Better system of classification required for harmful and illegal drugs

摘要

The allocation of illegal drugs into classes A,B and C according to vague criteria involves inconsistencies that worry those who know far more about drugs and their problems than the committees that draw up lists arbitrarily.A report in the 5 August issue of the BMJ notes that a select committee of the House of Commons has just published a paper revealing glaring inconsistencies in the system,with a comment that it is not fit for the purpose.The classification was based on a United Nations convention and the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971,and although it refers to "harm"associated with drugs it offers no definition of this term.