Drug addiction among Quebec physicians.

Data collected by the Quebec Board of Physicians show that during the 5 years from 1974 to 1978 the prevalence of addiction to opiates among Quebec physicians was 2.8/1000. The physician addicts had greater mobility and a higher attrition rate than their peers. The typical addict was male, a general practitioner and married. He often suffered from pain, fatigue, overwork, and financial and marital difficulties. His addiction had begun at approximately 35 years of age and had become evident about 3 1/2 years later. Meperidine was the preferred opiate. Some of the physicians lost their licences to practise for variable periods of time; for these the prognosis was gloomy. Depression was the main psychiatric disorder diagnosed.     

Oncogene addiction and non-oncogene addiction in glioblastoma therapy

INTRODUCTION Glioblastoma is the most common form of primary brain tumor.The incidence of this tumor is fairly low,with 2-3 cases per 100 000 people in Europe and North America.1It is one of the most aggressive forms of cancer.2 Without treatment,the median survival is approximately 3 months.3 The current standard of treatment involves maximal surgical resection followed by concurrent radiation therapy and chemotherapy with the DNA alkylating agent,temozolomide.4,5 With this regimen,the median survival is approximately 14 months.For nearly all affected,the treatments available remain palliative.     

Nicotine addiction

Addiction to nicotine is the most common serious condition in medicine today. This chemical dependency has produced the largest epidemic of disease in this century, an epidemic that is beginning to wane in the United States but which is accelerating in the Third World. Widespread cultural acceptance of tobacco and the malignant fostering of use by cigarette merchants has perpetuated the epidemic. Nicotine regularly causes addiction in its users. This condition is best viewed as a chronic disease with remissions and exacerbations. It is highly amenable to treatment, and primary-care physicians are ideally situated to manage this fascinating condition. Physicians have a larger role to play, as well, in the many opportunities that exist to prevent this condition in the young and to protect non-smokers from tobacco smoke pollution.     

Congenital narcotic addiction

Attention is drawn to the probable increase in incidence of congenital narcotic addiction. Four instances of babies born to narcotic-addicted mothers are described. Three of the four infants developed symptoms, but all responded to treatment. Management with chlorpromazine alone is recommended. The social implications are briefly discussed.