Thursday, March 18, 2010

Mephedrone

The latest drug scare appears to be Mephedrone, labelled as a plant feeder it is currently a legal high as it's not listed in the Misuse of Drugs Act. It came to the attention of the media after three deaths linked to its use (misuse?). How interesting to read the "How dangerous is it?" section of the Telegraph's Q&A.

can be fatal when taken with other drugs - including alcohol - or used in high concentrations and large doses
Because that doesn't include pretty much every over the counter medicine in existence does it?

'But damnit they're not taking these things as medicine they're using it to enjoy themselves and that's just wrong.'

4 comments:

Orphi said...

Newsflash: Alcohol taken with other drugs — for example, alcohol — can be fatal!

Let's ban alcohol!

Oh, wait…

FlipC said...

"Let's ban alcohol!"

or at least make it really expensive.

It's just amusing (if that's the right word) to listen to the level-headed people stating that it's new, there's no real data on it etc. compared to the tabloids it's eeevil.

Orphi said...

I've said it before and I'll say it again: There seems to be this widespread myth that the media exists to provide a service to the populus, to keep us all informed. They do not. They exist to make a profit. And if printing utter nonesense like “Have multiple orgasms and lose three stone!” sells more copies, then that is what they will do. It's actually a miracle that the stuff they print has any vague basis in fact at all.

Obviously “this stuff is eeeevil!” is far more sensationalistic (and therefore interesting) than “hey, this stuff might be vaguely harmful”.

FlipC said...

Perhaps nothing demonstrates this fallacy more than "Live from Studio Five" -

"On tonight’s show: [25th March]

ANTON DU BEKE is live in the studio!

90210 star JESSICA LOWNDES pops in to give us all the gossip from Beverley Hills!

KATE has been training with the RAF – find out how she got on!

We’re LIVE IN LA to get the latest on SANDRA BULLOCK!

CATHERINE ZETA-JONES says she doesn’t want to star in a movie with hubby MICHAEL DOUGLAS. She’s worried about the lack of chemistry!

Find out what KATE thinks about this years APPRENTICE possibly being pushed back into next year!

Which celebrity would you most like to shower with?"

and this show counts towards channel Five's mandatory news content.