Department Of Health And Children Statement In Relation To Legislation To Be Made Under Misuse Of Drugs Act 1977, Ireland
The Government agreed at its meeting on 2 March 2010 to the commencement of a notification process under Directive 98/34/EC (the "Technical Standards" Directive) as amended by Directive 98/48/EC of the Government's intention to make a Declaration Order under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977 declaring certain substances, products and preparations to be controlled drugs for the purposes of the Misuse of Drugs Acts, 1977 and 1984. The substances concerned include a range of products sold in so-called 'head shops' including: - synthetic cannabinoids (SPICE products) - benzylpiperazine (BZP) derivatives - mephedrone, methylone and related cathinones - GBL and 1, 4 BD In addition, the Declaration Order to be made under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977 will include Ketamine and Tapentadol which are substances that have legitimate uses as medicines but which can be subject to misuse.
Alcohol, Energy Drinks Add Up To Higher Intoxication Levels, Increased Driving Risk
Energy drinks, favored among young people for the beverages' caffeine jolt, also play a lead role in several popular alcoholic drinks, such as Red Bull and vodka. But combining alcohol and energy drinks may create a dangerous mix, according to University of Florida research. In a study of college-aged adults exiting bars, patrons who consumed energy drinks mixed with alcohol had a threefold increased risk of leaving a bar highly intoxicated and were four times more likely to intend to drive after drinking than bar patrons who drank alcohol only. The study appears in the April issue of the journal Addictive Behaviors. "Previous laboratory research suggests that when caffeine is mixed with alcohol it overcomes the sedating effects of alcohol and people may perceive that they are less intoxicated than they really are, " said the study's lead researcher Dennis Thombs, an associate professor in the UF College of Public Health and Health Professions' department of behavioral science and community health.
Cannabis Science Officially Begins Its First Pre-IND FDA Application Process For Post Traumatic Stress Disorder PTSD
Cannabis Science Inc. (NASD OTCBB: CBIS), a pharmaceutical cannabis company in the US, is pleased to announce that it now has the results of its survey of more than 1, 300 individuals with PTSD, including a large cohort of veterans. The survey was conducted by Cannabis Science Advisory Board member Dr. Mitch Earleywine PhD. of the State University of New York (Albany). The Company has reported several prospective drugs for FDA clinical trials. Based on extensive studies and this survey, the Company now has the substantiated data to for its first application for a PTSD drug for FDA clinical trials. The Company will now sign a pre-negotiated contract with a group of FDA specialists based in Colorado to handle the Company's first FDA filings.
DrugScope Welcomes Report Of The Home Affairs Select Committee Inquiry Into The Cocaine Trade, UK
DrugScope responded to the publication of the Home Affairs Select Committee (HASC) inquiry report on the cocaine trade. In June 2009, DrugScope's Chief Executive, Martin Barnes, and Director of Communications and Information, Harry Shapiro, were invited to give oral evidence to the HASC inquiry, and the charity also submitted written evidence to the Committee. In response to the publication of the Committee's report, Martin Barnes, Chief Executive of DrugScope, said: "The Committee is right to highlight concern about cocaine use and its harms and we welcome its thorough and wide-ranging report. Since the Committee began its inquiry there has been evidence of a rise in cocaine's use - the latest British Crime Survey shows a 25 per cent increase in the number of 16-24 years olds who used the drug in the previous 12 months.
Moderate Drinking Before Trauma Leads To More Flashbacks
People who have drunk a moderate amount of alcohol before a traumatic event report more flashbacks than those who have had no alcohol, according to new research at UCL (University College London). The results may give new insight into why some individuals develop post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after a traumatic event and others do not. Published online in the journal Biological Psychiatry, researchers also found that those who drank a large amount of alcohol before a traumatic event did not report an increase in the number of flashbacks. "Many people who experience a personally traumatic event such as rape or a road traffic accident have consumed alcohol beforehand.
Serious Negative Impact Of Prenatal Cocaine Exposure Found In Subtle Areas Of Attention, Behavior Control
Children exposed to cocaine in the womb face serious consequences from the drug, but fortunately not in certain critical physical and cognitive areas as previously believed, according to a new comprehensive review of research on the subject from scientists at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. When a pregnant woman uses cocaine, it can interrupt the flow of nutrients and oxygen to the baby, putting such children at risk for premature birth, low birth weight and many other problems. The new review of multiple major studies conducted on cocaine-exposed, school-aged children found this negative impact significantly affected children in subtle areas such as sustained attention and self-regulated behavior.
Genome-Wide Study Of Alcohol Dependence Points To Chromosome 11
Alcohol dependence (AD) is a complex disease for which both genetic and environmental factors affect susceptibility. Previous research had identified several genes associated with AD through linkage analysis or candidate-gene approaches. Findings from a genome-wide association study (GWAS) support an association between AD and a cluster of genes on chromosome 11. Results will be published in the May 2010 issue of Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research and are currently available at Early View. "Previous studies have looked at one or a few genes at a time, choosing the genes based upon hypotheses about possible mechanisms underlying differences in risk for alcoholism, " explained Howard J.
Anterior Cingulate Cortex Activity May Represent A Neurobiological Risk For Alcohol Dependence
Previous research has found that activation of the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) is associated with risk factors for alcohol use disorders - such as low alcohol effects and positive alcohol expectations - among adolescents. This study used a spatial working-memory task to examine ACC activity among adults, finding that alcohol-dependent (AD) participants had a greater activation of the dorsal ACC (dACC) when compared to light and heavy social drinkers. Results will be published in the May 2010 issue of Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research and are currently available at Early View. "In our study, we examined non-dependent light and heavy social drinkers as well as non-treatment-seeking AD drinkers with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) during a spatial working memory task, " explained Sabine VollstГ dt-Klein, a researcher at the Central Institute of Mental Health of the University of Heidelberg as well as corresponding author for the study.
Insurers Bringing Plans Into Compliance With New Mental Health Rules
The Wall Street Journal reports that insurers are bringing their insurance plans in compliance with new rules and laws that make mental health and substance abuse insurance coverage available to millions of Americans. "The law, called the Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008, ensures that employees receive the same level of mental-health benefits as they do for medical and surgical care. It bans a plan from using deductibles for the treatment of mental-health disorders or substance abuse that are different from ones for medical and surgical care. And there can no longer be limits on treatment if no limits on medical and surgical care are in place as well.
What Is Ketosis? What Causes Ketosis?
Ketosis occurs when there are raised levels of chemicals, called ketones, in the blood. It is a potentially very serious condition. A diet that is very low in carbohydrate can cause ketosis. Carbohydrate is the main food group. Foods high in carbohydrates include breads, pastas, beans, potatoes, bran, rice, and cereals. Most of these foods are high in starch. Carbohydrates are the most common source of energy. Proteins and fat are necessary building components for body tissue and cells, and are also a source of energy for most organisms. However, carbohydrates are not essential nutrients in humans: the body can obtain all its energy from protein and fats.