Should we legalise drugs?
Drug-related deaths are on the rise in the UK and the debate still rages on, so…
With summer fast approaching, festival season is upon us. For many, this could mean just one thing – worrying about your children and grandkids.
Festivals are renowned for being places where young people can experiment with drugs. Only last month, two youngsters, aged 18 and 20, lost their lives at the Mutiny Festival in Portsmouth, and 13 others were taken to hospital, one in a critical condition.
The festival was cancelled, with organisers warning festival-goers they were aware of ‘dangerous high-strength or a bad batch’ of drugs on site.
In a heart-breaking post, mum Janine Milburn told social media site Facebook that her beloved daughter, Georgia Jones, 18, had died after taking two pills
at the festival. She posted the message as a warning to others, in the hope that it would deter people from taking drugs.
Janine wrote, ‘The pills had caused [Georgia’s] temperature to rise so high that it made her fit for 45 minutes. This then caused her muscle to break down and turn her blood acidic. Her heart[ beat] was irregular and stopped numerous times, then her lungs filled with blood and fluid, and I made the decision to turn everything off. My little girl was 18 and full of life. I just hope she stops at least some of you from ending up the same.’
Resident best GP, Dr Ellie Cannon, agrees that everyone should be aware of the perils.
‘There are huge dangers associated with taking drugs,’ Dr Ellie says. ‘Ecstasy, in particular, is rarely pure and can be contaminated with fatal ingredients. When it is impure, a high is not immediate, resulting in some people taking a second pill and inadvertently overdosing.
‘Even one pill can have serious side-effects on the heart, kidneys and liver, resulting in long-term health problems.’
So, should some drugs be legalised? Would it mean better regulation – and fewer pointless, accidental deaths?
It’s been reported that the UK leads the way in Europe for the number of drug overdoses, while London has been named the continent’s overdose capital for a third year in a row. So, are we doing enough to tackle the problem, and are the current policies working or not?
In the UK, drugs are placed into three categories, with Class A treated by law as the most dangerous. Class A drugs include cocaine, heroin and ecstasy. Cannabis, often thought not to be all that harmful, is a Class B drug. Class C includes substances such as ketamine and GHB.
The website Frank (talktofrank.com), which offers confidential drug advice, says that cannabis has been ‘ linked in some people to serious long-term mental-health problems’.
Cannabis affects how your brain works and can make you feel anxious, even paranoid. It can make it difficult for you to concentrate, affect your memory and make you feel less motivated.
Tobacco and cannabis also share some of the same chemical ‘nasties’, and smoking cannabis has been linked to diseases such as tuberculosis and lung cancer.
Various research also claims that those who use cannabis, particularly at a young age, have a higher-than-average risk of developing a psychotic illness, such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder.
And there’s no denying that there’s been an increase in drug-related deaths in England and Wales in the past few years, according to the Office of National Statistics (ONS).
Figures show that 3,744 drug-poisoning deaths – involving both legal and illegal drugs in England and Wales – were registered in 2016, a two per cent increase on the year before, and the highest number since comparable statistics began in 1993.
But is there an argument that decriminalising drugs could actually help society? In 2001, Portugal became the first country to decriminalise both the possession and consumption of all illicit substances. The country treated it as a public health issue, not a criminal one.
Therefore, users ‘caught’ with a personal supply would not be arrested but, rather, given a warning or a small fine. Or they would appear before a local commission – a lawyer, doctor or social worker – to discuss treatment and support services.
The number of Portuguese dying from overdoses has plummeted more than 85 per cent. Drug-related jail time, and both HIV and hepatitis infection rates, dropped, too.
But health complications that come with long-term, problematic drug use still put a burden on the health care system.
Prince William asked ex-drug addicts their view on legalisation when visiting a charity last year. While the prince didn’t give his own personal opinion, this highlights that the topic is still very much under discussion.
Supporters of a legalised, regulated drug market have argued that it could drive many dealers out of existence, and would save lives because the purity of the products would be checked. Many others have argued, too, that certain drugs may be good for medicinal purposes.
‘Legalising cannabis could allow patients to safely use it for symptom relief, and, some would argue, might reduce the burden from drug-related crime,’ explains Dr Ellie.
She recommends talking to children and grandchildren who might be heading off to festivals this summer.
‘Keep hydrated, keep safe and have a get-out clause if you feel pressured to do something: such as “I need the bathroom,” or “I don’t feel well.”’
Wherever you stand on the debate, surely the priority is to keep our youngsters safe.
The UK currently leads the way in Europe for drug overdoses