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Bad News for Medications?
Sometimes the interpretation of an event packs a harder punch than what actually happened. Media sources last week widely reported on disappointment over documented risks associated with new medications for smoking cessation and obesity, and suggested that these problems might slow development of new drugs to combat cravings for alcohol and illegal drugs as well. What stood out in the coverage, particularly an Associated Press article, was this comment on recent findings about medication adverse effects from Mark Egli of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA): "It certainly diminishes my enthusiasm." That might linger in the minds of readers for a longer time than details about the actual drugs being discussed, none of which were the main medications now available in the alcohol or opiate categories.
