Drug Laws driven by 'Moral Panic'

Drug laws are driven by 'moral panic' and should be replaced by a more flexible approach that recognises most drug users harm.

"Drug use should be treated as a health issue and not just as a matter for police and courts", said a commission formed by the Royal Society of Arts. It said the misuse of drugs act was not fit for purpose and should be scrapped, as it is driven more by 'moral panic' than by a practical desire to reduce harm.

"You should take all of the substances that cause harm, draw up an index of harms that they do cause... and look at them coolly and rationally and decide what policy approach is most appropriate to each of those substances."   

A new Misuse of Substances Act which would regulate illegal drugs alongside alcohol, tobacco, proscribed medicines and other legal drugs. The bulk of drugs education should be moved to primary schools, it said, adding that the only practical drugs message for secondary pupils was 'harm reduction'.

Former Conservation leader Ian Duncan Smith agreed that drugs laws were "chaotic", but the study had ignored the need to help addicts get off drugs.

The Home Office said the governments drug strategy had been a success, with record numbers of people entering and staying in treatment.

The Misuse of Drugs Act (1971)

The act is to prevent the use of non-medical drugs as well as medicinal drugs, which is also under the Medicines Act, but also drugs with no current uses. Drugs subject to this Act are known as 'controlled drugs'. The main difference from the Medicines Act is that the misuse of Drugs Act also prohibits unlawful possession. 

Class A:
- Cocaine and crack, Ecstasy, heroin, LSD, methadone, methamphetamine, magic mushrooms containing ester of psilocin and any Class B drug which is injected.
By law these are treated as the most dangerous.

Class B:
Amphetamine, barbiturates, codeine and cannabis.

Class C:
Anabolic steroids and minor tranquillisers.  

Offences under the Misuse of Drugs Act can include:

• Possession of a controlled drug
• Intent to supply another person
• Production, cultivation or manufacture of controlled drug
• Supplying another person with a controlled drugs
• Offer to supply
• Import and export of.
• Allowing premises you occupy or managed to be used for the consumption (Smoking of cannabis or opium but not use of other drugs), or supply or production of controlled drugs.

Ecstasy

Effects:

• A buzz that makes them feel alert and alive
• Feel in tune with their surroundings - sounds and colours more intense
• Often feel a great love for the people they're with and strangers around them
• Chances of getting hooked
• Possible to build up a tolerance to E, which means they will take more to get the same buzz
• There are some long term side effects - depression, personality change and memory loss

The Law:

Ecstasy is a Class A drug - illegal to have, give away or sell. Possession can get you up to 7 year in jail

Risks:

Physical:

• Dilated pupils
• A tingling feeling
• Tightening of the jaw muscles
• Raised body temperature
• Heart beats faster

Short Term:

• Anxiety
• Panic Attacks
• Confused episodes
• Paranoia
• Psychotic states
• After use you can suffer a 'come down'

Long Term:

• There have been over 200 Ecstasy-related deaths in the UK since 1996
• Has been linked to live, kidney and heart problem.
• Using too much can lead to depression and paranoia.