|
1. Addiction as a Brain Disease
European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO) AUTHOR: Vicki Brower The subheading sums it up concisely.
Loosening addiction's deadly grip - Recent research paints a picture of addiction as a progressive, chronic neurological disease that wreaks havoc with brain chemistry
EMBO reports 7, 140-142 (01 Feb 2006)
2. Dr. Robert Newman Receives the International Rolleston Award
The Director of the Baron Edmond de Rothschild Chemical Dependency Institute, Dr. Robert Newman, received the International Rolleston Award at the 17th International Conference on the Reduction of Drug Related Harm in Vancouver, CA, in early May. The Rolleston Awards are presented each year in recogniton of outstanding contribution to reducing drug or alcohol related harm.
The awards have been given yearly since 1992 by the International Harm Reduction Association. They are named after Sir Humphrey Rolleston, President of the Royal College of Physicians, who chaired the UK Departmental Committee on Morphine and Heroin Addiction. In 1926 this committee determined that it was legitimate medical practice to prescribe opiates to people dependent on those drugs. This decision epitomizes a rational approach to drug problems, and was a landmark event in the history of harm reduction advocacy.
3 Harm Reduction and Treatment
Give the addicts their drugs: For those who bicker over two of the four pillars, harm reduction and treatment ...Peter McKnight, Vancouver Sun, 29 April
The Vancouver Sun published an extensive commentary on opiate agonist maintenance treatment in general, and heroin maintenance in particular (29 April). for more
4. Methadone Prevention of HIV Infection
Australian colleagues have just published a review of 28 studies and concluded: "Methadone maintenance treatment for injecting drug users significantly reduces the risk of transmission of HIV ..." Gowing et al, J Gen Intern Med 2006; 21:193-195
5. CSAT WARNING: RE: Illegal Buprenorphine Compounding / Dispensing In a CSAT letter dated 3 April the Director warns that "certain pharmacies may be compounding and selling buprenorphine and buprenorphine/naloxone combination products in various strengths, colors, and flavors."
6. GERMANY: Planning Heroin Therapy by Year End
The German Federal Drug Coordinator is calling for legislation that, by year-end, will permit physicians to prescribe heroin to addicts.
For full story Germany planning heroin therapy
May 2, 2006, Sydney Morning Herald, Australia Heroin therapy for some addicts
May 1, 2006, Yahoo News
In German
Heroin auf Rezept Drogenbeauftragte dafür
Dienstag, 2. Mai 2006, n-tv.de
7. CANADA, St. John's, Newfoundland: Methadone Treatment Expansion Needed St. John's, Newfoundland, began providing methadone maintenance less than a year ago (June 2005). Already 170 patients are being cared for in the "city in which the sun first rises in North America." However, 70 more applicants are on a waiting list - and are told the wait may be as long as eight months. For full story click here
8. PAKISTAN: Tragedy & America's Continued Losing War Against Drugs The tragedy of Pakistan reflects the supply resulting from the bumper crops of opium produced in neighboring Afghanistan, which in turn is merely the response to continued (and rising) demand for opium and its derivatives in Russia, Europe and countries throughout the world.
9. INDIA: Buprenorphine Diversion a Problem An article in The Hindu (online edition) 5 April reports 20,000 "ampoules" of buprenorphine seized in State of Kerala. For more information read THE HINDU
10. IRAN: : A Land of Contrasts"[Iran] still doles out floggings to Iranians caught with alcohol, but it gives clean syringes and methadone treatment to heroin addicts. Health workers pass out condoms to prostitutes. Government clinics in every region offer free HIV testing, counseling and treatment. ... Last year the postal service unveiled a stamp emblazoned with a red ribbon for AIDS awareness." As for prevention in prisons, "'Iran now has one of the best prison programs for HIV in not just the region, but in the world,' said Dr. Hamid Setayesh, the coordinator for the U.N. AIDS office in Tehran. 'They're passing out condoms and syringes in prisons.'" Knight-Ridder News click for article
11. SCOTLAND: Police Call for Legalizing All Drugs Strathclyde Police Federation, the staff association of 7,700 officers (almost half the total number in all of Scotland) is demanding that "all drugs should be licensed in the same way as cigarettes and alcohol, to cut drug deaths and divert police resources to other crime-fighting priorities." The full story can be found in the London Times edition: 14 April 2006.
| 
