27. Addiction Research Foundation: Quotes from The Journal (Toronto)

By Tom O'Connell

The Journal of the Addiction Research Foundation in Toronto always provides much food for thought on this complex subject. Here are excerpts from recent issues:

* Alcohol, aggression, and violent crime-- An analysis of 26 studies looking at alcohol and aggression found that 62 percent of individuals were drinking at the time of a violent crime such as homicide, rape or murder. "This figure is double the percentage for non-violent crimes," said Dr. Robert Pihl of McGill University in Montreal. In cases where researchers could look at blood alcohol levels, perpetrators of violent crimes were also significantly intoxicated when they committed the crime. Interestingly, 45 percent of victims were also drinking at the time of the crime.

* Teen smoking & cancer-- The rising teen smoking rate will lead to an "epidemic" of cancer and heart disease, warns Ontario's chief medical officer of health, Dr. Richard Schabas: "as a result of tobacco use, 12,000 people in Ontario die each year, four times as many deaths as car accidents, suicide, homicide and AIDS combined."

* Why ex-smokers gain weight-- Australian scientists have discovered why people gain weight when they quit smoking. Nicotine suppresses leptin, a hormone in the brain that controls appetite. When people quit smoking, leptin is released and it triggers their appetite. As a result, they may eat more and put on weight. The hormone was only recently discovered.

* "Light" cigarettes linked to increased lung cancer-- Low-tar cigarettes have resulted in an increase in cancers in the deepest part of the lungs, a Swiss study of 7,423 cancer patients has found. Rates of adenocarcinomas have jumped by about 2.5 times  in both sexes. Researchers believe that smokers are compensating for low nicotine levels in light cigarettes by increasing the number and intensity of their inhalations. As a result, carcinogens reach the deepest part of the lungs.

* Lung cancer in women increases-- Lung cancer rates have reached high levels among women and continue to rise, reports Canada's National Cancer Institute. Lung cancer killed an estimated 6,000 women last year, while breast cancer killed about 5,300. The numbers reflect the fact that many women began smoking after World War II. There is also evidence that women may be more susceptible than men for the same exposure.

* Charity casinos-- "Charity gaming clubs" have been designated for almost every city in Ontario. Full-time clubs will be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and charities will benefit. Each gaming club can hold 40 gaming tables and 150 video lottery terminals. Critics are concerned that the new clubs will encourage problem gambling.

* Hi-tech rum posters removed-- In Australia, Bacardi-Martini Pacific has withdrawn controversial bus shelter posters that emitted a rum scent. The scent was designed to get people to look at the ads.

* Doctors help problem drinkers-- Brief counseling with physicians helps problem drinkers reduce their drinking, a University of Wisconsin study found.

* FAS kids misdiagnosed with ADHD-- Children with fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) are frequently diagnosed with attention deficit disorder (ADHD). FAS children are often given stimulant drugs to treat an incorrect ADHD diagnosis. This may focus their attention, but won't improve learning, the researchers from Atlanta, Georgia warn.

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