say the war on drugs has done more harm than good. They 
believe drug misuse should be a health issue and not a matter for the 
courts and prisons.

"We have taken the view that it is time for endorsing a different 
approach," said Shirley Cramer, chief executive of the RSPH. "We have 
gone to our stakeholders and asked the public, and tried to gain some 
consensus from our community and the public." The RSPH commissioned a 
poll of more than 2,000 British adults and found 56% agreed drug 
users in their local area should be referred for treatment, rather 
than charged with an offence. Fewer than a quarter (23%) disagreed.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom