Ex-MP takes class A drug in TV show
Wednesday 19 September 2012
Printable
EmailA former Liberal Democrat MP has taken ecstasy for a Channel 4 show examining the effects of the class A drug, it was revealed yesterday.
Evan Harris, who lost his Oxford West and Abingdon seat in the 2010 general election, takes part in the controversial programme Drugs Live: The Ecstasy Trial, to be broadcast next Wednesday, that sees participants given MDMA or a placebo before being placed inside a brain scanner.
He said that he wanted to help find a dose that might treat depression without getting the patient "high."
Mr Harris said: "In order to be allowed to take part in the trial, I needed to have taken ecstasy at least once before without any ill-effects.
"Without going over my 'ecstasy history', I qualified," he added.
"It was not obvious to me when I was taking the MDMA and when I was taking the placebo. But it was clear I wasn't raaving. I wasn't entering into this hoping to get a free high. I was just keen to help the study."
The study is being led by Professor David Nutt, Britain's former chief drugs adviser who was sacked after criticising government policies.
If you appreciated this article then please consider donating to the Morning Star's Fighting Fund to ensure we can keep developing your paper.
Editorial
Hands off our postal service
A government guided by common sense would respond to news that publicly owned Royal Mail has increased profits to £403 million by scrapping plans to flog off the service.
Features
Trade unionists will keep fighting for Wales
Wales TUC president sets out the achievements of Welsh workers over the past year - and looks to the battles ahead
Dirty wars
Interview with Jeremy Scahill, author of a chilling new exposé of the US's worldwide war without end