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In the study, published August 30 in the international journal  Drug and Alcohol Dependence , Dr. Russ Callaghan and his research team looked at national Canadian police-reported crime statistics between 2009-2013. They found that release from drinking-age restrictions was associated with increases in perpetration of any crime in Canada by 7.6% among males and by 10.4% among females. In addition, the perpetration of violent crimes (a category including physical or sexual assault, as well as robbery) increased by 7.4% for males and 14.9% for females. Increases were also observed in nuisance crimes, such as disorderly conduct and property crimes, among both males and females. "As soon as youth are given legal access to alcohol, there are immediate effects on their involvement in police-reported criminal behaviours," says Dr. Callaghan, the study`s lead author and an associate professor in the Northern Medical Program . "The number of police-reported criminal incide...

The experimental therapy, which involves administering a drug currently used in cancer therapy trials, treats cocaine addiction by inhibiting memories responsible for cravings. Professor Riccardo Brambilla from Cardiff University's School of Biosciences said: "We have demonstrated that a single administration of a trial drug from the pharmacompany Pfizer can completely obliterate cocaine associated memories and significantly accelerate the end of drug seeking behaviour in animals. With this drug currently being used in cancer trials , it could be easily repositioned for treatment of cocaine addiction and other drugs of abuse." Cocaine produces its addictive effects partially by acting on the brain's limbic system -- a set of interconnected regions that regulate pleasure and motivation. When a person uses cocaine, memories of the intense pleasure felt and the things associated with it are newly created. It is these long lasting memories and drug-associated cues,...