University conducts mephedrone experiment...

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/universityeducation/7499937/Liverpool-John-Moores-University-students-in-mephedrone-experiment.html

As the debate about mephedrone rages on, 50 students attending Liverpool John Moores University have taken part in an experiment - the idea is to hold structured interviews with the subjects to record how they feel after taking the drug.

Dr Cathy Montgomery, the psychology lecturer behind the research said: "During these tests, the university makes it clear they do not condone drug use.

"Until now, most evidence comes from people anecdotally. We will be holding structured interviews with users, asking them how they feel at different time points.

Whilst Liberal Democrat MP John Pugh, who represents Southport, Merseyside has branded the study "highly irresponsible", the question remains, should we be taking more steps to understand more about mephedrone as oppose to simply banning it?  Would banning it alone prevent any more people using it?  Should we concentrate our resources on researching effects of legal highs so at least people are informed?

What do you think of the university experiment??

Mephedrone – just because it's legal doesn't mean it's safe?

http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2010/mar/17/mephedrone-explained-plant-food-miaow

The above link is in reference to an article published by The Guardian this morning. Yesterday two teenagers died after using mephedrone and there has been a public outcry for the reclassification of the drug. Currently legal in the UK, mephedrone, not to be confused with methadone, has been deemed as the possible drug of the next decade. In the 90's there was ecstasy, in the 00's there was cocaine and ketamine and now it would seem the party drug of choice is rapidly becoming mephedrone (or m-Cat as it is commonly known).

The major concern about this drug is not dissimilar to that of other drugs that have come up the club rankings since the 70's – what are the long terms effects, what are the chances of overdosing etc. However, perhaps the most controversial element of this debate is the fact that mephedrone is legal to buy, which may be a significant indicator of why children as young as 11 have been turning up at school high on mephedrone. This touches on the wider debate of legal highs. Are legal highs any safer than illicit drugs (or could it even be a case where some illicit highs are dubbed safer by the recreational drug taking community than legal highs?). Despite the actual chemical make up of these drugs and whether they are deemed to be safe or not by experts, surely the legal status of such drugs gives an illusion of safety if they are legal?

Drugs Opera opens in Mexico City

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/8563528.stm

The above link refers to the premiere of the first Mexican opera to deal directly with the country's drugs conflict in Mexico City.

"Out of the last 20 years, I would say, this is the one opera that is telling us a story that is not only on everyone's mind, but also in the headlines. It is how Mexico is perceived outside as well," Jose Arean, Musical Director.

Do you think that this type of genre should be banned or encouraged in the arts?

Meow Meow - legal high, but for how long?

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/educationnews/7053731/Children-12-taking-legal-high-drug-meow-meow-on-school-bus.html

The above link is to an article published in the Telegraph that refers to children aged 12 and up taking ‘meow meow’ (

Mephedrone) during their bus ride to school. The drug, which has been compared to ecstasy (but with side effects including convulsions, hallucinations, nose bleeds, headaches, breathing problems and in some cases cardiac arrest) is starting to be widely seen amongst school children - it’s cheap, easily available, but using it presents far more risks that it’s ‘legal high’ label suggests.

Prof. Nutt Debate - the resignations continue...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8353685.stm

The link above will take to you a article published by the BBC that reports that three more government advisers have resigned after Mr Johnson sacked his chief drugs adviser, Prof. David Nutt.

Whilst the ACMD have been in discussions with the Home Office about how to work effectively with each other, it would seem that the sacking of Prof. Nutt for 'crossing a line' into politics has had a significant impact, so far resulting in 5 council members resigning.

On one hand the Home Office is publishing positive statements about how to go forward – on the other hand, many people, including the Lib Dem's science spokesman relay further criticism:
“The fact the resignations come after Alan Johnson met the ACMD demonstrates he just doesn't get it when it comes to the importance of respecting the academic freedom and integrity of independent, unpaid, science adviser.”

What do you think about politics and science and will the Home Office continue to pay for their decision with more resignations?

 

Airbrushing Ban - impact on eating disorders?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1226162/Call-ban-airbrushing-ads-leave-girls-loathing-bodies.html

The above link refers to an article published by the Daily Mail that discusses the call from 40 of the world's leading experts on body image to ban airbrushing photos in advertising for under 16s.

The experts advise that airbrushing models to give them unrealistic bodies has helped to create “a generation of young women with eating disorders and depression”.

In response to the experts claims that such unnaturally skinny models can make 'girls as young as five become self-conscious about their weight' advertisers have suggested that what goes on at home (e.g. diet and parental influence) is more likely to influence young woman.

The Advertising Standards Authority has already received over a thousand complaints about airbrushed images, but so far has refused to act; stating that the complaints have no scientific foundation – in response four academics have completed a literature review of 100 academic studies suggesting that there is a scientific bases to the complaints.

What do you think – will banning airbrushed images have a significant impact on young people developing eating disorders?

Prof. Nutt - what do you think?

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/lawandorder/6509297/MPs-demand-answers-over-Nutt-sacking.html

The link above refers to an article published by The Telegraph that discusses the letter that the Commons Science and Technology Committee has written to Mr Johnson requesting details about the sacking of Prof. Nutt - specifically if he had breached the terms of his contract or the codes of practise before he was forced to resign.

There is much controversy over the sacking of one the countries leading advisors - what do you think?  Do politics and science have some common ground or if researched based evidence at odds with what the government thinks we need to know?