Abstract: Background: The effect of alcohol portrayals and advertising on the drinking behaviour of young people is a matter of much debate. We evaluated the relationship between exposure to alcohol advertising, marketing and portrayal on subsequent drinking behaviour in young people by systematic review of cohort (longitudinal) studies. Methods: studies were identified in October 2006 by searches of electronic databases, with no date restriction, supplemented with hand searches of reference lists of retrieved articles. Cohort studies that evaluated exposure to advertising or marketing or alcohol portrayals and drinking at baseline and assessed drinking behaviour at follow-up in young people were selected and reviewed. Results: seven cohort studies that followed up more than 13,000 young people aged 10 to 26 years old were reviewed. The studies evaluated a range of different alcohol advertisement and marketing exposures including print and broadcast media. Two studies measured the hours of TV and music video viewing. All measured drinking behaviour using a variety of outcome measures. Two studies evaluated drinkers and non-drinkers separately. Baseline non-drinkers were significantly more likely to have become a drinker at follow-up with greater exposure to alcohol advertisements. There was little difference in drinking frequency at follow-up in baseline drinkers. In studies that included drinkers and non-drinkers, increased exposure at baseline led to significant increased risk of drinking at follow-up. The strength of the relationship varied between studies but effect sizes were generally modest. All studies controlled for age and gender, however potential confounding factors adjusted for in analyses varied from study to study. Important risk factors such as peer drinking and parental attitudes and behaviour were not adequately accounted for in some studies. Conclusion: data from prospective cohort studies suggest there is an association between exposure to alcohol advertising or promotional activity and subsequent alcohol consumption in young people. Inferences about the modest effect sizes found are limited by the potential influence of residual or unmeasured confounding.

Abstract: - Joints (Cannabiszigaretten) produzieren, ähnlich wie Tabakzigaretten, etwa 4000 verschiedene chemische Stoffe, teils mit bekannter kanzerogener Potenz, teils mit noch unerforschten Krankheits- und Gesundheitspotentialen. – Mögliche somatische Langzeitschädigungen durch das regelmässige Rauchen von Joints sind im respiratorischen System zu erwarten. – Ungeklärt, aber wahrscheinlich ist, dass ein Cannabiskonsum für Patienten mit kardiovaskulären Erkrankungen schädlich sein könnte. – Die Teratogenität des Cannabiskonsums während der Schwangerschaft scheint klinisch unbedeutend zu sein. Allerdings wurden nach einer Cannabisexposition in utero kognitive Beeinträchtigungen im Kindesalter beobachtet. – Von negativen Langzeitwirkungen auf die Psyche bei regelmässigem Cannabiskonsum kann hauptsächlich beim Krankheitsverlauf von schizophrenen Patienten ausgegangen werden. – Die Assoziation zwischen einem Cannabiskonsum und Depressionen scheint vor allem gemeinsamen Faktoren geschuldet zu sein, die sowohl das Risiko für den Cannabiskonsum als auch für Depressionen erhöhen. – Psychosoziale Probleme bei Jugendlichen sind häufiger eine Ursache für den Konsum von Cannabis als umgekehrt. – Bei chronischem Cannabiskonsum im Erwachsenenalter wurde von kognitiven Leistungsdefiziten berichtet, die allerdings nach Konsumbeendigung reversibel waren. – Trotz der relativ geringen Zahl gesicherter Spätschäden besteht eine ausreichend hohe Evidenz, um aus ärztlicher Sicht von Cannabis als Rausch- und Genussmittel abzuraten. – Cannabis smoking results in the uptake of some 4000 different chemical compounds. While some of these possess well-known carcinogenic properties, the effects of others are at present unknown. – Possible adverse long-term effects on the respiratory system of habitual smokers are probably to be expected. – There is suggestive evidence of adverse consequences from cannabis use in patients with a compromised cardiovascular system. – Cannabis use during pregnancy does not appear to be teratogenic. However, some cognitive functions of children exposed to cannabis in utero appear to be adversely affected. – Long term negative effects of chronic cannabis use on mental health are primarily observed on the long run in case of schizophrenia. – The association of cannabis use with depression apparently stems from shared genetic or environmental factors. – Psychosocial problems of young people are a cause of chronic cannabis use rather than the reverse. – Cognitive impairment in chronic cannabis users seems to be reversible after cannabis use has stopped. – From the medical point of view there is sufficient evidence to advise against cannabis use for recreational purposes.

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) are the two blood-borne pathogens most commonly transmitted among injection drug users via multi-person use of syringes and other injection equipment. However, important differences exist in the epidemiology of HIV and HCV within different populations of intravenous drug users. METHOD: A literature review was carried out to summarize publications describing the epidemiology and natural history of HIV and HCV in injection drug users. RESULTS: Among injection drug users worldwide, HIV prevalence varies from <5% to >80%, with annual HIV incidence between <1% and 50%. More consistency is shown in HCV prevalence (50–90%) and incidence (10–30% per year). Host, environmental and viral factors that favor rapid spread of HCV among IDUs suggest that HCV infection in a population of injection drug users may become endemic over a relatively short period of time. Lower transmission efficiency for HIV also indicates that its spread among injection drug users may be somewhat slower. CONCLUSIONS: Successful efforts to prevent transmission of blood-borne viruses among IDUs typically result in risk reduction; however, no intervention has resulted in elimination of risk behavior. To reduce HIV transmission, risk reduction may be sufficient, whereas control of HCV may necessitate the use of injection practices that guarantee elimination of exposure to equipment contaminated with even small amounts of blood.