‘No-Torture’ Drugging For Addicts

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30152, 8 June 1963, Page 11

‘No-Torture’ Drugging For Addicts

(N Z f A -Reuter— Copyright) MELBOURNE June 7

Research workers at the University of Melbourne have developed a drug which they claim will nelp free addicts from their addictions “without the usual physical and mental torture”

The head of the university team which developed the drug Professor F H Shaw said today the drug is an organic chemical called am i phenazole He said tests already had been made on addicts in Singapore and mat all were f-ee of their physical addictions. although psychiatric treatment was needed to complete a cure professor Shaw nas been Professor of Pharmacology at the University of Melbourne since 19M Professor Shaw said today a medical psycho-log st in his department Mr D W Bruce.

recently re’umed from three months in Singapore piloting the final experimental w-ork at a Government institution there

He saw Singapore had been chosen because there were so few drug addicts in Australia and work on a large scale had to be continued where addicts were presen• in greater numbers Professor Shaw said thgi the discovery of the addic tion-mhibiting properties of amiphenazole was the culmination of 10 years' work by himself and colleagues an the use of morphine as a pain-killer Ten’s were made of a number of compounds in an “♦Tort to eliminate some of ♦he side effects of morphine or hemin used as pain-killers n diseases like cancer P-nfesmr Shaw said two were suitable—ammhenazoie and tetrahydroaminacrin. both of which kept drugged na’ients alert so that they were eas-er to nurse and muld even lead a more or less active existence instead •of remaining in a heavilydrugged state.

Evidence then was found suggesting that using eithei compound might also make it possible )o withdraw morphine from addicts without the usual ohysica) and mental agony As Australia had so *ew addicts Professor Lin. a visiting pharmacolog’St from Singapore. suggested tha’ 'he experiments be continued in Singapore Professor Shaw said the department sent Mr D Bruce, a 30-year-old medical assistant. Using aminhena zole. Mr Bruce had 100 per cent success curing the physical addiction of 36 patients to a point where psychiatric treatment became possible

Most took only three days and the worst addict was cured physically in two weeks Professor Shaw said the cure would not be complete without psychiatric treatment

He said similar results had also been obtained by a London woman doctor in charge of a small private clinic.