Anger as study claims 'heroin can be harmless'

Published on Thursday 3 February 2005 02:17

HEROIN can be taken in controlled situations for an extended period with no negative health or social impact, academics claim today.

Researchers at Glasgow Caledonian University say some users of the class-A drug are able to work and gain qualifications comparable with non-addicts.

But anti-drugs campaigners condemned the release of the findings as "irresponsible".

The study, by Dr David Shewan and Phil Dalgarno, focuses on 126 long-term heroin users not being treated for their drug use, recruited in the Glasgow area.

Dr Shewan says the study shows that "while there are heroin users with problems, there are also heroin users without problems.

"It should not be assumed that heroin inevitably leads to addictive and destructive patterns and that all users suffer negative social and health consequences."

He admits the survey sample is so small it could be skewed.

An Edinburgh-based drug support worker, David Pentland, a former heroin addict, condemned the research. He said: "This could encourage those who may otherwise have shied away from heroin to think it’s OK."