Delays in referral of patients with social phobia, panic disorder and generalized anxiety disorder attending a specialist anxiety clinic.

Individuals with anxiety disorders experience substantial delays in obtaining treatment, but little is known about whether people with specific anxiety subcategories are differentially affected. The present study used a modified Encounter Form to examine the cause and length of delays in reaching primary care and specialist services amongst patients with panic disorder (PD/PD-Ag), social phobia (SP), and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). Participants were 142 consecutive patients attending a specialist anxiety clinic in South Western Sydney.

An overview of the use of urine, hair, sweat and saliva to detect drug use.

This paper provides a brief overview of qualitative drug testing procedures using urine, hair, saliva and sweat specimens. Issues related to collection, analysis and interpretation of each specimen as well as their advantages and disadvantages are discussed. The biological detection of drug use involves a screening test which, if positive, is followed by a confirmatory test.

Can drug injectors be encouraged to adopt non-injecting routes of administration (NIROA) for drugs?

Drug use by injection can cause problems specific to this form of administration. Problems include an increased risk of drug overdose, drug dependence, the transmission of HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C and vein damage. Shifting drug injectors from injecting to another route of administration may minimize these problems.

Decreased heroin availability in Sydney in early 2001.

Aim: To examine the veracity of reports of a substantial decrease in the availability of heroin in Sydney in January 2001.

Design: Cross-sectional survey.

Setting: Sydney, Australia.