Rational Scale to Assess the Harm of Drugs

I've found a scientifically sound way of categorizing substances that I will and will not use until my life is in its downward slope and nearing its end.

In the accompanying picture you will see a list of substances that are commonly abused in modern society. They are listed according to the mathematical mean of physical harm, dependency and social harm. This is according to the Rational Scale to Assess the Harm of Drugs developed by Prof. David Nutt FMedSci, Leslie A. King PhD, William Saulsbury MA and Prof. Colin Blakemore FRS.


I resolve to participate in the consumption of substances with a physical harm rating no greater than 1.5, nor any substance that has attained greater than a 2.5 in any individual category of physical harm. My own personal principles.

As you can see personal principle 1 (seen in black) has ruled out Heroin, Cocaine, Barbiturates (nervous system depressant, mild sedative/anesthetic), Ketamine (a form tranquilizer), Benzedrine (psychoactive sedative), Amphetamine and Buprenorphine (opioid). Personal principle 2 (seen in red) rules out Tobacco, on the grounds that the chronic use risk is too high.

One might find it curious as to why Alcohol is ranked so highly and yet I still choose to participate in its consumption. Let us look at why it is ranked so high: this is due to a combination of the potential for dependency of the substance, as well as the social harm it potentially can cause. My thinking is that these two categories can be managed on an individual basis determined by a person's will. Some people, do not have the psychological or physical traits required to control their actions in a safe manner when it comes to this particular substance. Some, however, do.

Be smart.
Stay safe.