Posted by Quintal on February 3, 2007, at 11:29:17
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Anti-drug jabs given at birth
By GEORGE PASCOE-WATSON
Political Editor
February 02, 2007
BABIES could be vaccinated to stop them getting hooked on drugs and cigarettes under secret Downing Street plans. Newborns would be injected with brain-altering chemicals that would prevent them getting “high” on cocaine, heroin or tobacco.Details of the extraordinary proposal to stop the yearly £20BILLION cost of drug misuse are in a leaked Number Ten policy document seen by The Sun. The document, being considered by 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. “Vaccinating against the effects of drugs appears to be possible, altering the way the body processes them to make them less euphoric or addictive.”
Scientists have already developed a drug called naltrexone that eases heroin withdrawal symptoms. A cocaine vaccine called TA-CD has also been developed, the paper says. It stimulates antibodies in the blood, which dampens the brain’s response to the drug. Ministers are also to crack down on drug dens using modern technology to scan the post for supplies. And helicopter cops will use new laser radar systems to test the air for chemicals used to make drugs.
Insisting on vaccinating babies against addiction would trigger a massive public backlash. Health ministers and doctors’ watchdog the General Medical Council have already objected.
http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2-2007050497,00.html#nogo
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poster:Quintal
thread:729315
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20070201/msgs/729315.html