Let's re-examine buying the Afghan poppies that are           left

doi:10.1136/bmj.39605.545544.3A

BMJ 2008;336:1325 (14 June), doi:10.1136/bmj.39605.545544.3A

Letters

Opium production in Afghanistan

Let’s re-examine buying the Afghan poppies that are left

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

Malloch-Brown claims that the government has repeatedly examinedthe idea of legal poppy cultivation, such asin the 2001 report by Mansfield.¹ ² But he ignoresMansfield’s 2007 report, which says thatevidence from the field shows that the growth in the opium poppy economy is the outcome—not the cause—ofstate and development failure in Afghanistan.³

Currently two strategies are being followed to deal with illegalopium: eradication and reconstruction. However,it is difficult to reconstruct a country on the one hand, while at the same time failing to establish securecontracts to buy up the largest sector (poppyproduction) of that country’s most important industry,which is agriculture. As returning soldiers haverepeatedly pointed out, the battle to win heartsand minds is not helped by the eradication of livelihoods.

Where Malloch-Brown is right is in emphasising the importanceof reducing demand for illegal drugs at home,by increasing and . . . [Full text of this article]

Ilora G Finlay, professor of palliative medicine, Lord Mancroft, vice chairman, Parliamentary All Party Drug Misuse Group, Frank Field, MP, founder of Poppy Relief

¹ Velindre Cancer Centre, Cardiff CF14 2TL, ² House of Lords, London SW1A, ³ House of Commons, London SW1A

finlayi@parliament.uk

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Opium production in Afghanistan: Mark Malloch-Brown
BMJ 2008 336: 972. [Extract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Rapid Responses:

Read all Rapid Responses

Yes, buy the Afghan Poppies: Peter Nelson
bmj.com, 17 Jun 2008 [Full text]
Control the Afghan Opium market.: GEORGE Y CALDWELL, et al.
bmj.com, 1 Jul 2008 [Full text]