Countdown to Delirium (Is Alcohol Worse Than Ecstasy?)

Synopsis

Recent research has analysed the link between the harmful effects of drugs relative to their current classification by law with some unexpected conclusions. Perhaps most startling of all is that alcohol, solvents and tobacco (all unclassified drugs) are rated more dangerous than ecstasy, 4-MTA and LSD (all class A drugs). If the current ABC system is retained, alcohol would be rated a class A drug and tobacco class B.

The scientists involved, including members of the government’s top advisory committee on drug classification, have produced a rigorous assessment of the social and individual harm caused by 20 of the UK’s most dangerous drugs and believe this should form the basis of future ranking. They think the current ABC system is arbitrary and not based on any scientific evidence. The drug policies have remained unchanged over the last 40 years so should they be reformed in the light of new research?

Series

Horizon, Series

Language

English

Country

Great Britain

Year of release

2008

Year of production

2008

Notes

Broadcast on BBC2 on 5/2/2008

Subjects

Law; Medical sciences; Social welfare

Keywords

drug abuse; drug metabolism; hallucinogenic drugs; legal issues; social policy; drug classification

Distribution Formats

Type

DVD

Format

Region 2 PAL

Price

£195.00

Availability

Sale

Duration/Size

50 minutes

Year

2010

Distributor

Name

BBC Active Video for Learning - now BBC Learning

Contact

Carolina Fernandez Jeremy Wilcox (CF - for educational enquiries JW - channel sales manager)

Email

BBCStudiosLearning@bbc.com

Web

https://www.bbcstudioslearning.com/ External site opens in new window

Phone

+44 (0) 20 8433 1009

Address

BBC Studios Limited
Television Centre
101 Wood Lane
London
W12 7FA
UK

Notes

The BBC Active company has now been absorbed within BBC Learning, a division of BBC Studios. It was originally a joint venture between BBC Worldwide and Pearson Education. Formerly known as ‘BBC Worldwide Learning Studies’ and before that as ‘Videos for Education & Training’