Are prescription medicines particularly expensive in New Zealand?
By Peter Davis Access to medicines is in many ways a litmus test of a decent society, particularly if a medication can make a difference between life and death. The short answer is that they are not! Unlike many other countries, hospital patients receive their...
The failed war on drugs and cannabis referendum 2020: What reforms are possible in its aftermath?
By Joseph Boden “We will begin to make real progress when we realise that the War on Drugs has been a complete failure and damaging to our society, and that significant changes in our attitudes and laws are needed to begin to deal with drugs as a health issue,...
Why is cannabis use declining among young people? 🔊
New research from the University of Otago has revealed that cannabis use is in decline among young people in New Zealand. The study showed that between 2001 and 2012, lifetime use of the drug among teenagers dropped from 38% to 23%. It also revealed that weekly use...
Can the media influence the side effects of medication?
By Kate MacKrill Kate Mackrill explores what is known as the nocebo effect and whether the media can, in fact, influence the side effects of medication. You are probably aware of the placebo effect – a therapeutic benefit from a sugar pill or even real medication...
Q+A: What are the flaws in New Zealand’s medicinal cannabis scheme?
In December 2018, the New Zealand parliament passed a bill to create a regulated market for medicinal cannabis and a legal defence for users who take the drug for palliative reasons. Under the Misuse of Drugs (Medicinal Cannabis) Amendment Act, the government has...
The opioid crisis: Fact vs. fiction
By Eileen Reynolds Eileen Reynolds investigates the opioid crisis that has gripped the United States over the last few years. Every day, 115 people in the United States die of an opioid overdose—a death toll so high that it’s caused the nation’s overall life...
Is it time for a law change on cannabis use in New Zealand?
By Sam Smith A medicinal cannabis bill has just passed its third reading in the New Zealand parliament. But is it time to also look at recreational use in the country? New Zealand is gearing up to decide the future of cannabis law in the country. Currently, it is...
Why is synthetic marijuana so dangerous?
By C. Michael White The Green, a gathering place in New Haven, Connecticut, near Yale University looked like a mass casualty zone, with 70 serious drug overdoses over a period spanning Aug. 15-16, 2018. The cause: synthetic cannabinoids, also known as K2, Spice, or...
Are hallucinations a disease?
By Yewande Pearse Hallucinations may be a symptom of mental illness, but they are not necessarily harmful, as Yewande Pearse explains. As late as the 18th century, hallucinations in their various forms were considered independent diseases or syndromes. In 1821, Alexis...Subscribe by Email
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