tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28543539.post417858322509639972..comments2023-09-20T11:15:28.673+01:00Comments on Transform Drug Policy Foundation Blog: Transform in the Guardian CIF: Coaker's line on Cocainejanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15263261726046054614noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28543539.post-54342498077541266622008-05-28T12:38:00.000+01:002008-05-28T12:38:00.000+01:00Tim Henman (Big Deal) already offered a solution t...Tim Henman (Big Deal) already offered a solution to the Cocaine "problem" many years ago ; legalise it's production , manufacture commodities such as coca tea, coca lozenges etc., and set up legal trade routes. It won't happen of course, because UK, Europe and America WANT to keep other economies down so that ours stay strong.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28543539.post-19038445629805177282008-05-23T09:27:00.000+01:002008-05-23T09:27:00.000+01:00Actually I suspect there is some link between the ...Actually I suspect there is some link between the rise in cocaine use and the rise in binge drinking. Cocaine (like other stimulants) allows users to drink more than they normally would/could - with often dangerous harmful consequences. There are also unique problems with mixing cocaine and alcohol, which taken together form a compound called Cocaethylene which is associated with an increased risk of liver damage and premature death. Its a big problem and (stuck record) enforcement responses don't offer any good solutions - they just seem to make things worse.Steve Rolleshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11487781869462634203noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28543539.post-76245638260501736062008-05-23T09:17:00.000+01:002008-05-23T09:17:00.000+01:00I agree Steve that we must be going through a fash...I agree Steve that we must be going through a fashionable phase with cocaine in the UK. The disproportionate emphasis the likes of Coaker place on this is typical of drug warrior politicians. The biggest pity however is that binge drinking is, as we all know, steadily increasing popularity with no signs of slowing down: i think most (powder) cocaine users would agree that a few lines on the weekend is far less damaging than the 15+ unit binge-slaughter the average young Brit has become accustomed to. British people are too busy getting on with their meaningful lives to listen to a zombie like Coaker playing with his political train-set.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28543539.post-75381561131317711512008-05-23T08:14:00.000+01:002008-05-23T08:14:00.000+01:00I suspect the current UK fashion for cocaine will ...I suspect the current UK fashion for cocaine will pass, as other drug trends have done, and as with the cocaine experience in the US (to some degree). This is part of a common pattern in patterns of drug use - specifically with cocaine, the culture grows in its understanding of the negative consequences. this can be informed by sensible public education but is almost certainly nothiing to do with enforcement policy or classification - cocaine has been class A all along. Whether what fills the void will be better or worse is moot.Steve Rolleshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11487781869462634203noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28543539.post-53065515892488322382008-05-23T07:18:00.000+01:002008-05-23T07:18:00.000+01:00The only way to prevent use it to give people a re...The only way to prevent use it to give people a reason not to use that they believe may affect them personally. If the every fourth person who did cocaine had their nose fall off, I dare say a lot less people would use the drug.<BR/><BR/>However, most people see others having a good time with cocaine, with little to no negative consequences, so what is the dis-incentive to use? There isn't one in this case, and vague arguments about creating strife in foreign countries is not going to change people's minds unless they see it first hand. And then only maybe. We are socialized not to care.<BR/><BR/>It's time to stop with the useless prevention schemes and take away the outrageous economic incentive in manufacturing and selling by ending prohibition.Paulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00386603265209728426noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28543539.post-43990041363019087292008-05-23T06:55:00.000+01:002008-05-23T06:55:00.000+01:00This comment has been removed by the author.Paulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00386603265209728426noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28543539.post-2338320623366512812008-05-22T11:18:00.000+01:002008-05-22T11:18:00.000+01:00Its’ all well and good the bass player from blur e...Its’ all well and good the bass player from blur enjoying his days of being a rock star and spending a million quid on coke then repenting and changing his mind now he’s retired in luxury and plays at being a country gent farmer – hypocrite and now puppet of Croaker and government spin. Trying to make consumers think of the envirmental costs of cocaine use - how green! Why is there no similar high profile campaign highlighting the damage of corporate sponsored child labours in developing countries i.e. manufacture of certain branded clothing like Nike that people happily wear? How about destructive mining practices or state corruption in developing countries? There environmental cost of cocaine production and ‘narco states’ is as you have highlighted many times before the result of prohibition. <BR/>The only thing FRANK does for 15-18 years old is send them running off to the nearest mate that can get their hands on a gram of the finest Peruvian to see what all the fuss is about!chrisbx515https://www.blogger.com/profile/14111482518141374105noreply@blogger.com