British politicians and anti-drug campaigners have criticized
Lily Allen for suggesting the risks associated with drugs are overstated - calling her comments "naive."
The Smile singer sparked a furor in a recent interview by openly admitting to using cocaine in the past and claiming that problems associated with illegal substances have been sensationalized.
She said, "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. I know lots of people that take cocaine three nights a week and get up and go to work everyday, no problem. But we never hear that side of the story. I just wish people wouldn't sensationalize this thing that just exists."
Allen also claimed to be annoyed with her record company for putting her up in substandard hotels, because rock stars 20 years ago were "booked in at the Ritz with five grams of cocaine on the table."
But U.K. Shadow Home Secretary Dominic Grieve insists Allen's remarks were dangerous and stupid.
He says, "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."