Some scientists in Great Britain have recently recommended that the drug ecstasy be downgraded in that country from a Class A drug to a Class B drug. This topic has been very heated among scientists, the government, and those that spend their lives to treating drug addiction.
Ecstasy is MDMA, a mind-altering drug that is popular among teens and those that frequent nightclubs and raves. It gives the user a boost of energy, and also produces feelings of exhilaration and excitement. But ecstasy also causes confusion and anxiety and can cause the user to suffer from disruptions in body temperature and hydration, leading to possible organ failure and, in rare cases, death.
Great Britain’s Drug Classification Scale
The U.K. has followed a classification system for drugs since 1971. The system currently lists ecstasy in the most dangerous Class A, the same grouping as the United States’ Schedule I for drugs. These classifications give the government a way to enforce penalties and for citizens to be aware of the risks of certain drugs. For example, Class B drugs are considered more harmful than Class C, but less harmful than Class A. Penalties for possession of these drugs vary with class. Ecstasy now carries a maximum prison sentence of seven years, while downgrading it to Class B would mean a maximum of 5 years in prison and a lower fine.
In Favor of the Downgrade
Those in favor of the downgrade include Professor Colin Blakemore, the chief executive of the Medical Research Council, and Professor David Nutt, the president of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD). Their 2007 study listed ecstasy as the 18th most dangerous out of the 20 popular drugs studied, listing it lower than tobacco and alcohol. Both of these individuals say that ecstasy has caused far fewer deaths than the other Class A drugs, such as heroin and cocaine. To have it be in the same class, they say, discredits the whole class system. Some supporters of the downgrade also say that ecstasy is not as big of a public safety issue as many other substances because it does not usually cause the aggression or violence of other drugs, making the user less harmful to those around them.
Against the Downgrade
There are plenty of people that believe ecstasy should stay in Class A. Opponents of the downgrade say that there are numerous cases of bodily harm or death due to ecstasy, and by declassifying it the government is telling people it is not harmful. Opponents want the British government to continue to hand down strict penalties for those who misuse drugs. Those that spend long hours trying to get people off of drugs such as ecstasy are pushing to keep this drug in Class A to deter more people from using it, and in order to free the country from illegal drug use.
Sources
NIDA InfoFacts: MDMA (Ecstasy)
Jenkins, Adrian Expert slams ecstasy move
Knapton, Sarah Ecstasy could be downgraded to class B drug 9-17-08
Johnston, Philip Scientist in call to downgrade ecstasy and LSD Nov 24 2006
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I myself used to rave and club alot which came with the MDMA use, it messed me up yes, but what really did it was the pscho drugs they put me on, those were worse then the MDMA! Anti-depressants, anxety medication should be in class A, I too fight against helping those fight against drug addiction. I don’t see pushing for it to stay at class A just to get people to deter away from the drug will work. There are other ways to do this, and by changing it to class B does not say its not harmful, its just not as addictive as alcohol (legal) tobacoo (legal) anti-depressants, perscribed drugs like methadone that is Class A++. So I agree, and lesser punishment is good, should be in exchange for drug rehab treatment instead. Not jail. Yes there are lots of deaths or badily harm from rave drugs, thats because your taking a chance, you never know what your really taking. And most kids don’t understand the drug, they use it wrong,eg. dehyration, but going to extrem to say its as addictive as cocaine or alcohol is a bit much just to get people to deter away from it, that can backfire!
Comment by Amy — November 4, 2008 @ 4:40 pm