The ‘war on drugs’ that failed our son

Thanks to Simon Jenkins for attacking political intransigence over the reform of drug policy in the UK (Make mine a cannabis wine, thank you, 19 October). Our son died recently as a result of current policy that failed to keep him safe.

Through “county lines”, rural areas have joined the big cities in seeing drug deaths rise. Our son’s death in Carmarthen (population 14,000) was one of six, within months, in the town and its wider region. These were not ageing, long-term users but young people in their prime, in an area newly blighted by drug dependency.

The failure of the “war on drugs” is now acknowledged by health and welfare agencies globally and by councils, police forces, medical practitioners and political groups across the country. But is the failure of our two major political parties to advocate change merely a question of finding it impossible to admit that they were wrong? If Lord Falconer can apologise publicly, it should be possible for others to follow.

The difficulty is not intransigence per se but the political hot potato that reform might become at the hands of the popular press and social media. What sort of public furore will be whipped up by the sensationalist reporting and tweeting that reform proposals would likely provoke? Journalists are key players: they need to fairly report on the range of alternative, evidence-based policies and their impact in terms of improvements in health, social welfare and crime.

The potential gains from legalising and taxing a trade the size of the global textile sector are massive and should take centre stage. Moving to policies that see drug dependency as a medical issue to be treated rather than a moral failing to be punished will save many lives. It is vital that the media, as well as politicians, step up to the mark in supporting change.
Professors Pat Hudson and Tony Lane
Laugharne, Carmarthenshire

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