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Drink Driving, Don't Risk It!

Government-funded helpline 'offers drug-taking advice'

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Published Date: 20 April 2009
By HAMISH MACDONELL
UK MINISTERS last night launched an investigation into a government-funded helpline aimed at children and young people which was reported to have played down the dangers of cannabis in comparison to alcohol.
Advisers on the "Frank" help-line, launched in 2003 with £3million of government money, were reported to have told people as young as 13 that alcohol is a "much more powerful drug than cannabis" and that using the illegal drug recreationally is not harmful because it "doesn't get you that high".

Callers were also apparently being told that taking ecstasy would not lead to long-term damage and that if they were in doubt, to "just take half a pill and if you are handling that OK, you can take the other half."

A government spokesman said: "It is completely unacceptable for a Frank adviser to be giving wrong, misleading and inaccurate information. We are urgently looking into this and will identify the person or persons involved and take action."



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  • Last Updated: 19 April 2009 9:45 PM
  • Source: The Scotsman
  • Location: Edinburgh
  • Related Topics: Drugs policy
 
1

Alternative (High-Octane) Fuel Head,

Edinburgh 20/04/2009 10:31:34
Like I said elsewhere today, they would rather we all got off our faces on drugs than smoked or drank.

Only I was joking when I said it. Seems like I wasn't that wide of the mark.
2

alanh,

ek 20/04/2009 12:10:42
does this article want the experts to tell lies about it?

Alcohol causes our society a lot more problems than any other drugs. Therefore it would be wrong for a drugs helpline not to mention the problems alcohol bring.

Its just a pity that the unionist parties opposed our govt in their attempt at easing the drink problems in our country tho
3

Eve,

Scotland 20/04/2009 13:03:59
Does Frank tell them, that you can't trust drug dealers!! There may be some drugs which are less harmless to most of the general public than alcohol BUT with drug dealers you never know what other ingredients are mixed in and how safe they are.

OMG I can't believe they recommend taking 1/2 an ecstasy tablet, their have been people who have died or been in commas after taking 1/2 a tablet. Some people are more sensitive to certain chemicals than others. This surely isn't the best way to find out.
4

SandyBottoms,

Edinburgh 21/04/2009 11:51:17
Sounds like a saboteur infiltrated Frank! God forbid that people should be presented with BOTH sides of the drugs argument.

 

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