'Crazy chemist' drugs campaign criticised by scientists

[edgarshade]

BBC news 17 September 2010

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-11330173

'A government anti-drugs campaign featuring an image of a "crazy chemist" dishing out harmful substances has been criticised by scientists.

The Royal Society of Chemistry said the posters, warning students about the dangers of legal highs, use a "lazy stereotype of the chemist as unhinged scientist".

It has called for them to be withdrawn.

The Home Office said its character was clearly fictional and resonated well with young people.

It added that it made the point that these drugs were being developed by unscrupulous dealers using dangerous chemicals.

But the Home Office says on its website that the posters and postcards being distributed around universities feature "an eye-catching and menacing scientist" to convey the unscrupulous nature of people who create and sell such substances.

The RSC's director of science and education, Jim Riley, said it was totally irresponsible that the government had decided to use such an image for its important campaign.'

 

[edgarshade]

Also now available in the Daily Mail with comments...
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1312360/Crazy-chemist-needs-human-lab-rats-Governments-legal-high-campaign.html?ito=feeds-newsxml

 

[Phener]

HA! I posted something oh so similar in the "crazy chemist" new feature.

So pleased it has OFFICIALLY been rubbished.

The Home Office said its character was clearly fictional and resonated well with young people.

Reeaaaly? got stats/proof on that or just does it instead resonate well with the office/department that came up with it. I.e people who have NO clue

It added that it made the point that these drugs were being developed by unscrupulous dealers using dangerous chemicals.

Again - Reeaaly? Gone are the days when a "crazy chemist" could merrily go to his/her lab and make a few compounds. The people who DEVISE, MAKE, IMPORT, EXPORT, SELL are quite the OPPOSITE, they aren't crazy chemists but businessmen. There dealing in BIG quantities now and don't see the sight of dangerous chemicals (china does that for them). Chemist implies some kind of chemical knowledge but that's hardly a necessary job qualification these days.

But the Home Office says on its website that the posters and postcards being distributed around universities feature "an eye-catching and menacing scientist" to convey the unscrupulous nature of people who create and sell such substances.

I'm wondering whether "JUST SAY NO" might have a better cost/benefit equation considering the environment and money.

The RSC's director of science and education, Jim Riley, said it was totally irresponsible that the government had decided to use such an image for its important campaign.'

Well said!!

 

[SilverFeniks]

It added that it made the point that these drugs were being developed by unscrupulous dealers using dangerous chemicals.

But the Home Office says on its website that the posters and postcards being distributed around universities feature "an eye-catching and menacing scientist" to convey the unscrupulous nature of people who create and sell such substances.

You mean like

I trust an underground scientist (who clearly has advanced knowledge of chemistry if able to synthesize things entirely on their own) over Genocidal Corporations that gain social acceptance through sheer bribery.