Ignoring Scientific Advice About Illegal Drugs In Favour Of Politically And Morally Motivated Judgements Wont Send The Right Signal To Young People

Main Category: Alcohol / Addiction / Illegal Drugs
Article Date: 20 Feb 2009 - 5:00 PDT

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An Editorial in this week's Lancet discusses the decision of the UK home secretary Jacqui Smith to ignore expert advice to downgrade ecstasy. The recent report by the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs concluded "that the harmfulness of MDMA to individuals and society more closely equates to drugs in class B and it should therefore be downgraded."

The Editorial concludes: "Why then did the Home Office veto this recommendation? Apparently, because it did not want to send a signal to young people that MDMA was being taken less seriously. Last year, the Home Secretary also overruled the ACMD's recommendation that cannabis should remain a class C drug rather than gain class B status. These ill-thought out decisions make a mockery of the ACMD and any attempt at a credible, evidence-based system for drug classification. Ignoring scientific advice about illegal drugs in favour of politically and morally motivated judgments will not send the right signal to young people. It will only undermine public health messages about all drugs, be it MDMA or more harmful legal substances such as tobacco and alcohol."

The Lancet