OxyContin pulled in Canada
Canada has ordered OxyContin removed from pharmacies, in response to the continuing abuse of this powerful opioid. Many groups, including First Nations members with high numbers of addicted persons among them, are warning that the move will push people to more dangerous drugs such as heroin. We look at the OxyNeo replacement drug, what its implications are, and related aspects, including whether doctors are under- or over- prescribing powerful and highly addictive pain medications.
Are We Closer to Ending the Drug War?
The recent “Ending the Drug War: Top Stories of 2011” article chronicles changing views by the public and also world leaders, of the “War on Drugs” that was started 40 years ago by President Nixon.
Survey shows drug use by young people increasing
A new survey shows a marked increase in Ecstasy ER reports as well as increases in use of all drugs except cigarettes. The annual Partnership for a Drug-Free America looks at drug use amongst adolescents and adults. The other two major surveys how the same trends in the US.
Trends in Drug Use, Harm Reductions & Psychiatry
NIDA’s Monitoring the Future study shows increases in use of marijuana, heroin and pharmaceuticals by adolescents; a study in Europe shows that programs like DARE are not effective; government regulators grapple to keep up with street chemists creating new designer drugs, and a discussion of psychiatry’s increasing dependence on drug therapy to the exclusion of talk therapy.
Mental Health, Stress & College
A look at mental health on college campuses – still stressful, recently increasingly violence. Some of the factors: psychiatric medication, self-medication using alcohol and street drugs; and the availability of treatment and its increased acceptance.
Marijuana: legalize? reduce demand?
The California ballot measure to legalize and tax marijuana, Mexicos’s consideration of legalizing all drugs, and the lack of efforts at drug-demand reduction are some of the topics of this weeks podcast.