heroin

A death warrant for Pakistan's drug users

Like in many Asian countries, the issue of opiate use has been prevalent in Pakistan for decades. The causes of opiate addiction in Pakistan are the same as throughout the world with poverty, lack of education and a lack of employment being the central causes. However, whereas in many developed countries their are state provided treatments and counselling as well as charity provided in support, in regions of Pakistan, such as Punjab, these services are provided by a single NGO.

Botulism infection among drug-users on the rise

In the last week there have been reports of a case of botulism in a heroin user from north-west London. The patient involved in this case had injected heroin through skin-popping and was consequently admitted to hospital with a severe infection. The heroin was bought in Watford and Harrow, two separate areas of north London and raises the likelihood that there is a significant batch of contaminated heroin circulating these and surrounding areas.

Liverpool and the Harm Reduction movement

Liverpool has been associated with drug-use since the 1980's, when it was estimated that around 20,000 users lived in the area at that time. As drug-use, in particular, heroin use became more common and visible, public health professionals have been looking for solutions to protect not only the users, but those in the surrounding communities and of society in general.

How a lack of direction in treating drug-users leaves doctors in a state of limbo

The UK has a substantial range of services for medicating drug users, however the current system of treatment is extremely complex with different doctors, clinics and health authorities prescribing differing treatments according to their own individual philosophies. These take place in a myriad of different locations, from NHS clinics, private health centres, specialist drug centres, doctor’s surgeries and residential treatment centres.

The End of Heroin

The UNODC has announced that a fungus is killing the Afghan opium crop. Maria Antonio Costas has said that the fungus is infecting about a half of the Afghani opium crop, an economic disaster for Afghan farmers. The area’s most affected are those were the insurgency against NATO is strongest.

Nurses leader supports prescription heroin on the NHS

The general secretary of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN), Peter Carter has stated that he is in favour of prescribing heroin on the NHS. Dr Carter also said at the RCN congress in Bournemouth that he is in favour of drug consumption rooms where users would be able to inject drugs under medical supervision.

US link to drug mafia in Kyrgyz coup

On April 7th a social revolt left over 80 deaths, hundreds injured and ended the government of Kurmanbek Bakiyev in Kyrgyzstan. As a result of that, the opposition led by former Foreign Affairs Minister Roza Otunbayeva, took over on an interim basis.

A life and drugs

A former drug user talks about his experience of getting caught up with crime and substance use at an early age and the role Narcotics Anonymous played in his being able to turn his life in a different direction.

Russia accuses NATO soldiers of narcotrafficking

The Russian drug czar Victor Ivanov has accused NATO soldiers of drug trafficking according to the Islamic Republic News Agency. Mr Ivanov was quoted as saying that although there was “no centralized NATO structure to head the drug trade, there could be perhaps individual cases.” The comments were reportedly made in Berlin on Friday as Russia and NATO continue to disagree about how best to tackle the problem of heroin production in Afghanistan.

Transsexuals, Officials, Cocaine and Murder

A very interesting story has erupted in Italy involving cocaine, a high ranking politician, several policemen and a few Brazilian transsexuals.

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