Minister rejects British plan for anti-drug jabs

THE Government’s drugs minister yesterday rejected controversial proposals in Britain to vaccinate children against future drug addiction.

Drug prevention groups here have labelled the suggestion as “cracked” and social engineering of the worst kind.

Government experts in Britain are due to recommend anti-drug jabs similar to nationwide measles, mumps and rubella vaccination programmes.

“My initial reaction would be one of great scepticism. I wouldn’t be impressed by it. Frankly, I don’t see it as a runner,” said Noel Ahern, Minister of State with responsibility for the National Drugs Strategy.

A national anti-drug immunisation scheme is one of the proposals being put forward by an expert committee of scientists appointed by the British government. The jab is supposed to provide people with protection from the euphoria experienced by users from drugs, making them pointless to take. “People getting vaccinated for medical things is one thing, but vaccinating people because they might be predisposed to drugs is totally different,” said Mr Ahern.

“It’s not as bad as genetic engineering, but it nearly sounds like that.”

Professor David Nutt, a member of the British committee, said: “People could be vaccinated against drugs at birth as you are against measles. You could say cocaine is more dangerous than measles, for example.”

But the proposal has been dismissed by drug prevention groups here.

“I think it’s a mad idea. You are getting into social engineering. You are taking away people’s choice,” said Jim Cumberton of Drug Prevention Alliance. He said it was another medical solution to what was a psychological, social and economic problem.

Gráinne Kenny of Europe Against Drugs said: “This cracked suggestion by so called experts smacks of a freak control. Preventing the use of drugs is a much wider thing than vaccination.”