An archive of recent news articles on the topic of alcohol and drugs.
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Experts doubt benefits of booze
12th January 2007
New Zealand experts are down-playing a new finding that accident victims with alcohol in their system could be less likely to die of brain injuries than those who are sober.
Toronto University researchers analysed 1158 accident victims with severe brain injury. They found those with a "low to moderate" blood-alcohol level of less than 230 milligrams per decilitre – nearly three times New Zealand's legal limit of 80 milligrams – had 24 per cent lower odds of dying in the hospital than those with no alcohol in their system.
In contrast, those with high blood- alcohol levels of more than 230 milligrams were 73 per cent more likely to die.
How alcohol affected the survival of a patient after a traumatic brain injury – a leading cause of disability and death among young people – was unclear, the report published in the latest Journal of the American Medical Association said.
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Kiwi smokers first to test quick-fix lozenge
8th January 2007
World-first trials of a lozenge designed to deliver nicotine hits up to twice as fast as current quit smoking treatments will begin in New Zealand next month.
Ninety volunteers in Auckland will try the lozenge, plus a mouth spray and an oral pouch developed by Swedish researchers.
Experts hope the new products will get nicotine to the brain within 15 minutes, significantly reducing cravings for those who want to quit cigarettes.
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A drink may help high blood pressure risk
5th January 2007
WASHINGTON: Men with high blood pressure are usually advised to avoid alcohol, but US and Dutch researchers say that a drink or two every day may reduce their chances of a heart attack.
The study of 11,000 men supports other research that shows small-to-moderate amounts of alcohol can lower the risk of heart disease, by increasing the levels of high density lipoprotein, or "good" cholesterol, and by making blood less likely to clot.
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Even with lung cancer, quitting cigarettes helps
29th December 2006
NEW YORK: Once people have been diagnosed with lung cancer they might think it pointless to stop smoking, but in fact it's not too late to benefit from quitting, a new study shows.
Researchers found that among more than 200 lung cancer patients at their centre, those who quit smoking after the diagnosis became less severely impaired by the disease than those who kept up the habit
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Nats and NZ First call for party pill ban
19th December 2006
Two political parties are putting pressure on the Government to ban party pills.
National and New Zealand First want Associate Health Minister Jim Anderton to made a decision, and say he has had long enough to consider the situation.
Mr Anderton, who is in charge of the Government's drugs policy, said yesterday he needed more time to study expert advice before taking any steps to ban party pills.
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Taranaki sparks drug-rape spike
14th December 2006
Publicity about unprecedented numbers of drug-rapes in Taranaki pubs and bars has resulted in an additional 23 reported throughout the country.
Rape crisis centres now believe the women may be only the tip of the iceberg of what is occurring in the community.
However, police are frustrated that only a small percentage are reporting the crimes to them.
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Ministers consider ban on BZP party pills
13th December 2006
Medical experts want tough restrictions or an outright ban on party pills, as the Government gets set to make a decision on their future.
Associate Health Minister Jim Anderton will take proposals to a Cabinet committee today after a report on the BZP-based pills last week by the Expert Advisory Committee on Drugs
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Teen now says no more drink driving
12th December 2006
A teenager whose high-speed drink-driving left his girlfriend in hospital says he has learnt his lesson and will not drive drunk again.
Rae Rae, 16, admitted drinking heavily before driving his Toyota early on Saturday in South Auckland.
He had three other teenage passengers and during a police pursuit the car crashed into a lamp post and caught fire.
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Drug Rape Trust offers advice to drink spiking victims
8th December 2006
The Drug Rape Trust has released information on how people should respond if they suspect they have become a drink spiking or drug rape victim.
The trust said Australian research showed for every drink spiking, one third of victims were likely to be assaulted.
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Meatworks fights for smoko room
6th December 2006
A Hastings meatworks is mounting a last-gasp legal attempt to save a hi-tech smoking room it has set up for its workers.
Progressive Meats has had its argument stubbed out twice but it wants another chance in the Court of Appeal.
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