UK -Your mind, your high: is recreational drug use morally wrong? (video)

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edgarshade

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Battleofideas
25 Nov 2011

http://youtu.be/w7hxqFbX4j4

Dr Michael Fitzpatrick, GP; author, The Tyranny of Health: doctors and the regulation of lifestyle and Defeating Austism: a damaging delusion

Roger Howard, chief executive, UK Drug Policy Commission

Professor Neil McKeganey, director, Centre for Drug Misuse Research

Chair: Suzy Dean, freelance journalist; co-founder, IoI Current Affairs Forum

Politicians making the case for prohibiting certain drugs usually argue they are harmful, while those against insist it should be a personal choice, and that prohibition creates additional risks for drug users. But some believe that even if the harms are exaggerated, there is a moral case against drug use. They insist there is a difference between taking drugs to fight disease or alleviate pain, and taking them for pleasure, or to achieve 'artificial' highs, arguing the latter is less acceptable. Considered morally rather than medically, is there anything wrong with seeking altered states of consciousness?
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The first speaker on the video is "Roger Howard, chief executive, UK Drug Policy Commission". The UK Drug Policy Commission are one of the groups advising the government next week.
 
Interesting discussion.
Thanks for posting.
I watched the first round, which is 36 minutes, and I loved what the first guy said.
The second (bald) guy was silly, I thought.
The final guy was pro legalization, but made some bizarre points, including saying he would argue that drugs do not enhance creativity (but he didn't have time for that argument;)), and that harm reduction is infantilization - he must not understand the term the way we use it on BL. He wants to legalize drugs in order to make people take responsibility for their own actions and lives.

But I was surprised that nobody argued that we should have the basic freedom as humans to take drugs, for WHATEVER reason we want to (though the first guy came closest to this perspective).
 
They also didn't really explore or acknowlege the reasons why American Indians, shamens and African tribes use ethogens and the fact that many of us have used mind altering substances for the same sorts of reasons. It isn't so much about "pleasure" in that case but more about personal, social and spiritual exploration, enhancement and development. To say that all non-medical drug use is "immoral" is an insult to us and those cultures who have used ethogens in this way.

On the other hand, if there is _any_ chance of the government listening to Roger Howard next week then that is definitely a step in the right direction.
 
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