Pubdate: Thu, 16 Jun 2016
Source: Mirror, The (UK)
Copyright: 2016 The Mirror
Contact:  http://www.mirror.co.uk/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1161
Author: Andrew Gregory, Health Editor

LEGALISE ALL DRUGS

Experts: Jail Bad for Addicts

PERSONAL possession and use of all drugs should be decriminalised, 
public health experts will say today.

Users need help not punishment, they say, and 56% of adults in a poll 
of 2,000 agree.

Drug use has fallen in the last decade but related harm including 
death continues to rise.

Jailing users makes things worse, says a report by the Faculty of 
Public Health and Royal Society for Public Health.

But both groups insist dealers must still be prosecuted. Shirley 
Cramer, of RSPH, said: "The war on drugs has failed... It's time for 
a new approach, where we recognise those who misuse drugs are in need 
of treatment  not criminals in need of punishment." The report was 
"very much welcomed" by Parliament's Drug Policy Reform group. Prof 
David Nutt, of Imperial College London, backed it and Prof Peter 
Anderson, of Newcastle University, said: "It's the way to go." The 
Home Office said we must "support people dependent on drugs" and also 
"tackle organised crime behind the drugs trade".
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom