Pubdate: Fri, 31 Oct 2014
Source: Daily Telegraph (UK)
Copyright: 2014 Telegraph Media Group Limited
Contact:  http://www.telegraph.co.uk/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/114
Authors: Matthew Holehouse, Peter Dominiczak and David Barrett
Page: 6

I DON'T WANT MY CHILDREN TO THINK DRUGS ARE OK, SAYS CAMERON IN COALITION ROW

DAVID CAMERON is refusing Liberal Democrat calls to review the 
Government's drugs policy, warning that as a parent he does not want 
to send out the message that taking illegal substances is "OK or safe".

The Prime Minister insisted that the current approach to drugs was 
having an impact as abuse was falling, following a major Coalition 
row sparked by a Home Office report  backed by the Lib Dems  that 
suggested easing laws on hard drugs would not increase the number of 
users. Nick Clegg, the Deputy Prime Minister, yesterday attacked the 
Tory party's "facile" and "frightened" approach to drugs after 
Downing Street distanced itself from the report. Mr Cameron said 
yesterday that changing Britain's drugs policy would be "dangerous".

"Under this Government drug use is falling because we have followed 
an evidence-based approach," the Prime Minister said. "We've been 
focusing on education and prevention, treatment, and that is the 
right approach to take."

Mr Cameron added: "I don't believe in decriminalising drugs that are 
illegal today. I'm a parent with three children. I don't want to send 
out a message that somehow taking these drugs is OK or safe, because 
in many cases it simply isn't. I think it would add to danger."

However, a number of Tory MPs, including former Cabinet minister 
Peter Lilley, yesterday told the Commons that a new approach on drugs 
was needed.

Mr Lilley called for the legalisation of cannabis in order to "break 
the link" with hard drugs like heroin and cocaine.

In the study, the Home Office looked at different approaches to drugs 
in different countries, including some that have harsh sanctions. It 
found no evidence that levels of drug use were affected by how 
"tough" or "soft" an approach was.
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