Alcohol 'more harmful than heroin'?

[PsychoSerenity]

Alcohol is more harmful than heroin or crack, according to a study published in medical journal the Lancet.

The report is co-authored by Professor David Nutt, the former UK chief drugs adviser who was sacked by the government in October 2009.

It ranks 20 drugs on 16 measures of harm to users and to wider society.

Tobacco and cocaine are judged to be equally harmful, while ecstasy and LSD are among the least damaging.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11660210

It would be nice to see the full report or at least a summary from one of the scientists if anyone knows where to dig up the right one. The media seem hopeless at reporting science stories - they've left out any sort of break down or meaning of the "Harm score" in the statistics, and the tone of the whole article seems contradicted by Nutt's "Because alcohol is so widely used".

I have no idea if the "Harm" whether it's "to users" or "to others" is based on the effect of the drug per person received medically, effect of the drug per person received 'off the street', the current effect in society as a whole based on current usage, or some combination of the above.

The devil is in the detail, but they seem to have left it out in favour of a shock headline. Might as well be reading the Mail. :sighsm:

Anyway, who wants a drink?

[redunderthebed]

At least we arent junkies.

[Clinton Huxley]

In the words of Chris Morris - "Some people say alcohol is a drug. It's not a drug, it's a drink".

[Robert_S]

How the hell is butane less harmful than pot?

[redunderthebed]

How the hell is butane less harmful than pot?

Butane can kill you in one go FFS.

[Pappa]

I have no idea if the "Harm" whether it's "to users" or "to others" is based on the effect of the drug per person received medically, effect of the drug per person received 'off the street', the current effect in society as a whole based on current usage, or some combination of the above.

Its based on harm to the individual from the drug as it is found on the street, plus total social harms caused by the drugs. This study matches an identical one they did last year.

[Deep Sea Isopod]

Do you think reports like this could make people turn to heroin instead of alcohol?

[Clinton Huxley]

I'm sure the drinks lobby will be all over this, presently...

[Rum]

What they didn't 'get' last time and what they fail to take into account, is the political angle. I though Nutt (hehe ) showed political naivety of a major order in the way he handled this the first time around. This report is simply another attempt to float the agenda again via an independent route.

Politicians would be committing suicide if they started to talk about legalizing heroin even if it is the most logical thing to do - or for that matter controlling alcohol usage with say a huge tax hike.

[Feck]

Please don't say 'huge tax hike' in the same sentence as alchohol ,Rum it upsets me

[Pappa]

What they didn't 'get' last time and what they fail to take into account, is the political angle. I though Nutt (hehe ) showed political naivety of a major order in the way he handled this the first time around. This report is simply another attempt to float the agenda again via an independent route.

Politicians would be committing suicide if they started to talk about legalizing heroin even if it is the most logical thing to do - or for that matter controlling alcohol usage with say a huge tax hike.

I think Nutt felt he needed to resort to the political angle after the Advisory Council he represented had their recommendations refused multiple times (for political reasons). Several members of the council were threatening the government with resignations over it. "Going public" was a last resort for him, and now he has no reason to tow the line any more either. He wants these decisions to be apolitical, and they are not.

[Feck]

I think he's my cousin

[GenesForLife]

The whole affair was Nutts.

[Feck]

Yes the name joke is V funny I wonder if that's why that girl called Hazel didn't want to marry me ????

[Trolldor]

I think what isn't accounted for is the fact that alcohol is cheaper, more easily obtainable and can be taken in rather large quantities from an audience that far outnumbers those who use Heroin.

It's true that repeatedly heavy drinking can damage your body, but you can also drink 'safe levels', which aren't likely to do any serious, noticable or lasting harm. I don't think the same can be said of heroin.