According to the European Drug Report 2024, cocaine is the second most commonly used illicit drug in Europe, after cannabis. The report found that cocaine use is highest in Western and Central Europe, and that men are more likely to use cocaine than women. People who use cocaine are also more likely to come from disadvantaged backgrounds.
The report also discusses the health effects of cocaine use. Cocaine is a stimulant drug that can cause a variety of negative health consequences, including heart problems, respiratory problems, and mental health problems.
The report found that the availability of cocaine in Europe appears to be increasing. This is likely due to increased trafficking from South America. Cocaine is a highly addictive drug, and the increase in availability is a cause for concern.
Measures to Address Cocaine Use
The European Drug Report 2024 calls for a number of measures to address the problem of cocaine use in Europe. These measures include:
Increased investment in prevention and treatment services
Stronger law enforcement measures to disrupt cocaine trafficking
Improved education and awareness campaigns
Cocaine use is a serious problem in Europe. The measures outlined in the European Drug Report 2024 are essential to address this problem.
If you or someone you know is struggling with cocaine use, please seek help from a healthcare professional.
Dr. Kevin A. Sabet’s recent column in the Baltimore Sun, titled “Pardons Prove Marijuana Legalisation Isn’t About Social Justice,” discusses Governor Wes Moore’s recent pardon of over 175,000 prior marijuana convictions in Maryland. The piece delves into the complexities of marijuana legalisation and its implications on social justice, critiquing the marijuana addiction-for-profit industry.
Governor Wes Moore’s Recent Pardons
Last week, Governor Wes Moore pardoned more than 175,000 prior marijuana convictions, affecting over 100,000 individuals. This historic move came nearly two years after Maryland voted to legalise marijuana. While Moore’s decision is a step in the right direction, it is seen by some as a belated acknowledgment that marijuana legalisation does not inherently address social justice issues. The charges pardoned were related to low-level possession and paraphernalia offences.
Moore’s action mirrors President Joe Biden’s 2022 federal pardons for low-level marijuana possession. Moore described his decision as “the most sweeping state-level pardon in any state in American history.” Despite the magnitude of this pardon, it will not lead to the release of any prisoners, nor will it expunge the criminal records of those convicted.
The Narrative of Marijuana Legalisation
Sabet argues that the narrative pushed by marijuana profiteers—that legalising marijuana addresses systemic injustices—is misleading. Statistics show that people of colour are almost six times more likely to be arrested for all drugs, including marijuana, than whites. This disparity persists even with legalisation, which has given rise to a multi-billion-dollar industry.
Impact on Communities
The commercialisation of marijuana has exacerbated many underlying contributors to systemic injustice. Rather than reducing inequities, legalisation has created new economic disparities and public health issues. The impact of marijuana legalisation on communities, particularly communities of colour, remains contentious.
Sabet emphasises that the fight against the harmful impacts of marijuana legalisation is far from over. He encourages continued advocacy and education to combat the narratives promoted by the marijuana industry, aiming to protect vulnerable communities and promote genuine social justice.
Rising Cannabis Use in the US: Mirror of Changing Legislation and Potential Impact
JULY 1, 2024
The key takeaway: changes in cannabis legislation significantly impact use patterns.
The study reveals a clear increase in cannabis use, particularly regarding daily use, which now surpasses reported daily alcohol use. These trends, alongside growing awareness of cannabis toxidromes (adverse reactions), hold valuable insights for healthcare professionals evaluating patients with altered mental states.
Global Cannabis Policy Shift and US Trends
As numerous countries contemplate cannabis policy revisions, this US-based study offers valuable insights. Researchers aimed to quantify long-term cannabis use trends and compare them with alcohol use patterns.
The analysis involved secondary analysis of data from the NSDUH and its predecessors, encompassing a total of 1,641,041 participants across 27 surveys conducted between 1979 and 2022.
Measurements and Key Findings
The study examined self-reported cannabis use rates and trends in usage days. Four pivotal years were compared:
1979: First available data and conclusion of the relatively liberal cannabis policies of the 1970s.
1992: Marking the end of 12 years under conservative cannabis policies of the Reagan-Bush era.
2008: The last year before the Justice Department signalled non-interference with state-level legalisations.
2022: Reflecting the most recent data available.
The findings paint a clear picture:
Reported cannabis use dipped to a low point in 1992, with a partial recovery by 2008. Since then, a substantial surge has occurred, particularly in measures reflecting more intensive use.
Between 2008 and 2022, the past-year use rate per capita climbed by 120%, and reported use days per capita soared by 218% (translating to an annual equivalent increase from 2.3 billion to 8.1 billion days).
Notably, the per capita rate for daily or near-daily use saw a 15-fold increase from 1992 to 2022.
Shifting Landscape: Cannabis Now Tops Daily Use of Alcohol
A striking shift is evident:
In 1992, daily or near-daily alcohol users outnumbered cannabis users by a factor of 10 (8.9 million vs. 0.9 million).
By 2022, for the first time, daily and near-daily cannabis users surpassed alcohol users (17.7 million vs. 14.7 million).
It’s important to note that while alcohol consumption remains more widespread, high-frequency drinking is less prevalent. In 2022, the median drinker reported consuming alcohol 4-5 days per month, compared to 15-16 days for cannabis users. Additionally, past-month cannabis consumers in 2022 were nearly four times more likely to report daily or near-daily use (42.3% vs. 10.9%) and over seven times more likely to report daily use (28.2% vs. 3.8%) compared to alcohol users.
We’re sick and tired of being ridiculed, ostracized and shamed by those who deny the way marijuana can ruin lives! At last, the parents have a platform in print! When your child has a drug problem — and that drug is marijuana — they may not know it. But there is no limit to the entire family’s suffering.
For Laura Stack, the outcome was the worst, the death of her son Johnny. Laura told that story in her book, The Dangerous Truth About Today’s Marijuana. She also gave valuable insights into the science behind the harms of cannabis.
Johnny’s Ambassador Publishing recently released its second book, The Impact of THC on Our Children: A Parent’s Worst Nightmare. In the new book, twenty-four other parents or families tell their story of the THC nightmare. Amazon.com sells the book in paperback, hardcover, Kindle and audible formats. The stories reveal the dangers of THC use and addiction on teens and young adults. The outcomes include severe mental illness, psychosis and suicide.
Many stories repeat a common scenario: hospitalization, treatment centers, relapses and more hospitalizations. Some of the victims recovered, but it was never a straight or easy path. In so many cases, the children were adamant that it wasn’t the cannabis that caused their problems. For some, only the stint in jail gave them the chance to become sober.
In the same vein, Newsweek published a riveting story two weeks ago, I Lost my Sweet Son to Cannabis, It Devastated Him. In her article, Laura Balboni Craciun explains, a common condition called anosognosia, when a person who has delusions person is unaware of their illness and need for treatment. (Her son is in jail; Nick stopped his marijuana use, but the delusions stay.) She wishes every parent knew that marijuana can cause psychosis.
A theme that runs through many stories is parents’ ignorance of cannabis-induced psychosis. Most of the parents did not believe in “Reefer Madness” before it fell upon their own. One of the writers admitted to being a current cannabis user when her son fell into psychosis. Some first learned of their child’s cannabis use only because of hospitalization. Fortunately, more psychiatrists recognize cannabis-induced psychosis as a serious problem.
Another theme running through the book is the inadequacy of the system for treating cannabis-induced psychosis. This inadequacy can be attributed to our broken mental health care system; lack of education; denial of the problem, and a drug policy that places primacy on harm reduction over prevention and treatment.
Since the Biden Administration’s erroneous move to reschedule marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III, the lessons from these stories must be shared. Our country was foolish to allow Colorado and other states to legalize pot. That so many of the stories come from Colorado should not surprise the reader. (Johnny Stack’s family lives in Colorado.)
“We tell our stories so no other young adult falls victim to these effects,” Stack said. “I hope readers find this book helpful in their efforts to guide their children to prevent or stop THC use before it’s too late. I wish there had been a book like this for me.”
Today’s marijuana is much stronger than in the past, and the THC concentrates can have 90%+ THC content in dabs, oils and edibles compared to the 1% in cannabis in the 1960s. With the legalization of marijuana and high-potency THC in states across the nation, there are strong misperceptions about the safety of the drug. When teens smoke, vape, dab, or use edibles to get high, the effects have a strong impact on brain development. The brain does not stop developing until age 25 or older, so using cannabis before brain development is complete can be especially devastating.
What’s New in the Book?
Christine L. Miller, PhD. provided two important appendices to the book. Appendix I presents “The Bradford Hill Analysis of Causation Applied to Cannabis Use and the Development of Chronic Psychotic Disorders.” Written with Catherine Antley, M.D. and Dean Whitlock, editor, an earlier version appears on the IASIC website. Carsten Hjorsthoj, PhD, Associate Professor at the Copenhagen Research Center for Mental Health, contributed.
The authors show that cannabis use can be an independent factor in the development of a chronic psychotic disorder. Had they not previously used cannabis, some people who develop schizophrenia would not have the illness.
Dr. Miller wrote a second Appendix, Applying the Bradford Hill Criteria for Causation to the Relationship Between Marijuana Use and Suicidal Behavior. Step by step, she shows that it is not just correlation, which is often the first criterion required to indicate causation. Those who still disagree need to tread the book! The two appendices quote a multitude of scientific sources.
In 1965, Sir Bradford Hill developed a set of tests designed to reveal causal relationships in epidemiology. The Bradford Hill criteria were applied to determine the relationship between smoking cigarettes and the development of lung cancer.
Johnny’s Ambassadors
Johnny’s Ambassadors has been on a mission to educate parents, teens and communities about the dangers of THC products. Laura Stack is holding a conference this week, Marijuana Facts Week.
To learn more about their youth THC prevention education, visit www.johnnysambassadors.org. July 10 is “Stop Dabbing Day,” as pot advocates use the date of 710 (OIL backward) to promote cannabis oil, i.e., “dabs,” a dangerous method of consuming THC.
For the first time, more Americans are using marijuana daily or near daily than are drinking alcohol daily. This monumental shift, spanning more than three decades, reflects the consequences of legalized recreational and medical cannabis.
The increase was foreshadowed by the alarming rise of daily teen pot use during the last decade.
In real terms, a much larger proportion of the US population drinks than uses cannabis. But the proportion of alcohol users who have a problem with it seems to be considerably smaller than the proportion of marijuana users with a Cannabis Use Disorder. Regular pot users are more likely wake-n-bake, while most daily drinkers don’t drink all day.
“Many of these young, habitual tokers, are potential addicts–if not yet addicted. They may stick to marijuana which is extremely potent today–5x more potent than it was in 70s. Or they may go onto other drugs, or slide into alcoholism as they turn the legal age to buy booze.” At the same time opioid and heroin use were going down with teens.
The number of drug overdose deaths have more than doubled since that time, now counting around 108,000 a year. How could this happen after Harm Reduction became widespread? One part of the answer is fentanyl, currently the main driver of the overdose crisis. But — as we’ve shown previously — many teens graduate directly from marijuana use to fentanyl. Often they don’t know what’s in the pill. Although marijuana lobbyists deny the gateway effect, marijuana remains the gateway for those who use other drugs and die from drugs.
Our warnings were prescient. Marijuana drives both the mental health crisis of today and the addiction crisis!
Concerning Numbers
According to a recent analysis of national survey data, conducted in 2022, an estimated 17.7 million people reported using marijuana on a daily or near-daily basis, compared to 14.7 million who reported similar levels of alcohol consumption.
This stark contrast marks a significant departure from 1992, when less than one million individuals reported daily marijuana use during a period of relative decline.
While alcohol remains more widely consumed overall, the emergence of daily marijuana use surpassing daily alcohol intake in 2022 is a watershed moment, as highlighted by Jonathan Caulkins, a leading cannabis policy researcher at Carnegie Mellon University.
Caulkins noted, “A notable 40% of current cannabis users are engaging in daily or near-daily consumption, a pattern reminiscent of tobacco use rather than traditional alcohol consumption.”
From 1992 to 2022, the per capita rate of reporting daily or near-daily marijuana use surged dramatically, increasing fifteen-fold. Although legalizers dress their arguments in political terms such as “freedom” and “regulation,” it’s entirely about using political donations to sway public opinion and create a new addiction industry.
Changing Attitudes
Caulkins acknowledged the possibility of heightened reporting as societal attitudes toward marijuana become more accepting, potentially inflating the observed increase.
In real terms there are far more users of alcohol in the USA than cannabis users (65-69% of adults used alcohol at least once in the past year vs. 15-20% who used cannabis) According to Naomi Schaefer Riley, an estimated 20% of men now use cannabis, and 14% of women use it.
We take caution with these figures because problematic alcohol users can hide the extent of their use, while current cannabis users push its popularity in order to legalize it nationally.
Current cannabis users push the idea that it is safe and not addictive. DENIAL is a frequent trait of those who abuse substances, but no one denies alcohol’s or cocaine’s addictiveness the way they deny the addictiveness of marijuana.
Long-Term Consequences
Dr. David A. Gorelick, a psychiatry professor at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, emphasized the hazards associated with daily marijuana use, including addiction and the development of severe mental illness.
“High-frequency use also increases the risk of developing cannabis-associated psychosis,” a loss of reality, Dr. Gorelick said. Cannabis-induced psychosis can prefigure the development of schizophrenia, but the legalization of the drug has not
What Can We Learn From This?
With an increasing number of individuals engaging in daily marijuana consumption, the potential for problematic use and adverse health outcomes is a growing concern.
Daily use of ANY intoxicant is generally considered problematic – alcohol, illicit drugs, opioid painkillers, but cannabis has the most negative effects on the brains or our youth.
The foggy air of cannabis debates is clearing to reveal a stark reality—its use, especially among college students, has far-reaching implications that extend beyond the hazy highs to affect psychosocial facets. Recent studies have shone a spotlight on the link between college students’ cannabis use and a buffet of adverse outcomes including depression, anxiety, and even violent victimization. This delicate subtext unearthed from the bustling collegiate environment demands a re-evaluation of institutional strategies and a more informed conversation about drug education and support systems.
Recreation or Self-Medication?
Navigating the Statistics on College Cannabis Use
Cannabis, among college students, has transcended the ‘rite of passage’ narrative to burgeon into a widespread truth. The numbers don’t lie – approximately 20% of North American college students confessed to using cannabis within the past 30 days. This staggering statistic isn’t just about recreational choices; it’s an indicator of a deeper, more complex situation that warrants vigilance and constructive intervention strategies.
But what exactly do these usage statistics mean in the grander scheme of college life? The implications are diverse and profound. They echo in the corridors of academic institutions and affect a plethora of experiences, from mental health to social engagements.
The Psychosocial Trail of Cannabis in College
The correlation between cannabis use and psychosocial elements paints a picture of alarm. A study spanning across thousands of students revealed that cannabis users were at significantly higher odds of experiencing depression, suicidal ideation and behavior, anxiety, eating disorders, and victimization. These findings are a call to action for universities, highlighting the need for expanded educational programs, evidence-based prevention strategies, and intensified early-intervention tactics.
Cannabis users in college also reported a greater prevalence of co-use with other substances, indicating a possible trend of polydrug engagement. This alarmingly intertwines with patterns of daily stress, drinking motives, and beyond. The clear narrative emerging is that cannabis, when entangled with social and academic pressures, can become a combustible mix leading to multifaceted detriments.
Crafting Collegiate Responses to Cannabis Use
In the wake of these revelations, academic institutions are implored to revisit their support frameworks for students. Strategies that aim to redefine the cannabis conversation and offer multilayered assistance have never been more pivotal.
Colleges should consider implementing stringent policies that address substance abuse within the student community while avoiding the stigmatization of users. Initiatives focusing on stress management, mental wellness, and peer support can serve as preventive measures, intervening before cannabis use spirals into adverse psychosocial implications.
Additionally, robust support systems that offer counseling, personalized interventions, and harm-reduction models can be invaluable in reaching out to students who’ve already taken the cannabis plunge. Such systems should work in tandem with educational campaigns that emphasize the long-term effects of cannabis on the young, developing mind.
The Neurological Pathways of Cannabis
To truly understand the impact of cannabis on college students’ psychosocial health, it’s indispensable to explore the neurological implications. The brain undergoes significant changes during adolescence and young adulthood, making this a particularly vulnerable period. Cannabis use can interfere with the maturation of the prefrontal cortex, the region responsible for complex cognitive behavior, decision making, and the moderation of social behavior.
Further, the endocannabinoid system, which cannabis influences, plays a pivotal role in memory, reward processing, and stress responses. Disruption to this system can have profound effects on these domains. For college students on the cusp of adulthood, where cognitive and emotional growth are in flux, the implications of cannabis reach beyond just the act of consumption.
A Multidisciplinary Approach to Tackling College Cannabis Use
Efforts to minimize cannabis-associated health risks among college students require a multidisciplinary approach. This approach should combine the expertise of educators, mental health professionals, and addiction specialists. By fostering dialogue, imparting robust educational programs, and developing interventions that cater to individual needs, we can guide students towards healthier choices.
Redefining Prevention in the College Context
When addressing cannabis use, prevention is key. However, traditional drug prevention models can be outdated and ineffective at the college level. It’s time to embody a dynamic, progressive prevention ethos that resonates with the modern college student.
This ethos starts with understanding the student body’s motivations, triggers, and environmental stressors. By creating tailored educational initiatives and fostering a culture of health and resilience, colleges can play a significant role in prevention efforts.
Leveraging Technology and Student Engagement
In the digital age, technology can be a powerful ally in the battle against cannabis misuse. Platforms that offer anonymous support, data-driven feedback on usage patterns, and curated content centered on harm-reduction principles can foster engagement and provoke thought. Gamified interventions and peer-led support networks can also provide a supplementary layer of reach and relatability that traditional methods may lack.
Integrating Cannabis Education into the Curriculum
While cannabis education often falls under the purview of student services or public health initiatives, there is merit in integrating it into the academic curriculum. By incorporating cannabis studies into relevant disciplines like psychology, sociology, and public health, colleges can present a nuanced view of the drug and its implications. This would not only create a more informed student body but could also foster research that informs future policy and interventions.
Conclusion
Cannabis use is a nuanced issue, particularly among college students. It encompasses a spectrum of experiences, motivations, and consequences that challenge conventional paradigms. In the face of mounting evidence, it’s the responsibility of college administrations to evolve their strategies, policies, and support systems to address the complex interplay between cannabis and the college experience.
The path forward lies in a commitment to comprehensive research, empathetic understanding, and the development of innovative, student-centered solutions. By leading the conversation with knowledge and proactive approaches, colleges can help shape a safer and more fulfilling educational environment for all their students.
(Adding another public health wrecking ball – cannabis – to the currents of trade is not going to better, on any level, the society who embraces that new #reefermadness)
Is marijuana really safer than alcohol? Today, we tackle this common misconception with the following thought provoking facts. Check out our new video (please share!), and the below links to some relevant research, parent testimonials, and PopPot’s excellent blog posts on this important topic.
“Beyond the role of cognition in vulnerability to substance use, the concurrent and lasting effects of adolescent cannabis use can be observed on important cognitive functions and appear to be more pronounced than those observed for alcohol.”
“People who smoked cannabis four or more days of the week over many years ended up in a lower social class than their parents, with lower-paying, less skilled and less prestigious jobs than those who were not regular cannabis smokers,” said Magdalena Cerdá, an epidemiologist at the UC Davis Violence Prevention Research Program. “These regular and persistent users also experienced more financial, work-related and relationship difficulties, which worsened as the number of years of regular cannabis use progressed.”
A CBS News affiliate did a report in 2014: “There actually is quite a difference between pot and alcohol.”
https://www.youtube.com/embed/1gEPWq3Y1v4?feature=oembedWKTB of LaCrosse, Wisconsin aired this news report in 2014, as some U.S. states began to legalize marijuana.
Marijuana is as Dangerous as Alcohol Behind the Wheel
Two testimonies from the MomsStrong.org blog show that marijuana is just as deadly as alcohol when the driver is impaired.
Here is our popular blog post Marijuana: What Parent’s Need to Know Today which contains a quick primer on risks and harms and the increased dangers of the highly potent forms of marijuana being sold today.
Question: What is the prevalence of self-reported Δ8-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and marijuana use among 12th-grade students in the US and its distribution across sociodemographic factors and state cannabis policies?
Findings: In this nationally representative 2023 survey, 11.4% of 2186 US 12th-grade students self-reported Δ8-THC use and 30.4% self-reported marijuana use in the past year. Δ8-THC use prevalence was higher in the South and Midwest US and in states without legal adult-use marijuana or Δ8-THC regulations. Marijuana use prevalence did not differ by cannabis policies.
Meaning: Δ8-THC use prevalence is appreciable among US adolescents and is a potential public health concern.
Abstract
Importance: Gummies, flavored vaping devices, and other cannabis products containing psychoactive hemp-derived Δ8-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) are increasingly marketed in the US with claims of being federally legal and comparable to marijuana. National data on prevalence and correlates of Δ8-THC use and comparisons to marijuana use among adolescents in the US are lacking.
Objective: To estimate the self-reported prevalence of and sociodemographic and policy factors associated with Δ8-THC and marijuana use among US adolescents in the past 12 months.
Design, Setting, and Participants: This nationally representative cross-sectional analysis included a randomly selected subset of 12th-grade students in 27 US states who participated in the Monitoring the Future Study in-school survey during February to June 2023.
Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary outcome was self-reported Δ8-THC and marijuana use in the past 12 months (any vs no use and number of occasions used).
Conclusions and Relevance Δ8-THC use prevalence is appreciable among US adolescents and is higher in states without marijuana legalization or existing Δ8-THC regulations. Prioritizing surveillance, policy, and public health efforts addressing adolescent Δ8-THC use may be warranted.
Billboards across the country advertise marijuana with false health claims that would never be allowed for tobacco or alcohol. Big, bold and high (no pun intended), these signs help to sell the drug — while being seen by thousands of children.
Seen in Massachusetts
Why can’t state regulators stop these assaults on the public that attempt to portray weed as the road to a long life and better health?
Our answer: the cannabis industry which has legions of lobbyists in state governments — routinely prevails against sensible legislation. Only the states of Vermont and Montana ban billboard advertising. Most states struggle to regulate marijuana because the industry overpowers legislators with incredible promises.
Portland, Oregon
This sampling of billboards from around the country proves that the cannabis industry gets away with “murder” in legalization states. It also proves that the ganjapreneurs, or so-called cannabis “doctors,” make fraudulent claims.
Las Vegas
The “medical” marijuana industry’s false advertising began when they adopted a green cross, a pharmaceutical sign used in Europe. The gimmick continued by using the term “dispensary, ” which means a clinic, or a room where medicine is dispensed. Marijuana is numbness, not medicine. Chicago in 2021
The pot industry understands addiction marketing. In Chicago, 2021, Cresco Labs ran billboards repeating the word, EVERYDAY several times. Of course, a public outcry followed.
Marketing sex
After public outcry, an advertisement for cannabis-infused drinks near O’Hare Airport was replaced with something less sexual.
More recently, drivers into Chicago and O’ Hare Airport were greeted with a large billboard exclaiming that cannabis-infused drinks are better than SEX. Big bold letters and hot red on a white background were used to capture attention.
A public outcry followed, with complaints written in the Chicago newspapers. We’re happy to see that the sign was recently replaced, but it still advertises for cannabis-infused drinks.
In Washington state, signs of pretty young women lure people into a pot shop called “Green Lady Marijuana.”
What about the Freebies?
In Colorado, one billboard announced Free Dabs.
Even worse, an activist group in Washington, DC, gave out free marijuana with COVID shots. The program was called “Joints for Jabs.” Washington, DC, bans pot shops but allows gifting.
Most despicable are the advertising campaigns trying to get parents, and particularly women, to use weed. Based on the number of child abuse deaths caused by pot-using parents and the knowledge that pregnant women must not use cannabis, these promoters must be stopped.
We may hate the cannabis industry, but give them credit for being some of the biggest con artists of our era — better than Big Tobacco and the opioid industry.
Editor’s Note: Many of these signs are no longer visible, but the article is meant to alert the public of cannabis industry tactics. (Reposted with permission from PARENTS OPPOSED TO POT)
Legalise dangerous drugs? Don’t be absurd! by Professor Neil McKeganey
IN A recent comment piece for the Telegraph, Daniel Hannan indulges in a bit of ‘bashing the West’ when he accuses the Western economies of having caused economic and political chaos in Ecuador and other Latin American countries as a result of the ‘failed war on drugs’.
Hannan’s argument seems to be that in failing to legalise heroin and cocaine the West has handed over production and sale of these drugs to criminal gangs who in turn have destroyed the economic and political systems in these source countries. The logic here is that by not allowing legal supply of heroin in the West we have somehow encouraged others to engage in illegal drug production and supply elsewhere. This is of course rather akin to blaming householders for inconveniencing burglars by installing home security systems. The burglars’ life would be so much easier if more of us could be persuaded to leave our front doors ajar at night.
It is true that heroin and cocaine use persists in the West in the face of the illegality of these substances but this does not mean that our efforts at drug prevention have failed or that the only viable alternative is legalisation. According to the latest prevalence estimate for Class A drug use in England and Wales around 3.3 per cent of the adult population aged 16 to 59 had used Class A drugs in the last year. That means 96.7 per cent had not. In the light of those percentages it hardly makes sense to characterise our efforts at drug prevention as a miserable failure.
Those, like Hannan, who advocate for the legalisation of all currently illegal drugs do so on the basis that the harm these substances are associated with arises for the most part from their illegal status. The reality of course could hardly be further from that absurd proposition. These drugs are illegal precisely because they are harmful. If the UK were to pursue a policy of allowing legal access to drugs such as heroin and cocaine, what would we do in relation to the Nitazenes 9a class of synthetic opioids developed by the pharmaceutical industry in the 1950s but never approved as medicines which are increasingly associated with drug deaths in the UK and were recently identified in the Lancetas being between 50 and 500 times more dangerous than heroin? Legalise heroin and cocaine and you end up in a position where these other more harmful drugs would still need to remain illegal.
The alternative to Hannan’s counsel of despair is not to open the door to legal drug supply but to…
