A study published in the Lancet suggests alcohol is the most harmful drug when factoring in the cost to society as well as individuals. Drug harms in the UK: a multicriteria decision analysis, was co-authored by Professor David Nutt who hit the headlines last year after he was sacked from his advisory role to the last Government.
The findings develop on an earlier study by Professor Nutt which called for the classification system of drugs to be reviewed in line with harm. Nutt is continuing to call for a change in Government policy; "The Misuse of Drugs Act is past its sell-by date and needs to be redone."
See reports from the BBC and the home editor's comment. A Guardian story outlines Professor Nutt's ideas around a new classification system.
The new Lancet study claims to have taken a more advanced approach to assessing harms, using a wider range of 16 criteria. These include an assessment on each drug's affects on users' physical and mental health, social harms including crime, family problems, environmental damage and economic costs. "Overall, alcohol is the most harmful drug because it's so widely used" Nutt has said.
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