Monday, June 11, 2012

Is the future of drugs safe and non-addictive? | Science | The Guardian

Is the future of drugs safe and non-addictive? | Science | The Guardian 
extract : 
  • could or should we vaccinate people to protect them from developing an addiction in the first place, just as we do today with vaccines for polio and whooping cough? Is it violating somebody's human rights to take away their choice to experience pleasure from a drug at some point in the future?
  •  We may be able to make better recreational drugs too. I have carried out research on replacing ethanol in "alcoholic" drinks with a safer alternative, such as a benzodiazepine; ideally these drinks would be impossible to get drunk on, producing a moderate buzz with no increase in effects at higher doses, and could be switched off at the end of the night with a "sober pill". 
  • We might be able to make alcohol safer by combining it with chemicals that stop it affecting certain receptors. Ideally, we would develop an alcohol that targets just Alpha-2 or 3, giving us the sensation of relaxation and enjoyment without the negative effects.

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