Prompted by a comment on an earlier post:
Please note that professor Nutt has a patent for an alcohol replacement drink which is based on Valium.
I looked into this...
An alcohol substitute that gives the drinker the pleasant feelings of tipsiness without an unpleasant hangover, is being developed by researchers.
The team, led by drugs expert Professor David Nutt, has developed the drink using chemicals related to the sedative Valium.
It works on the nerves in a similar way to alcohol causing feelings of well-being and relaxation.
I didn't see the press release but, judging by the report - and the focus on the 'hangover' - it seems to me that Professor Nutt might be focusing on the dollars rather than the health benefits!
And - in Professor Nutt's terms - Valium is really addictive:
Valium depresses the nervous system much like alcohol and is abused by all segments of society. Valium is both physically and psychologically addicting and as is considered one of the toughest addictions to break. With chronic use, its abuse potential is high. Withdrawal symptoms can be seen after only 2 or 3 days of repeated use.
So we replace a drug produced by businesses that don't sponsor medical research with a drug produced by businesses that do sponsor medical research?
I'm sticking with the beer, Professor!
....
2 comments:
The even scarier quote from the Mail article (which was widely reported by all of the media at the time) is
Professor Nutt added: 'Law enforcement could even have the antidote to use on revellers who have used the solution.'
Enforced sobriety? That's sinister.
Competition through legislation. Marvellous.
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