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| Drug laws 'need major overhaul' | Drug laws 'need major overhaul' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Drug laws in Britain have been criticised as being "not fit for purpose" in a major report. | Drug laws in Britain have been criticised as being "not fit for purpose" in a major report. |
| An investigation by the RSA says illicit substances can be "harmless", while drinking and smoking can cause as many problems. | An investigation by the RSA says illicit substances can be "harmless", while drinking and smoking can cause as many problems. |
| It says the law has been "driven by moral panic", and suggests policy-making should be left to drug teams and local authorities. | It says the law has been "driven by moral panic", and suggests policy-making should be left to drug teams and local authorities. |
| The Home Office says it does not accept all of the report's recommendations. | The Home Office says it does not accept all of the report's recommendations. |
| Level of crime | Level of crime |
| Anthony King, professor of government at Essex University, who chaired the Commission on Illegal Drugs, said the "great majority" of drug users did not harm themselves or others. | Anthony King, professor of government at Essex University, who chaired the Commission on Illegal Drugs, said the "great majority" of drug users did not harm themselves or others. |
| "Current policy is broke and needs to be fixed," he added. | "Current policy is broke and needs to be fixed," he added. |
| The RSA's panel recommends scrapping the Misuse of Drugs Act and replacing it with a broader Misuse of Substances Act, and replacing the existing ABC classification system with an "index of harms". | The RSA's panel recommends scrapping the Misuse of Drugs Act and replacing it with a broader Misuse of Substances Act, and replacing the existing ABC classification system with an "index of harms". |
| 'MOST HARMFUL' SUBSTANCES 1. Heroin2. Cocaine3. Barbiturates4. Street methadone5. Alcohol Source: Science select committee Index of harm ratings in full | 'MOST HARMFUL' SUBSTANCES 1. Heroin2. Cocaine3. Barbiturates4. Street methadone5. Alcohol Source: Science select committee Index of harm ratings in full |
| Panel members included Deputy Assistant Commissioner John Yates of the Metropolitan Police. | Panel members included Deputy Assistant Commissioner John Yates of the Metropolitan Police. |
| This would extend the definition of drugs to include alcohol and tobacco - as well as illegal substances, which the report says have been "demonised". | This would extend the definition of drugs to include alcohol and tobacco - as well as illegal substances, which the report says have been "demonised". |
| The report, entitled Illegal Drugs, Communities and Public Policy, also calls for so-called "shooting galleries" to be introduced where users can inject drugs as well as wider access to prescription heroin. | The report, entitled Illegal Drugs, Communities and Public Policy, also calls for so-called "shooting galleries" to be introduced where users can inject drugs as well as wider access to prescription heroin. |
| It says policy should be about reducing harm and pursuing the criminal gangs behind the drugs trade rather than the level of crime. | It says policy should be about reducing harm and pursuing the criminal gangs behind the drugs trade rather than the level of crime. |
| If drug taking does not harm anyone, then criminal sanctions should not be applied, the report continues. | If drug taking does not harm anyone, then criminal sanctions should not be applied, the report continues. |
| 'Harmless use' | 'Harmless use' |
| The report says: "The evidence suggests that a majority of people who use drugs are able to use them without harming themselves or others. | The report says: "The evidence suggests that a majority of people who use drugs are able to use them without harming themselves or others. |
| "The harmless use of illegal drugs is thus possible, indeed common." | "The harmless use of illegal drugs is thus possible, indeed common." |
| It says drugs education is "inconsistent, irrelevant, disorganised", and its main focus should shift from secondary to primary schools. | It says drugs education is "inconsistent, irrelevant, disorganised", and its main focus should shift from secondary to primary schools. |
| A majority of people who use drugs are able to use them without harming themselves or others RSA report class="" href="/1/hi/uk/6430787.stm">An addict's story | |
| The Home Office has estimated that the social cost of drug abuse alone to Britain is between £10bn and £17bn a year. | The Home Office has estimated that the social cost of drug abuse alone to Britain is between £10bn and £17bn a year. |
| It said its strategy has led to a 16% fall in drugs crime and more people able to access treatment. | It said its strategy has led to a 16% fall in drugs crime and more people able to access treatment. |
| Martin Barnes from the charity Drugscope said drug use needed to be addressed as a wider social problem. | Martin Barnes from the charity Drugscope said drug use needed to be addressed as a wider social problem. |
| He added: "There's really far too great an emphasis on it being a problem solely associated with crime. | He added: "There's really far too great an emphasis on it being a problem solely associated with crime. |
| "It's about public health, it's about poor mental health, it's about homelessness." | "It's about public health, it's about poor mental health, it's about homelessness." |
| 'Worryingly complacent' | 'Worryingly complacent' |
| Former Conservative leader Iain Duncan Smith said the report was "worryingly complacent". | Former Conservative leader Iain Duncan Smith said the report was "worryingly complacent". |
| He added: "The RSA has also failed to do its homework by not surveying the views of drug addicts - who want recovery and drug-free lives - not managed dependency on methadone." | He added: "The RSA has also failed to do its homework by not surveying the views of drug addicts - who want recovery and drug-free lives - not managed dependency on methadone." |
| Former home secretary David Blunkett told BBC Radio 4's Today programme he wanted to see "a much more sensible debate" and that he supported a "substantial" expansion of the prescribing of heroin. | Former home secretary David Blunkett told BBC Radio 4's Today programme he wanted to see "a much more sensible debate" and that he supported a "substantial" expansion of the prescribing of heroin. |
| THE RSA The RSA is a think tank which was founded in 1754Its Commission on Illegal Drugs was set up in January 2005It asked: "If current policy and practice on illegal drugs are not working, why not?"Panel members included drugs experts, academics, politicians and community workers | THE RSA The RSA is a think tank which was founded in 1754Its Commission on Illegal Drugs was set up in January 2005It asked: "If current policy and practice on illegal drugs are not working, why not?"Panel members included drugs experts, academics, politicians and community workers |
| But James Griffith-Edwards, emeritus professor of addiction behaviour at the University of London, told BBC Radio Five Live that he was sceptical about the report. | But James Griffith-Edwards, emeritus professor of addiction behaviour at the University of London, told BBC Radio Five Live that he was sceptical about the report. |
| He said: "I doubt whether any swingeing remedies would get one very far." | He said: "I doubt whether any swingeing remedies would get one very far." |
| However, Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman Nick Clegg called the report "an extremely important contribution" to the debate, adding: "The so-called war on drugs is failing." | However, Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman Nick Clegg called the report "an extremely important contribution" to the debate, adding: "The so-called war on drugs is failing." |
| And Steve Rolles of drug law reform campaign group Transform praised the Commission's findings. | And Steve Rolles of drug law reform campaign group Transform praised the Commission's findings. |
| "This really is a rational response to 30 years of dramatic failure," he said. | "This really is a rational response to 30 years of dramatic failure," he said. |
| MOST HARMFUL DRUGS GLOSSARY Benzodiazepines: Wide-ranging class of prescription tranquilisersBuprenorphine: Opioid drug used in treatment of opiate addiction4-MTA: Amphetamine derivative sold as 'flatliners' and ecstasyMethylphenidate: Amphetamine-like drug used to treat ADHDAlkyl nitrites: Stimulant often called amyl nitrites or 'poppers' | MOST HARMFUL DRUGS GLOSSARY Benzodiazepines: Wide-ranging class of prescription tranquilisersBuprenorphine: Opioid drug used in treatment of opiate addiction4-MTA: Amphetamine derivative sold as 'flatliners' and ecstasyMethylphenidate: Amphetamine-like drug used to treat ADHDAlkyl nitrites: Stimulant often called amyl nitrites or 'poppers' |
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