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Plan to vaccinate kids against drugs
Last updated at 11:08am on 02.02.07Babies could be vaccinated with brain-altering chemicals to stop them getting hooked on drugs and cigarettes in later life, it is reported today.
Newborns would have jabs which could prevent addiction to cocaine, heroin or tobacco, under secret Downing Street plans.
Details of the extraordinary proposal to stop the annual £20 billion cost of drug misuse are in a leaked No 10 policy document.
Scientists have already developed a drug called naltrexone that eases heroin withdrawal symptoms.
A cocaine vaccine called TA-CD has now been developed, the document says. Ministers could also crack down on drug dens by having the post scanned for supplies using modern technology, while police helicopters would use revolutionary laser radar systems to test the air for chemicals used to make drugs.
The document, reportedly being considered by Tony Blair's working group on crime, talks of "immunotherapies" developed in secret to protect a generation.
It says: "A young person could be immunised and the drugs would never reach or affect the brain. Drug-related crimes could be reduced if vaccines can be successfully developed to reduce the craving."
Heath ministers and the General Medical Council have already objected. Figures last year from the European Monitoring Centre on Drugs and Drugs Addiction revealed Britain is in the top three EU nations for the number of cocaine users.
Statistics also show nine per cent of 11- to 15-year-olds smoke.
Reader views (9)
Does anybody else find it ironic (or should that be moronic?) that the government want to give a brain altering drug to children to stop them using brain altering drugs? The vast majority of people in this country do not use and will never have a dependancy on cocaine or heroin. I have been offered both and turned down both on many occasions, and I didn't need any brain altering drugs to do it. What next, anti-playstation drugs for kids?
- Anthony, UK, 05/02/2007 13:11
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This confirms it. The UK has completely lost the plot.
- Fred, Dubai, 05/02/2007 07:34
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This is presuming all children are addicts from birth and is a very dangerous stance. I will never take away my child's right to choose for themselves what they do in later life. It is up to me to educate them adn for them to then make an informed choice, rather than dictating to them from birth that I know any better than they do.
- Adrian Cole, London, 05/02/2007 07:24
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Should I point out that one of the widely-used dental anaesthetics is cocaine-based, and that the other is an opiate? Also that morphine, used to give pain relief to the seriously injured or terminally ill, is basically medical-grade heroin?
If people are vaccinated against these, what form of pain relief will be available to them when they really, REALLY, need it?
- Nigel, London, 02/02/2007 16:49
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Considering the amount of controversy that still surrounds the MMR jab, have they tested this drug sufficiently?
- Sarah, Enfield, 02/02/2007 14:44
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Since the drug which causes by far the most damage in society is alcohol one hopes that this programme can be extended to a vaccine that makes alcohol impossible for people to drink. Given the massive amount of tax that the government gathers each year from excise on alcoholic drinks I'm sure they will be supportive of reducing consumption to zero.
- Marcus, London, UK, 02/02/2007 14:18
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To Isabel of Woking - please, no vaccine against chocolate!
- Sylvia, NC USA, 02/02/2007 13:25
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I am appalled at this idea, pumping our babies full of drugs and messing with nature. There are other ways to prevent addictions rather than doing this. Perhaps it would be better to stop cigarettes being sold first! Similarly getting tougher on people who commit drug offences rather than getting more lenient would be better!
- Toby, Clapham, 02/02/2007 12:15
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I have to say, though I disagree with governments meddling with nature, this sounds like a good idea in theory. Do they have a vaccine to protect against chocolate addiction too?
- Isabel, Woking, England, 02/02/2007 11:32
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