Happy golden anniversary to the Drugs Act 1971
Discussion
The 1971 Drugs Act helped transform the drugs scene in the UK, from largely controlled misuse to the big business it is in this country.
The government was, bewilderingly, ‘encouraged’ to develop it by the USA, Nixon then in the throws of major problems with the Vietnam War. In order to deflect attention, he declared drugs the number one threat or public enemy to the country. Mind you, it probably is that to a number of Central and South American countries as I type. And we’ve done our bit.
The premise was, unevidenced as always, that the soldiers returning from Vietnam were all addicted to opiates. Oddly enough, no one challenged how the drugs were, supposedly, getting there from America. A research paper run jointly, if memory serves, by various NGOs, came to the conclusion that after 4(ish) years, soldiers were, as a group, no more likely to use drugs than others in their demographic.
Oddly, there are probably more habitual drugs users in the various groups now.
The myth of a serious problem has left countries devastated and is the cause of a massive total of deaths from the trade. The Central and South American countries were forced, under a threat of a trade embargo, to cooperate with the USA, which led to massive corruption. Those living in fear and squalor must have looked to Cuba’s stability, with some envy.
Many people, including drugs manufacturers, dealers and those enjoying supply material to 'combat' the trade, made £millions out of it. Golden anniversary indeed.
The government was, bewilderingly, ‘encouraged’ to develop it by the USA, Nixon then in the throws of major problems with the Vietnam War. In order to deflect attention, he declared drugs the number one threat or public enemy to the country. Mind you, it probably is that to a number of Central and South American countries as I type. And we’ve done our bit.
The premise was, unevidenced as always, that the soldiers returning from Vietnam were all addicted to opiates. Oddly enough, no one challenged how the drugs were, supposedly, getting there from America. A research paper run jointly, if memory serves, by various NGOs, came to the conclusion that after 4(ish) years, soldiers were, as a group, no more likely to use drugs than others in their demographic.
Oddly, there are probably more habitual drugs users in the various groups now.
The myth of a serious problem has left countries devastated and is the cause of a massive total of deaths from the trade. The Central and South American countries were forced, under a threat of a trade embargo, to cooperate with the USA, which led to massive corruption. Those living in fear and squalor must have looked to Cuba’s stability, with some envy.
Many people, including drugs manufacturers, dealers and those enjoying supply material to 'combat' the trade, made £millions out of it. Golden anniversary indeed.
Derek Smith said:
The 1971 Drugs Act helped transform the drugs scene in the UK, from largely controlled misuse to the big business it is in this country.
The government was, bewilderingly, ‘encouraged’ to develop it by the USA, Nixon then in the throws of major problems with the Vietnam War. In order to deflect attention, he declared drugs the number one threat or public enemy to the country. Mind you, it probably is that to a number of Central and South American countries as I type. And we’ve done our bit.
Drug Wars, by Neil Woods and JS Rafaeli is an interesting and educational read on the subject. Iirc, I might even have picked it up after seeing it recommended on here - if so, apologies but I can't remember by whom.The government was, bewilderingly, ‘encouraged’ to develop it by the USA, Nixon then in the throws of major problems with the Vietnam War. In order to deflect attention, he declared drugs the number one threat or public enemy to the country. Mind you, it probably is that to a number of Central and South American countries as I type. And we’ve done our bit.
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