The role and basis of the drug laws
Prometheus – September 01, 2010
Source: CrossRef
Summary
Did you know some illegal drugs like ecstasy and LSD are scientifically shown to be less harmful than alcohol? Research reveals a significant gap between public perception and the actual risks of substances, even suggesting ecstasy is less dangerous than horse riding. This crucial insight challenges existing drug classifications, advocating for policies grounded in objective harm assessment rather than outdated assumptions.
Abstract
On 30 October 2009, the home secretary in the UK asked David Nutt to resign from his post as chairman of the government's advisory council on the misuse of drugs. The previous day, the Centre for Crime and Justice Studies at King's College London had published Nutt's paper, ‘Estimating drug harms: a risky business?’. This is an edited version of his Eve Saville memorial lecture, delivered at Kings College in July 2009. The paper points out that ecstasy and LSD are less dangerous than alcohol. He had previously clashed with the home office over his editorial, ‘Equasy – an overlooked addiction with implications for the current debate on drug harms’, published in the Journal of Psychopharmacology in January 2009. This reflects on the reality that ecstasy is overall less harmful than riding. The home secretary was not amused, and the relationship between academic publication and scientific advice to government was cast into the limelight. David Nutt is now chair of the Independent Scientific Committee on Drugs.