"Drug-related deaths get enormous publicity,
but totals are rarely given and almost never compared
with the number of deaths from other leisure-related
causes (such as skiing accidents, for example)".
[p.11, Talking
about Drugs - Home Office/DoH/DfES]
Department of
Health's 'Saving Lives: Our Healthier Nation':
"3.25 In short, it is the role of the
Government to provide information about risk. But in
most cases it is for the individual to decide whether
to take the risk. And there is also a balance between
risk and personal freedom. Some people enjoy pursuing
outdoor sports which others would consider too
dangerous to undertake. As long as people are aware
of the risk which they are taking, it is their
decision whether to put themselves at risk".
More on Government policy about risk here.
Food
Sun-bathing
Sport
Hillwalking
DIY
Excessive or unhealthy
use of food:
We know that excessive use of food causes obesity.
We know some foods are more harmful than others -
high-fat, high-sugar, high-salt foods. Obesity is the
second most serious cause of preventable death. Sir
John Bourn, head of the National Audit Office told
parliament that "obesity accounted for 18
million days of sickness absence and 30,000 premature
deaths in 1998. On average, each person whose death
could be attributed to obesity lost nine years of
life. Treating obesity costs the NHS at least £½
billion a year. The wider costs to the economy in
lower productivity and lost output could be a further
£2 billion each year. Nearly two thirds of men and
over half of women in England are now overweight or
obese. And the problem here is increasing faster than
in most other European countries. If prevalence
continues to rise at the current rate, more than one
in four adults will be obese by 2010. This would
significantly increase the incidence of associated
diseases, such as coronary heart disease, and would
cost the economy over £3.5 billion a year by that
date. There are no easy solutions to the problem but
progress is possible. There is scope to do more to
promote healthier lifestyles and improve NHS services
for the increasing number of people whose health is
at risk from excess weight."
[ www.nao.gov.uk/pn/00-01/0001220.htm ]. Why not imprison people for food
misuse then? Because their 'misuse' only harms
themselves, though possibly also their children.
Regulatory authorities are considering the need
for health warnings to be placed on high-fat, high-sugar
and high-salt foods. Like tobacco, food is certainly
a 'substance' that can be overused or used
unhealthily. Often continued misuse of food is blamed
on some form of addiction. Many of us can personally
relate to this psychological craving for particular
foods and there are good evolutionary reasons why we
have such problems. No one would consider making
criminals out of those who misuse food. In the case
of food we believe that people have a right to choose
what to ingest whatever the health consequences to
themselves or to their children. This belief
contrasts with the prohibition of illegal drugs, some
of which cause no significant harm.
Similarly we know that eating food contaminated by
bacteria is dangerous. We have legislation to ensure
consistent quality. Regulations insist on labelling
of ingredients and of a 'best before' date but they
do NOT threaten to imprison the people who might use
harmful food. In fact rarely is anyone convicted even
if they have profitted from the supply of such food
thereby harming others.
Parliamentary discussion, 10 Mar 1999: are
alternative medicines foods or drugs?
Dr. Peter Brand (Isle of Wight): Citizens of this
country can expect the Government to protect them in
two ways: from being poisoned and from being ripped
off. We are talking about substances which, in high
concentrations, may well be poisonous, and substances
for which claims are made that would make the average
snake oil salesman blush.
The important issue is who decides what should be
referred to the MCA. It is wrong that the agency has
the power to trawl around to see what else might be
within its remit. It is important that the shady line
between what is a drug and what is food be addressed.
I was disappointed that the draft Food Standards
Agency legislation does not address the issue of who
determines what should be treated as a
pharmaceutically active and dangerous drug, and what
is a food. Physiological functionality includes
everything that we breathe, do and take in.
www.parliament.the-stationery-office.co.uk/pa/cm199899/cmhansrd/vo990310/debtext/90310-04.htm
Sun-bathing:
Skin cancer kills 2,000 a year in the UK so should
we prohibit sun bathing?.
Sport:
The Government's 'Wired For Health' website says:
"Around 1.2 million children are injured outside
their homes each year in parks, fairs, playgrounds,
on the street, using sports facilities and in schools
and nurseries" and "…every year around
250,000 young people aged 10-16 are injured playing
sports."
Department of
Health's 'Saving Lives: Our Healthier Nation':
'Accidental injury puts more children in
hospital than any other cause'
"7.9 People use their leisure time in a whole
variety of ways. Many choose to be physically active,
which helps them to reduce the risk of coronary heart
disease. Yet these activities also bring some risk of
accidental injury. Every year about 800,000 people
are injured while playing sport, 215,000 of them
children".
www.archive.official-documents.co.uk/document/cm43/4386/4386-07.htm
Hillwalking:
The Welsh Assembly's Statement on Mountain
Climbing Safety provides a good example of
policies suggested for a dangerous recreational
activity that could be applied to substance misuse (1 November 2001, www.wales.gov.uk/assemblydata/3BE2A3FE00038F690000554E00000000.html).
"The Minister for Culture,
Sports and the Welsh Language (Jenny Randerson): It
is widely accepted that the element of danger, which
is inherent in many adventure sports, is a
significant attraction for many participants. Safety
messages should not attempt to frighten or shock, but
should take a bold and informative stance.
Dafydd Wigley: If adults decide, knowing all
the facts, to put themselves in danger when
undertaking a leisure pursuit, they can do so. We
must create policies in a responsible manner, and
children and young people must grow up learning that
there are dangers on mountains, as well as great
enjoyment.
DIY:
The DTI website says "70 people are killed
and 250,000 people injured every year in DIY-related
accidents. The largest single cause of deaths involve
ladders (50 deaths)."
