Monday, 18 April 2011

Two films

I was able to see a few films at the MTV International Harm Reduction Film Festival while I was in Beirut. Some of them are available online so I thought I'd share them with you.

This snappy and humorous film takes a look at snus as a tobacco harm reduction strategy:






And the video below is from the splendidly named documentary Howard Marks On Drugs. The full film is not available online but this is the unedited footage of Marks' interview with our old friend David Nutt. I don't dislike Professor Nutt, really I don't. I just find it frustrating that someone can talk so much sense about drugs while talking so much rubbish about drink.

In this interview, note how many times the Nuttmeister drags the conversation back to alcohol (and, hence, onto the cutting room floor). Marvel as he claims that liver disease will be Britain's number one killer within 12 years (very unlikely indeed). Be amazed as he insists that alcohol is "wiping out the NHS" (no it's not). Splutter as he claims that alcohol is a third of the price as it was when he were a lad (utter nonsense).

Having said that, when he sticks to talking about drugs, he's on the money. Nobody's perfect.