Downgrade Ecstasy, Say Government Advisers

[drhemp]

http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v09/n010/a01.html

URL: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v09/n010/a01.html
Newshawk: Herb
Rate this article Votes: 0
Pubdate: Sun, 04 Jan 2009
Source: Sunday Telegraph (UK)
Copyright: Telegraph Group Limited 2009
Contact: stletters@telegraph.co.uk
Website: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/437
Author: Tom Whitehead
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mdma.htm (Ecstasy)

DOWNGRADE ECSTASY, SAY GOVERNMENT ADVISERS

A recommendation to downgrade Ecstasy is expected to be put to the Home Secretary by her own drug advisers later this month.

Home Office sources believe The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs ( ACMD ) will call for the drug to be moved to Class B, even though it was blamed for at least 30 deaths last year.

However Jacqui Smith will almost certainly dismiss the official recommendation and keep the drug as Class A alongside the most dangerous substances such as heroin and cocaine.

It comes as critics accuse the ACMD of being influenced by pro-drug "ideologues".

Mary Brett, spokeswoman for Europe Against Drugs, said: "The present ACMD includes few members who take a definite drug-prevention stance. It is imperative that a committee of this importance needs to be properly balanced."

David Raynes, a member of the National Drug Prevention Alliance said the ACMD should be "an impartial centre of expertise carefully weighing evidence and public good" but added: "Recent behaviour leads me to believe it is being controlled by a few ideologues, pursuing a broadly liberal and pro-drug, legalisation agenda."

Downgrading Ecstasy would see dealers face 14 years instead of life in prison and the maximum penalty for possession would fall from seven to five years.

The ACMD voted on possible reclassification in a closed session in November and is due to reveal the result of that decision in a report to Ms Smith later this month.

The chairman of the body, Prof David Nutt, has previously said the drug "probably shouldn't be'' in the top band, suggesting it is less dangerous than alcohol or tobacco.

But the Home Office is expected to ignore an ACMD recommendation for the second time after last year dismissing calls to keep cannabis as Class C.

The drug will return to Class B later this month amid concerns over growing health risks.

A Home Office spokeswoman said: "Ecstasy can and does kill unpredictably; there is no such thing as a "safe dose". The Government firmly believes that ecstasy should remain a Class A drug.

"The Home Office has not requested ACMD to review the classification of ecstasy ( MDMA ). It is doing it at the request of the Science and Technology Committee."

Critics have also called into question the ACMD's fitness to advise ministers.

I don't know why they bother, the Government have already indicated they listen to the Editor of the Daily Mail when it comes to drugs policy rather than the experts. They should resign en masse if, sorry when, the Government announces it is going to ignore their advice.

The figure of 30 deaths a year is also very misleading. If someone dies and is found to have heroin, cocaine, amphetamines and MDMA in their system, this is counted as 1 heroin death, 1 cocaine death, 1 amphetamine death and one ecstasy death. The number of deaths from ecstasy alone is much lower and statistically you are more likely to die from a peanut or aspirin allergy.

I remember last year the Chief Constable of North Wales was crucified by the tabloids for suggesting that aspirin is more dangerous than MDMA, even though this is true.

[ownoiz]

My 2c..

They like to keep ecstasy up there as a class A / most dangerous drug so they have more leverage against pill pressers and dealers...

Many drugs are not as dangerous as TPTB have portrayed, so common sense and medical fact is one of the reason the downgrades are initited and pushed by some, BUT sometimes, im sure, there are even politicians lower down the food chain who know the bastards at the top are involved so they too push for downgrades, they have an agenda too, to spread the love (money) because they are aware.

But those high in the chain of command, the puppets, will often dismiss any attempts at change.

Its a constant power struggle.

If public perception is that Ecstasy kills and therefore must be one of the most dangerous drugs, then TPTB can hand out harsher prison terms to people in the manufacture and supply chain.

So they have better means to control the market by eliminating or discouraging competition.

They cant catch everyone that isnt one of them...but even if they did, ALL of these drugs would still be everywhere because...well most people on this forum know who the real big pushers are.

First it was oil, then drugs...now water is next, water piped to your home at ridiculous markups (you know because of global warming ;) ) ...water is the new oil.

Anything they want to control, they make it more illegal,... ecstasy and amphetamines as well as cannabis sentences have been severely lengthened in recent times in South Australia for example...the drugs are still everywhere even though many have been locked up. Game of Monopoly anyone?

And just to illustrate my point about water, TPTB in South Australia are pushing for 20 year jail term for taking water from rivers or mains supply etc without/or bypassing the meter..20 years..a little harsh IMO.

If you use water or sell ecstasy illegally here, not much difference in prison time lol.
.

[michael christopher]

They have programmed too many people to react insanely to anything deemed "an extreme drug" by people who have never taken any. Even if there was a push within the government to get this legalized, I highly doubt most good old-fashioned American voters would let their representatives get away with supporting a lift of the ban.

[drhemp]

They have programmed too many people to react insanely to anything deemed "an extreme drug" by people who have never taken any. Even if there was a push within the government to get this legalized, I highly doubt most good old-fashioned American voters would let their representatives get away with supporting a lift of the ban.

You are right. Did you know you could legally buy ecstasy in the USA up until 1985 and before then there was not one recorded death from MDMA. Of course there have been many in the USA since they handed over supply to the criminals; I'm sure the prohibitionists must be so proud of themselves.

[revolutionary_jam]

Ecstacy seems to take my consciousness to a very useful palce, last time i took a half it helped me improve my relationships with 4 people via my actions the next day when i was sober

[meksar]

The Zionist's control the Ecstasy game more then any over drug trade, it's all Ordo Ab Chao they mix the stuff up with lethal chemicals to create a few nightclub "overdoses" and some poor kid dehydrates to death, while the clowns at their media fronts pump fear into people, we need to step up the war on drugs to stop this from happening. Drug prohibition is a coldly calculated victory for the elite as not only do they profit form the black market hijacked prices on the streets but by expanding their prison industial complexes.

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=A_VlUej-Uu8

[bendelapidate]

You are right. Did you know you could legally buy ecstasy in the USA up until 1985 and before then there was not one recorded death from MDMA. Of course there have been many in the USA since they handed over supply to the criminals; I'm sure the prohibitionists must be so proud of themselves.

And the deaths were probably attributable to government agents cutting the pills with nasty toxins or the pills being made in poor conditions and contaminated/cut with poison. This wouldn't happen if the drug was licensed and quality controlled.

There are far nastier pills available at your local GP. Just ask him nicely and say you haven't been feeling too good and he might give you prozac - now there's something that should be placed on a danger list.

Prohibition never works, it just helps organised criminals get very rich. The most organised criminals are the ones in government who work to keep the orther organised criminals in business.

The government hates competition but fears the consequences of decriminalising drugs because of what might happen in inner cities if say, the heroin supply was suddenly cut off.

This is the control that gangsters exert over our supposedly democratically elected officials.

[drhemp]

URL: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v09/n015/a02.html
Newshawk: Herb
Rate this article Votes: 0
Pubdate: Mon, 05 Jan 2009
Source: Evening Express (UK)
Copyright: 2009 Northcliffe Newspapers Group Ltd
Contact: ee.editor@ajl.co.uk
Website: http://www.thisisnorthscotland.co.uk/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/139
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mdma.htm (Ecstasy)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/people/David+Nutt (Professor David Nutt)

ROW OVER CLASS A DRUG

Ministers reiterated their opposition to downgrading ecstasy today amid claims Government advisers will recommend it be made a class B drug.

The Advisory Council for the Misuse of Drugs could urge Home Secretary Jacqui Smith to move the dance drug from class A when it reports later this month.

Ecstasy use is linked to around 30 deaths a year, up from 10 a year in the early 1990s. Fatalities are caused by massive organ failure from overheating or the effects of drinking too much water.

A Home Office spokesman said the department was committed to the drug remaining in class A.

"Ecstasy can and does kill unpredictably; there is no such thing as a safe dose," he said.

"The Government firmly believes that ecstasy should remain a class A drug.

"The Home Office has not requested that the ACMD review the classification of ecstasy ( MDMA ).

"It is doing so at the request of the Science and Technology Committee and has yet to present its findings to the Home Office."

The ACMD's chairman, Professor David Nutt, has suggested ecstasy is less dangerous than alcohol or tobacco and "probably shouldn't be" in class A.

Last year, the ACMD said cannabis should remain in class C based on health risks, but its views were rejected by government ministers.

A Science and Technology Committee report said drugs should be rated purely on the basis of health and social risks and not legal punishments.

The MPs also said alcohol and tobacco should be included in the rating system.

Downgrading would mean lesser sentences for dealers, who currently face up to life in prison.

http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v09/n015/a02.html

Well there's a surprise. So the failed policies of prohibition continue under the Nazi bitch Smith. Again totally misleading figures relating to ecstasy deaths.

[jahzel]

The fact that most of these deaths could have been avoided if prohibition didn't exist. Pills would be a lot safer (and better imo :) ) Plus, people would be informed properly about their use. People would be instructed properly instead of taking matters into their own hands, i.e. drinking too much water etc.

[goldenratio]

I dont think it matters if they make it an A+ Distinction with honours class drug, the people who want to use it will use it, the people that sell it will still sell it

Es are great at the time your doing them (I know I had my share) I cant honestly say Ive ever felt so connected with my friends and with complete strangers but from my experience drugs arent the answer, quite a few of my mates from the party days of the late 90s are long term smack users, cokeheads or too depressed to function. Whether thats a society thing or a direct result of taking large amounts of Es (and the crap that was mixed in with them) I wouldnt like to say. If someone had told me not to do it Id have done it even more anyway.

I havent made my mind up on the long term effects of Es but I think time will tell

[spectruma]

MDMA is a neurotoxin.

It does not need to be mixed with other ingredients in order to become dangerous, which is an argument oft used by pro-MDMA people.

[revolutionary_jam]

MDMA is a neurotoxin.

It does not need to be mixed with other ingredients in order to become dangerous, which is an argument oft used by pro-MDMA people.

depends if u use it or abuse it doesn't it?
everything you do has risks so does everything you eat

u can take it to get f&%ked or you can take it to see the world in a different way and learn something

i can say it has helped me, but other people it doesn't resonate with at all

[spectruma]

depends if u use it or abuse it doesn't it?
everything you do has risks so does everything you eat

Not really, it's kind of inherently neurotoxic, no matter how "safe" you use it.

[jahzel]

If I want to ride a motorcycle down the motorway - are they going to stop me from doing that because it's dangerous and may cause harm to others? No.

We are not babies and we don't like being told what we can and can't do by a Government that bombs the shit out of other countries and treats us all like scumbag criminals.

If these assholes care so much about us why are they poisoning our water supply, why are they letting our kids be poisoned with Aspartame, WHY are they allowing the mercury in the vaccines?

So fuck what they say - why should we listen to them. Why the fuck do we even co-operate with the scum?

Fuck em, it's their law.

Rave on! :)

[revolutionary_jam]

Not really, it's kind of inherently neurotoxic, no matter how "safe" you use it. no offense but if you've not tried it you have no grounds for making a cost-benefit analysis of whether it is worth it or not, everything you eat is poison to a degree

[1eyeopen]

Ecstacy should stay a class A drug simply due to the crap the stuff sold on the streets is cut with.

There's only one solution to the drug problem. Legalise!:D

[jahzel]

Indisputable Fact: Legalization is safer than prohibition

[kale]

I recon (in the nicest way possible) those against it should check their diet......

Its obvious how much infastructure is invested in keeping it illeagal,

[drhemp]

A lot of therapists would like to be able to use and prescribe MDMA, which some did before they put it on the illegal drugs list. I've heard it can be great for marriage guidance counseling and especially useful for helping people overcome childhood traumas.

[scottmurray]

ok then lets pretend for just one moment im a kingpin in a crime dynasty,i was born into one of the 20 or so great crime families in the uk.
now then every little time some kid buys a ten pound bag or a little rock etc etc I GET PAID you know just like the tax man does with legal business.
now at the big big table that i sit at once a month next to the local mp, local police chief,local radio station owner etc etc where no one gives a fuck what i do as i have the inherited right to be there as an important part of society(in top secret behind closed doors of course)im going to protect my interests by demanding my fellow brethren do their level best to keep it all illegal no matter what cos um i dont get my tribute from vallium/cigs or beer sales just the illegal stuff.

[1eyeopen]

ok then lets pretend for just one moment im a kingpin in a crime dynasty,i was born into one of the 20 or so great crime families in the uk.
now then every little time some kid buys a ten pound bag or a little rock etc etc I GET PAID you know just like the tax man does with legal business.
now at the big big table that i sit at once a month next to the local mp, local police chief,local radio station owner etc etc where no one gives a fuck what i do as i have the inherited right to be there as an important part of society(in top secret behind closed doors of course)im going to protect my interests by demanding my fellow brethren do their level best to keep it all illegal no matter what cos um i dont get my tribute from vallium/cigs or beer sales just the illegal stuff.

Aye, i'm not saying i think drugs will be legalised or even tolerated (like Amsterdam where even weed is still technicaly illegal) just that it would solve all the problems that arise from the pure drugs being cut on the illegal market.

In the UK we have kids who smoke hash. Only due to cannabis being illegal and there being not regulatory body in place to check quality what these kids are actualy smoking is dog crap, bees wax, boot polish, pine resin and the list goes on (source (http://www.ukcia.org/activism/soapbar.php)). Would this happen if it were legal or tolerated? Well, they dont sell soapbar in Amsterdam.

[scottmurray]

Aye, i'm not saying i think drugs will be legalised or even tolerated (like Amsterdam where even weed is still technicaly illegal) just that it would solve all the problems that arise from the pure drugs being cut on the illegal market.

In the UK we have kids who smoke hash. Only due to cannabis being illegal and there being not regulatory body in place to check quality what these kids are actualy smoking is dog crap, bees wax, boot polish, pine resin and the list goes on (source (http://www.ukcia.org/activism/soapbar.php)). Would this happen if it were legal or tolerated? Well, they dont sell soapbar in Amsterdam.
true words friend.
why dont the us/uk buy all the heroin i mean like all of it
why dont we legalise it, no pushers outside school cos no financial incentive to get youngsters hooked as they will get it from legit scources, means next generation will be sorted.why o why dont they sort

[revolutionary_jam]

Aye, i'm not saying i think drugs will be legalised or even toleratedtoleration is a very bad system though becuase it still doesn't cut the link with other illicit industries such as gangsters etc. only legalisation works because it opens it up so that any company can produce and once you have that situations industry standards come into place, quality controls to make sure the drugs aren't cut with crap etc. etc. etc. it's very important that the mind-altering substance market is open and honest BECAUSE there are so many risks, not the vice versa x

[spectruma]

Ecstacy should stay a class A drug simply due to the crap the stuff sold on the streets is cut with.

Classic pro-MDMA legalisation argument. Your assertion is that MDMA is fine on its own, if not adultered with other substances. The scientific consensus does not back this position however.

[skyver]

MDMA, now thats def one drug I'd love to see legalised!
:)

[ownoiz]

Illegal = monopoly
.

[spectruma]

Illegal = monopoly

The problem with this kind of libertarian approach is that, logically, you could just as easily extend it to fluoridation or aspartame. Nothing should be made illegal, nothing should be discouraged from mass consumption; even though dangerous substances exist.

[ownoiz]

The problem with this kind of libertarian approach is that, logically, you could just as easily extend it to fluoridation or aspartame. Nothing should be made illegal, nothing should be discouraged from mass consumption; even though dangerous substances exist.

Driving a car is dangerous...

I didnt actually comment on whether it should be illegal or not ;)

When something is deemed illegal, there are always those who are above the law. Thats what my comment was pertaining to.

Thats why there are drugs everywhere, some slip through the net of law enforcement sure, but not all of it ;)

If i hadnt seen the things ive seen, i wouldnt be on this forum ;)

pills everywhere, cops nowhere, but only for some, years of jail for others

If illegal meant illegal meant consistency that would be a different argument.
.

[grenadene]

For me this all boils down to 'who has the right to dictate what I can put in my own mouth?' so long as I'm not hurting anyone else. All good advice on drugs greatly appreciated, from any source, but lets keep this real folks. I struggle to see how pill takers present any more of a 'burden to society' than anyone else?

Any government who thinks it OK to fluoridate the water is demented and all advice coming for their direction should be taken with a liberal application of salt or ideally ignored. If they told me it was Tuesday I probably wouldn't believe them :)

[revolutionary_jam]

The problem with this kind of libertarian approach is that, logically, you could just as easily extend it to fluoridation or aspartame. Nothing should be made illegal, nothing should be discouraged from mass consumption; even though dangerous substances exist.
I see that argument

then again those chemicals are added to food, no one goes out and specifically buys "aspartame", msg, or fluoride to add to their food or water
maybe these should be illegal as additives but be available to buy as suppliments for people who really want to add them

[spectruma]

Driving a car is dangerous...

I didnt actually comment on whether it should be illegal or not

I don't think comparing MDMA to driving a car is valid really.

What do you make of the current regulatory approval and legality of MSG/aspartame?

I see that argument

then again those chemicals are added to food, no one goes out and specifically buys "aspartame", msg, or fluoride to add to their food or water
maybe these should be illegal as additives but be available to buy as suppliments for people who really want to add them

That's still making something illegal in some capacity, isn't it? Which the pro-MDMA people are against.

Also, I could argue that consumers are actually quite aware of buying MSG and aspartame foods; it's right there on the label.

[ownoiz]

I don't think comparing MDMA to driving a car is valid really.

What do you make of the current regulatory approval and legality of MSG/aspartame?

If food additives are made illegal, i dont see that as analagous to illicit drugs being illegal, the circumstances are different.

MSG and aspartame are food additives. This food is typically sold in supermarkets or similar on branded products. If they are made illegal, it would hardly be practical for people in power to set up black market operations of aspartame and MSG as they would struggle to get it into the supply chain.

You most likely wouldnt be able to sell aspartame or MSG in an alleyway, club or private residence but you can sure as hell sell a lot of E that way.

So my opinion is that if dangerous food additives are made illegal, they would be easier to eradicate than a drug like ecstasy, as there wouldnt be any demand, unless food manufacturers were adding it without revealing on the label, which would be a risk as there are many that can test food and catch them out. You or me can pluck it off the shelf and most likely organise a test of some sort at a lab.

Whereas if there are drugs being sold, out of public view i might add, instructions typically come from a concentrated power base (politician/police commissioner etc)...much more open to corruption and immunity.

my 2c
.

[spectruma]

Whether or not there would be a black market for MSG or aspartame is beside the point, IMO.

The argument against the prohibition of MDMA is basically a libertarian one. And if you say that MDMA should not be made illegal, from a libertarian point of view, then it is perfectly logical to say that aspartame/MSG and other dubious food additives should not be made illegal either.

[bigred]

Legalise Ecstasy and you hand over the supply to the pharmacuitical companys. Can they be trusted any more than the gangsters who control the supply at the moment?

I wouldn't be at all surprised if legal E's were of poorer quality than the pills on the street at the moment but far more expensive.

It makes no difference if Ecstacy is legal or not when the people controlling drug companys and the leaders of the drug cartels are working together, if not the same people.

[drhemp]

Legalise Ecstasy and you hand over the supply to the pharmacuitical companys. Can they be trusted any more than the gangsters who control the supply at the moment?

I wouldn't be at all surprised if legal E's were of poorer quality than the pills on the street at the moment but far more expensive.

It makes no difference if Ecstacy is legal or not when the people controlling drug companys and the leaders of the drug cartels are working together, if not the same people.

There wasn't one recorded death from MDMA when it was legal.

Leaving supply to the black market means they are of poor quality that could contain anything and also the price is very low so anybody can afford them.

[revolutionary_jam]

If food additives are made illegal, i dont see that as analagous to illicit drugs being illegal, the circumstances are different.

MSG and aspartame are food additives. This food is typically sold in supermarkets or similar on branded products. If they are made illegal, it would hardly be practical for people in power to set up black market operations of aspartame and MSG as they would struggle to get it into the supply chain.

You most likely wouldnt be able to sell aspartame or MSG in an alleyway, club or private residence but you can sure as hell sell a lot of E that way.

So my opinion is that if dangerous food additives are made illegal, they would be easier to eradicate than a drug like ecstasy, as there wouldnt be any demand, unless food manufacturers were adding it without revealing on the label, which would be a risk as there are many that can test food and catch them out. You or me can pluck it off the shelf and most likely organise a test of some sort at a lab.

Whereas if there are drugs being sold, out of public view i might add, instructions typically come from a concentrated power base (politician/police commissioner etc)...much more open to corruption and immunity.

my 2c
.

great points!

[revolutionary_jam]

Legalise Ecstasy and you hand over the supply to the pharmacuitical companys. Can they be trusted any more than the gangsters who control the supply at the moment?

I wouldn't be at all surprised if legal E's were of poorer quality than the pills on the street at the moment but far more expensive.

It makes no difference if Ecstacy is legal or not when the people controlling drug companys and the leaders of the drug cartels are working together, if not the same people.

I disagree man even tho yes the pharmaceuticals can't be trusted they still have a market to contend with and the best product will win out in a cotext of having to print the ingredients on the packet

some of the best pharmacists in the world work in Amsterdamn for the illicit frugs industry because they can get far more money in that business

[drhemp]

URL: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v09/n047/a05.html
Newshawk: JimmyG
Rate this article Votes: 0
Pubdate: Thu, 15 Jan 2009
Source: Independent (UK)
Copyright: 2009 Independent Newspapers (UK) Ltd.
Contact: letters@independent.co.uk
Website: http://www.independent.co.uk/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/209
Author: Mark Hughes, Crime Correspondent
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topic/ketamine (Ketamine)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/hallucinogens.htm (Hallucinogens)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/coke.htm (Cocaine)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/heroin.htm (Heroin)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

KETAMINE TOPS COCAINE AS NEW DRUG OF CHOICE

Government Advisory Panel Ranks Class C Drug As More Harmful Than Ecstasy

The horse tranquilliser ketamine is increasingly replacing cocaine as the substance of choice among Britain's recreational drug users, according to charities and experts.

Use of the drug, known as "Special K" or "Raver's Smack", was found to be on the rise in nine out of 20 areas surveyed by the charity DrugScope. The British Crime Survey shows that use of the drug last year increased nationally by 10 per cent on 2006-07.

Once seen as a drug exclusively for the rave and dance scene, its popularity is now growing among Britain's middle-class users due to its price - a gram of ketamine costs UKP 20, half as much as the same amount of cocaine - and the fact that it is seen as a "safe" and "clean" drug.

However, a survey carried out by Professor David Nutt, the chairman of the Government's drug advisory panel, ranks the class C drug as the sixth most dangerous illegal drug available - more harmful than Ecstasy and cannabis. The mistaken belief that the substance is risk-free is encouraging more young people to try ketamine and to take it in increasingly higher doses.

But experts say that it can cause heart or lung failure and point to the fact that it has been linked to 23 deaths between 1993 and 2006. In 2006 it was classified as a class C drug.

Martin Barnes, chief executive of DrugScope, said: "There is worrying evidence that people are experimenting with larger amounts or are even injecting the drug. Evidence of young people using ketamine is a particular concern, especially as many users may underestimate the risks involved."

The popularity of the drug, which can be snorted, swallowed, injected and even smoked, has grown from an estimated 60,000 users between 1998 and 2000 to about 113,000 in 2008. At last year's Glastonbury festival, police seized double the amount of ketamine than they did at the 2007 event.

The DrugScope survey shows that use of drug is increasing in Portsmouth, London, Bristol, Ipswich, Birmingham, Nottingham, Sheffield, Blackpool and Newcastle. And police forces in many of these areas say they are aware of the increased prevalence of the drug. Its popularity is illustrated on the internet, with some users posting videos of themselves, high on the substance, on the video-sharing website YouTube.

Mr Barnes added: "It is becoming very popular and it's a drug that a lot of people are talking about. The very fact that the price is falling shows how popular it is becoming. Three years ago, when we started this study, it was selling for about UKP 30 a gram, now it is UKP 20."

He added: "The fall in price does suggest that the people who are selling the stuff have no problems getting hold of it."

What is ketamine?

Originally used to treat injured soldiers in Vietnam, ketamine is most commonly used now as a horse tranquilliser. It has also been experimented with to treat depression and alcohol and heroin addiction. It was classified as an illegal drug in 2006 by the UK Government. It is usually sold in powder or liquid form for about UKP 20 per gram. Unlike cocaine and heroin, it is not physically addictive, but, like cannabis and Ecstasy, it is psychologically addictive.

[sidebar]

User's view: 'You forget about your normal life'

David first tried ketamine as a 20-year-old student at university in London. Now a 27-year-old marketing executive, living in Shoreditch, east London, he still takes the drug once a month. "I see it as a fun, sociable drug," he said. "I do it at house parties or if I'm having a big night out. I used to do cocaine, but I suppose I gradually replaced coke with ket. Coke is much more expensive and it generally makes everyone very loud and aggressive. Ket is different. It costs less and you use it in smaller quantities so it lasts a lot longer. The feeling you get is different too. It makes you feel anaesthetised to your worries. You forget about your normal life and everything is euphoric. Sometimes I've had bad trips, but I've never felt angry when on ketamine. I think it is a lot safer too. I've read it can have long-term effects on your health, but it doesn't seem as dangerous as cocaine. When on coke I used to feel my heart pounding and it didn't feel right. The other reason I changed is because of the classification. I've got a proper job and a career and I don't want to lose that. Ketamine is a class C drug so if I get caught I'm probably only going to get a slap on the wrist."

[clozaril]

back in the news

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7882708.stm

[bowtiedaddy]

WHAT THE FUCK?! They upgrade marijuana, and downgrade Ecstasy? E, is a very dangerous drug, mentally and physically.