Alcohol 'more harmful than heroin' says Prof David Nutt

[Tommo21]

Dont need to be a prof to know that, just drive through any town centre on a sat night around midnight and see what the police have to handle, just have a look at AnE at the weekends, just have a look at the court sections of your local newpaper......and it's all full of drunkers.

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

 

[Whereditgo]

Hmmmmm - seems to me that it gives credence to any kid that dabbles in drugs!

Sure alcohol abuse exists, binge drinking by kids in their teens and early twenty's causes all sorts of chaos for the emergency services, but I would wager that most grow out of it and percentagewise fewer lives are wrecked through alcohol than drugs abuse!

Think he is very aptly named!!!!

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I have to say it alcohol nearly killed me. I wasn't a troublemaker after a few beers but I did drink a lot. Funny thing was though I'd go out most nights and only have 4 or so and then maybe 6 or 7 on a Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Wasn't bladdered and never touched spirits but was drinking about 35-40 pints per week. Do that over a 20 year period and something had to give

 

[medwayjon]

I have to say it alcohol nearly killed me. I wasn't a troublemaker after a few beers but I did drink a lot. Funny thing was though I'd go out most nights and only have 4 or so and then maybe 6 or 7 on a Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Wasn't bladdered and never touched spirits but was drinking about 35-40 pints per week. Do that over a 20 year period and something had to give

Its why my guts are shot to bits.

I made ollie reed look like a tee-totaller when I was in my prime.

 

[digby]

Hmmmmm - seems to me that it gives credence to any kid that dabbles in drugs!

Sure alcohol abuse exists, binge drinking by kids in their teens and early twenty's causes all sorts of chaos for the emergency services, but I would wager that most grow out

Think he is very aptly named!!!!

Hear hear!

 

[JustOne]

I made ollie reed look like a tee-totaller when I was in my prime.

You must be so proud.

 

[viscount17]

depends on what basis he 'scored' each 'substance' of course but for the sheer numbers involved alcohol must rate highly.
thing is, does he take into consideration the numbers that use alcohol in moderation and with restraint - try doing that with heroin

 

[medwayjon]

I made ollie reed look like a tee-totaller when I was in my prime.

You must be so proud.

Ashamed more like.

Atleast I can have a sensible beer with the odd blow-out now.

Shame I am taking medication for the rest of my life now but then its self-induced so I csnt be bitter about it.

 

[Smiffy]

I cant be bitter about it.

See!! You mention drink every day John without even noticing it.
You are a pretty mild mannered man, and a lager than life character. You never wine about the bad shots you hit, even if you do hit the odd whisky one.
I Bacardi imagine what must be going through your head.
A pretty rum do if you ask me

 

[clubchamp07]

5 years ago when I had that slight trouble and spent a week in hospital, one of the nurses told me never to drink again. Well I have the very odd drink and have had a few blow-outs, but not to the same extend as I was drinking.
I really enjoy playing my golf and going into the club house to have a coffee. Does it up-set me about the rest having a drink? Not in the slightest. If some find it amussing me having a coffee, I really think it's amussing whenever they start talking Sh123 and falling about. Now whos laughing?
I dont miss it one bit.

 

[Parmo]

Imagine 10 million junkies in the UK on a weekend. Then picture the amount of people who get addicted who need to fund their addiction by crime.. Boy that is a lot of crime. It kinda reminds me of Night of the Living dead, due to the cuts and things we are going to have less police and dodgy researches likes this (I say dodgy because they want lime light to get funding for their next project) it creates more problems than solves.

 

[chrisd]

What really pees me off is the talk of raising alcohol prices in supermarkets etc to help stop binge drinking. I drink about 3 glasses of port a week at home and have a very rare beer. After golf I would much prefer a mug of tea or a long soft drink and "the experts" decide that we, the very moderate drinkers will have to pay more to try and stop the idiots who cant possibly enjoy an evening out without a good vomit!

You couldn't make it up!

Chris

 

[forefortheday]

He qualified it by saying heroin and crack are more damaging personally but to society alcohol is the most damaging drug.

What I can't understand is why we don't legalise and tax drugs rather than spending millions fighting a "war" against drugs that is quite clearly failing?

 

[znuffzz]

percentagewise fewer lives are wrecked through alcohol than drugs abuse!

not even close champ, not even close. you only have to go to any quiet peaceful town on saturday and watch it turn into sarajevo @11:00pm

i'm a fan of legalisation myself, and that doesnt mean strolling into boots and picking up a 10 bag of brown but a moderate and considered approach that has worked in countries like portugal. legalisation doesnt mean that everyone is going to promptly go out after 20 years of abstinence and turn into a junkie!

unfortunatley it's such an emotive subject that it's very hard for otherwise rational people to be objective especially given the social conditioning that we are all subject to from the birth. even mention "drugs" and people have a tendency to switch into daily mail mode. fatcually the most dangeours drugs of all are prescrition medicines and are as freely available on the blackmarket as cannabis.

 

[BrianDamage]

What I can't understand is why we don't legalise and tax drugs rather than spending millions fighting a "war" against drugs that is quite clearly failing?

Couldn't agree more. Legalise the lot.

 

[Deleted member 1418]

[quote Couldn't agree more. Legalise the lot.

[/QUOTE]

And prostitution as well - will save travelling to Amsterdam

 

[znuffzz]

[quote Couldn't agree more. Legalise the lot.

And prostitution as well - will save travelling to Amsterdam

[/QUOTE]

would be catastrophic for the dutch tourist board of course

 

[medwayjon]

Prostitution is already legal.

Provided it is 1 prostitute working from a house and not touting on the street it is not illegal.

 

[Leftie]

You seem to be well versed in this subject Jon ..............

 

[Parmo]

Talking of Prostitution anyone see that Coppers program last night? Shone Medway is a excellent light.