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New Year 2010
From the Chair
New members
Sci Comm news
Eurochat
Feature: In science
we trust
Event Report: TV experiments
Event Report: Nutts
about drug policy
Interview: Laure Thomas, chief press officer at Department of Business
The Last Word
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Stempra newsletter
EVENT REPORT: Nutts about UK drug policy
Speakers: Professor David Nutt, ex-chair of the Government's Advisory Committee on the Misuse of Drugs, interviewed by Fiona Fox
The sacking last autumn of the chair of the government’s drugs advisory panel, and the subsequent resignations of other members of the panel he led created quite a stir in the media.
So when Stempra announced that the man at the centre of the row, David Nutt, would be 'in conversation' with Fiona Fox it wasn't just our Chair who was 'tipped over the edge' with excitement at the prospect. The event was oversubscribed, with many new members signing up in order to secure a place.
The evening took the long view, with Professor Nutt frankly revealing the reasons he agreed to join the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs 10 years ago, the slow progress of the panel in reviewing drugs, and the controlled release of information as they reported findings.
He discussed the events leading up to and following his dismissal including how the news reached him through the media, and how he coped with press requests and interviews. He took calls and gave interviews around the clock, and in comparison with the slow, bureaucratic response of government meant he "was like a rat running around, nibbling the ankles of a dinosaur".
Nutt's belief in the accuracy of the science, and the injustice of his sacking has prompted him to set up an alternative committee, unlinked to government and who give advice regardless of policy.
Recent reporting of the government’s banning of mephedrone demonstrated the problems the current ACMD faces and allowed David Nutt, and others, to talk openly about the drug. As Fiona concluded if this group continues to "engage with the media then you’ll influence policy as a result".
Ruth Francis
Head of Press, Nature,
and Stempra committee member
Ruth@stempra.org.uk
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