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Suggested Reading
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Prescription
Drug Abuse
Synopsis:
Colvin was motivated to write this book when his brother died
after several years of abusing prescribed tranquilizers and sedatives.
He defines the problem, gives reasons for it, lists the most frequently
abused substances, and relates anecdotes describing unwitting addicts.
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Poison fights pain... Continued
Long points out, however, that heroin was also not believed to be addictive when it was first invented. In 1998, 38 deaths in Toronto were linked to heroin use.
While Tetrodin may be able to take care of the physical aspect of heroin addiction, counselling will have to remain a major component of treatment, Shum says.
Seventy-one Toronto volunteers, who were paid for their time, have already been given a single dose of the drug without detrimental side effects. Researchers are now preparing to move ahead with the second part of the first-phase trial, which involves 56 people taking several doses over a week.
Phase two of the $1.5 million trials, which investigate the effectiveness of the drug, could begin as early as this summer. If the trials prove International Wex Technologies' claims, Tetrodin could be on the market as early as next year.
 Eventually, International Wex will look into the drug's efficacy in treating other drug addictions.
In Japan, people pay up to US$200 to eat puffer fish, because of the thrill of eating a potentially lethal meal. A number of people have died from eating the fish, which must be cooked by a chef who has been trained in how to prepare the meal safely.
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