Breaking the habit
Addiction Awareness Week starts today and continues until October 8th with a daily series of public lectures at Milltown Conference Centre, Ranelagh, Dublin 6. Tonight at 7.30 p.m., the series will be launched by Eoin Ryan, Minister of State with special responsibility for the National Drugs Strategy. Stephen Rowen, director of the Rutland Centre, will talk about the impact of addiction on marriage and relationships. On Wednesday at 7.30 p.m., Marie Murray, director of psychology, St Vincent's Psychiatric Hospital, will speak on "Valuing and Protecting Young People in a Growing Drug Culture: Implications for Parents and Teachers", which will be followed by a workshop.
On Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Rutland Centre staff will run a confidential telephone helpline. Admission for each lecture costs £5; students, OAPs and unwaged free. For daily listing see What's On. For further information, tel: 01- 4946358.
Healing through music
The Irish World Music Centre at the University of Limerick will host a day-long seminar for those interested in pursuing a career in music therapy on Sunday. The seminar will discuss the first principles of music therapy, the profession itself and provide practical sessions regarding the skills required for entry. The seminar costs £35 (including lunch). Tel: 061-213122 or e-mail jane.edwards@ul.ie for more details.
Get the lead out
High blood-lead levels may help explain behavioural and developmental difficulties in children, according to new research. Routine blood samples were taken from 69 children referred to a Child Development Centre in South West England for behavioural and/or developmental problems over a period of six months. Blood samples were also taken from 136 children admitted to the district general hospital for routine surgery. Children with developmental/behavioural problems had significantly higher levels of lead in their blood than the other children. And 12 per cent of them had levels above those defined as "toxic"; this applied to just over half a per cent of the other children. Further analysis suggested that the findings could not be accounted for by differences in age, sex or socioeconomics.
Lead is a known neurotoxin, and children absorb three times of much of it as adults, mostly through chewing objects and sucking their fingers. Environmental policies and legislation have helped to reduce ambient lead, and it is not considered to be an important health problem. The authors say their findings suggest that environmental lead is still an issue, and they call for all children with behavioural and developmental problems to be screened for lead levels.
Beating breast cancer
Between 1998 and 2001, 190 Irish women with early breast cancer participated in an international study. The aim of the research was to determine whether the drug, taxotere, used in the treatment of advanced breast cancer, would be of benefit to patients with earlier stages of the disease and if it should be given as routine treatment. Nearly 3,000 patients from 174 hospitals in the world participated. Results of the study will be published next year, according to the Irish Clinical Oncology Research Group.
Breast cancer awareness month begins today. The Irish Cancer Society is launching a new breast cancer leaflet and new helpline. Action Breast Canceris freephone 1800-309040. The Reach to Recovery support group for women with breast cancer is also contactable via the Irish Cancer Society.
Talking about healthcare
A Public Conference - "The Great Health Debate - Confronting The Hard Issues" - will be held on Saturday, October 13th. It will be of interest to a wide range of people, including healthcare professionals, healthcare organisations, community and voluntary organisations. Public representatives, individuals who are committed to public deliberation of key public policy issues and all those who are affected by healthcare issues would also benefit from attending.
Speakers will include Prof Tom O'Dowd, Trinity College, Dublin; Maev-Ann Wren of The Irish Times; Dr Maureen Gaffney, member of the Insurance Ombudsman Council; Liz McManus TD; Gay Mitchell TD; Mr Richard Greene, chairman of the board of the Adelaide Hospital Society; and Prof Tussing, professor of economics at Syracuse University, New York.
It will be held at the Education Centre, Adelaide & Meath Hospital, Tallaght, Dublin 24, starting at 9 a.m. For details on booking and fees, contact Roisin Whiting, conference co-ordinator at 01-414 2069.
lifelines@irish-times.ie