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Moderate Drinking and Health Benefits: How good is the science?

A critique of a well-known paper published last year in the British Medical Journal concerning moderate drinking and health has appeared as a letter to the editor of that same journal. The letter is co-authored by CARBC scientists and colleagues at other centres in Australia and the USA. The original study was a systematic review and meta-analysis of 84 published reports on the relationship between alcohol use and risks of coronary heart disease, stroke and cardiovascular disease by Canadian scientists Ronksley et al (2011). Stockwell et al (2012) conclude in their letter that all but two of these 84 reports contain at least one serious methodological error and that the remaining two studies are equivocal in their results. The letter can be accessed here. In order to view supplementary online material referred to in this letter, please click here. This material provides citations for the 84 reports employed by Ronksley et al in their meta-analyses and, further, classifies them according to methodological problems.

References

Ronksley, R., Brien, S., Turner, B., Mukamal, K. & Ghali ,W. (2011). Association of alcohol consumption with selected cardiovascular disease outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis. British Medical Journal, 342:doi:10.1136/bmj.d671.

Stockwell, T., Greer, A., Fillmore, K., Chikritzhs, T. & Zeisser, C. (2012). Moderate alcohol consumption and health benefits: how good is the science? British Medical Journal, Rapid Response published online 21 January 2012.

Latest News & Notes

Research assistantships available at CARBC

Up to three 12-month MA and/or PhD research assistantships ranging from $10,000-$12,000, funded through a Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) team grant, will be awarded in March 2012. Deadline for application is February 15, 2012.

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CARBC In the news

BC policies to restrict cheap alcohol have curbed consumption
Date: 13 December 2011
Source: University of Victoria

Canada approves first low-risk alcohol drinking guidelines
Date: November 25, 2011
Source: Ann Dowsett Johnston, Toronto Star

It’s like saying to a cancer patient: ‘We can’t treat you yet because your cancer isn’t at Stage 4.
Date: November 25, 2011
Source: Ann Dowsett Johnston, Toronto Star

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The Internationalization of Ayahuasca: Public Controversies and Regulation
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Canadian Media Stories on Alcohol or Other Drugs

CN AB: Cops Declare No Amnesty For Ecstasy

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 08:00:00 GMT
The Calgary Sun, 02 Feb 2012 - There will be no amnesty for ecstasy holders, high ranking cops said just one day after the police commissioner mused it as a means to get killer 'E' off the streets. "The question was 'is the Calgary Police Service considering an amnesty in regards to ecstasy?' I'm here to say today, right now, the Calgary Police Service is not considering any amnesty in regards to ecstasy," Deputy Chief Kevan Stuart said Wednesday.

CN ON: PUB LTE: Right Promise To Legalize Marijuana

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 08:00:00 GMT
Almaguin News, 02 Feb 2012 - As a currently serving police officer, I must preface the following commentary with the proviso that the opinions expressed below are simply my own personal opinions and do not represent the position/thoughts/policy of my employer. They say politics is the art of the possible.

CN ON: PUB LTE: Reader Says Liberals Get It Right With Promise

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 08:00:00 GMT
The Huntsville Forester, 01 Feb 2012 - As a currently serving police officer, I must preface the following commentary with the proviso that the opinions expressed below are simply my own personal opinions and do not represent the position/thoughts/policy of my employer. They say politics is the art of the possible.

CN AB: Column: No Regrets For Ecstasy

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 08:00:00 GMT
The Calgary Sun, 01 Feb 2012 - "A solution of 6.55 g of 3.4-methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA) as the free base and 2.8 mL formic acid in 150 mL benzene was held at reflux under a Dean Stark trap until no further H2O was generated." So read the opening lines of a recipe, in a volume globally condemned by police as the cookbook of the illegal pharmaceutical industry - the chemical stew in question a drug better known as ecstasy.

CN ON: Sweeps Show Less Drug Activity In City High Schools

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 08:00:00 GMT
Hamilton Spectator, 01 Feb 2012 - Hamilton police say the results of their 2011 high school drug sweeps show drug activity in city high schools is down by almost half compared to the previous year. Various officers conducted 103 drug sweeps at all city high schools last year and seized 143.3 grams (5.05 ounces) of marijuana and charged 11 youths.

CN ON: PUB LTE: Liberal Party Gets It Right With Promise To

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 08:00:00 GMT
Gravenhurst Banner, 01 Feb 2012 - As a currently serving police officer, I must preface the following commentary with the proviso that the opinions expressed below are simply my own personal opinions and do not represent the position/thoughts/policy of my employer. They say politics is the art of the possible.

CN ON: PUB LTE: Liberal Party Gets It Right With Promise To

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 08:00:00 GMT
Bracebridge Examiner, 01 Feb 2012 - As a currently serving police officer, I must preface the following commentary with the proviso that the opinions expressed below are simply my own personal opinions and do not represent the position/thoughts/policy of my employer. They say politics is the art of the possible.

CN AB: Column: Message Is Simple

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 08:00:00 GMT
The Calgary Sun, 31 Jan 2012 - If You Do the E Circulating on the Streets Right Now, You're Going to Need One of These Expensive, Shiny Boxes At this point, consider it a suicide attempt. That's the harsh life and death decision facing those planning to take ecstasy =AD or what they might believe is ecstasy =AD when nine Calgary-area corpses have already been linked to the same mislabelled drug.

CN BC: OPED: We Are Not 'Pot Doctors'

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 08:00:00 GMT
Chilliwack Times, 31 Jan 2012 - I would like to clarify a few issues regarding the Health Canada Medicinal Marihuana Access Regulations (MMAR) program. Physicians do not "prescribe pot." Every Canadian citizen qualifies automatically for MMAR if they meet the Health Canada criteria-anyone providing evidence of a qualifying condition, and/or anyone who's been to a specialist for their condition. This has nothing to do with the doctor's views on the matter-patients either qualify or they do not.