hi guys my name is roll I’m 21 years old and for those of you who know me it
and for those of you who know me it
and for those of you who know me it won’t surprise you when I say that I am
won’t surprise you when I say that I am
won’t surprise you when I say that I am a drug user today I’m gonna suggest
a drug user today I’m gonna suggest
a drug user today I’m gonna suggest something a bit unusual that as I am a
something a bit unusual that as I am a
something a bit unusual that as I am a drug user so of the vast majority of you
drug user so of the vast majority of you
drug user so of the vast majority of you here today so let’s do a little
here today so let’s do a little
here today so let’s do a little experiment could you please raise your
experiment could you please raise your
experiment could you please raise your hand if you use recreational drugs on a
hand if you use recreational drugs on a
hand if you use recreational drugs on a fairly regular basis come on don’t be
fairly regular basis come on don’t be
fairly regular basis come on don’t be shy what I won’t tell the police I
shy what I won’t tell the police I
shy what I won’t tell the police I promise okay phew
promise okay phew
promise okay phew but clearly not a majority now could you
but clearly not a majority now could you
but clearly not a majority now could you please raise your hand if you like to
please raise your hand if you like to
please raise your hand if you like to drink occasionally have coffees in the
drink occasionally have coffees in the
drink occasionally have coffees in the morning or smoke
okay so almost everyone here while
okay so almost everyone here while answering yes the second question you
answering yes the second question you
answering yes the second question you inadvertently answering yes the first as
inadvertently answering yes the first as
inadvertently answering yes the first as of course all of these substances are
of course all of these substances are
of course all of these substances are drugs as well the vast majority of you
drugs as well the vast majority of you
drugs as well the vast majority of you here today are in fact drug users today
here today are in fact drug users today
here today are in fact drug users today I want to offer a synopsis of our
I want to offer a synopsis of our
I want to offer a synopsis of our current drug use why do we use drugs and
current drug use why do we use drugs and
current drug use why do we use drugs and what are their effects on us the
what are their effects on us the
what are their effects on us the disparities from my questions at the
disparities from my questions at the
disparities from my questions at the start
start
start shows that we have a problem of gauging
shows that we have a problem of gauging
shows that we have a problem of gauging drug use in society cocaine is just as
drug use in society cocaine is just as
drug use in society cocaine is just as much a drug as alcohol is and we need to
much a drug as alcohol is and we need to
much a drug as alcohol is and we need to move to a situation where we embrace the
move to a situation where we embrace the
move to a situation where we embrace the evidence around humans drugs use rather
evidence around humans drugs use rather
evidence around humans drugs use rather than denying its existence so let’s
than denying its existence so let’s
than denying its existence so let’s start off with a bit of history it’s
start off with a bit of history it’s
start off with a bit of history it’s difficult to look back in the past and
difficult to look back in the past and
difficult to look back in the past and see any human civilization in which
see any human civilization in which
see any human civilization in which there were no drugs present evidence has
there were no drugs present evidence has
there were no drugs present evidence has been found of Neolithic peoples and
been found of Neolithic peoples and
been found of Neolithic peoples and modern-day Italy cultivating opium
modern-day Italy cultivating opium
modern-day Italy cultivating opium poppies over 7,000 years ago in Central
poppies over 7,000 years ago in Central
poppies over 7,000 years ago in Central America Native American tribes have used
America Native American tribes have used
America Native American tribes have used the drug mescaline extracted from the
the drug mescaline extracted from the
the drug mescaline extracted from the local cactus peyote again for thousands
local cactus peyote again for thousands
local cactus peyote again for thousands of years many of them still use it in
of years many of them still use it in
of years many of them still use it in their spiritual ceremonies today but
their spiritual ceremonies today but
their spiritual ceremonies today but what of today’s society one may say well
what of today’s society one may say well
what of today’s society one may say well yes some people use drugs but to
yes some people use drugs but to
yes some people use drugs but to describe it drug
describe it drug
describe it drug indemic would be a bit of an overkill
indemic would be a bit of an overkill
indemic would be a bit of an overkill the vast majority of you do not however
the vast majority of you do not however
the vast majority of you do not however that’s because when you think of a drug
that’s because when you think of a drug
that’s because when you think of a drug you think solely of illicit drugs so
you think solely of illicit drugs so
you think solely of illicit drugs so let’s set the record straight what
let’s set the record straight what
let’s set the record straight what actually is a psychoactive drug well
actually is a psychoactive drug well
actually is a psychoactive drug well ScienceDaily describes it as quote a
ScienceDaily describes it as quote a
ScienceDaily describes it as quote a chemical substance that alters brain
chemical substance that alters brain
chemical substance that alters brain function resulting in temporary changes
function resulting in temporary changes
function resulting in temporary changes in perception mood consciousness and
in perception mood consciousness and
in perception mood consciousness and behavior so let’s use a responses from
behavior so let’s use a responses from
behavior so let’s use a responses from my second question at the start again
my second question at the start again
my second question at the start again this morning when you had a couple of
this morning when you had a couple of
this morning when you had a couple of espressos to pick you up and you know
espressos to pick you up and you know
espressos to pick you up and you know hiding your state of consciousness
hiding your state of consciousness
hiding your state of consciousness well last evening when you went down to
well last evening when you went down to
well last evening when you went down to the pub with some friends and had a
the pub with some friends and had a
the pub with some friends and had a couple of pints to unwind and de-stress
couple of pints to unwind and de-stress
couple of pints to unwind and de-stress from a very difficult week you were
from a very difficult week you were
from a very difficult week you were using a drug albeit a legal one it
using a drug albeit a legal one it
using a drug albeit a legal one it doesn’t really matter whether you’re
doesn’t really matter whether you’re
doesn’t really matter whether you’re tipsy you’re running off a caffeine buzz
tipsy you’re running off a caffeine buzz
tipsy you’re running off a caffeine buzz or high of cannabis all of these are
or high of cannabis all of these are
or high of cannabis all of these are psychoactive effects you know I always
psychoactive effects you know I always
psychoactive effects you know I always find it really funny when I meet people
find it really funny when I meet people
find it really funny when I meet people who are quite highly anti drugs because
who are quite highly anti drugs because
who are quite highly anti drugs because more often than not they tend to be
more often than not they tend to be
more often than not they tend to be people who enjoyed alcohol quite a bit
people who enjoyed alcohol quite a bit
people who enjoyed alcohol quite a bit when I point out the obvious
when I point out the obvious
when I point out the obvious contradiction I’m usually met with oh
contradiction I’m usually met with oh
contradiction I’m usually met with oh man it’s it’s just a lot of drug it’s
man it’s it’s just a lot of drug it’s
man it’s it’s just a lot of drug it’s drink it’s it’s safe it’s legal and then
drink it’s it’s safe it’s legal and then
drink it’s it’s safe it’s legal and then I find them the next morning
I find them the next morning
I find them the next morning slumped out on a bench with a splitting
slumped out on a bench with a splitting
slumped out on a bench with a splitting headache asking me how they go here much
headache asking me how they go here much
headache asking me how they go here much like our friend and it’s ridiculous
like our friend and it’s ridiculous
like our friend and it’s ridiculous just because alcohol is legal people
just because alcohol is legal people
just because alcohol is legal people look past its blatant psychoactive
look past its blatant psychoactive
look past its blatant psychoactive effects to regard it as something else
effects to regard it as something else
effects to regard it as something else entirely scientifically it is a
entirely scientifically it is a
entirely scientifically it is a cast-iron fact that alcohol is a drug
cast-iron fact that alcohol is a drug
cast-iron fact that alcohol is a drug now I realize this is quote quite a
now I realize this is quote quite a
now I realize this is quote quite a cultural stumbling block to get past
cultural stumbling block to get past
cultural stumbling block to get past ever since you were young all sources of
ever since you were young all sources of
ever since you were young all sources of authority of defined recreational drugs
authority of defined recreational drugs
authority of defined recreational drugs as a largely dangerous category of
as a largely dangerous category of
as a largely dangerous category of substances what advancing the idea that
substances what advancing the idea that
substances what advancing the idea that alcohol is not your parents teachers
alcohol is not your parents teachers
alcohol is not your parents teachers even health charities say the same thing
even health charities say the same thing
even health charities say the same thing governments will threaten to look you up
governments will threaten to look you up
governments will threaten to look you up and give you a criminal record for life
and give you a criminal record for life
and give you a criminal record for life if you dare to possess them
if you dare to possess them
if you dare to possess them may not think you use drugs because when
may not think you use drugs because when
may not think you use drugs because when you think of the word drug you think of
you think of the word drug you think of
you think of the word drug you think of other words such as problem or abuse
other words such as problem or abuse
other words such as problem or abuse injection lead and addicts and criminals
injection lead and addicts and criminals
injection lead and addicts and criminals is what you tend to think of but when
is what you tend to think of but when
is what you tend to think of but when you think of alcohol you think of
you think of alcohol you think of
you think of alcohol you think of something fun something free-flowing
something fun something free-flowing
something fun something free-flowing something that really has very few
something that really has very few
something that really has very few negative externalities at all we’ve come
negative externalities at all we’ve come
negative externalities at all we’ve come to the very dangerous situation where we
to the very dangerous situation where we
to the very dangerous situation where we equate legality with safety and
equate legality with safety and
equate legality with safety and illegality with danger in fact the
illegality with danger in fact the
illegality with danger in fact the reasons people use a legal substance
reasons people use a legal substance
reasons people use a legal substance such as alcohol aren’t the particularly
such as alcohol aren’t the particularly
such as alcohol aren’t the particularly difference the reasons people use
difference the reasons people use
difference the reasons people use illicit substances ask yourselves from
illicit substances ask yourselves from
illicit substances ask yourselves from Raymond why do you drink fundamentally
Raymond why do you drink fundamentally
Raymond why do you drink fundamentally what does it do for you well for the
what does it do for you well for the
what does it do for you well for the vast majority of people it attaches you
vast majority of people it attaches you
vast majority of people it attaches you from reality for a while allows you to
from reality for a while allows you to
from reality for a while allows you to have fun and de-stress and this is
have fun and de-stress and this is
have fun and de-stress and this is largely the same reason why people use a
largely the same reason why people use a
largely the same reason why people use a drug like cannabis it allows for the
drug like cannabis it allows for the
drug like cannabis it allows for the releasing of certain neurotransmitters
releasing of certain neurotransmitters
releasing of certain neurotransmitters such as serotonin and dopamine which
such as serotonin and dopamine which
such as serotonin and dopamine which causes small feelings of euphoria now
causes small feelings of euphoria now
causes small feelings of euphoria now ask ourselves what does watching a film
ask ourselves what does watching a film
ask ourselves what does watching a film do for you
do for you
do for you what is listening to a great piece of
what is listening to a great piece of
what is listening to a great piece of music do what does playing call of duty
music do what does playing call of duty
music do what does playing call of duty ultimately do for you one of these
ultimately do for you one of these
ultimately do for you one of these activities detach the user from reality
activities detach the user from reality
activities detach the user from reality for a certain amount of time while also
for a certain amount of time while also
for a certain amount of time while also releasing neurotransmitters such as
releasing neurotransmitters such as
releasing neurotransmitters such as serotonin and dopamine it sounds vaguely
serotonin and dopamine it sounds vaguely
serotonin and dopamine it sounds vaguely familiar doesn’t it and that’s because
familiar doesn’t it and that’s because
familiar doesn’t it and that’s because ultimately it is worse the drug user
ultimately it is worse the drug user
ultimately it is worse the drug user gets these feelings triggered by an
gets these feelings triggered by an
gets these feelings triggered by an outside substance the hobbyist gets
outside substance the hobbyist gets
outside substance the hobbyist gets these feelings triggered by a certain
these feelings triggered by a certain
these feelings triggered by a certain behavior or activity when we ask
behavior or activity when we ask
behavior or activity when we ask ourselves why we use drugs we should
ourselves why we use drugs we should
ourselves why we use drugs we should also ask ourselves why we do any of
also ask ourselves why we do any of
also ask ourselves why we do any of these ultimately superfluous things why
these ultimately superfluous things why
these ultimately superfluous things why since the dawn of Agriculture and in its
since the dawn of Agriculture and in its
since the dawn of Agriculture and in its age where we have more and more free
age where we have more and more free
age where we have more and more free time have these activities become more
time have these activities become more
time have these activities become more prevalent it’s noticeable that as the
prevalent it’s noticeable that as the
prevalent it’s noticeable that as the inescapable threat of death has receded
inescapable threat of death has receded
inescapable threat of death has receded from the human psyche we have required
from the human psyche we have required
from the human psyche we have required more and more things to distract
more and more things to distract
more and more things to distract ourselves from reality whether it’s
ourselves from reality whether it’s
ourselves from reality whether it’s having a point on the weekend or playing
having a point on the weekend or playing
having a point on the weekend or playing video games
video games
video games recreational drug use is nothing to be
recreational drug use is nothing to be
recreational drug use is nothing to be surprised by and it’s partly the reason
surprised by and it’s partly the reason
surprised by and it’s partly the reason why there have been almost no human
why there have been almost no human
why there have been almost no human societies in history which have not been
societies in history which have not been
societies in history which have not been present so is it right we prescribed all
present so is it right we prescribed all
present so is it right we prescribed all of our legal and cultural bias to a few
of our legal and cultural bias to a few
of our legal and cultural bias to a few substances over a host of others if we
substances over a host of others if we
substances over a host of others if we accept that humans will always use drugs
accept that humans will always use drugs
accept that humans will always use drugs this is a sensible policy that brings
this is a sensible policy that brings
this is a sensible policy that brings about good outcomes let’s look at humans
about good outcomes let’s look at humans
about good outcomes let’s look at humans consumption of alcohol and see what we
consumption of alcohol and see what we
consumption of alcohol and see what we find in 2010 the World Health
find in 2010 the World Health
find in 2010 the World Health Organization estimated that per capita
Organization estimated that per capita
Organization estimated that per capita alcohol consumption in the UK for those
alcohol consumption in the UK for those
alcohol consumption in the UK for those about aged above the age of 15 was 11.6
about aged above the age of 15 was 11.6
about aged above the age of 15 was 11.6 liters now that’s pure alcohol Maji
liters now that’s pure alcohol Maji
liters now that’s pure alcohol Maji roughly the equivalent of 30 individual
roughly the equivalent of 30 individual
roughly the equivalent of 30 individual litre bottles of vodka a staggering
litre bottles of vodka a staggering
litre bottles of vodka a staggering total which is emblematic of our wide
total which is emblematic of our wide
total which is emblematic of our wide societal uses for him so what does this
societal uses for him so what does this
societal uses for him so what does this cause well firstly let’s look at crime
cause well firstly let’s look at crime
cause well firstly let’s look at crime in the 2013-14 crime survey of England
in the 2013-14 crime survey of England
in the 2013-14 crime survey of England and Wales it was estimated that 53
and Wales it was estimated that 53
and Wales it was estimated that 53 percent of violent crime involved
percent of violent crime involved
percent of violent crime involved alcohol now that equates to 704 thousand
alcohol now that equates to 704 thousand
alcohol now that equates to 704 thousand individual crimes committed under the
individual crimes committed under the
individual crimes committed under the influence think of domestic violence
influence think of domestic violence
influence think of domestic violence assault grievous bodily harm
assault grievous bodily harm
assault grievous bodily harm almost half of these crimes in the in
almost half of these crimes in the in
almost half of these crimes in the in England and Wales involve alcohol and
England and Wales involve alcohol and
England and Wales involve alcohol and some fall what do you see when you go
some fall what do you see when you go
some fall what do you see when you go out to snack or neon in lemons in all
out to snack or neon in lemons in all
out to snack or neon in lemons in all the clubs or bars of any major British
the clubs or bars of any major British
the clubs or bars of any major British city significant amounts of manpower
city significant amounts of manpower
city significant amounts of manpower from the emergency services are required
from the emergency services are required
from the emergency services are required to keep large sways of drunk people safe
to keep large sways of drunk people safe
to keep large sways of drunk people safe and secure many of them in the audience
and secure many of them in the audience
and secure many of them in the audience right now think of this think of the
right now think of this think of the
right now think of this think of the effect this has on police men and women
effect this has on police men and women
effect this has on police men and women a report a 2013 report found that the 89
a report a 2013 report found that the 89
a report a 2013 report found that the 89 percent of police officers in the
percent of police officers in the
percent of police officers in the northeast had been subject to an
northeast had been subject to an
northeast had been subject to an alcohol-related assault 89 percent
alcohol-related assault 89 percent
alcohol-related assault 89 percent another report found that 53 percent of
another report found that 53 percent of
another report found that 53 percent of all police time was taken up by
all police time was taken up by
all police time was taken up by alcohol-related casework now that’s time
alcohol-related casework now that’s time
alcohol-related casework now that’s time that couldn’t be
that couldn’t be
that couldn’t be when tackling rapes robberies and
when tackling rapes robberies and
when tackling rapes robberies and murders what of its negative health
murders what of its negative health
murders what of its negative health effects well this is where it’s gonna
effects well this is where it’s gonna
effects well this is where it’s gonna really shock you 3.3 million that’s the
really shock you 3.3 million that’s the
really shock you 3.3 million that’s the figure that denotes the World Health
figure that denotes the World Health
figure that denotes the World Health Organization’s estimate of annual
Organization’s estimate of annual
Organization’s estimate of annual alcohol-related deaths calculated in
alcohol-related deaths calculated in
alcohol-related deaths calculated in 2012 so every single year we have more
2012 so every single year we have more
2012 so every single year we have more people dying from alcohol-related causes
people dying from alcohol-related causes
people dying from alcohol-related causes than died and the entirety of the Korean
than died and the entirety of the Korean
than died and the entirety of the Korean and Vietnam wars combined
and Vietnam wars combined
and Vietnam wars combined in 2016 there were seven thousand three
in 2016 there were seven thousand three
in 2016 there were seven thousand three hundred and twenty seven individual
hundred and twenty seven individual
hundred and twenty seven individual deaths in the UK ascribed to
deaths in the UK ascribed to
deaths in the UK ascribed to alcohol-related causes that’s roughly 20
alcohol-related causes that’s roughly 20
alcohol-related causes that’s roughly 20 per day while getting drunk can be fun
per day while getting drunk can be fun
per day while getting drunk can be fun this is the dark side of alcohol this
this is the dark side of alcohol this
this is the dark side of alcohol this has been largely kept from the public
has been largely kept from the public
has been largely kept from the public what which arguably makes it the most
what which arguably makes it the most
what which arguably makes it the most deadly drug and not even the UK but
deadly drug and not even the UK but
deadly drug and not even the UK but possibly the world now from these
possibly the world now from these
possibly the world now from these reports you’d probably think illicit
reports you’d probably think illicit
reports you’d probably think illicit drugs must be worse than this right well
drugs must be worse than this right well
drugs must be worse than this right well let’s take a look at one cannabis or
let’s take a look at one cannabis or
let’s take a look at one cannabis or weed and see what we find
weed and see what we find
weed and see what we find does it cause crime and deaths well
does it cause crime and deaths well
does it cause crime and deaths well generally no it doesn’t report what do
generally no it doesn’t report what do
generally no it doesn’t report what do you really experience on the drug well
you really experience on the drug well
you really experience on the drug well most people are glued to their sofas and
most people are glued to their sofas and
most people are glued to their sofas and want to listen to soothing music right
want to listen to soothing music right
want to listen to soothing music right in fact when was the last time you heard
in fact when was the last time you heard
in fact when was the last time you heard of a report of a group of high people
of a report of a group of high people
of a report of a group of high people engaged in fistfights and humping
engaged in fistfights and humping
engaged in fistfights and humping anything that moved there have been many
anything that moved there have been many
anything that moved there have been many reports on the link between cannabis and
reports on the link between cannabis and
reports on the link between cannabis and violence and there’s been no conclusive
violence and there’s been no conclusive
violence and there’s been no conclusive evidence between a correlation of the
evidence between a correlation of the
evidence between a correlation of the two from anecdotal evidence we can
two from anecdotal evidence we can
two from anecdotal evidence we can clearly see that the violence associated
clearly see that the violence associated
clearly see that the violence associated with that alcohol is clearly not
with that alcohol is clearly not
with that alcohol is clearly not prevalent to the same extent with
prevalent to the same extent with
prevalent to the same extent with cannabis what if it’s negative health
cannabis what if it’s negative health
cannabis what if it’s negative health effects well in this case there’s really
effects well in this case there’s really
effects well in this case there’s really no contest it’s extremely difficult to
no contest it’s extremely difficult to
no contest it’s extremely difficult to kill yourself from weed intoxication the
kill yourself from weed intoxication the
kill yourself from weed intoxication the Drug Enforcement Administration of the
Drug Enforcement Administration of the
Drug Enforcement Administration of the u.s. the DEA estimated it would take
u.s. the DEA estimated it would take
u.s. the DEA estimated it would take 1500 pounds of cannabis they recently
1500 pounds of cannabis they recently
1500 pounds of cannabis they recently smoked in 15 minutes
smoked in 15 minutes
smoked in 15 minutes to make yo-yos that’s probably the
to make yo-yos that’s probably the
to make yo-yos that’s probably the equivalent of 20,000 spliffs
equivalent of 20,000 spliffs
equivalent of 20,000 spliffs that’s a lot of cannabis even for a
that’s a lot of cannabis even for a
that’s a lot of cannabis even for a shilling myself they went on to say that
shilling myself they went on to say that
shilling myself they went on to say that there has never been a recorded example
there has never been a recorded example
there has never been a recorded example of cannabis owners so what about another
of cannabis owners so what about another
of cannabis owners so what about another commonly floated alternative MDMA again
commonly floated alternative MDMA again
commonly floated alternative MDMA again for crime and violence the stops that
for crime and violence the stops that
for crime and violence the stops that seems to have few negative externalities
seems to have few negative externalities
seems to have few negative externalities users of the drug often induced into a
users of the drug often induced into a
users of the drug often induced into a hippie lovely type utopias where all
hippie lovely type utopias where all
hippie lovely type utopias where all they want to do is embrace and dance
they want to do is embrace and dance
they want to do is embrace and dance with other people a few reports of
with other people a few reports of
with other people a few reports of violence reported around the substance
violence reported around the substance
violence reported around the substance often involved other outside substances
often involved other outside substances
often involved other outside substances such as amphetamines or speed
such as amphetamines or speed
such as amphetamines or speed masquerading as MDMA based on this you
masquerading as MDMA based on this you
masquerading as MDMA based on this you may think yeah let’s just get rid of
may think yeah let’s just get rid of
may think yeah let’s just get rid of alcohol and go headfirst for um dear
alcohol and go headfirst for um dear
alcohol and go headfirst for um dear main instead of judging drinks by
main instead of judging drinks by
main instead of judging drinks by alcoholic strength you could judge him
alcoholic strength you could judge him
alcoholic strength you could judge him by milligrams of MDMA instead instead of
by milligrams of MDMA instead instead of
by milligrams of MDMA instead instead of selling packs of cigarettes you could
selling packs of cigarettes you could
selling packs of cigarettes you could sell packs or spliffs we could then have
sell packs or spliffs we could then have
sell packs or spliffs we could then have all of the benefits around drug use
all of the benefits around drug use
all of the benefits around drug use without the negative consequences
without the negative consequences
without the negative consequences unfortunately even though this is a nice
unfortunately even though this is a nice
unfortunately even though this is a nice idea it’s largely a red herring is you
idea it’s largely a red herring is you
idea it’s largely a red herring is you can never wholly get rid of the dangers
can never wholly get rid of the dangers
can never wholly get rid of the dangers associated with drug use
associated with drug use
associated with drug use indeed studies have reported that
indeed studies have reported that
indeed studies have reported that long-term heavy MDMA usage damage
long-term heavy MDMA usage damage
long-term heavy MDMA usage damage certain functions of the brain whilst
certain functions of the brain whilst
certain functions of the brain whilst also permanently reducing brain
also permanently reducing brain
also permanently reducing brain serotonin levels long-term cannabis use
serotonin levels long-term cannabis use
serotonin levels long-term cannabis use has been linked to a level of dependency
has been linked to a level of dependency
has been linked to a level of dependency in some subjects to assume all of the
in some subjects to assume all of the
in some subjects to assume all of the facts of a substance without knowing all
facts of a substance without knowing all
facts of a substance without knowing all of the scientific facts for sure would
of the scientific facts for sure would
of the scientific facts for sure would to be that commit the same blunders that
to be that commit the same blunders that
to be that commit the same blunders that our lawmakers have made in their tacit
our lawmakers have made in their tacit
our lawmakers have made in their tacit acceptance of alcohol as a societal drug
acceptance of alcohol as a societal drug
acceptance of alcohol as a societal drug of choice so where do we go from here
of choice so where do we go from here
of choice so where do we go from here I’d suggest our society needs to do
I’d suggest our society needs to do
I’d suggest our society needs to do three things firstly we need to accept
three things firstly we need to accept
three things firstly we need to accept the way our society that is fueled by
the way our society that is fueled by
the way our society that is fueled by drugs whether it’s a legal one like
drugs whether it’s a legal one like
drugs whether it’s a legal one like alcohol or an illegal one like MDMA
alcohol or an illegal one like MDMA
alcohol or an illegal one like MDMA we humans love changing our mental
we humans love changing our mental
we humans love changing our mental perception of the world most people have
perception of the world most people have
perception of the world most people have the ability to use these substances in
the ability to use these substances in
the ability to use these substances in moderation we therefore need to separate
moderation we therefore need to separate
moderation we therefore need to separate recreational drug use from drug abuse
secondly we need to assess our drug use
secondly we need to assess our drug use more just because a drug is legal does
more just because a drug is legal does
more just because a drug is legal does not mean it is harmless we need to look
not mean it is harmless we need to look
not mean it is harmless we need to look at the relative harms of substances
at the relative harms of substances
at the relative harms of substances before we could come to a conclusion on
before we could come to a conclusion on
before we could come to a conclusion on how bad they are this is a graph
how bad they are this is a graph
how bad they are this is a graph detailing the relative harms of
detailing the relative harms of
detailing the relative harms of different psychoactive drugs compiled by
different psychoactive drugs compiled by
different psychoactive drugs compiled by the revered scientist dr. Nutt in this
the revered scientist dr. Nutt in this
the revered scientist dr. Nutt in this study he includes a host of criteria
study he includes a host of criteria
study he includes a host of criteria risk of injury loss of relationship drug
risk of injury loss of relationship drug
risk of injury loss of relationship drug related mortality drug specific
related mortality drug specific
related mortality drug specific mortality risk of dependency these are
mortality risk of dependency these are
mortality risk of dependency these are things we must consider when we look at
things we must consider when we look at
things we must consider when we look at how dangerous a drug is in the hope that
how dangerous a drug is in the hope that
how dangerous a drug is in the hope that we can better tackle those dangers
we can better tackle those dangers
we can better tackle those dangers thirdly we need to boldly consider
thirdly we need to boldly consider
thirdly we need to boldly consider alternatives to our current drug of
alternatives to our current drug of
alternatives to our current drug of choice alcohol its negative effects or a
choice alcohol its negative effects or a
choice alcohol its negative effects or a particularly raw but it’s the user but
particularly raw but it’s the user but
particularly raw but it’s the user but also to society as well it is mad that
also to society as well it is mad that
also to society as well it is mad that we have said a largely arbitrary line on
we have said a largely arbitrary line on
we have said a largely arbitrary line on what substances are and are not
what substances are and are not
what substances are and are not permissible for in our society devoid of
permissible for in our society devoid of
permissible for in our society devoid of any semblance of fact or rationale by
any semblance of fact or rationale by
any semblance of fact or rationale by assessing alternatives to alcohol in a
assessing alternatives to alcohol in a
assessing alternatives to alcohol in a scientific manner we can hopefully
scientific manner we can hopefully
scientific manner we can hopefully reduce the extreme negative consequences
reduce the extreme negative consequences
reduce the extreme negative consequences it brings to our society above all we
it brings to our society above all we
it brings to our society above all we need to question societal inertia and
need to question societal inertia and
need to question societal inertia and its distortion of fact drugs and alcohol
its distortion of fact drugs and alcohol
its distortion of fact drugs and alcohol are a good example but there are so many
are a good example but there are so many
are a good example but there are so many more in society through analysing our
more in society through analysing our
more in society through analysing our drug use more we can help people who
drug use more we can help people who
drug use more we can help people who abuse drugs reform their behavior while
abuse drugs reform their behavior while
abuse drugs reform their behavior while also needing recreational drug users to
also needing recreational drug users to
also needing recreational drug users to be more informed about the problems of
be more informed about the problems of
be more informed about the problems of the
the
the instead of saying drugs and alcohol
instead of saying drugs and alcohol
instead of saying drugs and alcohol try saying drugs including alcohol and
try saying drugs including alcohol and
try saying drugs including alcohol and try not instantly judge someone who said
try not instantly judge someone who said
try not instantly judge someone who said they had a spliff last night just like
they had a spliff last night just like
they had a spliff last night just like it wouldn’t instantly judge someone who
it wouldn’t instantly judge someone who
it wouldn’t instantly judge someone who said they had a couple of points down
said they had a couple of points down
said they had a couple of points down the pub through this sort of analysis we
the pub through this sort of analysis we
the pub through this sort of analysis we can build a better more cohesive society
can build a better more cohesive society
can build a better more cohesive society thank you very much
thank you very much
thank you very much [Applause]
”
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