The (Police) dog that didn’t bark

Lots of stories in all the papers today about the declining popularity of Ecstasy (and the increasing popularity of cocaine). The interesting point is that all the commentary attributes this to a change in fashion: the idea that laws, or the efforts of the police, might affect the level of drug consumption is not even raised to be dismissed, and this despite the fact that the research being reported comes from the Home Office, who are responsible for the police. Not even an indirect role is granted to the police, in that their efforts might put the price of drugs up. On the contrary, it is argued that Ecstasy is less popular in Manchester than it used to be partly because the price has dropped (after a decade of prohibition) from £25 to £4.00. £25.00 deals of cocaine are much more fashionable.