Neil: Hello and welcome to 6 Minute English from BBC Learning English. In this
programme we talk about a story in the news and learn some new
vocabulary while we’re doing it. I’m Neil and joining me today is Jen. Hi
there, Jen.
Jen: Hello Neil.
Neil: Now, we have a very controversial topic this week – drugs.
Jen: Yes, that’s a subject which usually provokes some strong opinions.
Neil: A new report published in the UK is suggesting that by taking away the
criminal penalties for some illegal drug use, you can reduce the number of
people who get sent to court for drug crime every year.
Jen: This sounds like an introduction to our quiz question...
Neil: Yes you’re right! I want to know how many people get sent to court in the
UK every year for drug-related offences. Is it:
a) 4,200
b) 42,000
c) 420,000
Jen: Well I think it might be quite high. I’ll go with c) 420,000.
Neil: OK then, we will find out at the end of the programme. Now Jen, what do
you think is more harmful: illegal drugs or junk food?
Jen: My reaction would be to say illegal drugs. Am I right?
Neil: Let’s listen to the first part of this report from the BBC’s John McManus.
What does the study from the UK Drug Policy Commission say about drug
use and social problems?
Insert
Monday's report from the UK Drug Policy Commission says the way to reduce this
number is to make some offences less serious. It says that drug use doesn't always lead
to social problems, and that taking illegal substances can sometimes be tolerated by
society, in the same way that gambling and eating junk food are.
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Neil: The report says that drug use doesn’t always lead to social problems and
that taking illegal substances can sometimes be tolerated – meaning
accepted – by society.
Jen: The report compares taking drugs to other vices, such as gambling and
eating junk food. Can you explain what a ‘vice’ is?
Neil: Yes, a vice is a bad habit or type of behaviour: things such as smoking,
drinking too much alcohol, swearing… gambling or betting. Oh and taking
drugs, of course.
Jen: So, the argument is that a limited amount of drug taking is on a par with
other bad habits which are not usually considered as dangerous as drug
taking.
Neil: Yes, that’s right. Now, what are the implications of this report?
Implications are the conclusions you can draw from something, such as a
piece of research like this.
Jen: The implications of this report are that a lot of money could be saved if we
didn’t send so many people to court for small-scale drug use. Do you
know how much the UK spends on tackling drugs every year?
Neil: Hang on here, Jen, I’m the quiz master!
Jen: Go on, have a guess! Millions or billions?
Neil: OK, I’ll go high like you did - billions?
Jen: Yes, billions of dollars is spent. Here’s the UK Drug Policy Commission’s
Chief Executive, Roger Howard. What does he think the UK should do to
save money and send fewer people to court?
Insert
We do say that if you look at other countries like the Czech Republic, if you look at
Switzerland, if you look at Portugal and if you look in places in South America, these… a
number of countries have taken away the criminal penalties for the possession of small
amounts of drugs. Now we think that can be tried in this country, and to keep within the
international conventions you can replace that with civil penalties.
Neil: He thinks that criminal penalties for the possession of small amounts of
drugs should be removed.
Jen: He says it’s worked in the Czech Republic, Switzerland, Portugal and
South America and that it should be tried in the UK.
Neil: But in order to keep within international conventions – meaning
agreements - civil penalties should be introduced.
Jen: But does everybody agree?
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Neil: Good question! Listen to the last part of this report from the BBC’s John
McManus.
Insert
The report, which recommends replacing jail sentences with fines or drug treatment
orders, says that much official government policy towards drug users has been
formulated without any real evidence as to whether it works. The authorities though, say
that their approach has led to drug use dropping to its lowest levels since records began.
Neil: No, not everybody agrees. The report recommends replacing jail
sentences with fines or drug treatment orders. It also says that there’s no
real evidence that current drug policy has worked.
Jen: But the authorities disagree. They say their approach has led to drug use
dropping to its lowest level since records began.
Neil: No doubt the debate about how to reduce drug use will carry on for a long
time. We’d be interested in hearing your opinion. Why not check out our
Facebook page and leave a comment?
Jen: Before we go, Neil, aren’t you going give the answer to the quiz?
Neil: Oh yes, of course. I asked how many people get sent to court in the UK
every year from drug-related offences. Is it:
a) 4,200
b) 42,000
c) 420,000
Jen: I thought it was quite high: I said c) 420,000.
Neil: Well, you must have a very low opinion of the British population. It is high
but it’s not that high. The answer in b) 42,000. Just time now for a recap
of some of the words we heard in today’s programme:
Jen: tolerated, vices, gambling, on a par with, implications, conventions, civil.
Neil: Join us again soon for more 6 Minute English from
