© phoenixen.at
All parts (grid and text) of the crossword puzzles published here are protected by copyright. Any further use and reproduction or re-publication – even in part – beyond personal use is not permitted without express consent.
Monthly Archives
March 2023
The French Observatory of Drugs and Addictive Tendencies (OFDT) has just published its report on the evolution of the supply and consumption of cocaine in France over the period 2000-2022. This report reveals an increase in cocaine consumption in France associated with an increase in emergency room visits related to cocaine use. Explanations.
A strong and continuous increase in cocaine consumption
The OFDT, Santé Publique France and the addictovigilance network worked together to draw up a state of cocaine use in France over the period from 2000 to 2022. In a global context of increasing production of this drug, it is important to collect data on consumption and the health consequences of the use of this drug on French territory.
The report shows a sharp and continuous increase in cocaine use, whatever the form of the drug, associated with a diversification of consumer profiles. Between 2015 and 2019, the number of people treated for cocaine use also increased in addiction care, support and prevention centers (CSAPA). By taking into account the emergency room visits in connection with the use of cocaine, the data also show an increase in all French regions, even if strong regional disparities persist.
Cocaine often associated with other addictive substances
While the number of emergency room visits related to the use of this drug stabilized between 2018 and 2021, the increase was very significant from 2021 to 2022. Over the entire 2010-2022 period, more than 23,000 emergency visits have been identified in France. Patients admitted were:
- Most often men (75% of cases);
- With an average age of 32;
- The diagnosis was mostly poisoning (65% of cases).
Visits to the emergency room concerned to a lesser extent patients dependent on cocaine (13% of cases) or in the process of withdrawal (7.5% of cases). Cocaine use was rarely isolated, patients often having polydrug habits:
- 33% with alcohol;
- 9.6% with benzodiazepines;
- 9.5% with cannabis;
- 4.8% with opioids.
In the face of cocaine, prevention is essential
On the side of the symptoms justifying admission to the emergency room, were mainly found heart signs (chest pain, palpitations, tachycardia) and psychiatric disorders (agitation, depression, anxiety, schizophrenia). These symptoms are unfortunately common complications of cocaine use. For the authors of the report, the increase in consumption and emergency room visits is not only linked to an increase in the number of consumers.
Other phenomena may explain this trend, in particular the circulation of cocaine with higher levels of active principle, the arrival of new, more toxic synthetic products or even the association of cocaine with alcohol. Another sign of rising consumption is the use of Device Drugs Info Service, which is increasingly requested by all those who are confronted with the problem of drugs. This national remote assistance service is a tool accessible via the Internet (www.drogues-info-service.fr) and by telephone on 0 800 23 13 13, 7 days a week, from 8 a.m. to 2 a.m., anonymous and free call from a landline or a cell phone. Prevention remains essential in the face of this major public health issue.
Estelle B., Doctor of Pharmacy
Sources
Sources
– Cocaine: consumption and visits to the emergency room on the rise. www.santepubliquefrance.fr. Accessed March 29, 2023.
– Cocaine: a booming market – Developments and trends in France. www.ofdt.fr. Accessed March 29, 2023.
– Cocaine: a booming market – Developments and trends in France. www.ofdt.fr. Accessed March 29, 2023.
Togo: Water retention basin in Segbe, a worrying first test
written by Alexandra Hartman Editor-in-Chief
After several years of suffering and tribulations of the populations and users, the 10 km Adidogome-Segbe road was repaired and reopened to traffic at the end of August 2022. This following eight months of work. As part of the government’s emergency public works, this project operated by the Ebomaf company consisted of completely rehabilitating the track, providing it with a new coating and a new right-of-way. The time for the users to breathe a sigh of relief, we note the exiguity of this way which becomes source of many accidents. All it takes is for a vehicle to stop for the lane to be blocked. In the meantime, users do with it. In the rehabilitation project, it is also planned to build a 5-hectare water retention basin.
The idea is to meet the challenges of draining rainwater, with in the construction plan, sanitation infrastructure to drain rainwater, it says. Of course, work on the water retention basin began on both sides of the track a few months ago just at the entrance to Segbe shortly before the Post Office. The observation is that a first part has been made and cemented. Only the fence remains. But all it took was the first rain in early March for the basin to be overwhelmed. More than two weeks later, this part of the pool is still full of water.
What will happen when the rainy season really begins?
Undoubtedly, the way risks being cut off. For a test, it really is one and there is a need to take it into account to improve the work in progress.
Source: The Corrector / lecorrecteur.info
The poster promised a tight confrontation with two great goalkeepers in goal, the first match of these play-off semi-finals confirmed it. At the end of a tense encounter, HC Biel overcame Zurich 1-0 thanks to a goal from defender Alexander Yakovenko two minutes from the end of regulation time.
Säteri-Hrubec, the match within the match
Before that, Simon Hrubec delayed the deadline for a long time. The ZSC Lions Czech goalkeeper multiplied the saving parades, especially in the first period, and disgusted the Zealand attackers. Opposite, Harri Säteri was still impeccable in saving his team more than once. If Bienne generally dominated the first third and possession while Zurich proceeded once morest, the debates were quickly balanced with 27 shots on target on both sides.
A heroic resistance…
To take the first point of this series, the Seelanders first showed self-sacrifice and great solidarity, illustrated by this heroic resistance during five minutes of numerical inferiority at the end of the match following a severe penalty inflicted on Gaetan. The Biel captain did nudge his opponent on the disputed action… to get rid of the grip of a player who was illegally surrounding him.
… before delivery
The storm passed, a floating shot from the Russian defender of HC Bienne, far from being the clearest opportunity, ended up deceiving a masked Simon Hrubec. An explosion, a release. But the real deliverance will only come to the mermaid, following a final failed attempt by Sven Andrighetto. Phew! But how hard it was to keep this advantage on the ice before going to Zurich on Saturday (8:00 p.m.) for a new showdown. /jpi