Pubdate: Fri, 02 Nov 2001 Source: Daily Telegraph (Australia) Copyright: 2001 News Limited Contact: http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/113 DOUBT OVER DETOX DRUG SCIENTISTS have thrown doubt on a drug commonly used to detoxify heroin users. The drug, clonidine, is used by most hospitals and clinics and is prescribed in large doses for the controversial rapid detoxification treatment. But University of Newcastle researchers Loris Chahl and Sebastian Jungnickel have found that while clonidine stops the head and body shakes common in heroin withdrawal, the brain's stress response increased. There was ``strong evidence of psychotic and emotional stress'', Associate Professor Chahl said. - --- MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart