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| 'Ecstasy should be class B drug' | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The body that advises the government on illegal drugs has recommended ecstasy be downgraded to a Class B drug. | |
| Ecstasy is currently grouped with heroin, cocaine, crack and LSD in Class A. Suppliers of such drugs can face a life sentence in prison. | Ecstasy is currently grouped with heroin, cocaine, crack and LSD in Class A. Suppliers of such drugs can face a life sentence in prison. |
| But the Home Office has made it clear it will reject the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs' recommendation. | |
| Earlier, a row broke out after the council's head Prof David Nutt likened the dangers of ecstasy to horse riding. | Earlier, a row broke out after the council's head Prof David Nutt likened the dangers of ecstasy to horse riding. |
| Memory loss | Memory loss |
| Home Secretary Jacqui Smith responded by accusing him of trivialising the dangers of the drug. He later apologised for any offence and said the views were not those of his colleagues on the council. | Home Secretary Jacqui Smith responded by accusing him of trivialising the dangers of the drug. He later apologised for any offence and said the views were not those of his colleagues on the council. |
| The advisory council reviewed the latest evidence on ecstasy last year and held a secret ballot of its 31 members on the issue of re-classification. | The advisory council reviewed the latest evidence on ecstasy last year and held a secret ballot of its 31 members on the issue of re-classification. |
| It is understood the result was not unanimous, but a majority voted to recommend moving the drug to Class B. | It is understood the result was not unanimous, but a majority voted to recommend moving the drug to Class B. |
| The council's view is that ecstasy is not as harmful as other Class A drugs and causes far fewer deaths. | The council's view is that ecstasy is not as harmful as other Class A drugs and causes far fewer deaths. |
| FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme | FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme |
| It says ecstasy use had no significant impact on short-term memory loss and found little evidence to link ecstasy to criminal behaviour. | It says ecstasy use had no significant impact on short-term memory loss and found little evidence to link ecstasy to criminal behaviour. |
| But it will call for further research into the effects of taking ecstasy, particularly on younger users. | But it will call for further research into the effects of taking ecstasy, particularly on younger users. |
| Martin Barnes, chief executive of the think tank DrugScope, who sits on the advisory council, said it was crucial that a rigorously independent body was entrusted with this type of research. | Martin Barnes, chief executive of the think tank DrugScope, who sits on the advisory council, said it was crucial that a rigorously independent body was entrusted with this type of research. |
| Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme, but not on behalf of the council, he said: "It's fair to say that the advisory council has probably carried out the most considered and detailed assessment of ecstasy ever carried out. | Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme, but not on behalf of the council, he said: "It's fair to say that the advisory council has probably carried out the most considered and detailed assessment of ecstasy ever carried out. |
| "It's an unrivalled, internationally, body of experts and the key thing is that it's independent." | "It's an unrivalled, internationally, body of experts and the key thing is that it's independent." |
| 'E every weekend' | 'E every weekend' |
| Mr Barnes said this was crucial precisely because decisions over drug classification are highly emotive and politically charged. | Mr Barnes said this was crucial precisely because decisions over drug classification are highly emotive and politically charged. |
| He did not dismiss the dangers of ecstasy, but said the job of the council was to dispassionately look at the relative harm of ecstasy to other drugs, such as cocaine, crack or heroin. | He did not dismiss the dangers of ecstasy, but said the job of the council was to dispassionately look at the relative harm of ecstasy to other drugs, such as cocaine, crack or heroin. |
| Mr Barnes added that when no other drug was involved, ecstasy accounted for between 10-17 deaths a year. | Mr Barnes added that when no other drug was involved, ecstasy accounted for between 10-17 deaths a year. |
| Dr Evan Harris, science spokesman for the Liberal Democrats, defended Prof Nutt's comments, saying he was engaging in "rational debate" when he compared the dangers of taking ecstasy to those of horse riding. | Dr Evan Harris, science spokesman for the Liberal Democrats, defended Prof Nutt's comments, saying he was engaging in "rational debate" when he compared the dangers of taking ecstasy to those of horse riding. |
| ECSTASY: THE FACTS Most common club drugComes in a variety of shapes of pills and as a powderActive ingredient is a drug called MDMAHome Office surveys show 4.8% of UK 10-25 year olds have tried it at least once and 9% of 18-25 year olds have. (Offending, Crime & Justice Survey 2004)Effects come on about an hour after it has been takenEcstasy makes people feel energised, chatty and confidentIt can also produce anxiety, nausea and paranoiaThe effects usually peak at 2-3 hours and start to wear off after 4-5 hoursThe day after taking ecstasy people tend to feel flat, washed out and tired. Some people get a low that lasts several daysMartin Barnes, who sits on the government advisory council, estimates when no other drug was involved, ecstasy accounts for between 10-17 deaths a yearEcstacy is an illegal class A drug. The maximum penalty for possession is 14 years in prison. For supply, life in prison. You can get an unlimited fine for both Source: Kate Roach, BBC Surgery | ECSTASY: THE FACTS Most common club drugComes in a variety of shapes of pills and as a powderActive ingredient is a drug called MDMAHome Office surveys show 4.8% of UK 10-25 year olds have tried it at least once and 9% of 18-25 year olds have. (Offending, Crime & Justice Survey 2004)Effects come on about an hour after it has been takenEcstasy makes people feel energised, chatty and confidentIt can also produce anxiety, nausea and paranoiaThe effects usually peak at 2-3 hours and start to wear off after 4-5 hoursThe day after taking ecstasy people tend to feel flat, washed out and tired. Some people get a low that lasts several daysMartin Barnes, who sits on the government advisory council, estimates when no other drug was involved, ecstasy accounts for between 10-17 deaths a yearEcstacy is an illegal class A drug. The maximum penalty for possession is 14 years in prison. For supply, life in prison. You can get an unlimited fine for both Source: Kate Roach, BBC Surgery |
| Speaking to GMTV, Dr Harris said the government must take an evidence-based approach to drugs classification. | |
| He said: "I would seek to educate all young people against taking drugs, including alcohol and cigarettes, which are even more harmful than some of the ones that are illegal. | He said: "I would seek to educate all young people against taking drugs, including alcohol and cigarettes, which are even more harmful than some of the ones that are illegal. |
| "But the problem with putting ecstasy in Class A - and we will see what the report says - is that if thousands of young people take 'e' every weekend, and they see that it is in the same class as heroin and cocaine and crack cocaine, then it is hard to argue that those are particularly more dangerous than ecstasy." | "But the problem with putting ecstasy in Class A - and we will see what the report says - is that if thousands of young people take 'e' every weekend, and they see that it is in the same class as heroin and cocaine and crack cocaine, then it is hard to argue that those are particularly more dangerous than ecstasy." |
| The Police Superintendents' Association of England and Wales has expressed opposition to suggestions that ecstasy should be downgraded to a Class B drug. | The Police Superintendents' Association of England and Wales has expressed opposition to suggestions that ecstasy should be downgraded to a Class B drug. |
| Ian Johnston, president of the association, told the BBC the downgrade could be dangerous. | Ian Johnston, president of the association, told the BBC the downgrade could be dangerous. |
| He said: "This is not some academic or scientific exercise, this is dealing with people's lives. If we downgrade ecstasy, we are in danger of sending mixed messages out to young and vulnerable people." | He said: "This is not some academic or scientific exercise, this is dealing with people's lives. If we downgrade ecstasy, we are in danger of sending mixed messages out to young and vulnerable people." |
| Last month, the Home Office restored cannabis from Class C to Class B, against the wishes of the advisory council. | Last month, the Home Office restored cannabis from Class C to Class B, against the wishes of the advisory council. |
| Ministers are now set to resist the council's recommendation on ecstasy. | Ministers are now set to resist the council's recommendation on ecstasy. |
| 'Young and vulnerable' | 'Young and vulnerable' |
| BBC home affairs correspondent Danny Shaw said this latest move raises real doubts about how long the council can continue in its present form if its experts continue to be ignored. | BBC home affairs correspondent Danny Shaw said this latest move raises real doubts about how long the council can continue in its present form if its experts continue to be ignored. |
| Shadow home secretary Chris Grayling said it called into question the government's choice of advisers. | Shadow home secretary Chris Grayling said it called into question the government's choice of advisers. |
| But Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman Chris Huhne accused the Home Secretary of a "ludicrous overreaction". | But Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman Chris Huhne accused the Home Secretary of a "ludicrous overreaction". |
| He added that her "savaging" of Prof Nutt was "a poor precedent for academic freedom". | He added that her "savaging" of Prof Nutt was "a poor precedent for academic freedom". |
| I would like to apologise to those who have lost friends and family due to ecstasy use Prof David Nutt | I would like to apologise to those who have lost friends and family due to ecstasy use Prof David Nutt |
| The row over the dangers of ecstasy erupted following the publication of an article by Prof Nutt in the Journal of Psychopharmacology last week. | |
| In it, he wrote: "Drug harm can be equal to harms in other parts of life. There is not much difference between horse-riding and ecstasy." | In it, he wrote: "Drug harm can be equal to harms in other parts of life. There is not much difference between horse-riding and ecstasy." |
| He said horse-riding accounted for more than 100 deaths a year, and went on: "This attitude raises the critical question of why society tolerates - indeed encourages - certain forms of potentially harmful behaviour but not others such as drug use." | He said horse-riding accounted for more than 100 deaths a year, and went on: "This attitude raises the critical question of why society tolerates - indeed encourages - certain forms of potentially harmful behaviour but not others such as drug use." |
| Ecstasy use is linked to around 30 deaths a year, up from 10 a year in the early 1990s. | Ecstasy use is linked to around 30 deaths a year, up from 10 a year in the early 1990s. |
| Massive organ failure | Massive organ failure |
| Jacqui Smith said she was "surprised" and "disappointed" by his comments and told him he had gone beyond his role as head of the advisory council. | Jacqui Smith said she was "surprised" and "disappointed" by his comments and told him he had gone beyond his role as head of the advisory council. |
| But later in a statement, the professor said: "I am sorry to those who may have been offended by my article. | But later in a statement, the professor said: "I am sorry to those who may have been offended by my article. |
| "I would like to apologise to those who have lost friends and family due to ecstasy use. | "I would like to apologise to those who have lost friends and family due to ecstasy use. |
| "I would like to assure those who have read my article that I had no intention of trivialising the dangers of ecstasy." | "I would like to assure those who have read my article that I had no intention of trivialising the dangers of ecstasy." |
| Fatalities from ecstasy are caused by massive organ failure from overheating or the effects of drinking too much water. | Fatalities from ecstasy are caused by massive organ failure from overheating or the effects of drinking too much water. |