Comments on: Taking Ecstasy Not More Dangerous Than Riding a Horse?

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Thu, 31 Dec 2009 23:03:19 +0000

[...] Ever Happened to Pharmagiles? Turned out he was a comic book author from England. Taking Ecstasy Not More Dangerous Than Riding a Horse: According to Dr. David Nutt of the UK, anyway. Kicked up quite a fuss with Brit politicians, [...]

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» Blog Archive » Esctasy and Jacqui Smith — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 18:39:53 +0000

[...] Taking ecstasy no more dangerous than riding a horse? - Before you take that pill (note this statement as an example of relativism: [...]

By: Doug Bremner

Doug Bremner — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 22:44:03 +0000

Yes, I mean we don’t hear anything about the effects on memory or serotonin neurons. I don’t think he thought that the Journal of Psychopharmacology would ever be read by the entire UK.

By: Alex (WWU)

Alex (WWU) — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 21:48:26 +0000

After reading his paper I feel like he is comparing apples and pistachios– two completely different species of animal. The silliness of his comparison takes away his message… although I’m more concerned with the frequency and long-term detriments of MDMA use than just specifically deaths.

By: Gianna

Gianna — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 14:44:02 +0000

frankly I personally think that most mind-altering drug use is all the same…illicit or legal…just shades of grey in terms of the differences…

but I would put the ritualistic use of something like peyote in a different category, I suppose.

By: Doug Bremner

Doug Bremner — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 13:47:33 +0000

I thought the whole thing was kind of humorous, really, and there is ongoing debate about it in the English press.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/markeaston/2008/09/what_is_the_point_of.html

Sure, various cultures use hallucinogens for spiritual purposes, like peyote with the Indians. The debate also highlights how drug use becomes a moral issue. It also raises the question of why is it that prescription drugs are always “good” and “illegal” drugs “bad”.

By: Gina Pera

Gina Pera — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 06:14:08 +0000

Speaking of England and substances, did you see this?

British prosecutor says an elderly milkman supplied customers with cannabis as well as bottles of milk.

Robert Holding, 72, delivered marijuana as he made his daily rounds in the town of Burnely, in northwestern England.

Prosecutor Sarah Statham said Friday that Holding offered the drug to elderly customers suffering from aches and pain. She says the customers left Holding notes on their doorsteps to order the drug.

By: Gianna

Gianna — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 06:01:07 +0000

Abuse of a drug like Extasy will certainly drag one down, but the occasional use of hallucinogenic drugs has been the beginning of many people’s profound spiritual journeys…

Most of those people as far as I know leave drugs behind (I’m thinking of Ram Dass in particular at this moment but there are others some of whom I know in person) but I can’t agree with a categorical statement of all drug use dragging people down, even if I in general would suggest to people they not mess with them.

If you haven’t seen the documentary Fierce Grace about Ram Dass’s recovery from a stroke I highly recommend it…

really incredible man!!

By: Gina Pera

Gina Pera — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 05:54:03 +0000

Wow, all the way from your European Desk. And lol on the lolcat.

I gotta say….the forms of self-medicating, stimulating activities we humans have devised over the centuries shows great resourcefulness.I mean, think about all those knights charging around on horseback, looking for a good head-banging fight. Maybe their descendants?

Seriously, I wonder if this is the equine equivalent of those poor children who bang their heads against walls. Just maybe, the fall acts like some kind of electro-shock and stops the “noise” for a while.

Has anyone asked them?