In relation to a paper released in the UK by Prof Nutt et al, Stephen Black writes: >Rate these drugs in terms of their relative harms to the >user and society in general (greatest harm to least). [See below for list.]
>For the answer, at least according to one panel of experts, go >here: http://tinyurl.com/3ao562j > […] I don't have definite views one way or the other on the usual recreational drug issues (not knowing enough about the facts, nor about possible unintended consequences of a radical change in legislation), though I've no doubt that the "official" classification system is a mess. But the basis of some of the Nutt group's presentation surely needs to be analysed. For instance, in Figure 2 showing what the BBC News article reports as a "new analysis assessing the relative harms of different legal and illegal drugs to the user and wider society, 'alcohol was the most harmful drug'…" there seems to be no allowance for how widespread the use of each drug in society is. (Correct me if I'm wrong!). For example, if one were comparing the dangers moderate/serious injury for horse-riding and playing rugby in the UK you would need to take into account that far more people play rugby than ride horses. Again, one needs to know what is meant by "relative harm" in the case of alcohol. The medical "guidelines" change from time to time, and in any case, medics tend to err on the side of safety (on the basis of the "precautionary principle"). Perhaps someone with time on their hands :-) could look more deeply into the report, including checking out informed critical responses. Allen Esterson Former lecturer, Science Department Southwark College, London [email protected] http://www.esterson.org ----------------------------- [tips] Nutty prof on drugs (again) sblack Tue, 02 Nov 2010 06:35:10 -0700 Our colleague Michael Sylvester has already alluded to this matter but as no one bit, I try again. This is in honour of the momentous referendum currently underway today (or soon to be) in that great state of California on legalizing cannabis. Rate these drugs in terms of their relative harms to the user and society in general (greatest harm to least). In alphabetic order: alcohol cannabis cocaine crack ecstasy heroine ketamine LSD meth tobacco For the answer, at least according to one panel of experts, go here: http://tinyurl.com/3ao562j and/or here: http://tinyurl.com/27wjuvc Full published article here: http://tinyurl.com/38an5g4 (free but registration required) Stephen -------------------------------------------- Stephen L. Black, Ph.D. Professor of Psychology, Emeritus Bishop's University Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada e-mail: sblack at ubishops.ca --------------------------------------------- --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: [email protected]. To unsubscribe click here: http://fsulist.frostburg.edu/u?id=13090.68da6e6e5325aa33287ff385b70df5d5&n=T&l=tips&o=6204 or send a blank email to leave-6204-13090.68da6e6e5325aa33287ff385b70df...@fsulist.frostburg.edu
