We made this film after seeing the dire situation in Scotland: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/Z9amds1exM2ZcYE.html

I've worked with the police before as a community support worker, sharing offices at the station for almost 7 years. Let's just say that when the body cams are off, they reveal certain things - the only drug you can't take as a cop is cannabis because it lingers in your system and can be more easily identified, whereas pretty much every class A drug is ejected from you bodies within 3 days. Even with that 3 day window, if a random drug test comes up a cop can just say he isn't feeling well and do it next week. It is essentially accepted that some cops use cocaine, even joked about in the station, and yet they will go out and destroy working peoples lives and livelihoods in order to tick a box on their job description. British people need to wake up and put a stop to the double standard.

One of the biggest reasons the general public don’t like the idea of decriminalisation is due to this country’s enormous alcohol problem. By separating these other ‘bad’ substances such as cocaine and cannabis and calling them drugs from alcohol and cigarettes which people don’t associate with drugs (but are actually some of the worst drugs out there) they can continue to live in their oblivious little bubbles and stigmatise people who don’t conform to the norm

I used to work for the CPS. I was putting some case papers together for a prosecution of possession of class A with intent to supply. It was clear from the evidence that he was supplying to fund his own habit. I looked at the guy's previous convictions and he only had drug and associated dishonesty offences. It was at that moment I realised that our drugs laws do not do anything to change addicts' patterns.

The war on drugs does not work anywhere in the world.....

I'm currently helping my partner deal with a cocaine addiction. He's come so far and his family and I are so proud. If his addiction were treated as a medical issue (he has ptsd and adhd) and not a legal one, we could have access to support and resources. Instead we have the added burden of keeping it covered up while telling him not to be ashamed. If we had support, we wouldn't have almost lost him, it wouldn't fall to me to improvise as a sudo-medical practitioner and I probably wouldn't have lost an aunt to heroin. I use what I learned from her to help my partner. It shouldn't be that way

Good documentary tho, the statistics don't lie. Those healthcare professionals in Portugal were class.

Please rename this to something that boomers would watch if I share it on fb

the sad truth is when its ready available and regulated then everyone becomes safer - user's buy from safe and regulated shops and the money stay away from gangs and crime

Great documentary about an issue far too easily forgotten. Using the example of Portugal could you imagine describing Britain as a progressive society using compassion and support on both social and medical grounds to treat drug addiction rather than an antiquated judiciary system which fixes nothing? Nah, me either

If Scotland was allowed to operate as in Lisbon, my son would still be alive...simple as that. But, BUT, Westminster prohibits any modernisation of drug policy.

I live in San Francisco, where we have an overdose death rate approaching 1 in 1,000 residents per year. It's not drugs themselves that kill - It's poverty, homelessness, and the way dangerous drugs aren't properly regulated. We're making some strides with Harm Reduction models, but they have to be locally funded because the US government still has this ridiculous criminalization approach. Anyway, good documentary, and I hope the UK will oneday be able to approach the issue in a more compassionate way as well.

the uk used to have legal prescriptions of drugs in cities like Liverpool to help people with addictions have enough so they could function in society. It was the US war on drugs that changed UK policy and stopped successful experiments like that being fully implemented across the country. It's really a shame

If the uk government just made weed legal then it would massively increase the countries income. They could tax it just like they tax alcohol and tobacco. If the decriminalised other drugs then they could hugely reduces death rates if not stop them all together.

Interesting point that there's a double standard between calling the police if it's someone they don't know and an ambulance if it's someone they care about

Brilliant documentary. The insistence on a policy that doesn't work continues to baffle me; most of all, the wilful ignorance of politicians of all parties when it comes to statistics and facts. It is incredibly disappointing that a former head of the CPS is insistent about keeping it how it is, despite seeing first hand the damage that an unregulated drugs market does. Also, and it goes without saying, the continued criminalisation of weed in particular is a joke.

Like with Covid, we should have a science-led approach to every public health and societal issue! The idea that people can "just say no" is scientifically, philosophically and morally bankrupt.

Its so cultural, i went back to London recently and there was a woman lying on the pavement absolutely out of her mind crying and writhing on the floor, and people just walk around her without batting an eyelid. We're desensitised, desympathised, self interested consumers, not citizens or people anymore. No wonder people take drugs to escape this hellscape

That said, great reporting, stark contrast to the true-crime style fear riddled stuff that Vice produce

Pure or clean MDMA hasn't killed anyone the cause of death is usually exhaustion from doing a physical activity like dancing, over hydration and of course people cutting it with lethal substances "MDMA by its self is safer than horse riding" yes a professor said that and yes he was the advisor for the UK government drug policy who got the sack for making a scientifically backed statement.

Maybe we should look at what it is about modern life and society that drives people towards self destructive behaviour. This is what our society produces. Self destitution.

I'm from Scotland. It's a sad day when some states in the USA are more forward thinking than the home of invention and reformation. I've spent 40 years trying to understand the mindset of modern Britain. I mean people actually think it is hard to get a hold of drugs or weapons here and all people that take drugs are somehow bad people. The government is so disconnected. So much money is made by criminal organisations and that money gets reinvested in other fields of criminality. If you have a child it will, at some point, get a hold of what they think is cocaine or MDMA, guaranteed. Remember the 90s parents? It's so much more dangerous now. That little white bag could be anything and everyone knows it. The VERY LEAST we could do is provide testing facilities. The people of Scotland have been asking for this for decades now. So many lives lost that could be saved with a simple chemistry testing kit. I guess people only really understand this when someone they know dies from something that should not have killed them. If paracetamol was made in backyard factories by criminal organisations, how long do you think it would take before one of those pills kills someone. Think about that.

'Its kinda scary how your whole life depends on how well you do as a teenager'. So true and insightful.. I really struggled and suffered for years.

Why on earth have we still got a Conservative government they always decline for interviews aren't they supposed to work for the people of the uk

A few years ago when legal highs/research chemicals were still legal and widespread, people began using those drugs because they were easy to access, cheap and there was no risk of a criminal charge. I used to take ecstasy and speed occasionally, but it was expensive, it would make me slightly anxious that I didn't know what was exactly in what I was taking and I didn't really like having to deal with shady drug dealers/gangs. Legal highs provided all the information on the back of what you were taking, you knew which chemicals were in it and most of the time it also had the quantities of each. I switched to legal highs and became fully addicted, I'd have a 3-4 day binge between Friday and and Monday every week and spend the rest of the week recovering from the comedown, occassionally taking small amounts to keep myself awake throughout the week. It lasted about 18 months and contributed to me dropping out of university early. I just feel if I'd had a different drug education, or if the drugs I used to take were regulated, research chems/legal highs wouldn't have even been a thing.

do this with mental health hostages-i mean patients, police recently introduced new measures to manipulate mentally ill people, recovered patients can't be let out for months even years as no place in community, the need for a 'social model of mental disability', I would do it myself but I'm too mentally ill lol we need advocates. Thanks JOE channel keeps me sane(r)

I have been saying this for time the reason why war on drug has been a failed is because the people making the laws are the same people taking the drug, most of them started doing them in uni or collage from friends. even during this party gate they found traces of cocaine in the office table.

The UK is the only country to say cannabis has no medical properties while being the single largest legal exporter of cannabis in the world

I have been drinking for 16 years Going to AA changed a lot in my life. I have been clean for 4 months now. Their aproach works. They are nice.

Relaxing drug laws should be a priority. It's makes me sad.

Great short doc - Politics JOE team smashing it lately!

Excellent doc, really highlights the uk's stone age stance on drugs, though the only criticism I have is that final emergency services study, comparing the opinions people on the streets in UK and a renowned sociologist in Portugal isn't exactly a fair experiment, it would have been interesting to see how the normal Portuguese public would react. But the underlying truth is that this is a political issue, politicians won't care about the stats, only the polls which is why despite seeing success in Portugal and the Netherlands, the UK hasn't decided to act

A very good film. I do feel we need to take a more compassionate stance towards drug addiction instead of looking at everyone as a criminal. I don't feel decriminalisation is enough to be honest. I feel legalisation is the only way forward. It will end the victimisation of what should be innocent people. It can bring vast job creation, a taxable income of which the taxes can be used to fund drug treatment and help those who are addicted. A regulated and tested supply of products. There is a political party in the UK with a very good drug reform policy offering full legalisation. If we want legalisation in the uk then we need to vote for the Green Party, they seem to be the only party that understands the countries drug problems and is focused on dealing with the issues instead of sweeping it under the carpet and criminalising people that are struggling

That mother is 💯 correct ....drugs should not be stigmatised, education and decriminalisation is the only way

Drug users, homeless are treat like dirt by most. UK residents have very little compassion for those less than themselves.

decriminalisation and legalisation is the way forward!! if the government or a organisation manufactured and sold drugs we could pump billions into the public bank and also help addicts!! this needs to happen.

Another insightful doc guys!

Blunkett, in my humble opinion is largely responsible for this situation. If you are old enough to remember, he messed around with the legality of cannabis and left a situation whereby people could use it but they weren't allowed to buy it or grow it. As a result, people had to go to drug dealers who would oblige by selling cannabis to them but then lead them into harder drugs and although the law has been tweaked a little here and there over the years, we have basically that situation now. This is what he should have done: 1. Make it legal to own as much as you like. 2. You can grow as much as you like. 3. You can give away as much as you like. 4. You are expressly prohibited from selling it. 5. You are expressly prohibited from concentrating it. 6. Shops would be able to sell it under license so that young people are protected as they currently are with cigarettes and alcohol. That way, people who wanted it could all have a plant on the kitchen windowsill, drug dealers would never have been able to exploit the sale of it from either profits of the sale of cannabis or improving their customer value by introducing them to harder drugs. You wouldn't even have the county lines problem because people wouldn't be introduced to the harder stuff if they can get cannabis free at home without any hassle. How can I be so sure of this? Simply because it already happens with home made alcohol. People make wine or beer, they aren't allowed to concentrate it with a still, and they can only sell it if they get the appropriate licensing.

fully support this, i don't have much more to say, just here to help with the algorithm

An excellent documentary, thank you. If they legalised cannabis, which most people use/have used, this could help people stay away from harder drugs! Politicians in UK do not understand this, they just care about getting or staying in power! And at the end of the day, people use drugs to give them a good feeling, which they don,t seem get from their lives! So thus is not just a drug problem, it,s a social problem, and the Politicians are part of this problem!

the irony of UK politicunts saying no to decriminalisation and legalisation of cannabis, while UK is one of biggest producers of medical cannabis in europe, and some of them do have their hands in that big pie...

My experience has found that there's a conservative attitude that when a rich kid has been found to be taking drugs their in a rebellious faze, when it's a kid from a poor background their scum. I'm glad you made this video, unfortunately compassion is not to be found readily within the current government, who the people of this country voted for, and it leaves me wondering what that says for compassion in our society? However, I have seen it out there amongst local councilors but not enough to see action.

I'm surprised at the results of the photo 'which emergency service?' game.. I didn't hesitate in thinking that it should be the ambulance service. Life comes first. Never occurred to me that anyone would see it differently, even if they disapprove.

as someone from scotland this video is really important. There is a lot of blame on the scottish government and on the drug users themselves. Drug policy is written in westminster and until drugs are decriminalised and seen as a health issue there will continue to be drug deaths here.

Oh and by the way, drug users are not treated with respect in Portugal and there is still very much a stigma. You can't tell this from a Ryanair weekend sure but you can if you live there.

This is so eye-opening. This would be beyond value in the U.K., it's purely because of the fear of losing votes that it doesn't happen. The Portuguese guy who talked about removing the politics from the policy hit the nail on the head. Message to Keir Starmer (because Boris is a waste of cell-tissue...) get a decent spin doctor/director of communications and this could work.

I’ve been a severe drug addict for over 7 years, I’m 25 now. The facilities are there just people pretend they aren’t because the sad reality is you can not help a drug addict unless they want to help them selves. I’ve had the police literally drive me to hospital because I was with drawling from alcohol and benzos and I broke into someone’s house during my confusion. I’ve had the police literally just tell me and numerous people not to smoke weed near parks because it’s intrusive which is more than fair. We forget that drug users statistically are more likely to exhibit anti social behaviours, and as much we sit and pretend that legalisation for bad habits is the answer it isn’t. Humans are getting more and more mentally ill every year, using substances that bring out mental illnesss or bandage it isn’t an answer no matter the agenda. I haven’t done heroin in 3 years now and benzos for 3 and a half, all because I had the help of authorities. Grow some balls, man up and stop trying to enable self destruction

had a small amount of hash cannabis offence 25years ago, still comes up on my criminal record check when applying for jobs,,ruined my life ,sacked from a school caretakers job after 6months for not revealing it

Rich & powerful people are immune to drug laws

People in power seem to forget that alcohol was illegal in some places. It’s a complex subject and I’ve raved at electronic music events for 30 years. Testing and education that is science led would create industries and safety. It’s not going away and why can’t certain party drugs and raves be an option instead of going to the pub. Addiction is addiction weather it’s a legal or a illegal substance, sex, alcohol, gambling or food.

well done with this. thank you.

This video is really well made and insightful, very inspiring

The UK is very backward, the government should realise they can make money out of drugs in the same way they do from Alcohol. Improve quality, Improve education, put age limits on sale, charge Duty on it, users all pay Tax on it.

A good documentary, the topic was well approached and very interesting to see the success in Portugal. The story of the lady losing her daughter was terribly sad, though her statement that the war on drugs is what killed her daughter I think is a little heavy. I see it as a complex combination of social and other factors too.

That's the scary part - nobody knows the percentage of pills. If dealers were honest and didn't have to lie to get customers, I.e. if it was standardised - not as many people would die. The war on drugs has failed, its time to accept addiction as a medical problem - not even addiction, but drug use in general, its clear that people are going to experiment, especially teens. Imagine the income from taxes, and the money saved on the NHS and prison system with decriminalisation? The support, is what people crave from my experience of addiction as a teenager. I didn't care about the high, but just the fact I felt liked. And every time I ended up in hospital, I felt cared for, needed in the world, why else would these people be trying to save me? I think if people were more open about talking about drugs, addiction, and ultimately what they are searching for whilst taking the drug, there would be less deaths related to drugs. Just my two pence, and if anyone wants to talk about it in the comments, I'll be here to listen. Think of this comments section as a place of safety - tell me WHY you take drugs, if anything would help you stop, and the reason you dont/can't stop x

Such an important topic and this is brilliantly documented here

A factor, possibly a major factor in the UK's opiate overdose death rate are prison sentences. On release persons dependent on opiates have temporarily lose their tolerance. If they use roughly the same amount of heroin on release as they used prior to imprisonment there is a very high risk of overdose. Agree . Politics should be taken out of the equation. Unlikely in the UK as the tories rely on the bigotry vote.

A great film. We need a grown-up discussion around drug use and the war on drugs

Great video, the only issue I can see is that even though drug policy is for sure more humane for consumers in Portugal. You won’t get arrested for having a good time. However these are still street grade drugs, produced under prohibition by criminal gangs, sometimes in near slavery conditions with absolutely zero regulation. These aren’t any less dangerous than the drugs Martha unfortunately overdosed from in your story & the test kit you used in vid was literally from the UK. Anyone here could do the same thing currently - I guess my point is that we should be careful with our words, decriminalization doesn’t make taking street drugs safer. Legalization, pharmaceutical production and proper regulatory bodies do!

I love the way the flush is only a sound effect. We all know what happened.

It always seems that Britain stays on the most illogical hill and chooses to die on it

Most or all drugs should be legalised everywhere. The war on drugs and drug prohibition is an infringement on freedom and causes huge amounts of damage. This video/documentary is great.

Too many times our country and it’s so called “leaders” have let us, the people down. Enough is enough, something has to be done! Great job on the documentary! More people need to see this.

Netherlands legalised cannabis and it's one of the safest and cleanest countries I've been to. Other drugs are still banned but the focus is like the Portuguese officer said, on traffic and making it safe for addicts to get help. In Germany, use/consumption is legal, traffic & possession is illegal. Cities have offices to help addicts and they distribute medicines for those who are transitioning out. Again, a country that is safe to live in and move around. So clearly, the idea that decriminalising drugs or at least consumption, will make things unsafe or encourage crime/criminals... it's just not true. Also, let's be honest ban something and everyone will want it.

Stupid rules in the UK! Alcohol causes so much violence and out of character behaviour, yet is still legal! Just look at every city or town on a weekend, drunken idiots falling over, spewing up, fighting, smashing stuff up and crashing cars whilst drink driving! Beyond ridiculous now!

The sociologist is such a smart person with a great perspective!

I've been saying this for many, many years. Decriminalisation and treating drug use as a medical issue would not only save lives, it would see a huge reduction in "petty" crimes like muggings and shoplifting, along with a dent in crimes like burglary and theft from/of cars. I've also said the 2 drugs that cause bigger problems and use more public resources than any other drug are the ones that are legal and socially accepted. I'm talking of course about alcohol and nicotine. They, imo, are the ones that should be criminalised.

Good job - the Uk's only comparative VICE reporting - Your content is appreciated.

9:58 It is very British to ask someone's moral stance on illegal drugs. As the policeman points out, law enforcement is not a matter of right versus wrong - and this is the case for laws generally: laws are about SOCIAL ORDER. Targeting the source is more important than attacking the recipients.

Thank you SO much for daring to tell the truth.

No case of prohibition has ever worked. De criminalise. Educate. And get the criminal element out of the drugs scene. Tax it. Make it clean. Set guidelines that include rehabilitation first.

How would they control the society, if one person can get high for free, while other got to work in dead end job to make the ends meet? Do you have solution for that as well?

The thing that annoys me is that illicit drugs like cannabis cocaine etc are illegal but pharmaceutical drugs like antidepressants are legal, some antidepressants and the mechanisms on how they work are not fully understood like long term effects and full range of side effects but are still legal, even though they "help" people which in my case thats not true infact they have ruined my life and changed the way my brain works extensively yet because they go through rigorous testing but are often biased towards are particular result in favour of good results due to biased clinical trails which are paied for by those companies and because they have such vast resources many of these drugs are overlooked its ridiculous. Something has to change its not right , these companies are legal drug dealers and politicians are too stuck in the mud to make any real changes

This needs many many maaaaaaany more views

Well done Gareth and team.

Well done mate, excellent report. ☆☆☆☆☆

No way he flushed it 😂

Wouldn't it be better if the government just regulated and taxed drugs instead of ending peoples careers over nothing

So do people have to stay on Methadone for life, or what? It's another addiction, no? Sorry, I really don't know. Amazing mother, staying so clear headed. X

A science based approach to drugs? Could never happen here.

"there's only one way to find out" *rolls up note*

Fantastic filmmaking.

Volume is very low in this video

Thanks for posting.

Excellent

Decriminalisation is a no brainer,great work Joe

The average percentage of mdma IS NOT 40% pure, saying remarks like that is extremely irresponsible and dangerous and is why people end up dead... MDMA is consistently pure, its average % is up in the 80's

the government ignoring the problem hasnt worked for 50 years.

So sad, Good to see Mum has some sense, pity the political system is rigged in favour of funding the few from the misfortune of many. If it’s illegal to have a habitual health issue then maybe it’s time to outlaw junk food or make it illegal because it’s addictive & also kills people. Drug use in any form is usually found to be a release from underlying issues. When you spend time around these people they often open up & tell you what they’ve endured in life to end up where they are. These poor people need love & compassion & help not a label & a prison sentence.

needed video 🙌

Well done, Joe.

He looks like he was up late

It won't be legal here in the UK because there's too much money init for the government hemp could take over sooooo many industries but yet the UK is one of the biggest medical cannabis growers

Even just making testing kits easily available would make such a massive difference without the need to change the law

The only reason drug laws exist is to regulate the market. Outright prohibition is unattainable and in nobody’s interests.

Why in the hell would pills contain rat poison??

Just make politicians accept that they cannot be under the influence of any none prescription drugs while doing official duties. Back this up with random drugs tests. To be clear this is the exact way we treat military personnel and some emergency workers. Make all test results public record within 24 hours of being processed. Alcohol is included. I would love to hear any argument against this policy.

that guy is a light wait lol

I would say legalize use after 18 atleast ...if not 24, and the possession/sale of it decriminalized *ONLY FOR* those that haven't been dealers in the past, which might also restrict criminals abilities to prey on the vulnerable. That's an added bonus to tax revenues if anything.

Curious what happened in Puerto Rico as it was rampant for about a year with zombies all over the place then they all suddenly disappeared. Pretty sure they didn't get taken to rehab.