Miaow mix, miaow mix, please deliver

A girl of 14 from Moulsecoomb recently died after allegedly taking a combination of methedrone (aka miaow miaow, MMcat) and ketamine. This is one of the first deaths directly related to the “legal” party drug methedrone.
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Smart drugs; a new panacea?

Modafinil. Exelon. Reminyl. These are all names which where virtually unheard of a year ago but are now appearing in newspaper and magazine articles with astounding regularity. They are smart drugs, taken to enhance memory, boost motivation, increase concentration, and even improve intelligence.

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An Injection of Common Sense?

When the National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse began its heroin “shooting gallery” pilot project four years ago, critics argued that it would result in a proliferation of drug dealing and crime.

In fact, it has had the opposite effect. In the areas of south London, Brighton and Darlington where heroin prescribing clinics have been set up, levels of both drug dealing and crime have declined. Read more

Family Guy banned in drugs crackdown

Family Guy, synonymous with a talking dog, awkward teenagers, and a baby that wants to take over the world, hardly the first thing you would ban when taking a hard-line on drugs. Apparently not.

Venezuelan authorities have made television stations pull the plug on the series, following an episode in which Brian, the talking dog, campaigns to legalise marijuana. According to the Justice Minister Tareck El Aissami, this, in a cartoon, will promote the use of drugs on the general Venezuelan population.

Television stations refusing to axe the show will be fined as punishment. Televen, which broadcast the offending episode, only avoided these fines by dropping the show from its usual morning slot, and replacing it with Baywatch, obviously a suitable alternative. It was also forced to show public service films as penance for airing the original episode, and by way of an apology.

Shhh… it’s a secret!

You may have heard of Secret Cinema, a film event where you don’t know what you’ll see or where you’ll see it until you get there. It’s a bit like a rave for people who don’t take drugs or like dance music. When I was invited to review a Secret Cinema event I was excited, wondering what I would see and where I would see it. Therefore, I was a little disappointed when I discovered that this time it would only be the film which was a secret. The venue was the Duke of Yorks cinema, which may be the nicest cinema in Brighton, but hardly an exciting surprise since I just went there last week!
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Gonzo = journalism’s fad

When a friend recommended Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, I raised a sceptical eyebrow. And this friend of mine (let’s call him Oscar) told me the book was a modern literary classic. A must-read. So last weekend, I put Angela Carter aside, to read the novel that’s been delighting drug addicts and wannabe journalists for forty years. And, well – I thought it was a bit crap.
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Number of drug related deaths increased in Sussex

Recent studies suggest that the number of cases of drug poisoning in Sussex is on the rise. Reports state that the number of hospital admissions for drug poisoning has nearly doubled in the past five years.
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UK students using prescription drugs as study aids

Early morning library users will be familiar with the sight of bug-eyed third years, surrounded by empty cans of energy drink, exhausted after having pulled yet another ‘all-nighter.’ However, The Badger has discovered that for some of them it is not just caffeine that they have been taking to keep themselves awake come exam time. Read more