THREE-QUARTERS of depressed adolescents are prescribed drugs before psychotherapy has been given a proper chance to work, and their progress on antidepressant medication is inadequately monitored, according to a study of 150 clients referred to a youth mental health service. The University of Melbourne audit of treatment records from the Orygen Youth Health Clinic revealed doctors systematically recorded the severity of the depression they diagnosed in only half of cases - even though this is considered essential for determining what type of therapy is likely to work best, and for assessing later how well the person is responding to it. The study, of patients aged 15 to 25, found that among those who were given antidepressant treatment and were not already taking the drugs when they were first seen by the specialist youth service, 75 per cent were prescribed the drugs within 42 days. The study leader, Sarah Hetrick, said this suggested they were likely to have been given their first script before completing the four to six sessions of psychological therapy recommended as initial treatment in guidelines issued in Australia by the National Depression Initiative, beyondblue, and by international authorities. Advertisement Previous research had shown doctors were concerned some … Continue reading →

Drugs courier Amanda Watling locked away 7:59am Monday 9th July 2012 in News By Megi Rychlikova, megi.rychlikova@thepress.co.uk A COCAINE courier who was caught red-handed with drugs worth more than 1,300 has been jailed for almost two years. Amanda Watling was spotted by CCTV operators stumbling near a car in Toft Green, York, who raised the alarm, suspecting she was about to try and drive the car. Paul Nicholson, prosecuting, told York Crown Court that Watling became aggressive when she saw the police officers and struggled with them. Police searched the car and found 43.2g of cocaine inside, worth between 1,260 and 1,680, and 15 worth of amphetamine. They also found 57 Ecstasy tablets on her, worth 140 to 171, and amphetamine worth 120 to 140 in her house. It was the second time she had been caught passing on Class A drugs. In 2007, she was jailed for 30 months at Nottingham Crown Court for supplying a prisoner with heroin. She had been persuaded to take the cocaine from one part of York to another by her dealer, said her barrister Taryn Turner. The Recorder of York, Judge Stephen Ashurst, told Watling: You did go in to this with open … Continue reading →

Free drugs for all is the beginning of health reforms: S Selvaraj Interview with Advisor, High-Level Expert Group on Universal Health Care Sreelatha Menon / New Delhi Jul 08, 2012, 00:29 IST Health economist and advisor to the High-Level Expert Group on Universal Health Care, S Selvaraj, tells Sreelatha Menon that tackling lack of doctors in India will take time to sort out, but providing free drugs can be done immediately What will be the most important component of the universal health care (UHC) package that the 12th Plan is likely to unfold? Of all the components of UHC, strengthening public health system in the country is the most significant. The pacing and phasing of reforms are critical and, therefore, free distribution of drugs is likely to be taken up immediately. This is expected to provide significant financial risk protection to households. Has the health ministry identified a strategy for procurement and distribution of generic drugs? The health ministry, as I believe, is putting in place a mechanism that would tie in financial allocation to a host of reforms, expected to improve governance and accountability in the medicine supply system in the country. The proposed system is on the lines … Continue reading →