Drug law enforcement 'risks lives'
Updated on 24 May 2007
Governments using drugs as a law enforcement measure risk killing large numbers of people and could be in violation of international conventions, a new study has warned.
The study - The Use of Drugs as a Weapon - found it was impossible to deliver the right drug in the right dose to individuals in an effective way that does not kill many people.
The report, produced by the British Medical Association's (BMA) Board of Science, highlights the case of the Moscow theatre siege in October 2002.
Russian authorities said a derivative of the painkiller Fentanyl - which is more powerful than morphine - was delivered through the air-conditioning system to end the siege.
This killed more than 130 hostages, according to the BMA, which is "extremely concerned" about the use of drugs by governments in law enforcement situations.
Dr Vivienne Nathanson, the Association's head of science and ethics, said: "It is important to remember that target groups are likely to comprise people of varying weights, sizes and ages. Some may be pregnant or have pre-existing medical conditions.
"It is virtually impossible to control the amount of a drug delivered or to ensure it acts without producing toxic effects or causing death."
She continued: "Using drugs as a method of law enforcement may constitute a violation of international conventions which prohibit the use of chemical weapons. This is of great concern to the BMA."
The BMA wants to alert doctors to the fact medical knowledge could be called upon to develop drugs as weapons as well as antidotes and treatments.
It warns that future developments could create more sophisticated, sinister agents and has several recommendations for organisations representing healthcare professionals, including advising governments that are considering using drugs as weapons, advocating against their use and refusing to be involved in training military or law enforcement personnel how to use them.
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