Ett information booklet about drugs that is used in all police trainings is completely sawed off by several drug researchers, reports Police newspaper.
The researchers point to factual errors in the material and on X the content has been called propaganda.
– If this booklet is used in teaching, it is deplorable. The quality is consistently lousy, says Fredrik von Kieseritzky, at the Karolinska Institutet.
The booklet “Narcotics, doping agents and health-hazardous goods” is included in the course literature at all police training courses in the country.
Several researchers that Polistidningen has been in contact with criticize the information in the booklet. Among other things, they believe that the teaching material lacks reference to research and contains several factual errors.
– If this booklet is used in teaching, it is deplorable. The quality is consistently lousy. I hope no one has an exam on this, says Fredrik von Kieseritzky, docent in organic chemistry at the Karolinska Institute to the newspaper.
“Confusing text”
Among other things, he calls the chapter on Hallucinogens in the booklet “a confusing text in a pseudoscientific package”.
– A fact box lists signs of “PCP or ketamine influence”. They are two completely different subjects. It’s like making a fact sheet where you list symptoms of “HIV or a cold,” says von Kieseritzky.
The police training programs in the country, on the other hand, believe that the booklet provides “a good overview”.
– It fulfills a valuable function when it comes to the course objectives on preparation knowledge, drug signs and symptoms. I myself have used it in the service and it is used within the Police Authority, says David Robertsson, who is a teacher at a police training course.