Italy is to introduce voluntary hair drug testing for its MPs according to the Mail on Sunday. Could this be a trend that is set to spread to other EU countries? Furthermore Rome’s mayor is making it mandatory for all government officials under its jurisdiction. Step forward Boris Johnson… we’d be happy to come and collect some samples from the London Assembly!

Prof Nutt’s three main factors that determine how much harm a drug can cause includes:

a) the physical harm to the individual user caused by the drug; b) the tendency of the drug to induce dependence; c) the effect of drug use on families, communities and society. His controversial new ranking of harm is published here

It is the third of these factors that is least understood and perhaps what the Government finds so hard to swallow. Later this month the Schools & Safeguarding Children Bill will grant media access to medical evidence in child care hearings (including hair alcohol tests and hair drug tests) and may help in broadening understanding.