The 5 Best Drug Scares of 2012
Meth babies, deadly energy drinks, fake pot, higher schools, and the drug that makes you eat people's faces
Facebook
Twitter
Tumblr
Blogger
StumbleUpon
Digg
Delicious
Reddit
GoogleDrug control policies, like gun control policies, tend to be driven by irrational fears rather than a calm assessment of the facts. When Congress banned marijuana back in 1937, the few legislators who had heard of the plant knew it as the "killer weed" supposedly responsible for horrifying homicides. Several years before Congress banned LSD in 1968, Timothy Leary and Richard Alpert observed that "psychedelic drugs cause panic and temporary insanity in people who have not taken them." The Drug Enforcement Administration imposed an "emergency" ban on MDMA back in 1985, after it became clear that people were having fun with it at parties and dance clubs, and only now is it beginning to emerge again as a legitimate psychotherapeutic catalyst. When states began banning Salvia divinorum in 2005, legislators were trying to protect the youth of America from a psychedelic herb that was not nearly as dangerous as they supposed and in any case never became very popular.
This year various drug scares influenced public opinion and public policy. These five stand out.
5. Ice, Ice Baby
A study of children who were prenatally exposed to methamphetamine, published online by the journal Pediatrics in March, prompted alarming headlines that recalled the "crack baby" panic of the 1980s and '90s. "'Meth Babies' Show More Behavior Problems," Reuters announced. "Mom's Meth Use During Pregnancy Causes Kids' Behavioral Problems," reported CBS News.
But just as the warnings about crack babies handicapped for life by their mothers’ drug use turned out to be wildly overblown, there was less to this study than the press coverage suggested. The researchers, led by Brown University psychologist Linda LaGasse, claimed to have identified “an important public health problem” that could “place tremendous burdens on society” based on small differences in test scores that may not even have been caused by meth exposure. As with the "crack baby" research, the major weakness was failing to account for all of the relevant differences between women who use a notorious drug when they're pregnant and women who don't.
Next: Got those caffeine jitters.
Editor's Note: We invite comments and request that they be civil and on-topic. We do not moderate or assume any responsibility for comments, which are owned by the readers who post them. Comments do not represent the views of Reason.com or Reason Foundation. We reserve the right to delete any comment for any reason at any time.
-
Predict the Drug Scare of 2013:
1. Adderall
2. Caffeine
3. Tylenol
4. Opioids
5. AnxiolyticsAnd my bonus, wild-card predictions: Video games/gun fanaticism.
-
Already started: prescription painkillers (continued from previous years). The local morning news did a whole thingamabob on the "epidemic" this a.m.
-
6. Sugar and high fructose corn syrup
Did you know that candy is available from vending machines? And that minors can buy soda without parental permission? If you're not outraged you're not paying attention.
-
Damnit, if you put alcohol at #1 and move the rest down a notch you have my list of favorite drugs in order.
-
"butt chugging" doesn't make the list?
-
The obozo regime has released a revised, improved version of Reefer Madness wherein it becomes abundantly clear that pot makes you believe in individualism and laissez-faire capitalism.
-
The researchers, led by Brown University psychologist Linda LaGasse, claimed to have identified “an important public health problem” that could “place tremendous burdens on society” based on small differences in test scores that may not even have been caused by meth exposure.
I bet that test score gap could be closed with Desoxyn
-
So now test scores are a "public health" issue?
-
What isn't? There is no sphere of human activity the government can't justify banning,controlling,regulating in the name of "public health".
-
"Last May the Partnership at Drugfree.org (formerly the Partnership for a Drug-Free America) announced that "heavy marijuana use" by teenagers was "up 80 percent since 2008.""
As a general rule, any scare headline that talks about a percentage change without telling you the underlying raw numbers is useless.
-
It seems a bit glib to make light of prenatal drug exposure. Believe it or not, despite the substantial benefits of methamphetamine and cocaine use in adults, it really can have negative effects on a fetus -- it's not just a conspiracy of the scientists with the newspaper publishers to sell more stories. Although obviously the article is referring to the overblown headline, you don't want to shoot your credibility in the foot by becoming a cheerleader for prenatal exposure to illicit drugs. It comes off bad enough when you cheer drug abuse by adults. Wanting something legalized doesn't necessarily mean you have to endorse it personally.
-
thank you
-
super blogs thanks admins
sohbet
sohbet odaları -
Also! I'm starting up kadıköy kombi servisi
a new forum dedicated to my fellows stoners. Come on webmaster forumları
over and join the high conversations! We're quite new, but VERY welcoming. -
exactly. there will be a point kombi servisi of critical mass, and that will prompt the feds. they will be on the losing side of history FOR A WHILE. beylikdüzü kombi servisi
it always happens that way. but eventually, the rescheduling will commence. in some way that allows them to think they are saving face. -
and in regards to legalized MJ, vaillant kombi servisi i am seeing little to no negative comments amongst the cops. mostly support, and a few people are like "i think this is vaillant kombi servisi a dumb decision, but whatever. i've got better things to do with my time than MJ enforcement".
-
I think it's time vestel klima servisi we start legalizing Marijuana everywhere. Stop living in demirdöküm kombi servisi fear and start thinking about how great the future will be! LEGALIZE IT!
-
If you live in a state where Marijuana isn't legal yet and still want the same type of highs,klima servisi I suggest checking out uIntoxicate.com. It has amazingly detailed legal highs reviews and where to get them without getting ripped off!
Also! I'm starting up arçelik klima servisi a new forum dedicated to my fellows stoners. Come on over and join the high conversations! We're quite new, but VERY welcoming. -
earned that one "Sharon Levy" cares more for boot licking than the Hip sohbet odaları & cinsel sohbet
-
-
The researchers, led by Brown University psychologist Linda LaGasse. Sohbet - Sohbet Odaları
-
the major weakness was failing to account for all of the relevant differences between women.Sohbet Siteleri - Chat Siteleri
-
place tremendous burdens on society.Güzel Sözler - Şarkı Sözleri
-
legislators were trying to protect the youth of America from a psychedelic herb that was not nearly as dangerous as they supposed and in any case never became very popular.Sohbet - Chat
-
the major weakness was failing to account for all of the relevant differences between women Mynet Sohbet - Mynet Sohbet
-
Reuters announced. "Mom's Meth Use During Pregnancy Causes Kids' Behavioral Problems," reported CBS News.Film izle - Dizi izle
-
It comes off bad enough when you cheer drug abuse by adults. Sohbet - Sohbet Odaları
-
based on small differences in test scores that may not even have been caused by meth exposure. Oyun - Mirc indir
-
The researchers, led by Brown University psychologist Linda LaGasse. Rüya Tabirleri - Yemek Tarifleri