David Nutt

[[File:Prof._David_Nutt_Presenting_2020.jpg|thumb|right|165px|Nutt in 2020]]
{{UKpolitics}}
'''David Nutt''' {{lived|1951}} is a [[United Kingdom|British]] neuropsychopharmacologist and professor of [[neuroscience]] who specialises in the research of [[drugs]] that affect the human [[brain]] for conditions such as addiction and anxiety. He's won a number of [[scientific]] merits for his contribution to various journals and research papers. For several years, he worked as a government drug adviser in the [[UK]] but was sacked for telling the truth (more on that later). The key emphasis should be on the word ''scientific.'' Nutt founded an independent scientific body called '''Drug Science''' which aims to provide [[evidence]]-based information about drugs, without political or [[economic]] influence. The organisation was formed in response to Nutt's sacking from his government role, which was motivated by the political and financial implications of his research. 

== Research findings ==
=== Relative harms of different drugs ===
Perhaps Nutt's most well-known work is his study into the relative harms of different drugs, measuring both individual and societal harm.<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11660210 Alcohol 'more harmful than heroin' says Prof David Nutt]. ''BBC'', 1 November 2010.</ref> His research was conducted using a method known as multi-criteria analysis<ref>[https://econadapt-toolbox.eu/multi-criteria-analysis Multi-Criteria Analysis]. econadapt-toolbox.eu.</ref> which studied the outcomes and impacts upon people and society in relation to various drugs. Good ol' [[alcohol]] came out on top for harm to society, even outdoing scary drugs like [[heroin]]! It turns out that alcohol causes a whole host of problems like [[domestic violence]],<ref>Danny Shaw, [https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-50887893 Men with alcohol problems 'six times more likely to abuse partner'] BBC, 23 December 2019.</ref> [[car]] accidents,<ref>[https://www.who.int/violence_injury_prevention/publications/road_traffic/world_report/alcohol_en.pdf Road safety - Alcohol]. World Health Organization, 2004. Excerpted from the ''World report on road traffic injury prevention.''</ref> and transforming regular people into absolute nutters. However, heroin and [[crack cocaine]] were considered most dangerous to the individual, which wasn't particularly surprising. The prevalence of opioid overdoses in the [[western world]] can be attributed to the immediate dangers of heroin and its other forms.<ref>[https://www.drugabuse.gov/drug-topics/opioids/opioid-overdose-crisis Opioid Overdose Crisis]. National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health.</ref>

=== The media's response ===
The conclusion of Nutt's study was heavily publicised by the British media, provoking several live discussions and arguments with the professor. Many were incredulous that alcohol could be so harmful given its legal status; a number of journalists claimed that we should focus on eliminating the use of illegal drugs instead, and that alcohol isn't the main problem. In the wake of his findings, Nutt told BBC Newsnight that any drugs which are less dangerous than alcohol should be decriminalised, including ecstasy and [[cannabis]].<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6yNq-wtie3A David Nutt - decriminalise ecstasy and cannabis]. BBC Newsnight on [[YouTube]], 5 November 2013.</ref> Despite the death toll from alcohol being significantly higher than ecstasy, the media continually ignore the data and claim that so-called "party drugs" are the real problem. In the UK in 2018, 92 people died after taking MDMA (ecstasy) compared to 7551 alcohol-specific deaths in the same year.<ref>Shiona McCallum, [https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/newsbeat-49357157 Ecstasy 'too child-friendly' as deaths rise to record levels]. BBC, 15 August 2019.</ref><ref>[https://files.digital.nhs.uk/AD/C3036E/alc-eng-2018-rep.pdf Statistics on Alcohol, England, 2018]. NHS, 1 May 2018.</ref> Dismissing reality and aligning with a political agenda is so unbelievably common that the British media could almost be discredited for their biased tendencies. Ironically, many of the people who supposedly die from taking ecstasy actually die from overhydration in their attempt to compensate for potential water loss.<ref>[https://www.healthline.com/health/overhydration Overhydration]. healthline.com.</ref>

== Government backlash ==
As expected, the government wasn't exactly happy with his conclusion.<ref>Mark Tran, [https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2009/oct/30/drugs-adviser-david-nutt-sacked Government drug adviser David Nutt sacked]. ''The Guardian'', 30 October 2009.</ref> The vast amount of [[tax]] from alcohol is clearly a key factor in Nutt's dismissal; anything which could potentially reduce the popularity of drinking is an economic risk for the state. Criticising a blatantly harmful substance<ref>Samantha Raphelson, [https://www.npr.org/2018/08/24/641618937/no-amount-of-alcohol-is-good-for-your-health-global-study-claims?t=1598367890045 No Amount Of Alcohol Is Good For Your Health, Global Study Says]. ''NPR'', 24 August 2018.</ref> and demonstrating its problems should be met with legislative change, not [[censor]]ious denial. Unfortunately, Nutt was sacked for supposedly "campaigning against government policy" which was apparently incompatible with being a government adviser.<ref name=mass-revolt>Sam Jones and Robert Booth, [https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2009/nov/01/david-nutt-alan-johnstone-drugs David Nutt's sacking provokes mass revolt against Alan Johnson]. The Guardian, 1 November 2009.</ref> Isn't the process of critical evaluation just part of making changes to policy? 

Several Conservative {{wpl|Member of parliament|MP's}} have a  history of indulging in excessive alcohol consumption. Members of the notorious {{wpl|Bullingdon Club}} are infamous for "trashing" different places whilst incredibly drunk. Their intoxicated debauchery even extends to hiring [[prostitutes]] and intimidating the general public.<ref>Harriet Sherwood, [https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/jul/07/oxford-bullingdon-club-boris-johnson-sexism-violence-bullying-culture Sexism, vandalism and bullying: inside the Boris Johnson-era Bullingdon Club]. The Guardian, 7 July 2019.</ref> This sentimental value of alcohol is another reason why many people were scathing of Nutt's research. They love to demonise the "real drugs" like ecstasy and heroin, all so that alcohol can be protected by its legal status and societal acceptance. 

=== Opposition to science ===
David Nutt has argued that the British government "artificially" separates alcohol and [[tobacco]] from other substances, claiming that drugs should be ranked on a "harm index".<ref>[https://www.standard.co.uk/news/drugs-chief-under-fire-for-saying-cannabis-is-safer-than-alcohol-6761023.html Drugs chief under fire for saying cannabis is safer than alcohol]. Evening Standard (UK), 29 October 2009.</ref> He advocates for an evidence-based approach to the legality of different substances and believes that scientific research should be the foundation of drug policy, as opposed to the political factors which currently have a strong influence upon legislation. 

== Alan Johnson ==
{{wpl|Alan Johnson||,}} {{wpl|Home secretary}} at the time, claimed that Nutt was fired because he shouldn't be able to advise government policy whilst also being opposed to it. This essentially protects any policy from criticism because it prevents anyone from looking at potential flaws with new legislation. If that doesn't sound like an [[Orwellian]] approach to rule then what is? Johnson's comments are tantamount to saying, "If you don't agree with the government then you can leave." 

Thankfully, Johnson was heavily condemned for his actions, with several senior researchers publicly demonstrating their disapproval of his decision. Dr Les King said that Johnson had denied Nutt his "freedom of expression".<ref name=mass-revolt/> [[Ironically]], Nutt's "expression" was simply scientific findings and not even his subjective opinion. To punish those who present scientific data is the epitome of censorship.

== Alcarelle ==
David Nutt has been creating an alcohol substitute known as "alcosynth" or "alcarelle" which mimics the effects of alcohol, without the hangovers, health impact and the risk of excessive consumption.<ref>Amy Fleming, [https://www.theguardian.com/science/2019/mar/26/an-innocent-drink-could-alcosynth-provide-all-the-joy-of-booze-without-the-dangers Could ‘alcosynth’ provide all the joy of booze – without the dangers?] The Guardian, 26 March 2019.</ref> Nutt's research into the societal and individual dangers of alcohol has encouraged him to develop a safer alternative which may be widely available in the future. The funding required to distribute and incorporate alcarelle into the marketplace doesn't yet exist; more importantly, the molecule hasn't undergone sufficient testing to be considered safe for people to consume. It's safe to say that many of the alcohol-related harms detailed within Nutt's research would be significantly reduced with the introduction of alcarelle. 

==Selected bibliography==
*''Drink? The New Science of Alcohol and Your Health,'' {{Isbn|152939323X}}
*''Drugs without the hot air: Making sense of legal and illegal drugs,'' {{Isbn|0857844946}}

==External links==
*[https://drugscience.org.uk/ Drug Science]
*[https://reasonator.toolforge.org/?q=Q3277223&lang=en-gb David Nutt] described by Wikipedia's "Reasonator"

==References==
{{reflist|2|80%}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Nutt, David}}
[[Category:British politics]]
[[Category:Drugs]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Authors]]
[[Category:Scientists]]

Categories: British politics, Drugs, Living people, Authors, Scientists