Pubdate: Mon, 17 Sep 2007
Source: Calgary Herald (CN AB)
Copyright: 2007 Calgary Herald
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/calgary/calgaryherald/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/66
Author: Sue Montgomery, CanWest News Service
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/coke.htm (Cocaine)

STUDY SUBJECTS GET FREE COCAINE

In an unusual McGill University study, human subjects are being given 
cocaine so researchers can chart the effects of the highly addictive 
drug on the brain with hopes of finding ways to curb strong cravings.

The study -- which at first glance may raise some eyebrows -- was 
deemed the best in a competition among about 50 applicants for 
funding in the medical category of research related to brain behaviour.

Its author, Marco Leyton, a professor in the university's psychology 
department, said about 35 per cent of people who use cocaine will 
become addicted and end up with serious problem.

"I tell my students that if Cuisinart comes out with a new food 
processor and only a third of users lost fingers while the remaining 
70 per cent were satisfied, would that be reasonable?" Leyton said 
Sunday in an interview.

While giving users free drugs may be seen by some as unethical, 
Margaret Somerville, founding director of the McGill Centre for 
Medicine, Ethics and Law, said it could also be seen as unethical if 
such research isn't done.

"If you can't do the research, you can't help the people with 
addictions." Somerville has sat on several ethics committees and said 
rules for such projects are strict. For example, participants have to 
be consenting adults, must have used the drug previously and 
researchers can't enlist more subjects than they need.

The ongoing study began five years ago and is to continue for another 
five with $120,000 annual funding from Canadian Institutes of Health 
Research and the blessing of McGill University Health Centre's ethics board.

Subjects are paid minimum wage for their time and their consumption 
is tightly controlled.

"Participants are closely monitored and stay overnight for 
observation with nurses and physicians on hand," Leyton said. "We 
don't just give them the cocaine and say: 'OK, away you go.' "
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom