tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28543539.post8766759729758959329..comments2023-09-20T11:15:28.673+01:00Comments on Transform Drug Policy Foundation Blog: The fault lines within current drug policyjanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15263261726046054614noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28543539.post-70883732891075766482007-07-09T12:22:00.000+01:002007-07-09T12:22:00.000+01:00how did prohibition prevent the problems with crac...how did prohibition prevent the problems with crack and methamphetamine? It clearly didnt in the US where both were shedule 1 drugs before the respective epidemics occured. the same can be said for heroin in the UK which has exploded since 1971, or ecstasy in the UK in the late 1980s, the rise of both was under the shadow of a class A deterrent.<BR/><BR/>I agree that social and cultural regulation is absolutely imperative, but I see no evidence that enforcement related deterence is anything more than a marginal impact on drug taking descisions, and almost totally irrelevant for the marginalised and excluded groups most at risk of developing problematic patterns of use. I actually think that heavy handed enfrcement can interfere with the natural developnment of social norms and culturally led prevention. It alienates young people - who are subject to mass criminalisation - from messages from authority figures, and may actively contribute to the underground glamour associated with ,and perverse demand associated for some of the most dangerous drugs.<BR/><BR/>Smoking is falling now in the UK, not through criminality but through better education and prevention combined with stricter regulation, and increasing social stigma. I suspect a fall in alcohol use could be similarly achieved.<BR/><BR/>Recreational drugs is not a value specific term, merely identifying use that is non medical and essentially pleasure seeking. It does not imply a moral position or an absense of harm.Steve Rolleshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11487781869462634203noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28543539.post-5663773647153617422007-07-05T22:02:00.000+01:002007-07-05T22:02:00.000+01:00Neat but there is an intellectual flaw and barrenn...Neat but there is an intellectual flaw and barrenness about that argument Steve. All possible substances are not equally valid to be used as what you call "recreational drugs", nor are we starting as a society from where we started in relation to tobacco & alcohol. From a profound ignorance about the addictiveness and harm potential. The existing legal drugs are harmful enough without changing the culture as you propose to legitimise more. Think for a moment about say, crack and fentanyl. Think about methamphetamine. The whole history of drugs use, worldwide, is that harm from them can be limited through social, legal or cultural taboo. Think about alcoholism in say Morocco or Pakistan, think about the differences in tobacco use & penetration between even the UK and say Lithuania or other eastern european countries.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com