The demise of drug design litigation: death by federal preemption.

For over half a century, courts and commentators have disagreed as to the standards governing liability for drug design cases. In the last several years, the United States Supreme Court decided two cases that will have a profound effect on whether drug design defect cases, in general, are federally preempted. In PLIVA v.

Substance abuse in head injury rehabilitation.

The desire for relief of discomfort appears to be universal, and the fact that certain chemicals can provide relief from physical/emotional discomforts may understandably result in recourse to them. Various factors may result in these chemicals having deleterious effects, either because of toxicity, addiction, or adverse sociocultural consequences. The widespread use of these chemicals and their manifold effects warrant increasing study and familiarity with patterns of abuse, etiology, and management on the part of all who are involved in the delivery of human services.

Tolerance at high blood alcohol concentrations: a study of 110 cases and review of the literature.

One hundred ten consecutive alcoholics who voluntarily entered a detoxification center were studied to determine their ability to perform certain designated functions (a) while under the influence of alcohol at admission and (b) four days later, after they had undergone detoxification. Their blood alcohol concentrations (BACs) within an hour of admission were determined by using the DuPont Automated Clinical Analyzer (ACA), following standard procedures. The results of the tests performed by these subjects were then studied to ascertain the level of psychomotor impairment in alcoholics at elevated BACs.

Early intervention in alcoholism: confrontational techniques.

Abstaining from use of a chemical that has provided a desirable sensation will not occur as long as the pleasure or relief derived from its use exceeds the unpleasant consequences--hence, the popular observation that an alcoholic does not stop drinking until he hits rock bottom. Waiting for rock bottom to occur, however, is fraught with physical and emotional risk both for the alcoholic and for the significant others in his life. The author describes two interventions designed to make the patient realize the gravity of the alcoholism problem.