1.Misuse of prescription medicines is as prevalent as the use of recreational drugs and novel psychoactive substances in Singapore: an unrecognised public health issue?
Wui Ling CHAN ; Paul Ivor DARGAN ; Colleen Michelle HAYNES ; Jody Lynn GREEN ; Joshua Curtis BLACK ; Richard Charles DART ; David Michael WOOD
Singapore medical journal 2022;63(10):572-576
INTRODUCTION:
Misuse of prescription medicines and the harms associated with such use are growing threats across the world. There is currently, however, limited data on the extent of prescription medicine misuse in Singapore and whether this is a current threat in the country.
METHODS:
An online survey, limited to 1,000 individuals (aged 21 years and over) who were residents in Singapore, was administered through a survey panel company in September 2015. The survey collected information on participant demographics, and their awareness, self-reported lifetime and past-year misuse of commonly available prescription medicines in Singapore as well as the use of a range of recreational drugs and novel psychoactive substances (NPS).
RESULTS:
Lifetime (6.7%) and past-year (4.8%) misuse of any prescription medicine was comparable to lifetime (6.0%) and past-year (3.0%) use of any recreational drugs/NPS. The top five prescription medicines for lifetime misuse were: diazepam (2.7%); codeine (2.3%); dhasedyl (promethazine, codeine and ephedrine; 1.6%); panadeine (paracetamol and codeine; 1.5%); and methylphenidate (1.2%). The top five drugs for past-year misuse were: diazepam (1.6%); codeine (0.9%); panadeine (0.7%); alprazolam (0.6%); baclofen (0.6%); and gabapentin (0.6%).
CONCLUSION
Misuse of prescription medicine in Singapore was common, with prevalence comparable to the use of recreational drugs/NPS. A common source for misused drugs was physicians. Further studies are required to determine whether this is more widespread in Singapore and establish the different forms of drug diversion, so that appropriate prevention strategies can be implemented.
Humans
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Illicit Drugs/adverse effects*
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Public Health
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Singapore/epidemiology*
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Substance-Related Disorders/drug therapy*
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Prescription Drugs/adverse effects*
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Codeine
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Diazepam
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Prescriptions
2.Identification of new genetic risk factors for prostate cancer.
Michelle GUY ; Zsofia KOTE-JARAI ; Graham G GILES ; Ali Amin Al OLAMA ; Sarah K JUGURNAUTH ; Shani MULHOLLAND ; Daniel A LEONGAMORNLERT ; Stephen M EDWARDS ; Jonathan MORRISON ; Helen I FIELD ; Melissa C SOUTHEY ; Gianluca SEVERI ; Jenny L DONOVAN ; Freddie C HAMDY ; David P DEARNALEY ; Kenneth R MUIR ; Charmaine SMITH ; Melisa BAGNATO ; Audrey T ARDERN-JONES ; Amanda L HALL ; Lynne T O'BRIEN ; Beatrice N GEHR-SWAIN ; Rosemary A WILKINSON ; Angela COX ; Sarah LEWIS ; Paul M BROWN ; Sameer G JHAVAR ; Malgorzata TYMRAKIEWICZ ; Artitaya LOPHATANANON ; Sarah L BRYANT ; null ; null ; null ; Alan HORWICH ; Robert A HUDDART ; Vincent S KHOO ; Christopher C PARKER ; Christopher J WOODHOUSE ; Alan THOMPSON ; Tim CHRISTMAS ; Chris OGDEN ; Cyril FISHER ; Charles JAMESON ; Colin S COOPER ; Dallas R ENGLISH ; John L HOPPER ; David E NEAL ; Douglas F EASTON ; Rosalind A EELES
Asian Journal of Andrology 2009;11(1):49-55
There is evidence that a substantial part of genetic predisposition to prostate cancer (PCa) may be due to lower penetrance genes which are found by genome-wide association studies. We have recently conducted such a study and seven new regions of the genome linked to PCa risk have been identified. Three of these loci contain candidate susceptibility genes: MSMB, LMTK2 and KLK2/3. The MSMB and KLK2/3 genes may be useful for PCa screening, and the LMTK2 gene might provide a potential therapeutic target. Together with results from other groups, there are now 23 germline genetic variants which have been reported. These results have the potential to be developed into a genetic test. However, we consider that marketing of tests to the public is premature, as PCa risk can not be evaluated fully at this stage and the appropriate screening protocols need to be developed. Follow-up validation studies, as well as studies to explore the psychological implications of genetic profile testing, will be vital prior to roll out into healthcare.
Genetic Predisposition to Disease
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genetics
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Genetic Testing
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Humans
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Kallikreins
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genetics
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Male
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Membrane Proteins
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genetics
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Prostatic Neoplasms
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diagnosis
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genetics
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Prostatic Secretory Proteins
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genetics
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Protein-Serine-Threonine Kinases
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genetics
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Risk Factors