Government clashes again with its own drug advisers about downgrading ecstasy
The government's drug advisers are to recommend ecstasy be downgraded to a class B drug, in a report due to go before ministers at the end of the month. The advisory council on the misuse of drugs (ACMD) is expected to urge the home secretary, Jacqui Smith, to remove ecstasy from the class A category comprising the most dangerous drugs, following an extensive review of the medical risks associated with taking it.The controversial proposal is set to ignite a fresh row with the Home Office, which confirmed yesterday it intended to keep ecstasy a class A drug, alongside heroin and crack cocaine.Ecstasy remains the third most popular illicit drug in the UK, with 5% of people aged 16 to 24 claiming to have used it in the past year. The drug is blamed for at least 30 deaths a year, many of which are caused by clubbers overheating. "Ecstasy can...
Read the whole article on The Guardian - Science
More from The Guardian - Science
Related
- Young people are intentionally taking drink and drugs for better sexFri, 9 May 2008, 5:21:37 EDT
- Ecstasy could help patients with post-traumatic stress disorderMon, 9 Mar 2009, 0:37:38 EDT
- New UK study suggests minimal relationship between cannabis and schizophrenia or psychosisThu, 22 Oct 2009, 9:46:55 EDT
- Compound has potential for new class of AIDS drugsWed, 14 May 2008, 17:21:30 EDT
- Canadian scientist mines drugs database for new diabetes treatmentMon, 23 Feb 2009, 10:14:56 EST