UN Chief Uses Flawed E Research To Attack Drugs Liberalization

United Nations drugs chief Antonio Maria Costa branded ecstasy the UN's 'public enemy number one' in the drugs war this week, referring to the totally discredited conclusions of notorious US scientist George Ricuarte.

"These (ecstasy and amphetamines) are terrifying narcotics because they are subtle, they kill the brain rather than the heart," Mr Costa insisted.

"The problem is that few people die from using synthetic drugs. There are no scary headlines of people dying of overdoses. Instead, there is a slow mental deterioration, danger by stealth" (Reuters).

Civil liberties campaigners Stop The Drug War immediately ridiculed his comments, scoffing 'damn, if we could only get some overdoses. Hmmm, maybe if we had Doctor Ricuarte administer the drugs..."

Civil liberties campaigner Marsha Rosenbaum, a director of the Safety First project also honed in on Ricaurte's role in helping facilitate America's RAVE Act, declaring "the recent Science retraction is just another nail in the coffin of credibility when it comes to what adults tell young people about drugs."

"If young Americans are ever to believe what our government tells them about drugs and other policy issues, we must be sure that our messages are based on sound science rather than political ideology," she said.

"Then, and only then, will young people have the kind of trusted information they need to make sound health decisions."

Marsha Rosenbaum's article in full
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