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The war on drugs: Your questions answered

With the sale and use of illegal substances in the UK now at record levels, we gave you the chance to put your questions to our experts. This is what you asked and this is what they said:

[Note: The dialogue below is a reconstruction of aspects of the online discussion forum you participated in. All views expressed are indicative and may not actually be real.]

What is the War on Drugs?

An all-out campaign by the forces of good against an evil that is destroying our communities.

And what does that mean in reality?

Look, the use of drugs ruins lives and devastates society. That much is clear from Michael Barrymore. Luckily, the British government is firmly behind the idea that drugs are a menace that can, and should, be fought. With enough time and effort they can be stamped out.

Great. How are things going?

Very well according to Mr Blair and the people who used to share a flat with that are now in drug advisory roles.

So when will the war be won?

Too difficult to say.

But it is being won isn't it?

Of course it is.

But I thought you said the figures are at an all time high?

Yes, they are, but that's probably only because the police have become better than ever at finding illicit narcotics.

So there's less of it really but you've just noticed more?

That's it! The final victory is nearly here and all that remain are... er...

Pockets of resistance?

Yes, exactly. Great phrase. We should use that elsewhere.

What happened to that Drugs Tsar?

He left.

Is that not a bad sign?

Of course not. He probably went because the final victory was so close. And he wanted so spend more time with his family or something.

So how come he said the War on Drugs was being lost when he left?

He did?

Yes. I can show you.

No need. He was clearly embittered.

Hang on. This isn't going to be like the War on Drugs that the US started 10 years ago but has been universally recognised as a complete failure because it failed to address the underpinning social inequalities wrought by an unlistening political elite only interested in retaining political power, is it?

No.

Why not?

Christ, I don't know. I've had a bad enough day already. I'm completely stressed out, I need to relax.

Fancy a joint?

You got some? Yeah, great. Hash or grass?

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