News

The Welsh government is facing serious backlash after it was revealed how much taxpayers money was being spent on WEDINOS (Welsh Emerging Drugs & Identification of Novel Substances Project) – a web site that publishes the results of substances including party drugs ecstasy and cocaine found within Wales.

Although the current argument being pursued by opposition to the project and spending of £102,000 of tax payers money predicted for 2013 – 2014 is that the site provides details on what could be considered ‘good drugs’ to inform drug dealers and the like as detailed by shadow health minister Darren Miller;

“This website suggests that Labour in Wales has given up the fight against drugs. At a time when more patients than ever are waiting for NHS treatment and Welsh cancer patients are being denied modern medicines, it is astounding that anybody, including drug dealers, is being given access to a free analytical service to test the quality of their substances. This free service is not just testing recreational highs, but illegal and dangerous drugs including heroin, cocaine and crack and gives advice on snorting and injecting substances.”

The reality is the site provides crucial details to help raise awareness of the dangers and purity of drugs that will be consumed regardless, although with a touch more education on what to look out for and avoid. To think drug dealers are checking the site to figure out the quality of their product is a stretch as to them, it’s a business, not a regulated market as forced by government bodies keeping it there. Not sharing information with the public about the potential dangers of drugs currently being found in Wales is a far more chaotic outlook.

The Welsh government affirms that service offers “essential intelligence” into drug taking trends and helps create programs to combat misuse as stated by a government spokesperson;

“We totally reject these claims. We are taking action to help individuals and society deal with the problems of substance misuse. Wedinos can provide essential intelligence and can help save lives. It contributes to the wider UK and European Early Warning Systems in place to identify and monitor changing trends in drug use.”

Predictably an interesting debate will ensue.

source: Wales Online