Most important and relevant articles in professional circles and
popular press in January 2004.
|
Antidepressant
Makers Withhold Data on Children |
| Makers of popular antidepressants such as Paxil, Zoloft and
Effexor have refused to disclose the details of most clinical
trials involving depressed children, denying doctors and parents
crucial evidence as they weigh fresh fears that such medicines
may cause some children to become suicidal [Washington Post,
USA] |
| |
|
Cannabis
not risk free, says adviser |
| As Blunkett adopts softer line on possession, medical experts
seem divided on the dangers to mental health of heavy users
of the drug [Guardian, UK] |
| |
|
Cannabis
Reclassification |
| On 29th January 2004, cannabis will be reclassified from a
Class B to a Class C drug across the UK. As a controlled drug,
production, supply and possession remains illegal [drugs.gov.uk,
UK] |
| |
|
Cannabis
Reclassification Briefing |
| Transform welcomes the government's interest in reducing penalties
associated with cannabis use. Symbolically at least, it is a
step in the right direction, and it is to be hoped that the
new guidelines will lead to fewer pointless arrests. However,
the way in which the reforms have been developed and implemented
has been confused and ill thought out. Failing to fully decriminalise
personal possession has made policing cannabis use more confusing
[Transform, UK] |
| |
|
Cigarette
tar yields in relation to mortality from lung cancer in the
cancer prevention study II prospective cohort, 1982-8 |
| The increase in lung cancer risk is similar in people who
smoke medium tar cigarettes (15-21 mg), low tar cigarettes (8-14
mg), or very low tar cigarettes ( 7 mg). Men and women who smoke
non-filtered cigarettes with tar ratings 22 mg have an even
higher risk of lung cancer [British Medical Journal, UK] |
| |
|
Commentary:
Supervised fixing rooms, supervised injectable maintenance clinics—understanding
the difference |
| The United Kingdom is the only country with a substantial
history of injectable opiate maintenance treatment; if finite
resources force choices, the priority is a clear scientific
answer to the worth of supervised injectable maintenance clinics
[British Medical Journal, UK] |
| |
|
Dancing
nights, crystal daze |
| Ricardo is 25 and had never touched any drugs, let alone crystal
methamphetamine, before he came to Sydney two years ago [Sydney
Morning Herald, Australia] |
| |
|
Ecstasy
'leaves gaps in the memory' |
| Regular users of the illegal drug ecstasy are risking damage
to their long-term memory, according to research by a team drawn
from five British universities [Guardian, UK] |
| |
|
End
the confusion over cannabis |
| The application of the law on cannabis is a muddle [Observer
Leader, UK] |
| |
|
Harm
Refusal |
| Making Peace with Cocaine, and Advancing from Harm Reduction
to Harm Refusal - article by Peter Cohen [CEDRO, The Netherlands]
|
| |
|
Haze
of confusion hangs over dangers to health |
| From the end of this month cannabis will be reclassified as
a class C drug, alongside tranquillisers and steroids. But does
anyone really know what the dangers of smoking dope are? [Observer,
UK] |
| |
|
Hepatitis
C epidemic sweeps NSW prisons
|
| Prisons in NSW are confronting one of Australia's fastest
growing epidemics on a scale mainstream medicine has yet to
face with 60 per cent of women and 40 per cent of men in the
state's jails infected with hepatitis C [Sydney Morning Herald,
Australia] |
| |
|
If
cannabis is safe, why am I psychotic? |
| Weeks before the drug is downgraded from Class B to Class
C comes new evidence that cannabis-induced psychosis is the
bigest problem facing inner city mental health services [Times,
UK] |
| |
|
Integrated
Care Pathways Guide 3: Implementing Integrated Care Pathways
|
| This is the third in a series of guides on developing and
implementing Integrated Care Pathways (ICPs). This guide provides
practical advice on how to maximise the impact of the ICP prior
to implementation [Scottish Effective Interventions Unit, UK]
|
| |
|
Making
Sense of Student Drug Testing: Why Educators are Saying No |
| For the safety and well being of young people, it is crucial
to develop programs that effectively address drug use. To succeed,
these programs must be grounded in research, compassion, and
health. They must also promote trust and honest dialogue between
adults and young people [Drug Policy Alliance, USA] |
| |
|
Mother
and child reunion |
| Parents who suffer from alcoholism are reestablishing bonds
with their children under a special scheme, but government inertia
means the kids themselves may be missing out on vital treatment
[Guardian, UK] |
| |
|
New Transform Drug Policy
Foundation (TDPF) website |
| Transform Drug Policy Foundation exists to minimise drug-related
harm to individuals and communities by bringing about a just,
humane and effective system to regulate and control drugs at
national and international levels [Transform Drug Policy Foundation,
UK] |
| |
|
Police
force lottery over drug law |
| A Guardian survey today reveals widespread confusion and inconsistencies
about how the police will enforce the new law on cannabis [Guardian,
UK] |
| |
|
Supervised
injecting centres
|
| The Home Office has endorsed prescribable heroin centres rather
than medically supervised injecting centres as the basis for
future policy. We believe that neither is a panacea and that
holistic provision should include both methods [British Medical
Journal, UK] |
| |
|
Why
people smoke |
| It is only in the past decade or so that the fundamental role
of nicotine in sustaining smoking behaviour has begun to be
more widely accepted [British Medical Journal, UK] |
| |
