In 2010, the UN General Assembly explicitly recognized the human right to water and sanitation. Everyone has the right to sufficient, continuous, safe, acceptable, physically accessible and affordable water for personal and domestic use. Some 80 percent of the world’s wastewater is dumped largely untreated back into the environment, polluting rivers, lakes, and oceans. This widespread problem of water pollution is […]
What is a middle ear infection? A middle ear infection, also called otitis media, occurs when a virus or bacteria causes the area behind the eardrum to become inflamed. The condition is most common in children. According to the Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital at Stanford, middle ear infections occur in 80 percent of children […]
In the scientific community, drugs are defined as substances that can affect a human’s or animal’s biological and neurological states. Drugs can be swallowed, inhaled through the nostrils, injected with a needle, applied to the skin, taken as a suppository, or smoked. Scientists categorize drugs according to their effects. Among their categories are analgesics, which […]
Faking and counterfeiting occur throughout the world with claims that it is more common in some developing countries with weak regulatory programs. It is estimated that more than 10% of drugs worldwide are counterfeit, with up to 50% in some countries. Heightening vigilance and awareness of counterfeiting is one measure for combating faking. Substandard […]
The World Health Organization defines counterfeit drugs as one which is deliberately and fraudulently mislabelled with respect to identity and/or source. A counterfeit medication or pharmaceutical product is produced or sold with the intent to deceptively represent its origin, authenticity, or effectiveness. It may be contaminated or contain the wrong or no active ingredient. They […]
Drugs, substances, and certain chemicals used to make drugs are classified into five (5) distinct categories or schedules depending upon the drug’s acceptable medical use and the drug’s abuse or dependency potential. These lists are intended as general references and are not comprehensive listings of all controlled substances. Schedule I Schedule I drugs, substances, […]
Emergency contraception can prevent most pregnancies when taken after intercourse. It provides an important backup in cases of unprotected intercourse or contraceptive accident (such as forgotten pills or torn condoms) and is especially valuable after rape or coerced sex. What is Postinor-1? It is used to prevent pregnancy when taken within 72 hours of […]
What is Rohypnol? Rohypnol (Flunitrazepam) is a type of benzodiazepine, a class of drugs that depresses the central nervous system. You may have heard of Valium and Xanax. These are also benzodiazepines used as sedatives and antianxiety agents. Rohypnol was developed as a sleeping aid. It is also used in therapy settings to relax patients […]
What is Rohypnol? Rohypnol is a tranquilizer (Sleep trigger) about ten times more potent than Valium. The drug is available as a white or olive-green pill and is usually sold in the manufacturer’s bubble packaging. Users crush the pills and snort the powder, sprinkle it on marijuana and smoke it, dissolve it in a drink […]
What is cocaine? Cocaine is a powerfully addictive stimulant drug made from the leaves of the coca plant native to South America. Although health care providers can use it for valid medical purposes, such as local anesthesia for some surgeries, recreational cocaine use is illegal. As a street drug, cocaine looks like a fine, white, […]
