Sydney’s Rag, “The Daily Telegraph” at it Again.

The Daily Telegraph is Sydney’s Herald Sun. These News Limited tabloids have long been associated with ignorant and short-sighted journalism, though it should be noted that with weakening advertising revenues, they are attempting to expand their scope to draw in a wider spectrum of opinions. However, these are still the papers that pay money to have people like Andrew Bolt under their wing.

The Daily Telegraph were the first to break the story that has been used over and over in a seemingly apparent propaganda war.

The Daily Telegraph – Teenager Nick Mitchell’s LSD overdose – death, delusions and despair 6/12/12

I wrote about that story here.

They’ve been continuing to beat the drum on this one, with at least two more stories:
The Daily Telegraph – Old drugs hit a killer new high 16/12/12
The Daily Telegraph – Have we surrendered in the war on drugs?
19/12/12

Perhaps it is futile to try and write a Letter to the Editor regarding the repetitive nature of these stories, repeating the same half-truths, lies and unfounded speculation… but, in a war of words it is important.

Miranda Devine and Clementine Cuneo are two of your journalists that have recently put their stamp on the “Teenager Nick Mitchell’s LSD overdose – death, delusions and despair” story that Cuneo and Richard Noone originally reported several weeks back. Same story, re-labeled and re-hashed over and over and over. Sometimes one does start to wonder if an editor for the paper is pushing this story, in an attempt to feed off the hysteria that can easily be conjured in the public surrounding things they know little about.
And filling a story with false claims and unfounded speculation, such as the fact that it is highly unlikely LSD was the culprit in Mitchell’s death, considering over 50 years of use and research has shown the substance to be relatively harmless, especially in comparison with alcohol. Devine fantastically demonstrates her ability to write fallaciously with this strawman, “…who are intent on making it (alcohol) so expensive and difficult to obtain that illegal drugs are a logical, cheap alternative for cash-strapped young people.” which makes the assumption that all drugs (including alcohol) are equal and young people make their choices purely based on economic conditions. Take it from someone who knows, Devine… we do not choose our substances because of the price. We choose because of the experience, which for most popular substances, rarely results in the sorts of problems you seem to presume are associated with them. I’d personally prefer to spend a sunny afternoon on LSD than drinking it away… and personally, I’d prefer MDMA while out to see music or hanging out at home with friends than drinking myself stupid.

Too often people like Devine and Cuneo like to reel out stale old arguments against illicit substances in an attempt to justify their own fears and prejudices, playing the dissonance card when it comes to the overwhelming research which indicates that drugs such as MDMA, LSD, Psilocybin, DMT and Cannabis are all less harmful than alcohol and seem to have the potential for positive outcomes. Two things they fail to understand, is that people don’t put things in their body they don’t like, and we’re not stupid.

Many of us research what we’re going to put into our bodies. We read, we speak to friends and some speak to family members if the social taboo is not present. We believe that the substances we choose give us a positive experience, often one that we consider more fulfilling than alcohol.

There are still risks and some will develop problems, just as is the case with all things in life. The best we can do as a society is accept another’s tastes, make sure that education is at the core of our strategies, try to minimise risk (in all things) and look after each other.

Prohibition doesn’t work. It never has, and never will. Stop wasting our time and money.

Letter to the Editor, sent to The Daily Telegraph morning of 19/12/12.

Please comment on this story. Leave your comments below or write a letter to the editor yourself. Enpsychedelia is looking to follow up the Nick Mitchell story when toxicological data becomes available.

I’m also interested to hear any other journalists that are re-spouting this story. The Daily Telegraph occasionally syndicates content across its other newspapers, including Melbourne’s ‘Herald Sun’ and Adelaide’s ‘Adelaide Advertiser’.