October 21st, 2008 | Full text | published by BRAHA Editor in Scientific News
While many congregations of different faiths preach against drug abuse, it has been unclear whether a youth’s religious [...]
October 15th, 2008 | Full text | published by BRAHA Editor in For Health Professionals, Psychoactive Substances, Scientific News
“Studies of the effect of cannabis smoking on respiratory and general health indicate that the use of cannabis alone has an adverse effect on respiratory health…” [...]
October 6th, 2008 | Full text | published by BRAHA Editor in Interesting Information, Scientific News
People who first try marijuana at a young age are more likely to develop mental illnesses, according to a research review by the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy. CNN reported May 3 that federal drug czar John Walters said that while the rate of mental illness is about 8-9 percent among U.S. [...]
October 6th, 2008 | Full text | published by BRAHA Editor in Interesting Information, Scientific News
Dutch scientists have found that some young people who frequently use marijuana could be at greater risk for developing psychosis later in life, Reuters reported Dec. 1.
For the study, 2,437 individuals aged 14-24 were surveyed about their marijuana use. Researchers then tracked them for four years.
According to lead study author Professor Jim van Os [...]
October 6th, 2008 | Full text | published by BRAHA Editor in Interesting Information, Scientific News
Daily marijuana smokers are at elevated risk of suffering psychotic symptoms such as paranoia, hearing voices, and feelings of isolation, according to a new study.
The New Zealand Herald reported March 2 that researchers from Canterbury University led by David Fergusson looked at long-term health data and concluded that daily users were between 1.6 and [...]
October 6th, 2008 | Full text | published by BRAHA Editor in Interesting Information, Scientific News
A new study found that cognitive impairment from heavy marijuana use is reversible through abstinence, Reuters reported Oct. 17.
“It appears that cognitive impairment from marijuana use is temporary and related to the amount of marijuana that has been recently smoked rather than permanent and related to an entire lifetime consumption,” said Dr. Harrison G. Pope, [...]
October 6th, 2008 | Full text | published by BRAHA Editor in Psychoactive Substances, Scientific News
Children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and tic disorders showed a 37 percent improvement when they took the medication guanfacine, an alternative to drugs like Ritalin, which can worsen tics, Yale researchers found in a new study published in the July issue of American Journal of Psychiatry.
“Guanfacine appears to be a safe and effective [...]
October 6th, 2008 | Full text | published by BRAHA Editor in Psychoactive Substances, Scientific News
By E. Patrick Curry
It is surprising that the article “Effects of Banisteriopsis caapi Extract on Parkinson’s Disease” was published in the Summer 2001 issue of SRAM. If the research truly had merit, why would it not have been published in a neurology journal? As it was, the authors seemed unduly enthusiastic about less than dramatic [...]
September 24th, 2008 | Full text | published by BRAHA Editor in Scientific News
One of the most difficult challenges facing parents today is discussing drug and alcohol use with an adolescent [...]
March 20th, 2006 | Full text | published by BRAHA Editor in Interesting Information, Scientific News
March 20, 2006 - The Age (AU)
Por: ALEX MITCHELL
A NSW Health Department report to be released today proves the devastating impact of cannabis abuse on the mental and physical health of chronic abusers.
Announcing a Government offensive to curb cannabis use, Health Minister John Hatzistergos said: “This report should silence the apologists for the so-called soft [...]
In the wake of a meeting of the UK government’s advisory body on drugs to discuss the harmful effects of ecstasy, Professor Keith Laws and Professor Fabrizio Schifano will reveal research findings about the drug at the university’s Health and Human Sciences Research Institute Showcase on October 21. [...]
Lester Grinspoon, MD, a psychiatrist and associate professor at Harvard, is frequently used as an “expert” in support of “medicalization of marijuana.” He has publicly attested to his personal use of illicit drugs and on several occasions has published statements in leading medical journals that cocaine is neither harmful [...]
It has been known for more than two decades that many illicit drugs inflict damage on the immune system leaving the body open to a host of opportunistic infections, not the least of which is the HIV virus. Other drugs accelerate the progression of HIV to full blown AIDS. In fact, a study [...]
Relief from pain. In some people, prescription pain relievers also cause euphoria or feelings of well being by affecting the brain regions that mediate pleasure. This is why they are abused. Other effects include drowsiness, constipation and slowed breathing. [...]
On Sunday researchers at the University of Buffalo reported that Ritalin, used on children diagnosed with ADHD, may cause long-term changes in the brain. Many clinicians regard Ritalin as short-acting but the research with gene expression in an animal model suggests that it has the potential for causing long-lasting changes [...]
The body produces many chemicals and hormones, i.e., histamines, steroids, thyroid hormone, digitalis-like substances, adrenalin, etc, all of which work by attaching to corresponding brain receptors. The key is that these natural substances produced by the body are present in nanogram amounts [...]
Among the things everybody knows is that Democrats, being the party of the little people, raise money in small contributions, whereas Republicans, being the party of fat cats, raise funds in huge basketfuls from wealthy corporate types. At least, that’s the way the world is usually portrayed by the “Today Show,” The New York Times and the Democratic Party. So it’s of more than passing interest to see [...]
A full page ad appeared Sunday, April 25, l999 in the Denver Rocky Mountain News. It had a picture of Steve Allen and an appeal to Parents. A partial quote from the ad read: Are you as disgusted as I am at the filfth, vulgarity, sex and violence TV is sending into our homes? are you fed up with steamy unmarried sex situations, filthy jokes, perversion, vulgarity, foul language, violence, killings, etc.? [...]
A study from Israel’s Ben-Gurion University looked at driving under the influence of various types of music using a virtual Volkswagen New Beetle. The music used was Kenny G, “Stranger on the Shore” at 56 bpm, Spyro Gyra’s “Cashaca,” at 112 bpm, and DJ Jurgen, pop trance mix at 132 bpm. The study’s findings are just [...]