A GENETIC link between marijuana and schizophrenia may have been discovered in a groundbreaking study of more than 2000 Australians. The study - led by King's College London and involving the Queensland Brain Institute and the QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute - examined the genetic risk profile of 2082 otherwise healthy Australians. Researchers found the genes known to be associated with schizophrenia were more often found in those 1011 people who had used cannabis - or used it in greater quantities. Writing in Molecular Psychiatry, the researchers suggest the same genes might be responsible for cannabis use and schizophrenia, countering the popularly held belief that smoking the drug increases the risk of the mental illness. [continues 411 words]
THE doctor and supplier of untested naltrexone implants to heroin addicts is facing a Western Australian Medical Board investigation. Perth doctor George O'Neil, who has been producing the controversial implants and distributing the drug to other doctors, said last night he would continue his operations and was expecting another shipment of the drug in 12 days to make more implants. Dr O'Neil has been supplying the implants to Brisbane doctor Stuart Reece, who has been ordered to stop using them while the Medical Board of Queensland investigates his practice. [continues 379 words]
THE Beattie Government will go into the next election with a hardline policy opposing trials of supervised heroin injecting rooms despite a Labor Party commitment to thoroughly examine the concept first. Premier Peter Beattie said yesterday the Government remained opposed to trials of injecting rooms and his view would only change if trials elsewhere were successful and the concept had widespread community support. At the ALP state conference last month, Brisbane Lord Mayor Jim Soorley moved the party adopt a policy to trial injecting rooms. [continues 429 words]
MORE illegal amphetamine laboratones are found in Queensland than any other state and police fear Asian druglords are planning to infiltrate the booming Austtalian market. According to the latest Australian Illicit Drug report, almost two-thirds of the 131 clandestine laboratories detected in 1998-99 were in Queensland. The report, based on data provided by state, federal and International law enforcement agencies, said illicit amphetamine producers in Queensland also were becoming more sophisticated and using different methods to avoid detection. But it warned heroin manufacturers in South-East Asia were diversifying their operations into illicit amphetamine and "designer drug" production, and, "with their established contacts and advanced methods of concealment, are capabLe of importing psycho-stimulants into Australia". [continues 282 words]
ONE in four Australian teenagers has used inhalants such as glues, petrol, butane gas and hair spray to get a "high". Inhalants are the second most common illicit drug used by school students after cannabis, a survey has found. More than a third of secondary school students, or 36percent, admitted to having used cannabis. The use of inhalants was more common among younger students, whereas cannabis use grew from 13percent among 12-year-olds to 55percent among 17-year-olds. Federal Health Minister Michael Wooldridge said yesterday that he was shocked by the prevalence of cannabis use among school students. [continues 352 words]
