Psychiatric drugs are doing us more harm than good
Peter Gøtzsche: As with benzodiazepines in the 1980s, the UK is prescribing SSRI antidepressants at a staggering rate – and to no good effect
DNP: the return of a deadly weight-loss drug
Philip Strange: How could a
chemical used a century ago in explosives come to be used by bodybuilders to
lose weight? The story of dinitrophenol illustrates
the fatal allure of slimming drugs
Recovering addicts: tell us about your experience with heroin addiction
Philip Seymour Hoffman’s death Sunday brought heroin back into the spotlight. Heroin use is growing more common in the US. We want to hear from those who have experienced it firsthand
Sharing NHS medical records will be vital for improving healthcare
Dr John Parkinson: Research using anonymised medical records will help ensure the safety and efficacy of drugs, vaccines and medical devices
A safe, effective diet pill – the elusive holy grail
Trade in illegal, ineffective drugs flourishes as pharmaceutical industry repeatedly fails to produce successful pill
DNP victims’ families lead fight to have fat-burning drug classified
More than 60 deaths attributed to metabolism-boosting chemical fertiliser, which is marketed online as a diet pill
Iran sees dramatic rise in HIV infections
Health minister says taboo surrounding disease is preventing effective treatment, and 70% do not know they are infected
Antidepressant use on the rise in rich countries, OECD finds
Rate not matched by increase in global diagnoses, prompting concern among psychiatrists about over-use of medication
Home health tests: the rise in DIY diagnosis
From cancer to cholesterol to cannabis-use, the range of self-screening kits is vast. But are they accurate, or worthwhile? Ann Robinson put some to the test
Do antidepressants work?
The prescription of antidepressants is growing faster than for almost any other drug - in the UK and around the world - but the debate over their effectiveness rages on. Have you ever taken or prescribed antidepressants? Share your experiences anonymously in our online survey
Should I take statins?
Luisa Dillner: Since 80% of cardiovascular disease is caused by lack of exercise, poor diet and smoking, it would be better to address these factors rather than pop a statin
Narcomania: How Britain Got Hooked on Drugs by Max Daly and Steve Sampson – review
The global drug economy is now an essential component in our modern banking system and cannot be debated honestly, write Max Daly and Steve Sampson
It’s too soon to blame paracetamol for rising childhood asthma rates
Alok Jha: Research has so far failed to establish that paracetamol increases the severity of asthma symptoms in children
DrinkSavvy: how your straw could help you stay safe
New drinkware changes color and pattern in the presence of common 'date-rape' drugs GHB, ketamine, or Rohypnol
We don’t know if antidepressants work, so stop bashing them
Pete Etchells: Recent attacks on antidepressants simplify a complicated picture about their effectiveness, and people with depression suffer for it