10 |
drinkanddrugsnews
| June 2016
HOW TO ADDRESS THE ‘DRUG PROBLEM’ CONTINUES TO DIVIDE
THE WORLD
. Hardline prohibition remains the choice for many countries but
others are adopting more liberal models. While possession of more than 200g of
cannabis in Malaysia carries a mandatory death sentence, Uruguay and parts of
the USA have effectively legalised weed. Portugal’s decriminalisation paradigm is
viewed by many as a model with demonstrable public health benefits. UK
politicians remain wedded to ‘pragmatic prohibition’ – treatment and harm
reduction wrapped up in a restrictive legal framework. The words ‘legalisation’ and
‘decriminalisation’ are banded about but, like ‘recovery’, they mean different
things to different people.
Transform’s
After the war on drugs: blueprint for regulation
(2009), by Stephen
Rolles, aims to clear the mists by exploring the options. Transform, as an organisation,
is not a neutral commentator; its purpose is to campaign for changes in the UK’s drug
laws. However, the book is no heavy-handed polemic. Rolles presents three options:
the prohibition/criminalisation model (the UK’s position); the regulated market; and
the free-market legalisation model.
While arguing that the first of these
has proved counterproductive and
created unintended harms, he
vigorously rejects the idea of an open
market, branding this as downright
dangerous. He notes that the spectre
of such a free-for-all is often used by
prohibitionists as justification for
shoring up the status quo.
Rolles advocates regulation, with
different approaches for different substances based on risk. He explores all the
variables: the market versus state control; production; quality; licensing;
availability; advertising and sales; pricing; packaging; child-proofing;
purchaser/user issues. Alcohol and tobacco are thrown into the mix in terms of
problems regarding their current regulation and in respect of lessons learned
which could be applied to the control of other drugs. The book ends by describing
potential frameworks for regulating different substances.
Rolles paints no starry-eyed vision of a problem-free future under a changed
model. As he says, ‘Prohibition cannot produce a drug-free world; regulatory
models cannot produce a harm-free world.’ The great value of this book is to invite
the reader to consider the potential benefits and costs of different methods of
regulation. It is a challenge to one’s assumptions.
The book can be downloaded from Transform’s website or it can be purchased
in hard copy (
.
George Allan is chair of the Scottish Drugs Forum. He is the author of Working
with substance users: a guide to effective interventions (2014; Palgrave)
Looking for opportunities?
‘The words “legalisation”
and “decriminalisation”
are banded about but,
like “recovery”, they
mean different things
to different people.’
ResouRces coRneR
Definitions
Legalisation, decriminalisation,
drug law reform – what do
we mean, asks
George Allan
identical ‘Emmas’ on stage at
once, personifying her tormented
state of mind.
In rehab you have to find
your true self in front of others.
Then you have to learn how to
cope with – or avoid – people,
places and things. Easier said
than done.
First time round, Emma
thinks she has all the answers
and refuses to get ‘God’ or ‘The
Group’. The second time, she
opens up and starts her
recovery, only to find there’s a
serious sting in the tail when
she tries to make amends to the
people who had previously been
there at her derailment. But
who’s to say people want to be
amended to and move on? They
might have got used to what
they were like before, when the
addict was still in place.
Emma is an actress and her
addiction is bound up with her playing
parts in her profession and her own life.
She observes that getting ready to do a
play and preparing for recovery are not
that different: she says both start with
people sitting in a circle introducing
themselves and seeing how they get
along. There is a play within the play.
There are many light touches – like
when Emma is advised to say ‘amen’ at
the end of a prayer: ‘It’s like pressing
send on an email’ and when one of those
in treatment ends up as a worker at the
rehab when he’s well: ‘living the dream’.
I think anyone who has been to rehab
or is in recovery will identify hugely with
this play and be reminded of the
intensity of addiction and the roller-
coaster and relief of trying to get well.
People, Places and Things
asks
important questions about what is on
offer in recovery treatments. It
scrutinises the 12-step axiom of the
defects of character of those in
addiction: Emma’s point is that it might
just have something to do with the
defects of the world.
On at the Wyndham’s Theatre, Covent
Garden, until 18 June. People, Places and
Things is written by Duncan Macmillan
and directed by Jeremy Herrin, the play
is a co-production between Headlong
and the National Theatre.
Mark Reid
is
a peer worker at Path to Recovery.
ResouRces and Review
PEOPLE, PLACES AND THINGS
is an
excellent look inside the world of a 12-
step-style rehab. In the lead role, Denise
Gough brings a perfect portrayal of all
the often contradictory attitudes and
body language of the addict and
alcoholic. Gough plays Emma (or Sarah
or Lucy, depending on her identity
crisis), who comes to rehab, and back
again – more bruised than before.
To begin with the rehab is presented
as austere, Orwellian: all white coats and
clipboards. There are some striking
touches – including half a dozen
MARK REID
REVIEWS THE PLAY
PEOPLE, PLACESANDTHINGS
This play
asks important
questions
about what
is on offer
in recovery
treatments.
It scrutinises
the 12-step
axiom of the
defects of
character
of those in
addiction...
headlong.co.uk
