58Myths,Lies&Misconceptions

UpholdingtheDrugApartheid

byJulianBuchanan,28thJanuary2015

Drug law and policy has its roots in fear, ignorance, racism and
vestedinterest.Sadly,thishaschangedlittleovertheyears.Drug
discoursecontinuestobeshapedmorebypunitivepopulismand
moralcrusades,thanscientificevidence,reasonandrationality.

To expose and encourage a critical debate, Ive tried to uncover

some of the main myths, lies and misconceptions, which
underpin, shape and inform drug policy thinking. Unless we
uncovertheflawednotionsandbeliefsthatinfestourdominant
drugs discourse, we are at risk of producing further misguided
drugpoliciesandpractices.

Although punchy and accessible in style, each point below is

carefully considered and can be academically supported but
thatsforanotherdayorabookeven!

1.Thereisaclearpharmacologicaldefinitionfordrugs.Thereisntwhat
weclassifyasillegaldrugsisa1950s&60ssocialandculturalconstruct
withnocoherentpharmacologicalrationale.Wefailtorecognisealcohol,
tobaccoorcaffeineasdrugsandmaybesugarshouldalsobeclassifiedasa
drug.

2.Peoplewhousedrugsaredrugmisusers.Untruethevastmajority
generallyusedrugsrecreationallyandsensibly,butunfortunatelywe
conflateusewithproblematicuse.

3.Drugusersaredirty,immoralanddangerouslosers.Anunjustifiedand
hostilestereotypeillicitdrugusersareadiversegroupofpeoplefromevery
walkoflife.Thedrugbusinessisdirty,immoralanddangerousthats
becauseitsillegal,extremelylucrativeandsubjecttofiercelaw
enforcement.

4.Peopletakedrugsbecausetheyhaveproblems.Untruemostpeople
takedrugsbecausetheyenjoytheeffect,justlikealcohol,tobaccoand
caffeine.

5.Regulardruguseinevitablyleadstoaddiction.Untrueonlyasmall
proportionofpeoplewhousedrugsdevelopaddictionjustlikealcohol.

6.Takingdrugsdamagespeople.Allsubstances(legalandillegal)can
damagepeople,andthemostdamagingdrugofallisalegalonealcohol.
However,prohibitionmakesillicitdrugsmoredangerousanddamaging.In
addition,acquiringacriminalrecordfordrugscanbemoreharmfultolife
thanthedrug.

7.Drugusefuelscrime.Thepresenceofadrugandthecommissionofa
crimedoesnotequatetoacausalconnection.Therelationshipisassociated
ratherthancausal.However,thereisevidencethatprohibitionandtough
lawenforcementfuelviolentcrime.

8.Legaldrugsaresaferandlessharmful.Thisisaparticularlymisleading
statement,becausealcoholandtobaccoarefarmoredamagingthanmost
illegaldrugs.However,prohibitionmakesitdifficulttoknowthestrength,
ingredientsorqualityofillegaldrugs,whichinitselfcreatesanentirely
avoidablerisk.

9.Lawenforcementmeasuresaffectlevelsofdruguse.Studiesshowthat
inadvancedwesterndemocraciesneithertough,norliberallawenforcement
approacheshavemuchimpactuponlevelsofdruguse.

10.Addictionisanequalopportunityemployer.Druguseisanequal
opportunityemployer,butchronicaddictionisnt.Whileanyonecanbe
affected,chronicproblematicdrugusetendstodisproportionatelyaffect

thosewithdisadvantagedanddamagedlivesthathadsignificantdifficulties
beforePDUandthesepeoplelacktheresources,opportunitiesandsupport
torecover.

11.Addictionisabraindisease.Untrue,yesthebrainwillbeaffectedbut
lossofcontrolofdrugs(similartointernetaddiction,gambling,overeating)
hasmuchmoretodowithsocial,psychologicalandbehaviouralfactthan
neurologicaldefects.IfaddictionwasabraindiseaseMRIswouldbeusedas
diagnosticevidenceofaddiction.

12.Thegovernmentcanprotectsocietybybanningnewdrugs.Banning
drugsmasqueradesaspositiveactiontodealwiththeproblem
whenactuallybanningdrugshaslittleimpactonuseandmakesproduction,
distributionandconsumptionmoredangerous.

13.OncelistedintheMisuseofDrugsAct,drugsbecome
controlled.Technicallycorrectbutonceadrugislistedasacontrolled
drug,itisforcedundergroundandthusbecomescompletelyoutside
government/socialcontrol.Soironicallyacontrolleddrug,isbynature,an
uncontrolleddrug.

14.Cannabisisagatewaydrugthatleadstoaddictiontohard
drugs.Untrue,mostyoungadultshaveusedcannabisandmosthavenot
progressedontousingotherdrugs,norhavetheybecomeaddicts.Thelast
threePresidentsoftheUSAallsuccessfullyusedcannabiswithoutany
gatewayaffect.

15.Peoplewhousecaffeine,tobaccoand/oralcoholarenotdrugusers.
Untruetheycertainlyaredrugusersandmanyareaddicts.Thesethree
substancesarealldrugs,andironicallyunlikesomeillegaldrugsinhigh
dosagescaffeine,tobaccoandalcoholaretoxicandresultindeath.

16.Ifwelockupdealerswecanreducethedrugrelatedviolence.The
oppositeistrue,disruptingthesupplydistributionandremovingdealers
createsmoreviolencebyfuellingmarketuncertainty,presentingnew
businessopportunitiesandcreatingbusinessconflict.

17.Druguseisntacrimeissueitsahealthissue.Thismaysoundlikea
stepintherightdirection,buttakingasubstanceisntinherentlyahealth
issue,anymorethanenjoyingacoffeeorglassofwineisahealthissue.
Evenproblematicdruguseisntbestdescribedasahealthissue;itsmore
accuratelyasocial,psychological,healthand/orlegalissue.

18.Therearehardandsoftdrugs.Thereisnoscientificevidence
underpinningthemisleadingcategorisationofhardandsoftdrugs.While
somedrugscangenerallyposegreaterproblemsthanotherdrugstosome
people,thesegeneralisationsaremisleadingbecausetheimpactofadrug

variesfrompersontopersondependingupontheset(theperson)andthe
setting(theenvironment)itsnotjustthesubstance.

19.Drugsareillegalbecausetheyaredangerous,andtheprooftheyare
dangerousisthattheyareillegal!ThiscircularDoubleSpeakoffersno
evidenceandisusedtodefendprohibition,butthesubstanceswehave
calleddrugsarenotinherentlymoredangerousthanothersubstancessuch
asalcohol,sugar,tobacco,fat,caffeineandpeanuts.However,prohibition
increasestherisk,dangeranduncertaintyconsiderably.

20.Drugtestingwilltellyouifapersonisondrugs.Theresultis
unreliableduetohumanerror,machineerror,deliberateandaccidentalfalse
positivesandfalsenegatives.Someoneeatingapoppyseedbagelcouldtest
positiveforopiates.Someonewhotestspositiveforcannabismaynothave
usedthedrugthatday,however,becauseofthemetabolitesofthedrugthe
positiveresultmaybedetectingcannabisuseddays,weeksorevenmonths
ago.Drugpresencedoesnotindicatedrugimpairmentorintoxication.

21.Likeeverythingelseonthemarketdrugsmustbeprovensafebefore
theycaneverbelegalised.Nottrue.Thesafetyforotherproductsdoesnot
havetobeestablishedbeforeapproval(forexamplemobilephonesorGM
foods).Substancesthataredamagingorevenlethaltosomesuchas
tobacco,alcohol,peanutsarelegalandpromoted,whereasadrugsuchas
cannabisthathasmedicinalbenefitsandhasneverkilledanyoneis
considereddangerousandremainsillegal.

22.Peoplewhousedrugsarenotcriminalstheyneedhelp.An
apparentlybenignandsupportivestatement,however,whiletakingadrug
shouldnotbealawenforcementconcern,neithershouldweproblematizeor
pathologizedruguseasahealthissue.Thereisnoreasonwhyweshould
assumeapersonusingdrugsneedshelp.

23.Recoveryisaboutbecomingdrugfree.Recoveryisaboutpeoplewho
havebeendependentondrugsregainingcontroloftheirlife,butbecoming
drugfreeisntalwaysnecessarytoachievethat.Somepeoplesorttheirlife
outandcontinuetouseinanonproblematicway,andsometakecleanlegal
prescribedsubstitutessuchasmethadoneorheroinandsuccessfullylead
productiveandstablelives.

24.Harmreductionisaboutreducingthespreadofdiseases.Harm
reductionisnotjustabouthealthitsalsoaboutreducingsocial,cultural
andpsychologicalharms.Harmreductionisanevidencedbasedapproach
thatshouldsitalongsidehumanrightstounderpinalldrugpolicy.Its
pragmatic,humaneandnonjudgemental,itengagespeoplewheretheyare
atwithaviewtoreducingriskandharm.

25.Harmreductiondoesntsupportabstinence.Harmreductionisnt

aboutgettingpeopleoffdrugsitsaboutworkingwithpeopletoreduce
risks.However,insomecasesabstinencemightbeagoodwaytoreduce
riskssoharmreductionincorporatesabstinencebutonlyifthepersonis
ready,able,interestedandwantingtobecomeabstinent.

26.Illegaldrugshavelittleornouseinmedicine.Althoughthissentiment
isenshrinedinthemuchoutdated1961UNSingleConventiononNarcotics
thisstatementcouldntbefurtherfromthetruth.Opiatesareessentialin
severepainmanagementcannabisandMDMA,havemedicinalbenefitsin
thetreatmentofagrowingnumberofconditions(e.g.MS,PTSD,Epilepsy).
Illegalityhasmademedicaltrialsandacceptanceextremelydifficult.

27.Peoplewhousedrugsneedtreatmentnotprison.Anotherapparently
positivestatementhowever,peoplewhousedrugsdontneedtreatmentor
prisonanymorethansomeonewhohasadoubleespressoeachmorning,or
thepersonwhoenjoysaglassofwhiskybeforebedtimeneedstreatmentor
prison.Undertheumbrellaofitsbetterthanprisonallsortsofquestionable
practicescanappearpalatable.

28.Topreventstigmaweneedtounderstandaddictionasadisease.Yes
wewanttopreventstigmabutaddictionisnotadisease.Themosteffective
waytopreventstigmaistoendthedrugapartheidandchallengethe
hypocriticalandflawedsocialconstructionofdrugs.

29.Druglawsaffecteveryonethesame.Thisisnottrue.Thechancesof
beingstopped,searched,arrestedandprosecutedfordrugpossession
dependsgreatlyonthecolourofyourskin,yoursocialclass,age,location
andyoursocialbackground.

30.Ifwetryhardenoughwecaneradicatedrugs.Afallacy.Fortyyearsof
extremelytoughprohibitioninvolvingmassesoftimeandmoneyforpolice,
armedforcesandcustomshashadnoimpactuponsupply,priceoruse.They
cantevenkeepdrugsoutofhighsecurityprisons.

31.Heroinisadangerousdrugthatdamagesyourbody.Anystreetdrug
couldbeverydamagingbecauseillegalitymeanstheuserhasntgotaclue
whatsinit.Butcleanpharmaceuticalheroin(unlikealcohol)doesntcause
anypermanentdamagetothebody.

32.Crackcocaineinpregnancyleadstopermanentlydamagedcrack
babies.Thereisnoconsistentevidencetosupportthisclaim.Longitudinal
studies,indicatesevereandenduringpovertyappearstobethemost
significantfactorthatthwartschildprogressanddevelopment,notparental
crackcocaineuseduringpregnancy.Soinsteadofemotivelyand
inaccurately,focusinguponcrackbabies,itwouldbemoreappropriateto
directattentiontowardstheplightofpovertybabies.

33.Drugtestingwillhelpidentifypeoplewhohaveadrug
problem.Besidesitsunreliabilityatbestdrugtestingonlyindicatesdrug
presence,itprovidesnoindicationofthepattern,time,place,reasonor
contextofdruguse.Apositiveresultindicatesdrugusenotproblematicuse.

34.Lawenforcementtargetsthemostdangerousdrugs.Untrue,arrests
anddrugseizuresforcannabisoutnumberalltheotherdrugsarrests
combined.Thewarbetweendrugsislargelyawarontherelativelybenign
cannabiswhilethesignificantlymoredangerousdrugalcoholisenjoyedand
promotedamongstlawenforcementofficials.

35.Peoplecaughtwithcannabisdontendupinprison.Untrue,many
certainlydo,andthosethatdontsufferthelifelimitingconsequencesof
livingwithadrugconviction.

36.Druglawenforcementtargetspeoplewhousedrugs.Levelsofdrug
useacrossthewhiteandblackpopulationaresimilar.Howeverit
dependsuponthecolourofyourskinandyoursocialstatusastowhether
youwillbetargeted.Ifyouarepoorandhaveaminorityethnicheritageyou
aremuchmorelikelytobetargetedstopped,searched,arrested,
prosecutedandsubsequentlysentencedfordrugdefinedcrime.

37.Heroinduringpregnancywillcausepermanentharmtotheunborn
child.Streetheroinisaproblembecauseyoudontknowwhatsinit.But
cleanpharmaceuticalheroincausesnoknownpermanentdamagetoababy.
Oncerecoveredfromwithdrawalsymptomsbabieswillhavenopermanent
harm.However,alcoholtakenduringpregnancycancauseFoetalAlcohol
Syndromeapermanentcondition.

38.Adrugfreeworldisdesirable.Drugshavebeenusedsincerecords
beganforpainrelief,treatingsickness,forrelaxationandsocialreasons.
Alcohol,caffeine,tobaccoaredrugsandarguablycocoa,sugarandfattoo.A
worldwithoutdrugsisunthinkable,undesirableanduntenable.

39.Illegaldrugskillpeople.Thisismisleadingbecausethemajorityof
drugdeathsareconsequencesofprohibitionandadraconiandrugpolicy
thatmakestakingdrugsuncertainandmoredangerousandgettinghelp
risky.Alotofdeathscouldhaveotherwisebeenavoided.

40.Drugpolicyisbaseduponthebestavailableevidence.Fordecades
researchreports,reviews,inquiries,expertgroupshaveprovidedmountain
loadsofevidencebutdrugpolicyhasrepeatedlyignoredthebestavailable
evidenceandinsteadcontinuedtoupholdtheprinciplesofprohibition
enshrinedinthe1961UNSingleConvention.Drugpolicyisrootedin
ideologicalbeliefsandanattempttoseizethemoralhighground,rather
thanscienceandevidence.

41.Itsawarondrugs.Untruedrugshaveneverbeenmore
accommodated,integratedorpromoted.Thereisnowaronalcohol,
tobacco,caffeine,sugar,fatorBigPharmadrugs.Itisawaronparticular
drugsthathavebeenoutlawedforpolitical,socialandeconomicreasons
(notpharmacologicalorscientificreasons).ItsaWarBetweenDrugs
enforcedbyanuncompromisinglytoughDrugApartheid.

42.StrictRegulationisthewayforward.Ideally,butitdependsuponwhat
regulationlookslike.Notifthatregulation(asillustratedintheNewZealand
PsychoactiveSubstanceAct2013)means:youarenowprohibitedand
punishedforpossessionofsubstancesnotapprovedbythestate(s.71$500
fine);supplycarriesa2yearprisonsentence(s.70);allnewpsychoactive
substancesnotlistedintheMisuseofDrugsActareautomaticallyprohibited
andtheonlywayofacquiringapprovedsubstancesisthroughBigPharma
orBigBusiness.

43.Everydaydrugfreeisaanotherdayofbeingclean.Thisis
misleading,isanyoneever(andshouldtheybe?)drugfreebecausewetake
caffeine,sugar,cocoa,aspirin,alcohol?Moreimportantlythisstatement
wronglyinsinuatestakingadrugiswronganddirtyandwithoutthemwe
becomeclean.

44.Alcoholoccupiessomuchpolicetimeimaginehowbaditdbeifwe
legalisecannabis.Thereisnocomparisonthesearetwodifferent
substancesthatimpactbehaviourverydifferently.Itisrareforanyoneon
cannabistobeargumentative,aggressiveandviolent,unfortunatelythe
samecannotbesaidforalcohol.Itslikesayingweveseenthedamaged
causedbyboxingimaginehowbaditdbeifwelegalisedtennis.

45.Legalisingdrugsisdangerousbecausemorepeoplewillusedrugs.In
countrieswheredrugshavebeenlegalisedordecriminalisedtherehasnot
beenanyoverallincreaseindruguse.However,itisdangerousand
problematicdrugusethatshouldconcernusnotdruguseperse.Peoplewho
arecurrentlyusingunknown(purity,toxicity,ingredients,strength)street
drugsandriskingacriminalrecordwillbeinamuchsaferposition.

46.Cannabisusebydriversisleadingtomoredeathsonthe
road.Unfounded.Thereisevidencethatcannabisisincreasinglyfoundin
bloodsamplesbutthispresenceofcannabisinthebloodstreamcouldarise
fromuseofcannabisdays,weeksevenmonthsago.Drugpresencedoesnt
meanimpairment.

47.Everydrugdeathisfurtherevidenceofthedangersofdrugs.Most
drugdeathsareabyproductofdraconiandrugpolicythatcouldbeavoided
byacombinationofdecriminalisation,legalisation,naloxonedistribution,
saferdruguseeducation,heroinassistedtreatments,drugtestingkits,drug
consumptionroomsandlessintoleranceandstigma.


48.Theundergroundcriminalbusinessindrugsisenormoussoweneed
tougherlawenforcement.Unfortunately,itisprohibitionthathascreated
theseconditionsinthefirstinstance,moreenforcementcanonlybeexpected
tofurtherincreasethepowerandwealthofthecriminalcartelsandincrease
violence.However,regulationanddecriminalisationwouldmakeareal
positivedifferencesignificantlyreducingtheundergroundillegaldrug
business.

49.BetterthatsomeonegoestoDrugCourtthanprison.Anythingcan
appearpalatableandjustifiedifpresentedasanalternativetoprison.For
theoverwhelmingmajorityofnonproblematicdrugusers,coercive
treatmentispointless,expensive,andunethical.Forthesmallminorityof
problematicusers,betterthatpeoplewhoneedhelpcanaccessthathelpin
thecommunity,followingathoroughassessment,andabestfittreatment
planthathasaccesstoafullrangeofservices,ratherthanhavingtoaccess
anenforcedabstinence12stepprogrammesthroughthecriminaljustice
system.

50.Theworldwouldbeabetterplacewithoutdrugs.Drugsarevitalin
medicineandpainrelief,theyarealsoimportantforrelaxing,sleeping,
socialising,providingenergy,thinkinglaterally,creativelyandartistically.
Legaldrugsalcohol,caffeineandtobaccoareusedforthesepurposesevery
day,althoughother(currentlyillegal)drugsmightbesaferandbettersuited.

51.Peoplegrowoutoftakingdrugs.Whilethereisevidencethatpeople
growoutofcriminalactivity,theuseofprohibiteddrugsinvolvescriminal
risks,soifthereisashiftawayfromillegaldrugsatalaterageitsnot
necessarilythecasethatpeoplearegrowingoutofdrugs,butperhaps,over
time,theylearntoavoidtheassociatedcriminalassociations.Thereisno
evidencepeoplegrowoutofusingthedrugsalcohol,tobaccoandcaffeine.

52.IfstrongevidenceisprovideddruglawswillchangeStrongreliable
evidenceiscrucialtodevelopeffectivedruglaws,butmostadvanced
capitalistcountriesshowlittlesignofbeinginfluencedbyscienceand
evidence.Insteadtheyseemcommittedtoanideologicallydrivenposition
tomaintaintheprivilegeoflegaldrugsbydemonisingallillicitdrugs
regardlessoftheharmscaused.

53.SocietyneedstolearntoacceptdruguseWiththemassiverangeof
alcohol,tobaccoandcaffeineproductscombinedwiththeeverincreasing
rangeofBigPharmadrugsthereisnodoubtsocietyalreadyfullyaccepts,
embracesandengagesindruguseonadailybasis!Sothisstatementis
misleadingandfeedsintothefaultythinkingthatfailstoacknowledgelegal
substancesasdruguse.Societyneedstolearntounderstandweare
operatingwithinadrugapartheid.

54.ThereisnocureforaddictionAddictionisessentiallyasocialand
psychologicalcondition,rootedinpatternsofthinking,behaviourand
lifestylethatsgotoutofcontrol.Itsnotanincurablediseasefromwhich
peopleneverrecoverandareforcedtoliveinrecovery.Thevastmajorityof
peoplewhobecomedependentsuccessfullyregaincontrol,mostofthem
withoutprofessionalhelp.Thelargenumberswhohavequitsmokingarea
goodexample.

55.TheonlyplacefortakingdrugsisinmedicineItisapositionyoucould
holdforyourself,butitsanextremepositionthatwouldmeannotea,
coffee,chocolate,alcohol,fizzydrinks,sweetsorcakes,mostbreakfast
cerealsetc(avoidingthedrugs;alcohol,caffeineandsugar).Itsakinto
sayingtheonlyacceptablereasonforconsumingfoodistokeepushealthy.
Pleasure,relaxing,gettingmoreenergy,feelingsleepyorenhancingour
sensesarenotunreasonablemotivationsfortakingfoodorsubstances.

56.DrugslikecannabisareillegalAsaresultofthe1961UNSingle
Conventionsignaturecountrieshavemadepossessionandcultivationof
certainsubstanceslistedintheConventionacriminaloffence.However,the
substancesthemselvesarenotillegal,whichraisesthequestionthatifplants
likecannabis,cocaandtheopiumpoppyarenotillegalonwhatbasiscanor
shouldthepoliceandarmedforcessearchthecountrysidetodigupor
destroyuncultivatedplants.

57.TheDrugsWarhasfailedThatdependsuponwhatyouthinkthe
purposeis.Ifthedrugwarisunderstoodthroughaneoliberallensithasbeen
agreatsuccess.Ithaspreservedtheprivilegedpositiongrantedtolegaldrug
industry(caffeine,alcoholandtobacco);ithasprovidedthestatewith
considerablepowerstocontrolthepoor,peopleofcolour,indigenouspeople
andtheother';ithasprovidedgreatnumbersfortheburgeoningand
profitablepenalindustrialcomplex;andithasspawnedextensivenew
testingandsurveillancebusinessopportunitiesintimesofrecession.

58.Peoplechoosetobuyalcohol,caffeineandtobacco,butillegaldrugs
arepushedonpeopleThisnotionisdeeplyflawed.Mostpeopleare
exposedtoillicitdrugsthroughfriendshipnetworks,whereas,legaldrugs
suchasalcoholareactuallypushedonpeopleviaadvertisingand
sponsorship,andtheyarefurtherpressuredtousealcoholby
powerfulculturalnormstocelebrate,havefunandjoinin.So,ifanything
peoplearemorelikelytobepushedintolegaldrugs.

Copyright2015JulianBuchanan
Feelfreetousesolongasyoucreditmeasauthor

ThankstoJerryDoreyforproofreadingandhelpfulsuggestions