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Drugs adviser criticised by Smith Drugs adviser criticised by Smith
(about 1 hour later)
The home secretary has told MPs she was "surprised" and "disappointed" by a drugs adviser likening the dangers of ecstasy to the dangers of horse riding.The home secretary has told MPs she was "surprised" and "disappointed" by a drugs adviser likening the dangers of ecstasy to the dangers of horse riding.
Jacqui Smith said Prof David Nutt had "trivialised" the dangers of the drug.Jacqui Smith said Prof David Nutt had "trivialised" the dangers of the drug.
She said she had spoken to him and told him he had gone beyond his role as the Advisory Council on Drugs Misuse head. She said she had told him he had gone beyond his role as head of the Advisory Council on Drugs Misuse.
Ms Smith said Prof Nutt had apologised to her and she had asked him to apologise to families whose lives have been hit by ecstasy use. Ms Smith said Prof Nutt had apologised to her and she had asked him to do the same to families whose lives have been damaged by ecstasy use.
'Not much difference''Not much difference'
The council, which advises the government, is expected later this week to recommend that ecstasy is downgraded from a class A drug to a class B one. The council, which advises the government, is expected later this week to recommend that ecstasy be downgraded from a class A drug to a class B one.
Ministers have outlined their opposition to any such move.Ministers have outlined their opposition to any such move.
I'm sure most people would simply not accept the link that he makes up in his article between horse riding and illegal drug taking Jacqui Smith, home secretary
Professor Nutt's article, published in the Journal of Psychopharmacology last week, said: "Drug harm can be equal to harms in other parts of life. There is not much difference between horse-riding and ecstasy."Professor Nutt's article, published in the Journal of Psychopharmacology last week, said: "Drug harm can be equal to harms in other parts of life. There is not much difference between horse-riding and ecstasy."
He said horse-riding accounted for more than 100 deaths a year, and went on: "This attitude raises the critical question of why society tolerates - indeed encourages - certain forms of potentially harmful behaviour but not others such as drug use."He said horse-riding accounted for more than 100 deaths a year, and went on: "This attitude raises the critical question of why society tolerates - indeed encourages - certain forms of potentially harmful behaviour but not others such as drug use."
Speaking during Home Office questions in the House of Commons, Ms Smith said the comments "trivialise the dangers of drugs, show insensitivity to the families of victims of ecstasy and send the wrong message to young people about the dangers of drugs". Ecstasy use is linked to around 30 deaths a year, up from 10 a year in the early 1990s.
She said Prof Nutt had apologised to her and she had asked him to apologise to the families of the victims of ecstasy. Fatalities are caused by massive organ failure from overheating or the effects of drinking too much water.
Ecstasy use is linked to around 30 deaths a year, up from 10 a year in the early 1990s. Fatalities are caused by massive organ failure from overheating or the effects of drinking too much water. Speaking during Home Office questions in the House of Commons, Ms Smith said: "I've spoken to him this morning about his comments. I've told him that I was surprised and profoundly disappointed by the article reported."
The ACMD has distanced itself from Prof Nutt's comments. She added: "I'm sure most people would simply not accept the link that he makes up in his article between horse riding and illegal drug taking.
"For me that makes light of a serious problem, trivialises the dangers of drugs, shows insensitivity to the families of victims of ecstasy and sends the wrong message to young people about the dangers of drugs."
'Wrecks lives'
Ms Smith also said: "I made clear to Professor Nutt that I felt his comments went beyond the scientific advice that I expect of him as the chair of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs.
"He apologised to me for his comments and I've asked him to apologise to the families of the victims of ecstasy."
Conservative MP Laurence Robertson said ecstasy "not only wrecks lives, and ends lives, but also fuels crime".
He argued that drug use and horse riding were "completely incomparable" and that Prof Nutt was in the "wrong job".
But, in questions to the House of Commons Speaker, Liberal Democrat MP Evan Harris said Prof Nutt was a "distinguished scientist" and asked whether it was "right to criticise him here when he cannot answer back for what is set out in a scientific publication".
He added: "What's the future for scientific independence if she [Ms Smith] asks that scientists apologise for their views?"
Speaker Michael Martin replied that it was a "parliamentary privilege" for the home secretary to make such remarks and that "of course" she would be allowed to do so.
The Advisory Council on Drugs Misuse has distanced itself from Prof Nutt's comments.