4 //omen’s 1/1/ news Medicine Abused

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32360, 28 July 1970, Page 2

4 //omen’s 1/1/ news

Medicine Abused

In the winter, when cough* end cold* are prevalent, moat sufferers turn to a bottle of patent medicine for relief. And tome of .these cough mixture*, which are freely available without a doctor’* prescription, are harmful if taken in dosages beyond those specified on the label. “There is evidence that some young teen-agers in Christchurch have been buying bottles of certain types of cough mixture, taking them to parties and drinking the lot for kicks," the deputymedical officer of health for Christchurch (Dr D. A. Andrews) said recently. “Parents should be aware that cough medicines which contain ephedrine, among other ingredients, have, a mildly stimulating effect,” he said. This particular drug stimulates the nervous system, prevents sleep, and will cause palpitations if taken in excess. If parents suspected that a child is involved in abuse of cough medicines or any type of drug they should discuss the matter with their own doctor or a doctor at the Health Department, he said. Harmful Drugs of the anti-histamine type in some cough medicines were doubly harmfill if taken in conjunction with alcohol. They slowed reactions and tended to make users drowsy, he said. One proprietary line has a caution on the level which states that it is dangerous to exceed the stated dose, that it should not be taken during pregnancy without medical advice and that a ear should not be driven within six to eight hours of taking a dose. T< lu proper dosage, cough medicines which contain ephedrine and anti-histamine type drugs are usually excellent, but like all drugs may be harmful if abused," Dr Andrews said.

This kind of drug abuse was not a new problem; it was one that seemed to recur periodically, be said. Inquiries made of many pharmacists indicated that they were on the alert for abuse of these drugs or any others sold in proprietary lines, which could be harmful if taken in doses beyond those specified on the label.

Minting Dates. If a recipe requires minced dates, add a few drops of lemon juice to the fruit before putting through the mincer. This helps them go through more