Ammonia release from heated 'street' cannabis leaf and its potential toxic effects on cannabis users.

Aims: To use selected ion flow tube mass spectrometry (SIFT-MS) to analyse the molecular species emitted by heated 'street' cannabis plant material, especially targeting ammonia.

Materials And Methods: Samples of 'street' cannabis leaf, held under a UK Home Office licence, were prepared by finely chopping and mixing the material. The samples were then heated in commercially available devices.

Awareness of the need for safe storage of methadone at home is not improved by the use of protocols on recording information giving.

Background: Methadone is a synthetic, narcotic analgesic used in the treatment of drug misuse. Tragedies involving children being poisoned by the accidental ingestion of methadone are no longer a rare occurrence. Following an audit of the effectiveness of the provision and recall of information to patients attending an NHS Methadone Clinic a protocol was introduced to ensure that staff documented the provision of such information and patients gave a written confirmation that they had received the information.

Elevated urinary aluminium in current and past users of illicit heroin.

The use of illicit heroin is associated with aberrant neurology of unknown aetiology and various psychiatric illnesses. Aluminium, which is a proven neurotoxin, is present in significant amounts in illicit heroin and may also be volatilized and inhaled following the vaporization of heroin off aluminium foil ('Chasing the Dragon'). The purpose of this study was to establish if the use of illicit heroin was associated with an increase in the body burden of aluminium.

The influence of age and gender on drug use in the United Kingdom--a review.

The aim of this study is to review UK epidemiological research in light of studies on the influence of age and gender on drug use in young people. Literature for this review came from English language publications using a structured search strategy. Within the UK, drug use is commoner in young males than other population groups.

A survey of staff attitudes to smoking-related policy and intervention in psychiatric and general health care settings.

Background: Although the move to smoke-free hospital settings is generally a popular initiative, it may be a more challenging and controversial issue in mental health care. A survey was carried out to investigate differences in attitudes between clinical staff in psychiatric and general medical settings to smoke-free policy and intervention.

Method: The sample comprised 2574 NHS staff working in two Acute Hospital Trusts and one Mental Health Trust in England.