Illicit drug users are on the rise, finds UN report Worldwide an estimated 246 million people used an illicit drug in 2013, a rise of three million over the previous year, says a report by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime.…
Psychiatric drugs can affect moral decisions about willingness to harm Commonly prescribed psychiatric drugs can influence moral decisions about self-harm or inflicting harm on others, according to new research.…
US court backs Oklahoma to use sedative in executions The US Supreme Court has ruled by five to four that Oklahoma State can continue to use the controversial sedative midazolam as part of a three-drug cocktail administered in executions.…
Rise of antipsychotic drug use in 13–24 year olds in United States The use of antipsychotic drugs by young people aged 13–24 years has risen in the United States between 2006 and 2010 but has fallen in those aged between 1–12 years of age, according to research published in JAMA Psychiatry. …
Heroin abuse: breaking the cycle With rates of heroin addiction stubbornly high, there is still debate about how best to treat those hooked on the drug.…
Challenging the gold standard of double-blind drug trials The double-blind randomised controlled trial may be the gold standard of medical research but it fails to take full account of interactions between treatment and behaviour, say researchers writing in PLoS ONE.…
Liraglutide has positive effects on bone metabolism in obese women Data on liraglutide’s effects on bone metabolism support its use as an anti-obesity therapy, say researchers.…
NSAID use may prevent fertile women from ovulating Women who hope to become pregnant should steer clear of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory painkillers because they could prevent ovulation, according to the findings of a small study.…
How to help OTC drug abusersThe two articles in the most recent issue of The Pharmaceutical Journal about prescription drug abuse (2015;294:624 and 2015;294:627) missed an opportunity to provide pharmacists with practical tips in tackling prescription drug abuse. Community pharmacists face the prescription and over-the-counter…
Tranquillisation of patients with aggressive or challenging behaviour Although never the first option, rapid tranquillisation may be required to ensure patient and staff safety when a patient exhibits violent behaviour.…