I must give up the drugs

An interesting article in the Independent concerning the danger of drugs. The survey was done by Government advisors but kept quiet by the Government because of ita inconvenient outcomes.

Let me be clear. I would be thrilled if my children never used any of the lsited drugs. However, I am a very occasional user of one of the hardest drugs, namely alcohol. What struck me was that the order of dangers as listed in the report is at variance with drug classification. It is strange that Government ministers talk of cracking down on cannabis and ecstacy yet both come well behind tobacco which kills 114,000 people each year. However, the strangest thing is that more dangerous than many of the drugs we bang people up over is alcohol which kills 22,000 people each year as well as creating a whole raft of social problems. Yet from time to time we find Governments going soft on excise duties on alcohol to keep the industry of the fifth hardest drug in a state of prosperity. Indeed, they have sought to bost demand by liberalising hours of pub openings.

It really makes me think that we are living in a lunatic asylum. As one who feels that the law has a part to play in a strategy of drug reduction, I cannot help but feel that it is time the Government were open as regards the facts and entered into an adult discussion as to the most appropriate legal framework . Or would that offend a few too many vested interests?