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Citation |
Sellman J, Robinson G, Beasley R. J. Psychopharmacol. 2009; 23(1): 94-100. |
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Copyright |
(Copyright © 2009, SAGE Publishing) |
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DOI |
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PMID |
unavailable |
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Abstract |
Six criteria described in the New Zealand Misuse of Drugs Act and used by the Expert Advisory Committee on Drugs (EACD) for determining the risk of a drug to public health were examined in relation to ethanol, using γ-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) as a comparator drug. GHB is an ideal candidate for use as a comparator because it is a sedative substance very similar to ethanol and has been previously investigated by the EACD using these six criteria. GHB was subsequently classified as a Class B1 drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act, that is, as a prohibited drug of high risk to public health. The dangerousness level of ethanol was found to be at least similar to that of GHB in this analysis. This highlights a major discrepancy in public policy. |