Lily Allen: Cocaine no problem

By Ruth Doherty on Thursday 8 January 2009

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Lily Allen, celebrity news, Marie Claire

Lily Allen has come under fire for ‘naïve’ comments concerning cocaine – insisting it causes some people ‘no problem at all’.

In an interview with the Metro, Lily bemoaned people ‘sensationalising’ the drug, claiming she has friends who take it regularly and live a normal life.

The 24-year-old said: ‘I know lots of people that take cocaine three nights a week and get up and go to work every day, no problem at all,

‘But we never hear that side of the story. I have no statement to make, I just wish people wouldn't sensationalise this thing that just exists. 

‘The only story is that drugs are bad and they will kill you - you will become a prostitute, a rapist or a dealer. But that's not true.’

Lily has previously admitted taking drugs herself – bit insists she no longer indulges.

Shadow Home Secretary Dominic Grieve branded her comments ‘naïve’.

He told the Daily Mail: ‘There is no doubt that drugs fuel crime and wreck lives.

‘It's naive to assume there isn't human misery and suffering associated with every drug transaction somewhere along the line.’

Hear, hear.

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Thursday 8 January 2009

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Oh, he told the daily mail did he. Let's not listen to the lower middle class hate rag and the opinions of it's journalists.

Lily is right, there are people out there who regularly take recreational drugs and live a full and productive life (myself and some friends included and I recall reading about others in your magazine) and articles such as the Daily Mail's do nothing to stimulate an open and sensible debate about how best to support those who have taken the wrong path with drugs. They simply villify all users with the result being that those who need help and support (often before they turn to drug or alcohol ABUSE - not use) are demonised by society and left to their own devices.
Comment by Claire on January 08 11:18

I also know of people who drink alcohol three nights a week and live normal lives. There are also others that are dysfunctional because of alcohol.
Whats the difference?
Comment by Rob on January 08 12:47

Whilst I hear Lily on the 'one sided view of recreational drug use' she *is* sweeping aside the huge cost to vulnerable people and 'true' cost of a gram in the production/importation/dealing of the drug. In that sense, although it may 'not be a problem' to the users she knows on a *personal* level, indeed it's a problem nonetheless.

Comment by Amanda on January 08 13:19

Perhaps Lily would be happy to hear that for every gram of cocaine snorted by a 'revelling' Londoner, an acre of rainforest is lost. Children and adults are forced into working for the drugs trade and face threats of violence and death. I understand she may not see the effects close up yet, but wait a few years till her friends can't function socially without it, then she will see the long lasting effects on friendships, family and health.
Comment by antonia ward on January 08 13:24

Perhaps MC should send her the recent issue highlighting the human problem caused in places like Bolivia by her friend's 3-night a week habit?
Comment by Emma Richardson on January 08 13:46

I think Lily Allen was naive to make these comments in the press â€“ but I don't think her views themselves are naive or wrong. People can and do take drugs recreationally. They don't inevitably move from 'soft' drugs to 'hard drugs' to a life of crime.
However, Allen's comments are limited and Grieve is right about the drugs trade itself. Cocaine particularly has a lot of people's blood on it. Personally I think that's the best reason to abstain from drugs. Perhaps if the government and the press's drugs message was less sensational and focused more on the 'hidden' human cost of drugs to those involved in the trade, people would be better informed and take decisions not to fuel the trade by buying and using drugs.
Comment by Jacqui Lewis on January 08 14:14

Well said Lily
Comment by Michelle Mitchell on January 10 22:51

As long as it's not affecting her mates then? Let's forget about all the issues involving production! She's so keen to be in the press all of the time! Is there anything left for her to tell us?
Comment by FedUp on January 20 15:30

I think that this is a more socially acceptable thing for someone to say coming from Europe/UK rather than say that to the u.s. public. As far as the actual lifestyle, there really are a lot of people who find it quite normal.
Comment by tmoney on February 09 06:45

Well what about Nestle and their powdered milk or Coca Cola and their African wells. Let's not demonise cocaine in that sense as, just because it's illegal, doesn't mean its any more immoral as any other products on your co-op shelf.
Comment by Thomas Baxter on May 23 07:03

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