The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 270 No 7242 p438
29 March 2003
PDF* 80K
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The Pharmaceutical Journal |
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PDF* 80K |
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The new Charter
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Drug addictionDecriminalising drugs of addiction may benefit societyFrom Mr J. B. Price, MRPharmS In the early hours of Monday 19 February, an athletic drug addict gained entry to our pharmacy through the roof. He took all of our stocks of diazepam and dihydrocodeine to sell on the streets and thus perpetuate one of the most lucrative pyramid systems ever devised. We dispense daily doses of methadone in our pharmacy and have got to know these consumers quite well. (The intruder mentioned above was not one of "ours" — most of our clients' behaviour is exemplary). However, over the past three years we know of one who has died from an overdose of heroin not far from the shop, another who has committed suicide and more than three who have suffered severe beatings from drug pushers. I was addicted to tobacco for 30 years and, although I am not an alcoholic, drink my fair share of beer and wine. These two drugs have always been legally available at a reasonable price in the United Kingdom and therefore I have never had to resort to criminal acts to satisfy my wants and in the case of nicotine, my cravings. Do any other pharmacists believe it possible that, if the sale and possession of all addictive drugs were decriminalised and these substances were made freely available at an affordable price, a huge number of crimes, tragedies and other problems would vanish overnight? The drug barons would simply go out of business, our children would be safe from pushers because there would be no money to be made and the savings in terms of police and legal system workload would be massive. Moreover, the tax revenue available to the Government from the sale of legalised drugs would benefit everybody. Brian Price |
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