More on Bath Salts and Prescription Rx abuse
…”bath salts” and synthetic marijuana are difficult to identify and test for, because their chemical structure can and does change often, largely in response to laws trying to outlaw them … and the new law attempting to ban all such substances signed recently by President Obama.
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.
Flawed Science, Bad Media & Fear-based Government
Driving while intoxicated with marijuana is NOT likely to be be safer that driving with alcohol – as reported by a recent study — and alerting us to flaws in the way scientific studies are crafted, and report by the media. Meanwhile, Congress is making moves that in effect again escalate the War of Drugs by making the Spice and bath salt compounds into Schedule 1 drugs.
Smoking in the news
Smoking in public is facing ever-greater restrictions; individuals, and the tobacco industries are pushing back in court. Meanwhile varenicline (Chantix) has been found to have serious cardiovascular side effects. And the state of Oregon mandating no smoking or be disqualified from state-supported treatment programs.
More Training to Prescribe Opioids
The Obama administration recently proposed legislation which will require doctors to undergo training before being permitted to prescribe powerful painkillers like Vicodin and OxyContin. The White House is absolutely committed to legislation that will make prescriber education mandatory, according to Gil Kerlikowske, the White Hojuse’s top drug policy adviser. The move would require Congress to […]
Chronic pain, drugs and regulation
Pain is considered an unpleasant experience, and a protection mechanism again potential tissue damage. It is the most common reason for people to see a doctor, and is also significant in addiction, lately with OxyContin and Vicodin. Darvon, a classic pain drug was recently removed from the US market by the FDA order because of heart related side effects. We discuss the drug, its history and usage, the nociceptor pain receptors and the perception of pain, and its impact on society.