[Clinical and behavioral approach].

During decades, the detection of alcohol related impairments was the main target for behavioral examination in drivers. The implementation of legislations on illegal drugs and driving, mainly cannabis, has led to an adaptation of the procedures by requiring, from the policemen, an evaluation of external signs of consumption, signs not anymore searched in case of alcohol. The current procedure in France consists in a medical evaluation by a required medical doctor, and based on the Field Sobriety test.

The role of captodiamine in the withdrawal from long-term benzodiazepine treatment.

Background And Objectives: Discontinuation of benzodiazepines can be associated with the emergence of a withdrawal syndrome which compromises successful termination of treatment. The objective of the present study was to evaluate whether a six week administration of captodiamine during benzodiazepine discontinuation could prevent emergence of a benzodiazepine withdrawal syndrome and thus facilitate discontinuation of these drugs.

Subjects And Methods: A controlled, randomised, double-blind trial of captodiamine versus placebo was conducted in 81 subjects presenting mild to moderate anxiety and treated for at least 6 months with a stable dose of benzodiazepine.

[Medication, narcotics and behavior at the wheel].

Consumption of illicit drugs is generally underestimated as cause of road accidents. French legislation does not give the police authority to carry out their detection at once. If the regulation concerning driving and drinking is on the way of an hardening, a debate comes into being about the suppression of the penalization for consumption of some drugs whereas their involvement in road fatalities seems to be important.