The latest National Drug and Alcohol Survey presents us with a mixed bag of results, writes Dr Des Corrigan. The recently-published bulletin on the 2019/2020…
Household Drug Survey Throws Up Some Intriguing Findings
Dr Des Corrigan selects some of the headline findings from the latest national household survey on drug and alcohol use he fifth national household survey…
Another Bad News Story about Drugs from Afghanistan
Dr Des Corrigan analyses the changes occurring in Afghanistan that may flood Europe with cheap crystal meth It is somewhat ironic that the heroin that…
Five ‘Herbs’ for Weak Urinary Flow
Dr Des Corrigan compares ‘natural’ vs ‘herbal’ when it comes to commonly-advertised products Another month, another pop-up ad, this time for a product claiming to…
The FDA tackles misbranding of CBD products
Dr Des Corrigan finds that when it comes to the labelling of some CBD products, the devil is in the detail According to a recent…
Herbs for sleep – what is the evidence?
Dr Des Corrigan reviews the evidence for herbal therapies to treat stress and insomnia The Irish Times Health Section published a provocative and at times…
Is the Lethal Fat-Burner DNP Another Case of Paracelsus Being Right?
Dr Des Corrigan weighs the evidence against DNP with the musings of the historical ‘father of toxicology’ Media reports at the beginning of February referred…
‘Herbal’ treatments for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
DR DES CORRIGAN LOOKS AT THE CLAIMS MADE FOR TREATING NAFLD WITH HERBAL REMEDIES I have written previously about a ‘popup’ ad for a herbal…
The Environmental Costs of drug use and addiction
Dr Des Corrigan highlights the damage done to our environment by the human quest for chemical intoxication Most of us have some awareness of the…
A Herbal Cure for hangovers
Dr Des Corrigan looks at the science behind herbal solutions for the predictable problem of January hangovers “The year began with lunch” — so begins…
The Pharmacology of Christmas presents
Dr Des Corrigan examines the symbolic and therapeutic qualities of the gifts given by the Three Wise Men The first Christmas presents were probably those…
The Health Effects of Exotic Red Teas
Dr Des Corrigan puts the kettle on and looks at the properties of a variety of teas A relatively trivial if upsetting consequence of “The…
The Impact of Spices on Metabolic Syndrome and Obesity
Dr Des Corrigan adds a little spice to the research on the potential benefits of some dual-use plants “Lose weight!” was the blunt response by…
New Focus on the Date-Rape Drugs GHB and GBL
Given events in the UK, Dr Des Corrigan advises caution over a possible emerging subculture of ‘date-rape’ drugs in Ireland The reporting on several high-profile…
The bitter truth behind those trendy summer spritzes
Dr Des Corrigan looks at the crossover between food and beverage and medicinal use of a variety of plants As I was cocooning, the prospect…
No laughing matter
Dr Des Corrigan on the increasing abuse of laughing gas A recent RTÉ news item showed volunteers cleaning-up rivers in Dublin, including one in Tallaght, where…
5 ‘herbs’ for Arthritic Knees?
Dr Des Corrigan asks how many of the numerous products in pop-up advertisements deserve the title of ‘herbs’ I presume I am not the only one…
Herbal adaptogens and immunostimulants in a time of pandemic
Dr Des Corrigan helps to distinguish the evidence on supplements from the ‘fake news’ bombarding your patients As a retired academic member of the profession,…
At long last
The Food Safety Authority has finally acted against CBD products, writes Dr Des Corrigan IIt has taken far too long, but finally, the Food Safety…
Cocaine epidemic?
Is there a resurgence in the use of what is foolishly considered by some to be a benign ‘party drug’, asks Dr Des Corrigan Drugs…
Prescription for disaster
Dr Des Corrigan reviews the appalling death toll revealed in data from the Drug-Related Deaths Index The Health Research Board released data from the National…
Prescribed Drugs
The Health Research Board released data from the National Drug- Related Death Index (NDRDI) for 2017 in mid-December. There were 786 such deaths recorded, up…
Vape Lung Injury
Dr Des Corrigan writes on the current controversy in e-cigarettes and breaks down some of the terminology in ‘cannavaping’ Controversy has surrounded e-cigarettes since they…
Christmas would not be Christmas without chocolate
Dr Des Corrigan looks at the origins, properties and composition of the chocolate products many of us will consume this Christmas Over the many years…
Not in the script
Dr Des Corrigan on why over one-third of drug clinic patients are prescribed benzodiazepines Department of Health guidance on prescribing benzodiazepines (BZDs) to problematic opioid…
Unusual & Exotic Herbal Materials On Sale Near You
Killing time on a recent shopping trip led Dr Des Corrigan to consider the therapeutic role of exotic herbs for a range of purposes Like…
You Cannot be Serious
A recent column in the mainstream media prompted Dr Des Corrigan to look at the issues in using esketamine to treat depression I recently had a…
Pharmacy’s Response to Codeine Misuse Under the Spotlight
The pharmacy profession needs to do its part in staying vigilant against the rising tide of codeine misuse, writes Dr Des Corriga A number of recent…
What is so special about Moroccan Argan oil?
Des Corrigan looks at the benefits of Moroccan Argan oil and finds that for once, there may be sufficient evidence to believe the hype Over…
Death by prescription
Dr Des Corrigan on how the misuse of hydromorphone and loperamide is adding to the opioid crisis in North America he 2019 National Drug Control…