Bucket Head of the Year Awards - 2010

If there’s anything that will be remembered regarding illicit drugs in 2010, it will be the burgeoning change of attitudes around the world. Never before have we seen so many media articles about drug prohibition, the failure of the drug war and calls for change to global drug policy. Any politician with some degree of nous would have kept a close eye on this development as the public and media become more critical of the failed "War on Drugs”. 

Regardless of whether there is changing attitudes or a surge in prominent people pointing out the vast evidence that contradicts our drug policies, there are still those who persist in ignoring the facts and pushing their own selfish and/or ignorant agenda. And it’s these delightful people, along with their myopic behaviour that provide the material for the Bucket Head Awards.

Every year, we are treated to an array of bizarre speeches, inane views and corrupt political decisions that will make our history books read like a movie script for some whacky new comedy. Many of the real life characters would provide years of material for up and coming screen writers and some scenarios would make Monty Python seem almost sensible. It’s almost too good to be true when needing to show how far some people will go when drugs are concerned. 

NOTE: These awards are from an Australian perspective and are based on issues involving drug policy and drug treatment. Many nominees are probably guilty of various other deeds but these awards are for drug related issues. I assume I have left out many candidates and events so feel free to add your nominations. These are my personal opinions and if I have upset anyone, I am sorry. If you don't want to be involved in these awards ... don't give me a reason to nominate you.

Worst Strategy from a Country in 2010

•Britain - New drug policy

The joint leaders of the newly elected coalition government were both drug law reformists before coming into power. But history is doomed to repeat itself as they ditched their commitment to reforming the countries failed drug policy as soon as they had the power to finally implement change. Their long held beliefs suddenly disappeared and the government soon announced a rework of existing policies. They magniloquently announced that they were to do away with harm reduction strategies (that kept addicts enslaved to addiction) and focus on prevention (that addressed the problem before it started). The government was getting serious about drug use and they were doing it their way … regardless of whether it would work or not. They had read the tabloids and were putting in place new procedures that would keep the hysterical masses satisfied. These included: removing the need to consult with scientists on drug related issues, punishing drug users who were not in treatment (e.g. stopping welfare payments) and another promise to crack down on supply. The "War on Drugs" 2.0 was launched.

Runners Up:

•Mexico - Continuing their same old strategy that has resulted in over 30,000 deaths

•Hungary - Replacing harm minimisation with stricter drug laws

•Canada - Attempting to introduce mandatory drug laws and trying to close their safe injecting centre

Worst International Anti-Drug Organisation in 2010

As drug prohibition around the world continues to wreak havoc on society, there is a growing realisation that current strategies have failed to tackle the drug problem. Slowly but surely, we are moving away from the lies and selfish agendas that have dominated global drug policies for so long. Frustrated with the lack of success from antiquated drug laws, we are looking to science and research to deal with a medical/social issue that has for too long, been treated as a law and order problem. The underlying issue - that some people think other people should not seek pleasure from drugs - is being questioned by society as well as the massive carnage caused by our efforts in trying to enforce this view.

But the quest to reduce the enormous damage caused by current strategies is being hindered by determined, ideological groups. These organisations often have a religious undertone like the initial groups who first attempted to ban alcohol and drugs over 100 years ago. They all have similar themes like the belief in a drug free world or tougher penalties for drug users and will go to great lengths to influence governments and the public. Being masters of deception, they often resort to junk science, slanted research and heavily biased media material to push their puritan message onto an ignorant public. Like the push by Christian fundamentalists to categorise creationism as science, so too do the anti-drug fundamentalists attempt to promote their moral precepts as a credible, mainstream solution.

You may have already noticed that the major players in the anti-drug movement are limited to a small group and you will find they often appear as board members/associates of several anti-drug organisations to boost the membership numbers or add credibility.

•World Federation Against Drugs [website]

Who are The World Federation Against Drugs … they sure sound impressive? Yes they are. The WFAD tell us that their work is ‘built on the principles of universal fellowship and basic human and democratic rights’. and that ‘the aim of WFAD is to work for a drug-free world’. Obviously a great bunch of humanitarians. 

Did they say a drug free world? Yes, they believe that we can create a drug free world, just like when the United Nations Office on Drug and Crime(UNODC) at the 1998 UNGASS on drugs produced the slogan, ‘A Drug Free World by 2008 … We Can Do It’. But as you have probably guessed, we didn’t do it and sadly, will never do it. Unfortunately though, that won’t stop the drug propagandists … nothing will.

Not long before the delegates of member states gathered in New York at the UNGASS on drugs in 1998, outstanding professionals and politicians from all around the world addressed Kofi Annan, the UN Secretary General in an open letter. They warned the UN not to chase rainbows but to stay down to earth, because in the name of pursuing a drug free society member states often violate human rights, assault the environment and fill prisons with non-violent offenders. “Realistic proposals to reduce drug-related crime, disease and death are abandoned in favor of rhetorical proposals to create drug-free societies. Persisting in our current policies will only result in more drug abuse, more empowerment of drug markets and criminals, and more disease and suffering,” they wrote. Unfortunately these dissent voices remained unheard in 1998, the UNGASS was a sequence of political speeches light years away from the reality of crime, addiction and disease on the streets. 

--The Hungarian Civil Liberties Union (HCLU)

Look a little closer and you will discover that The WFAD and related organisations really have another agenda. They might claim to want what’s best for troubled drug users but it’s not really about helping them. It’s about using them to condemn what they considered to be sinful behaviour.

Drug users have a right to the expectation of living drug free and having the opportunity to lead productive, working lives.

--The World Federation Against Drugs website: About Us

They use clever misdirection with keywords like rights, democracy, tolerance, equality, freedom, justice etc. or phrases like ‘ to protect children’, ‘undercutting traditional values’, ‘threatening the existence of stable families, communities, and government institutions’, This resonates with the public who have only ever been told that drugs are a scourge on society or all junkies will rob you just for a fix. Their underlying agenda is too complex for a casual observer who has been exposed to anti-drug propaganda for an entire lifetime. 

The WFAD recognizes that civil society has the right to fact-based information about the risks and damage caused by drugs. All people have the right to be protected from the harms created by drug use.

--The World Federation Against Drugs website: About Us

Like organised religion, it’s about control, power and pushing their views onto others. They believe that taking drugs and alcohol is evil or even a sin and these pursuits leave people less time for prayer, family or other acceptable activities. Those who partake in these evil activities need to be remorseful for their lack of personal responsibility and the only way to stop this scourge is with public condemnation, punishment or an appointment with Dr. God. And like organised religion; science, history and facts are only true when they originate from an approved source. They claim that the carnage is not because of our barbaric drug laws that incarcerate millions of non-violent citizens. Nor is it because those with mental health issues are treated in prisons instead of hospitals. And it’s definitely not due to the massive underground user base forced to hide from military style police units. It’s because drug addicts and drug users are selfish, immoral and dangerous. Why else would we need protection from them?

Runners Up:

•International Taskforce on Strategic Drug Policy [website]

•International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) [link to article]

•Drug Free America Foundation [website]

Worst Australian Anti-Drug Organisation in 2010

•Drug Advisory Council of Australia Inc. (DACA) [website]

Runners Up:

•Drug Free Australia (DFA) [website]

•Drug Salvage Campaign (The Drug Free Ambassadors Australia) [website]

•Get Off Drugs (Narconon/Scientology) [website]

Worst Comment in 2010

•Sir Ken Jones (Deputy Victorian Police Commissioner) - [3AW]

I think you have to look at it (drug courts), case by case because people who are absolutely addicted beyond help, they should and will be punished ...

The focus away from catching and jailing addicts is becoming standard practice around the globe as police target the big dealers rather than those suffering an addiction. But Victorian Deputy Police Commissioner Sir Ken Jones has a different view. Although he did mention treatment as part of the process, Jonesy let slip his desire to punish addicts, especially those “beyond help”. Yes Ken, we need more addicts in jail because that works so well.

Runners Up:

•Ted Baillieu (Victorian Opposition Leader) - [NineMSN News]

Research showed cannabis was a gateway drug into more dangerous illicit drugs, with most heroin and cocaine users first experimenting with cannabis.

Maybe Ted would like to produce the research for his claim? And Ted, I mean quantified research … not opinion pieces from The Herald-Sun.

•Graham Jacobs (Western Australian Minister for Mental Health) [link to article]

Solutions need to be based on the evidence, not driven by popular, and often misguided notions of how harms can be reduced.

Harm reduction is popular and misguided? Harm reduction is only popular amongst doctors, concerned citizens and experts. Jeepers, who would want that misguided bunch putting forward their suggestions? An incredible comment to make for a health minister.

The crunch is that the WA government’s proposed drug policies have no scientific basis whatsoever and they actually rejected all the evidence put forward by the experts. In fact, there are dozens of recent reports slamming their proposals for being void of any evidence.

•Michael Wright (SA Police Minister) - [Government Media Release]

These passive alert drug dogs and their handlers have clearly been working hard. They’ve made a significant dent in the drugs trade on our streets.

Has anyone noticed the sudden absence of drugs on our streets? Maybe a few more sniffer dogs and the drug problem will be solved.

•Steve Fielding(Family First) [link to article]

The Greens are up to their old tricks. They’re soft on drugs and really this is the wrong message to be sending Australia. We’ve got a huge street violence issue and going soft on drugs is going to make it worse not even better.

I would love for Steve to show me where being "Tough on Drugs" has decreased street violence. Mexico? Baltimore? Western Sydney? And how does being "Soft on Drugs" send the wrong message? I think advising people how to avoid dying from an overdose is a pretty good message.

Silliest Comment in 2010

•Steve Price (Shock Jock) - [3AW]

OK Thank you John, John Rogerson CEO from the Australian Drug Foundation. Can we work out what the Australian Drug Foundation actually is? So I can tell people why that bloke has got such a stupid, soft view of the world. What a dumb thing to say. What an absolutely stupid thing to say. What are the Australian Drug Foundation? A marketing arm for drug dealers?

Absolutely classic Steve Price. Someone should tell him to research his guests before he queries the validity of Australia’s leading drug and alcohol prevention organisation.

Runners Up:

•Kevin Zuccato (AFP Assistant Commissioner) - [Brisbane Times]

I think what this demonstrates across the board is just how insidious organised crime is and the callousness of these individuals who would choose to hide narcotics in kids' toys and possibly put kids at risk.

Of course these toys stuffed with drugs, worth tens of millions of dollars are destined for your local toy store. I wonder what the chances are of a drug trafficker forgetting where his multi million dollar stash is?

•Brian Taylor (Sports Announcer) - [3AW]

I gotta say, I sat down with a 14 year old male son of mine and a 18 year old son and both said to me, that they were confused and that it appears that it’s OK to take drugs because if you take drugs and play sport, you will win a Brownlow, a premiership and you’ll have a lifestyle like Hollywood. They were really confused about it … really confused about the successes of it and to me it’s a bit of a worry. It glamourised the whole thing I thought. 

Really confused? Maybe there should be an award for the ‘Parent with the Stupidest Kids’.

•Bob Falconer (Former West Australian Police Commissioner) - [The Australian]

Years ago, heroin was an analgesic -- they got sleepy, they got dopey. Now they're using drugs that give them the strength of five human beings and make them extremely unpredictable and violent.

I thought we had seen the end to the hysterical claims about ice and violence but up pops Bob Falconer with this cracker. Falconer’s comment brought back memories of the 1980’s drug PCP that reportedly gave users superhuman strength. Of course, there is no drug known to mankind that greatly increases your strength and Bob’s comments sound like a scene from a Popeye carton. You know … a can of spinach and Popeye suddenly has superhuman strength. Maybe this is where Bob got his information from?

•Brett Murray (Down to Earth Youth Counsellor) - [Sydney Morning Herald]

There's going to be people out there who commit pre-meditated murder - do we make sure that we have a little pamphlet saying `(ok,) but make sure that you do it in groups'?

That’s right, Brett. Using drugs and pre-meditated murder are almost identical. Isn’t anyone worried that Brett is a youth counsellor who teaches kids about drugs?

•Rebecca Wilson (Sports Journalist) - [The Herald-Sun]

Admissions of weakness are not such a bad thing. Demetriou and Anderson simply must throw out the rule book and start again. Consult those at the coalface who live and breathe club footy with dozens of young men at their physical and professional peak.

Yep, lose the medical stiffs and employ the wisdom of a footy club. I know I would feel much better knowing someone was being treated for a complex medical condition by a football club administrator, a handball coach or the orange boy.

Most Overused Phrase in 2010

•Do the crime then do the time!

If you read the comments section from any drug related article, you can count on at least 30% of readers saying ‘Do the crime then do the time!’. It’s how bogans attempt to show us how clever and wise they are about an issue they really know nothing about.

Runners Up:

•Send the wrong message

•We are making a dent in the drug market

•Drug busts are about keeping the public safe

Biggest Deception in 2010

•The various claims that drug busts are eliminating drug use from our community

Runners Up:

•Mephedrone beat-up [link to article]

•Exaggerated harm from cannabis and ecstasy use

•The Faces of Meth Campaign [link to article]

Biggest Deception from a Political Party in 2010

•Victorian Liberal Party - Exaggerating cannabis harm for healthy adults / ignoring the dangers of banning drug paraphernalia

Runners Up:

•Victorian Labor Party - John Brumby claimed that there was no evidence supporting a safe injecting centre for Melbourne [link to article] 

•Tasmanian Labor Party - Printing flyers that accused the Greens of wanting to legalise heroin [link to article]

•Family First - Claiming that the Greens want to put a ‘heroin injecting room’ on every corner [link to article]

Biggest Deception from a Non Political Person or Group in 2010

•Gary Christian (DFA) - The failure of MSIC

Runners Up:

•Drug Free Australia (DFA) - The report titled Cannabis: suicide, schizophrenia and other ill-effects [link to article] 

•Victoria & NSW Police - High profile drug busts are eliminating drug use from our community

•Deputy Police Commissioner Sir Ken Jones - Claiming that drug experts are naive for recommending a change to our drug policy and there are no alternatives to a current drug laws 

Worst Comment from a News.com Reader in 2010

•People say that a junkies addiction is a sickness, but I say who cares. The world would be a million times better off if they all just over dosed and stopped burdening the rest of the world with their sick filthy selfish habits

Posted by: timothy.karas of 680 Goerge Street 

Article: Girl, 6, Jabbed By Needle In Restaurant

Source: The Daily Telegraph

Runners Up:

•Absolutly shocking thing to happen to some one, I wonder whom the scum bag is, whom did this terrible thing, most proberly some junkie scum bag who's been released on bail for drug offences, bashing, car theft etc etc, let out by Doo- gooders to go out and maime and kill. dispicable! 

Posted by: Fairgo of Tinonee 

Article: Violent End To A Beautiful Life For Murdered Michelle Morrissey Of Mudgee

Source: The Daily Telegraph

•Why should we waste tax payers money on educating drug addicts even further. Everyone knows the results of taking drugs. I hope these drugs kill all the drug addicts out there. I won't feel sorry for them one bit.

Posted by: locky of sydney

Article: Drugs Cocaine And Ecstasy Laced With Poison In Australia

Source: The Daily Telegraph

•in a sense who really cares what happens to these drug abusers, one way to clean our back yard out, though it may impact on our televisions shows as half the actors will be eradicated by the sound of it. Look at it this way , what a way to rid the streets and high class clubs of drug peddling , most the club onwers in the cross would be broke and crime rate would drop. Why are we trying to protect these people who make it possible for the dope smugglers to exist ?..they deserve what they pay for. 

Posted by: just another disalutioned person

Article: Drugs Cocaine And Ecstasy Laced With Poison In Australia

Source: The Daily Telegraph

•Honestly these rooms and the whole methodone program need to go. Who really cares if these people use dirty needles and die..I for one would think it was a good thing, these idiots not only ruin there own lives but those of their families and loved ones but are now invading the lives of everyone. Many of them steal to support their habbits, continue to have babies who suffer untold pain and distress after they are born..Really people need to stand up and wake up...These users are not a worthwhile part of society...we support them as they don't work and don't care..I say get off it or OD we do not need you here or anywhere

Posted by: Loretta Hanley

Article: Drug Injection Room Will Stay In Kings Cross

Source: The Daily Telegraph

Strangest Comment from a News.com Reader in 2010

•Its a very dodgy area around there. Wouldn't surprise me if most of them were druggies financing their habit. Its when local residents get propositioned that it becomes bad. How about some undercover policewomen around there?? This is what they do in the movies & it seems to work!!!

Posted by: pinkmini of Perth

Article: Brazen Street Prostitutes Working Close To Perth Police HQ

Source: PerthNow

Runners Up:

•Yet another chemical concoction that kills to be banned, so it's more than likely going to be the most popular thing on the drug scene within days. Maybe it's time to take a different tact. I still believe that illegal drugs should be illegal but maybe if we just stop attending to the people who take them and overdose on them and let them die then maybe that's the only way to get the message through that people who take this stuff are truly dicing with death. Those who peddle in the stuff get for the term of their natuaral life jail terms and those who end up with mental illness's because they're frying their brains with the chemicals get locked up in mental institutions. How about we, as a society let the chips fall where then maybe common sense will come back into vogue and these shinning examples of stupity will be a lesson to the rest of what NOT to do. How about that instead spending billions on education that clearly isn't working and spend those billions on support services for the families left behind by the stupid acts of their family and the elderly. Just a thought.

Posted by: Tracey

Article: Drug 'Miaow-Miaow' Banned After Deaths

Source: News.com.au

•It is well known that Australia has the fourth highest population of people addicted to illicit substance in the world...... drug addicts galore! Now for a country with such a small population that is quite and achievement. I am sure if some substances were legal we would have the highest level of addicts in the universe! We should change the name of the country to Drroooogstraaaaliiiia.

Posted by: Zalco of Melbourne

Article: Big Rise In Cocaine Use In Victoria As The Price Drops To $20

Source: The Herald-Sun

•Do the crime, Do the time. Very sad that she has gone crazy, but it happens.

Posted by: Mr Average of Rockvegas

Article: Schapelle Corby Pleads For Reprieve For Her Health

Source: News.com.au

•Andrew you are 100% correct on rejecting injecting rooms. 

Drug taking weak brained scum couse so much misery in the world,should be interogated to find the pushers and both locked up to get them off drugs. But our systems are so corrupt that drugs are even distributed in prisons.

Posted by: Jan of Melbourne

Article: Andrew Bolt Blog - “Safe” Injecting Rooms

Source: The Herald-Sun

Funniest Moments in 2010

•Digital Drugs

Drug hysteria reached a new a high in 2010 as the dangerous new trend called iDoses hit the news. For a few bucks, you can download an audio file called an iDose and get high without ever ingesting anything. Kids can choose from a selection of audio files like ‘heroin’, ‘LSD’, ‘Cocaine’ etc., put on their headphones and … er, well listen to a noisy audio file. While kids all over the US, high on iDoses were busy posting videos of themselves on YouTube, the media kicked into action. And it was our own, Sydney Morning Herald that led the way. They reported that parents and educators were outraged that iDrugs were legally on sale through a website.

It was the US though that actually acted on this new scourge. In the Mustang district of Oklahoma, some schools reported students downloading these files so the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs issued a warning to children. Other schools in the district sent out letters to parents warning them that the new trend had caused physiological effects on some students after trying one of these digital downloads. It even made the nightly TV news.

For the record, ‘iDoses’ are binaural soundtracks which have been used since the 1960s to force the brain to enter different states of consciousness. They are harmless.

Runners Up:

•Misspelling Darren Marton’s Name

Poor old Darren Marton. As a budding politician running on the theme of anti-harm minimisation, you would think that being quoted in the media would be something positive. Unfortunately for Darren, in early 2010, a Sydney Morning Herald article misspelt his name as Darren ‘Martin’. Not a good look for one of the article’s so called authorities. Several months later, Darren’s wisdom was again quoted in an article by fellow anti-drug supporter, Miranda Devine. Imagine his surprise when he noticed that once again, they misspelt his name, this time as ‘Darron Martin’. A real kick-in-the-pants for Darren and the importance of his message. It makes you wonder how accurate these articles are when they can’t even print the correct name for their star anti-harm minimisation prophet.

•The Return of The Gateway Theory

It was another year involving babbling politicians but 2010 was special. It was the year when The Gateway Theory made it’s come back courtesy of various politicians trying to prove how tough they were on drugs. The previous year had the WA premier and some of his cronies resorting to all sorts of dubious and outdated claims about cannabis as they tried to repeal the state’s drug laws. The biggest shock though was their attempt to drudge up that old myth, The Gateway Theory. We were told by Colin Barnett and co. that cannabis led to harder drugs. Only this time, it wasn’t just experts and health professionals who shook their heads in disbelief but much of the general population. But sometimes, politicians are a strange lot. Many of them plodded on with their anti-drug agenda regardless of the facts or the realisation that making absurd claims involving The Gateway Theory didn’t win the WA government any votes and certainly wasn’t a smart move in an evidence focussed 2010. But plod on they did.

The number of times politicians claimed that we need tougher laws because cannabis led to hard drug use was simply astonishing. They wouldn’t use out-of-date or flawed research when discussing other health policies or overlook the scientific consensus when planning for medical procedures. But the issue of illicit drugs seems to be void of using quantified, scientific research and we are so accepting of any old thing a politician wishes to say. The Gateway Theory is a myth and has been debunked many, many times. It originated in the US back in the 1930s and was laughed at by the scientific community then. The only supporters of The Gateway Theory are anti-drug nutters, agenda driven politicians and those who refuse to accept the facts. Like putting hot water on sunburn, encouraging smoking because doctors smoke or anti-vaccination spin, The Gateway Theory is a an old wives tale and has no scientific application in a modern society.

•Mephedrone Madness - Miaow Miaow, Woof Woof And A Missing Scrotum

It may have been the strangest comment of the year when AFP Assistant Commissioner Kevin Zuccato said this about Mephedrone: ‘There have been dangerous deaths linked to miaow’. Luckily for us, Assistant Commissioner Zuccato cleared up our concerns that deaths can be dangerous. Hang on … did he also say, ‘Miaow’? Did he really mean, ‘Miaow Miaow’, the latest killer drug to hit the streets. But since no one actually calls it ‘Miaow Miaow’, except in the media, abbreviating it to just ‘Miaow’ might at least give the impression that he has some street cred.

So what is ‘Miaow Miaow’ and what’s all the fuss? Mephedrone or 4-MMC is a speed like drug derived from the khat plant and was one of the “legal highs’ in Britain that has created so much attention of late. Funnily enough, it has been sold legally for years in the UK and shipped to dozens of countries around the world with very little attention or reports of abuse. It wasn’t until several countries started to ban the drug that we suddenly saw reports of death and destruction.

Like all good panics about new drugs tempting our vulnerable kids, the media and the authorities were prepared to jump on any snippet of news regarding this new scourge. It didn’t matter if they were true or not. There were numerous, baseless articles about users high on mephedrone going to hospital with one person reportedly cutting their finger in half and someone else attempting to circumcise them self. The Sydney Morning Herald even reported that one user in Sydney attempted self castration (ouch!). Coincidentally, a similar story prompted the Durham police in the UK to issue a public warning, only this time it was reported that the user had attempted self castration with their own bare hands (double ouch!). Although that doozy just turned out to be the result of an over zealous police officer it was still considered newsworthy enough to make the Sydney Morning Herald.

As the news spread, the number of dead rose until the media and authorities settled on the claim that ‘Miaow Miaow’ was linked to 25 deaths. The magic ingredient was the term, ‘linked to’. In fact, only a few people were ever confirmed to have died solely at the hands of mephedrone as the others had a concoction of drugs in their system with mephedrone being ruled out as the cause. Surprisingly, much of the media, police and authorities still deceptively claim that ‘Miaow Miaow’ is ‘linked to’ 25 deaths.

The hype should have ended there but a good drug beat-up is hard to let go of for the Murdoch press. The Sun (UK) reported that a new, even deadly drug was about to storm the drug scene. MDAI or what the Sun called, ‘Woof Woof’ was the next drug craze and it was set to replace ‘Miaow Miaow’ as the drug of choice for British kids. Strangely, the only reference to it, reported in Australia was by another Murdoch media outlet, News.com.au. Searching through various drug forums since the article, ‘Woof Woof’ barely gets a mention and has rarely been seen. That’s if it was ‘Woof Woof’ at all. Meanwhile, authorities are waiting patiently for “Tweet Tweet” and “Cock-a-doodle-doo Cock-a-doodle-doo’ to hit the streets.

Worst Anti-Drug Article from the Mainstream Media in 2010

•A Dangerous Idea That Stubbornly Refuses To Die (Miranda Devine - The Daily Telegraph) [link to article]

Runners Up:

•Ecstasy Tablets Kills More Australians (Lisa Mayoh - CourierMail) [link to article]

•It's One Set Of Rules (Rebecca Wilson - The Daily Telegraph) [link to article]

•Drug Addiction Is Not A Disease (Derryn Hinch - 3AW) [3AW]

Funniest Anti-Drug Article from the Mainstream Media in 2010

•When It Comes To Doing Drugs, The Message Should Be "Just Say No" (Staff Writers - The Daily Telegraph)

No wonder no one was brave enough to attach their name to this article. This is the trash media at their best. The article is a cautionary tail of sending the wrong message - ‘Drug education should primarily be about preventing drug use, not minimising the harm - basically to stop disaster before it occurs’ writes the anonymous hacks. The writers goes on to say, ‘The Government needs a tougher policy that sends an uncomplicated, unambiguous and more easily understood message to everyone - young and old - to just say no to drugs’. Only a hack writer would miss the obvious - the government already does this. The policy of harm minimisation happens to target the bulk of drug users who don’t ‘Just Say No’. It’s not a case of one strategy or the other but a multi-prong approach to capture both potential and existing drug users. The hack writers would know if they had done their research. 

I’m sure Nancy Reagan would be proud that her ‘Just Say No’ message has carried on into 2010. But maybe the hack writers should have pointed out that the face behind the ‘Just Say No’ campaign, Nancy Reagan and her US president husband, Ronald are responsible for the greatest social policy catastrophe, the US has ever experienced. Their anti-drug campaign stripped treatment centres of their funding, stopped federal support for needle exchanges and exploded the prison population of nonviolent drug offenders from 50,000 to 400,000 in 17 short years. They created the crack-cocaine disparity laws, expanded mandatory sentencing and helped give the US one of the highest rates of HIV/AIDS in the western world. Yes, anonymous hack writers, we need more ‘Just Say No’ strategies and more "Tough on Drugs" failures.

Runners Up:

•Cannabis 'Leads To Drink, Hard Drugs' (Staff Writers - Sydney Morning Herald) [link to article]

•Delayed Justice Comes At A Cost To Community (Editorial - The Adelaide Advertiser) [link to article]

•Worrying Side Effects Attached To Drug (Andrew Drummond - Sydney Morning Herald) [link to article]

Worst Comment from a Political Party in 2010

•Ted Baillieu (Victorian Liberal Leader) [website]

A Victorian Coalition Government will ban the sale of bongs to reduce the harm to Victorian families caused by cannabis and stop Victorians using dangerous drugs 

Runners Up:

•Andrew Stoner (NSW Nationals Leader) [link to article]

To put out a pamphlet that says Guide to a Better Night ... I think it's sending a message that to have a good night you ought to be taking drugs.

•Mike Rann (SA Premier - ALP) [Sydney Morning Herald]

I just think that it's incredibly irresponsible for any political leader to attend a rave party … it comes down to values.

•Michael Mischin (Parliamentary Secretary to the Attorney General; Minister for Corrective Services - LP ) [website]

Cannabis is not a ‘soft’ drug.

It is not a ‘recreational’ drug.

It is not a harmless drug.

It is a gateway drug.

Use of cannabis also increases the risk of mental illness such as schizophrenia. It is a drug that ruins lives and I am proud that we have reversed the failed policy of the previous government.

[…]

Yes, these are tough moves but we need strong laws like this that send the right message about cannabis – that it is dangerous.

Major Political Party with the Worst Drug Policy in 2010

•Christian Democratic Party

Runners Up:

•Family First

•The Liberal Party

•The National Party

Junk Science Claim from 2010

•The Kings Cross Medically Supervised Injecting Centre (MSIC) only saved 4 lives - Gary Christian (DFA) 

Runners Up:

•Fairfax Misleads Public About Cannabis Study [link to article]

•Cannabis is a Gateway Drug - WA Liberal Party

•Exaggerated harm from moderate use of cannabis and ecstasy(MDMA)

Most Biased Anti-Drug Journalist in 2010

•Miranda Devine - The Daily Telegraph

Runners Up: 

•The Daily Telegraph Editorial Team

•Andrew Bolt - The Herald Sun

•Rebecca Wilson - The Herald Sun

Most Dubious Politician (Drug Propagandist) in 2010 

•Ted Baillieu (Victorian Premier - LP)

Runners Up:

•Mike Rann (SA Premier - ALP)

•Steve Fielding (Family First Leader)

•Michael Mischin (Parliamentary Secretary to the Attorney General - WA)

Most Dangerous Anti-Drug Campaigner Internationally for 2010

•Peter Hitchens

The Daily Mail - Blogger (Mailonline)

If ever there was a fundamentalist nutter, it is Peter Hitchens. He believes that capital punishment is the key to a strong justice system, the Christian faith underlies a successful society, gays do not deserve equal or even legal partnership rights and abortion should be illegal. You get the picture.

‘The sly, dishonest propagandists who claim that the ‘War on Drugs’ has failed really do need to explain what war this is, exactly, and when it was ever fought’. [website]

Of course, one of his strongest beliefs is that drug use is a crime. He despises most modern treatment programs and is a crusader for tougher, zero tolerance laws. He regularly writes about drugs on his blog and goes to great lengths to circumvent science, quantified research and established facts. Those with opposing views are often duplicitously criticised as he cherry picks their response in the comfort of his own surroundings. 

My view, that a straightforward punitive approach would have been far better for all involved, has plainly not been tried - not because it wouldn't work (it would) but because the authorities do not have the moral courage to apply it. This is the real argument between those who view some acts as wrong, and those who excuse them.

-Commenting on the successful Heroin Assisted Treatment program in Switzerland

Runners Up:

•Calvina Fay (Drug Free America Foundation)

•Robert DuPont (Anti-Drug Crusader)

•Theodore Dalrymple - Real name: Anthony Daniels (British writer and retired prison doctor and psychiatrist)

Most Dangerous Anti-Drug Campaigner in Australia for 2010

•Gary Christian (DFA)

Runners Up:

•Darren Marton

•Jo Baxter (DFA)

•Steve Fielding (Family First Leader)

Low Point in 2010

•The failure of Queensland’s Social Development Committee to take on evidence and the advice of experts in their Inquiry into Addressing Cannabis-related Harm in Queensland [website]

Runners Up:

•The lack of action from our government involving incarcerated Australians on drug charges overseas. Especially Peter Gray, Schapelle Corby and the Bali Nine [link to article]

•The failure of the Australian government to act on expert advice regarding drug policy when research clearly states that current strategies are failing [link to article]

•The failure of the Australian government to endorse the Vienna Declaration [link to article]

The Bucket Head Hall Of Fame

•Christopher Pyne - Politician (Liberal Party)

Liberal Party head kicker and anti-drug workhorse, Chris Pyne made his name as the yapping lapdog behind Australia’s "Tough on Drugs" strategy. For years, Pyne’s boofhead was everywhere spelling out the government’s agenda to eradicate drugs, drug dealers and the idea that harm minimisation was our official drug policy(it is). 

It was during his tenure as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Health and Ageing when Pyne gained his infamy. Especially rememberable was his ‘Soft on Drugs’ slur that he directed towards anyone who supported an alternative to the government’s "Tough on Drugs" strategy. For Pyne, there was no alternative. Those offering up science, research and expert advice that didn’t suit the government’s agenda were just being "Soft on Drugs”.

His most famous moment though was probably when he claimed that cannabis was as dangerous as heroin, cocaine and amphetamines. Although his claim had many rolling around on the floor in fits of laughter, he was deadly serious. Maybe that’s why it was so funny? But the reality wasn’t so funny for those seeking treatment. His beloved "Tough on Drugs" ideology was a direct assault on harm minimisation and for Pyne, Howard and co., drug users deserved contempt and needed to be punished. Those considering treatment were now in danger of facing a reduced range of options as the government pursued a shift towards abstinence only programs. Pyne championed this new strategy which included the move to heavily cut back on opiate substitution programs like methadone treatment.

Christopher Pyne and his rants might have faded into the history books of shame but the aftermath lives on. Australia has never fully recovered from the Howard government’s assault on drug users and Libs everywhere remain committed to push on with Pyne’s crusade. Although most of Pyne’s claims have now been debunked or revised, he remains a reminder of how dangerous the anti-drug brigade can be when in power.

The Bucket Head of the Year - 2010

The ultimate anti-drug zealot who made a huge impact on the downfall of humanity and sensibility in 2010

Jo Baxter

Drug Free Australia (DFA) / The World Federation Against Drugs (WFAD)

2010 was a cracker year for Jo Baxter. As those who subscribe to the ADCA (The Alcohol and other Drugs Council of Australia) drug forum would know, Jo made dozens of contributions throughout the year although they usually resulted with members providing clarifications, corrections and evidence to the contrary of her claims. Luckily, there’s plenty of ADCA subscribers who are not shy to set the record straight when Baxter or DFA co worker, Gary Christian wear out their patience. It seems clear to me that most members don’t appreciate their time wasting efforts or want to hear anti-medical marijuana rants, opposition to the Vienna Declaration or attempts to discredit sucessful harm minimisation programs.

What amazes me is how Aunty Jo managed to find the time for so many contributions to the ADCA drug forum while also occupying several positions with anti-drug groups. For the record, Jo Baxter is the Executive Officer at Drug Free Australia (DFA), Vice President of The World Federation Against Drugs (WFAD) and has a role with the ADCA. It seems like busy timetable, even for a dedicated propagandist like Baxter. 

Apart from driving the subscribers crazy on the ADCA drug forum and promoting her anti-drug wisdom, Jo was busy in 2010 pushing the “compassionate” policies of DFA and WFAD. In case you don’t know, the term, “compassionate” is the new weapon in the anti-drug arsenal. Ironically, calling these policies “compassionate” (tough laws, incarceration, compulsory drug testing, forced abstinence etc.) has been heavily criticised as a duplicitous attempt to counter the growing claims of being “not compassionate”. 

Compassion please

IT'S a great tragedy of modern times that bureaucratic "red tape" continues to prevent South Australians who want to kick their heroin addiction from accessing a proven recovery method. In order to do so they have to travel to Perth (The Advertiser, yesterday).

It is an absolute disgrace that, in so doing, there is no government assistance for them. If our health officials were truly compassionate, they would be able to overcome these perceived obstacles quickly and effectively.

Drug Free Australia calls on our decision-makers to give naltrexone implants a real chance, under Dr George O'Neil's model. This program has been supported by the WA government for 13 years.

JO BAXTER, Drug Free Australia executive officer and World Federation Against Drugs vice president, Broadview

--Adelaide Now (Letters) 2010

Ah, compassion a.k.a. tough love. Think of the Liberal Parties’ claim that being tough on boat people is compassionate. Their rationale is that imposing tough regulations and conditions on would-be-refugees is compassionate because it deters them from attempting the dangerous journey to Australia … via a leaky boat … commissioned by ruthless people smugglers. Of course, these people are desperate and in a life or death situation. Tough regulations and conditions are not going deter them but simply make their lives even more unbearable after already escaping from oppression and tyranny. 

It’s this leap in logic that defines how the anti-drug brigade thinks. They argue that being tough on drug users is in their best interests and therefore, compassionate. But like the refugee example, tough drug laws just make an already bad situation, even worse. Unfortunately for the anti-drug brigade, most health professionals do not agree with them.

Are forced naltrexone implants, compassionate? Not when dozens of implant patients have since died. There’s an impending investigation into a certain clinic in Queensland where over 25 people have died after receiving a naltrexone implant. Ironically, the clinic was run by Dr. Stuart Reece, a DFA associate and close ally of Jo Baxter. Reece is a well known anti-drug, anti-harm minimisation nutter and often refers to the bible for direction on drug policy. Then there’s Dr. George O’Neil from WA who Baxter refers to in the above letter from Adelaide Now. The reason O’Neil’s clinic is not repeated anywhere else is because naltrexone implants for heroin addiction treatment did not get approval from the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). In other words, it’s not safe. But O’Neil’s clinic operates via a special loophole known as a ‘Special Access Scheme’ which allows him to keep up his practice. Incredibly, he also has a string of patient deaths and procedural disasters associated with his naltrexone implant program.

In a related study published in the journal(Medical Journal of Australia), Dr Paul Haber, Head of Drug Health Services at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, and his co-authors studied 12 patients who were admitted to hospital soon after receiving naltrexone in oral or implant form. 

Eight of the cases were definitely or probably related to the naltrexone implant, including cases of severe opiate withdrawal and dehydration, infection at the implant site requiring surgery, and a psychiatric disorder.

--Medical News Today

Is the closing down of needle exchange programs and safe injecting rooms compassionate? Is trying to stop needle exchange programs in prisons compassionate? It is if you don’t agree with the bulk of research into the subjects. Jo Baxter is a member of two organisations that vigorously lobby governments to shut down these services. Both WFAD and DFA claim that the funds for needle exchange programs should be spent on prevention strategies. Meanwhile, those nations that do provide clean needles to users have a much lower rate of HIV/AIDS and Hep C than other countries that don’t. And all without an explosion of crazed druggies causing societal carnage as predicted by the anti-drug brigade. Someone should tell these people that it’s hard to be compassionate to those who have died from blood borne diseases.

One of the factors that won Jo Baxter her prestigious award for Bucket Head of the Year was her tireless efforts at trying to convince experts and health professionals that they were naive and misguided by supporting Australia’s official policy of Harm Minimisation. It sure take balls to offer up wobbly research, urban myths and dubious experts to Australia’s leading AOD workers.

One classic example of Baxter’s dedication is her misguided opposition to the Vienna Declaration. In July 2010, Jo posted to the ADCA drug forum, a media release from several organisations and individuals who oppose the Vienna Declaration.

Media Release – 22 July 2010

Vienna Declaration – International Experts Oppose New Strategies on AIDS Prevention as Ineffective!

On Tuesday, July 20th 2010, internationally recognized anti-drug experts from every region of the world united to oppose a set of dangerous unproven global strategies recommended in the Vienna Declaration ...

Her post included a link to a one page website, www.ungassdrugs.org which highlights their reasons for opposing The Vienna Declaration. The single page opens to a collection of corporate logos and the headline, ‘Joint Statement in Opposition to the Vienna Declaration’ before going on to the main message.

It’s worth noting that the sneaky title used in the web address(URL) uses “UNGASS” which is an acronym for a United Nations General Assembly Special Session. But www.ungassdrugs.org has no connection with the United Nations whatsoever let alone a General Assembly Special Session. 

From the media release:

Many of the experts who opposed the Vienna Declaration know from research and practical experience that the optimal way to truly beat addiction, prevent the spread of AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases, and prevent drug-related harm are effective strategies that target drug use and include prevention, education, treatment and law enforcement efforts and do not trade one for the other.

Who are these so called experts that Jo Baxter champions so vehemently? Who would put their reputation on the line and oppose so many respected scientists and professionals?

Jo Baxter, Executive Officer of Drug Free Australia and Vice President of the World Federation Against Drugs says, “It is clear that the strategies outlined in the ‘Vienna Declaration’ cannot be supported by ‘current and reasonable evidence’. 

--From the Media Release

Oh, it’s Jo Baxter herself. Isn’t she the one sending out the media release? Apart from Baxter, the other ‘internationally recognised anti-drug experts’ include several internationally recognised anti-drug nutters. Sven-Olov Carlsson and the notorious Calvina Fay, Executive Director of Drug Free America Foundation might be internationally recognised but experts they ain’t. For example:

Further, we should reject ineffective harm reduction tactics that are not based on scientific evidence while accepting drug use and creating an illusion that drugs can be used safely or responsibly. Such ill-conceived schemes foster the misunderstanding that drug use itself is not harmful and increases addiction

--From the Media Release: Calvina Fay - Executive Director of Drug Free America Foundation

and

We know from experience that a balanced and restrictive drug policy is effective in keeping drug use at low levels … says Sven-Olov Carlsson, .

--From the Media Release: Sven-Olov Carlsson - International President, World Federation Against Drugs

Calvina Fay is a liar. I can recall on numerous occasions where she has made outrageous and completely false claims. To say that harm reduction tactics are not based on scientific evidence is just one example of how devious and deceitful she can be. Harm Reduction was introduced because researchers kept discovering that existing strategies were not working. In other words, the policy of Harm Minimisation was a direct result of scientific evidence. As for Sven-Olov Carlsson’s claim that restrictive drug policy reduces drug use, well we just have look at the US, Australia and the UK to see how successful their ‘restrictive’ drug policies are.

Proclaiming these numbskulls are experts must really piss off those AOD professionals who spend their lives trying to help people with drug abuse problems. Like the anti-vaccination morons or the followers of creationism, their mumbo jumbo is an insult to those who put their faith in science, evidence and history. Why Baxter and co. are allowed to waste the valuable time of experts, AOD workers and the government is one of those mysteries like that of why politicians give them so much support.

It seems that this group of ‘internationally recognised anti-drug experts’ who oppose The Vienna Declaration are simply the usual suspects that occupy the boardrooms of our most notorious anti-drug groups. Take any one member and you’re bound to find them on the board of other, like minded organisation. On the www.ungassdrugs.org website is a link to a ‘Brief List of Organizations Who Endorse this Opposition’. If you’re looking for a who’s who in the world of anti-drug zealotry, this is it. 

Sven-Olov Carlsson, International President - World Federation Against Drugs

Robert L. DuPont, M.D., President - Institute for Behavior and Health, Inc.

David Evans, Esq., Executive Director - Drug Free Projects Coalition

Calvina Fay, Executive Director - Drug Free America Foundation, Inc

Institute On Global Drug Policy

National Drug-Free Workplace Alliance

Students Taking Action Not Drugs

International Scientific & Medical Forum on Drug Abuse

Save Our Society from Drugs

The Council on Alcohol and Drugs – GA

Bensinger DuPont & Associates

VLAAMS PLATFORM tegen DRUGS

Drug-Free Kids: America's Challenge

Fayette Companies

Drug Free Australia

RNS

Along with Jo Baxter, these are the ‘experts’ who are ‘united to oppose a set of dangerous unproven global strategies recommended in the Vienna Declaration’. And they say things like this:

Illegal drug use also increases sexual violence which in turn results in more HIV infections, particularly among the most vulnerable members of society including women as well as children

--ungassdrugs website

and this

The prohibition of illegal drug use does not encourage the spread of HIV/AIDS, but rather it reduces illegal drug use among HIV/AIDS patients, as well as the non-infected population and thereby reduces the population vulnerable to HIV/AIDS infection by contaminated needles. Illegal drug use exacerbates weaknesses of the immune system, making individuals with AIDS more susceptible to infection and death. Marijuana use causes impaired immunity, and opens the door for the virus that causes Kaposi’s Sarcoma, life-threatening for individuals with HIV/AIDS. Marijuana also contains bacteria and fungi that put users at risk for infection. Illegal drug use among AIDS patients is life-threatening because these drugs lessen the effectiveness of anti-retroviral (ARV) medications. Nonmedical drug use is associated with increased risky sexual behaviors which promote transmission of HIV/AIDS in a way that needle exchange cannot prevent.

--ungassdrugs website

The common thread from ungassdrugs is a drug free world, abstinence and harsh drug laws. The ploy used to spread this message involves cherry picked data, carefully chosen phrases and public fear. You might not be mistaken if the term, propaganda comes to mind.

Propaganda is a form of communication that is aimed at influencing the attitude of a community toward some cause or position.

As opposed to impartially providing information, propaganda, in its most basic sense, presents information primarily to influence an audience. Propaganda often presents facts selectively (thus possibly lying by omission) to encourage a particular synthesis, or uses loaded messages to produce an emotional rather than rational response to the information presented. The desired result is a change of the attitude toward the subject in the target audience to further a political agenda.

--Wikipedia

Jo Baxter’s opposition to The Vienna Declaration is just one of many causes that earned her such a prestigious award like The Bucket Head of the Year. 2010 was a fantastic year for Jo and 2011 has started off just as promising. Given her past performance and her promising start to 2011, I might be tempted to place a small wager on Jo Baxter being a back-to-back winner.

Related Articles:

2009 Bucket Head of the Year
2008 Bucket Head of the Year