Could magic mushrooms hold cure for depression? A former British government drugs adviser has warned that clinical trials to cure depression are being blocked by EU drug regulations. Professor David Nutt i... By: AlJazeeraEnglish … Continue reading →

Massive drugs bust: Italian police seize tonne of hash Italian police have released a video of a drugs raid in which they seized a tonne of hashish from a truck carrying a consignment of frozen potatoes. The disc... By: itnnews … Continue reading →

#39;The House I Live In' Questions Failed War on Drugs "Musician John Legend has cut the title track for "The House I Live In," the documentary about the drug war that was released in theaters last year and has i... By: TheYoungTurks … Continue reading →

If a person develops a bacterial pneumonia, it makes sense to treat him or her with an antibiotic. This is the proper use of a medication. There are many other examples such as insulin to treat diabetes or drugs to treat high blood pressure. However, today, there are increasing incidences where drugs are given to healthy individuals for perhaps questionable reasons. For example, some children who are naturally short in stature, mainly because their parents are short, are given growth hormone so they hopefully will grow another two inches. Two inches is not a lot, but it can result in a man being five feet seven instead of five feet five. Growth hormone has been used for a long time to treat children who lack growth hormone, usually without any serious side effects. A recent article discussed adolescents and college students taking stimulant medications, such as Ritalin, Adderal and Concerta, to improve their academic performance. At times they take them prior to an examination. These are the same drugs used to treat youngsters with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or ADHD. Where do the students get these drugs? Occasionally, a doctor will prescribe them, but frequently they get them from friends … Continue reading →

By Richard Valdmanis DAKAR (Reuters) - Guinea-Bissau's caretaker president may have cooperated with the planners of a doomed cocaine-and-weapons smuggling scheme meant to arm Colombian rebels, according to U.S. court filings reviewed by Reuters on Monday. The documents cast a shadow on international efforts to restore order in the tiny West African state, which has suffered a string of coups since 1974 independence and which has since become a transhipment hub for narcotics bound for Europe. U.S. prosecutors filed indictments against Guinea-Bissau's former navy chief, Jose Americo Bubo Na Tchuto, and six other men late last week after trapping some of them in a daring sting operation off its Atlantic coast. According to the indictments, the men planned to bring 4,000 kg of Colombian cocaine to Guinea Bissau inside a shipment of military uniforms and then smuggle weapons, including surface-to-air missiles, back to Colombia's FARC rebels for use against American anti-drugs forces. The filings state that one of the chief conspirators in the plan, described only as a "high-level official in the Guinea Bissau Military", told undercover agents in July he would discuss the plot with President Manuel Serifo Nhamadjo. "The day after tomorrow, I'll talk to the President of … Continue reading →

DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "Global Cardiovascular Drugs Market 2012-2016" report to their offering. One of the key factors affecting market growth is the over-dependency of the market on the US. The Global Cardiovascular Drugs market has also been witnessing an increase in R&D activities. However, the increase in healthcare expenditure could be one of the factors that will contribute to the growth of this market. The key vendors dominating this market space are AstraZeneca plc, Bristol-Myers Squibb Co., Merck & Co. Inc., Novartis AG, Pfizer Inc., and Sanofi. The other vendors mentioned in the report are Abbott Laboratories, Forest Laboratories Inc., F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., Bayer AG, Daiichi Sankyo Co. Ltd., GlaxoSmithKline plc, Solvay SA, Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., and The Medicines Co. Commenting on the report, an analyst from TechNavio's Healthcare team said: ''In the last few years, the Healthcare industry has witnessed phenomenal growth in the APAC region. Emerging economies such as the APAC region, Eastern Europe, and Latin America hold vast growth potential. These regions are under-equipped to address the increase in the incidence of CVDs in the region. However, the increase in the incidence of CVDs and instances of … Continue reading →

David Sell, Inquirer Staff Writer Posted: Tuesday, April 9, 2013, 6:01 AM U.S. consumers and taxpayers usually pay more - often much more - than people in other developed nations for brand-name drugs, according to a series of papers published Monday in the journal Health Affairs. Moreover, consumers here can't see through the fog of the pricing system to know how much their medicines should cost. "On a personal level, U.S. citizens pay prices sometimes twice as high as most other countries for identical drugs," Gerard Anderson, director of the Center for Hospital Finance and Management at Johns Hopkins University and a coauthor of one of the studies, said. "From a policy standpoint, we are supporting the drug companies' innovation for the rest of the world," Anderson said. A link to the Health Affairs paper he helped write is here. Most other developed nations use various mechanisms to keep prices lower. Direct government payments to drugmakers are lower. Some compare the value of similar medicines and will not pay more than the average price for the group, not simply the price applied by the manufacturer. Some reduce the number of entities negotiating to lessen drug-company leverage. From the Business Desk … Continue reading →

9 April 2013 Last updated at 09:56 ET A 400,000 consignment of suspected herbal cannabis was brought into Northern Ireland on a lorry from Scotland, a court has heard. Police seized five boxes after they had been switched to a car. Three men are accused of conspiracy to supply Class B drugs. They are Stephen Martin Hale, 30, of Summerhill, Banbridge; Samuel John White, 32, Crew Road, Maghera; and David McCaughan, 57, Ghent Place, Belfast. McCaughan and White both face further counts of possessing herbal cannabis with intent to supply. White is also accused of supplying Class B drugs, while Hale has been charged with having criminal property. A detective constable told Belfast Magistrates' Court he could connect all three suspects to the alleged offences. Neither Hale nor McCaughan sought bail. They were both remanded in custody to appear again in four weeks time. Opposing White's application to be released, the officer said the drugs seizure resulted from proactive investigation run by the PSNI's Organised Crime Branch over a number of months. Read the original: Three in court over £400k drugs find … Continue reading →