Subj: Scotland: Professor in call for drugs to be legalised

Date: 16 Oct, 1998



Source: The Scottish Express





Professor in call for drugs to be legalised

BY DEREK LAMBIE



A LEADING psychologist yesterday called for tie legalisation 

of drugs because the war against them had failed.



Professor John Davies claimed tough campaigns had failed to 

root out the growing problem in Scotland and insisted the 

law should be more lenient.



Speaking at a Scottish Drugs Forum conference at Stirling 

Royal Infirmary yesterday, the Strathclyde University 

professor said there may be benefits in legalising certain 

drugs.



The social psychology lecturer said: "Under a legalised 

system it would be possible to control the quality of drugs 

such as heroin. Drug use in this country is getting worse. 

The war against drugs is not working."



Scotland has one of Europe's worst drug abuse records with 

around 8,000 people using heroin in Glasgow alone. Over 200 

Scots die from drug misuse every year and 12 per cent of 

teenagers have a serious drug problem.



George Hall, acting director of Scotland Against Drugs, 

ridiculed the suggestions: "Professor Davies should come 

down from his academic ivory tower and live in the real 

world.



"Does he really think changing the legal status of Ecstasy 

and heroin would reduce the amount of deaths caused by these 

substances?"



But Prof Davies maintained: "It is not just heroin or 

cocaine that is he problem but also the social setting in 

which they are used."



Professor Neil McKegahey from the Centre for Drug Misuse at 

Glasgow University, insisted the legalisation of drugs would 

not solve the growing problem. "I respect the views although 

I disagree with them," he said.



"Legalisation or decriminalisation will not help. Having 

said that, heavy-handed policing has not worked either."