WASHINGTON (Reuters Health) - A close relationship between a mother and daughter may help prevent teen substance abuse, researchers said at a meeting here Saturday. And early puberty may increase the risk, but only if early-maturing girls gravitate to older friends who use drugs or are involved in delinquent behavior. The findings were presented at a Society for Prevention Research conference. Julia Graber and colleagues from the University of Florida psychology department studied the effects of early puberty in 1,225 sixth-grade girls who were participating in a drug and violence prevention program. Almost half the girls were African American, 29 percent were Latina and the rest were from other ethnic groups. [continues 402 words]
WASHINGTON (Reuters Health) - Millions of students are returning to schools where tobacco, drugs and alcohol are readily available and parents, teachers, administrators and communities do little to discourage use of these substances, according to the results of a 6-year study released Wednesday ."American schools are decidedly not alcohol and drug-free," said Joseph A. Califano, Jr., chairman and president of Columbia University's National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse, which conducted the massive study of middle and high school students. [continues 642 words]
On March 17 the US Institute of Medicine (IOM) said that smoking marijuana had benefits for the terminally ill, and recommended immediate development of an inhalation device to provide a safe alternative for those who needed the drug. The 11-member expert panel urged further study of the biochemical properties of the active ingredient D-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and other cannabinoids, and new trials to assess potential clinical benefits. The panel also said cannabinoids stimulate the appetite, combat nausea, and might also control pain. The drug also acts as a sedative and reduces anxiety, which may itself have a therapeutic effect, they added. [continues 258 words]
WASHINGTON (Reuter) Federal drug advisers opened hearings Thursday to help them decide whether Valium and related drugs should be more strictly regulated or whether some restrictions should be relaxed. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is seeking evidence from the public, abuse experts and the Food and Drug Administration on whether it should change how it regulates sedatives in the class known as benzodiazepines, which includes Roche's Valium. It started its considerations in response to a 1993 petition by CarterWallace Inc. to take its benzodiazepine Doral (quazepam) off the agency's list of drugs that are abused. [continues 341 words]
