Tag: drugs

Antivaxxer Spam

it turns out antivaxx nonsense has always been an auto-generated scam:

HealthMe’s business model is to make an automated program that runs through every single drug and every possible side effect, scrapes the FDA database for examples, then autopublishes an ad-filled web page titled “COULD $DRUG CAUSE $SIDE_EFFECT?”. It populates the page by spewing random FDA data all over it, concludes “$SIDE_EFFECT is found among people who take $DRUG”, and offers a link to a support group for $DRUG patients suffering from $SIDE_EFFECT. Needless to say, the support group is an automatically-generated forum with no posts in it.

Stoned suburbs

“Should we smoke before we pray?” Cynthia Joye asked, tapping the Bible resting on her lap. Joye had just arrived at her friend’s home in Centennial, Colorado, a suburb south of Denver, for the 5th or 6th meeting — it was hard to keep track — of Stoner Jesus Bible Study. “I think the plant is sacred. It puts people in a frame of mind where you think of God.”

the new xanax to try to overcome the existential ennui of suburbia.

Hitler drug use

Stauffenberg’s assassination attempt in 1944 wounded Hitler more deeply than he let on, and he needed his dealer-doctor more than ever. He implored Dr. Morell for Eukodal. By winter of that year, Hitler had “long known no more sober days,” Ohler writes. Worse, “Morell’s supplies were dwindling,” and on April 17, 1945, a frenzied Hitler threatened to shoot Dr. Morell. The doctor fled, but was caught by the Americans and intensively interrogated. He died in Munich 2 years later, a victim of mental illness.

for more on political leaders on drugs, see JFK

West Bank Drugs

Biosimilars

Unlike the more common small-molecule drugs, biologics generally exhibit high molecular complexity, and may be quite sensitive to changes in manufacturing processes. Follow-on manufacturers do not have access to the originator’s molecular clone and original cell bank, nor to the exact fermentation and purification process, nor to the active drug substance. They do have access to the commercialized innovator product. Various factors, such as safety, pricing, manufacturing, entry barriers, physician acceptance, and marketing, will make the biosimilar market develop different from the generic market. The high cost to enter the market and the size of the biologic drug market make entry attractive but risky.

Implantable drug scheduling

a wirelessly controlled, implantable, microchip-based devices that store and release drugs inside the body over a period of years

bad adherence seems like low hanging fruit that this device will overcome.

Blood cells for drug delivery

using red blood cells as drug delivery vectors: they lack DNA, have excellent biocompatibility, and blood transfusions are a widely used technique already.

Scythian vessels with opium, cannabis

The Scythians take some of this hemp-seed, and throw it upon the red-hot stones; immediately it smokes, and gives out such a vapour as no Grecian vapour-bath can exceed; the Scythians, delighted, shout for joy, and this vapour serves them instead of a water-bath

these are 2.4 ka old, and were described by herodotus

JFK on Meth

Khrushchev is supposed to be on his way over. The meeting may last for a long time. See to it that my back won’t give me any trouble when I have to get up or move around.”

Jacobson did so, administering “a heavy dose of methamphetamine,” but it turned out that Kennedy was incorrect about the arrival time of the Soviet leader, who showed up just as the drugs were wearing off. Kennedy demanded another injection, and Jacobson, despite his misgivings about giving another one so soon, did as he was asked

Social solutions for addiction don’t work

there’s a solution to heroin addiction, but we can’t have it:

People have tried everything to fix drug abuse. Being harsh and sending drug users to jail. Being nice and sending them to nice treatment centers that focus on rehabilitation. Old timey religion where fire-and-brimstone preachers talk about how Jesus wants them to stay off drugs. Flaky New Age religion where counselors tell you about how drug abuse is keeping you from your true self. Government programs. University programs. Private programs. Giving people money. Fining people money. Being unusually nice. Being unusually mean. More social support. Less social support. This school of therapy. That school of therapy. What works is just giving people a chemical to saturate the brain receptor directly. We know it works. The studies show it works. And we’re still collectively beating our heads against the wall of finding a social solution.

an interesting, if overly optimistic a counterpoint, things are indeed getting less crazy.