UK's failed drugs policy has to change - article in The Telegraph today.

Our failed drugs policy has to change

Extracts:

"Drugs policy has failed. Do not take my word for it. That was, essentially, the conclusion of the Prime Minister's strategy unit in a report published last year after initially being suppressed. The aim of drugs policy over the past four decades has been to reduce demand and curb supply. It has done neither. Crime associated with drug-taking is as rife as ever. A new way needs to be found."

"Many of the drugs that are illegal do not necessarily cause any greater damage than alcohol or tobacco, both of which when taken to excess are debilitating or lethal. So if drugs cannot be eradicated, then the principal object of public policy, instead of trying to criminalise as many people as possible, should be to discourage their use on health grounds and mitigate the harm they cause. Furthermore, most of us felt, without being excessively libertarian about it, that if people are harming neither themselves nor others, the state has no reason to intervene."

I don't know much about illegal drugs, having had nothing at all to do with them ever. - But I do know that a far greater drugs problem is that of the ever-burgeoning quantities of prescribed drugs, which sometimes are of benefit to the patient but which all too often cause great harm. - The reckless prescribing of steroids and other drugs which cause sodium retention and thereby fluid retention and weight gain, are a major cause of obesity and its attendant host of other illnesses - hypertension, stroke, diabetes, most cancers, etc. Quite apart from all this needless and costly suffering to patients, many of these over-prescribed drugs find their way into the hands of the illegal drug-pushers.

Cavalier prescribing needs to be curbed BY LAW - and doctors who know so little of the side-effects of steroids that they do not warn their patients to avoid eating salt while on the medication should not be allowed to prescribe these powerful, dangerous drugs.

Obesity is NOT caused by overeating. It is caused by fluid retention, frequently because of taking prescribed medications, especially steroids such as prednisolone and HRT, and anti-depressants such as amitriptyline. Obesity can be easily reduced by seriously reducing your salt/sodium intake and eating plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables. - It is important not to restrict calories. - 'Slimming' is unnecessary, ineffective and often harmful.

Lose weight by eating less salt! Go on! - Try it!
See my website www.wildeaboutsteroids.co.uk
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