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Cigarette Price Hikes May Ignite Inflation Surge
(According to The San Jose Mercury News, an economist at the federal
Bureau of Labor Statistics said Tuesday's 45-cent-per-pack increase
in the price of cigarettes probably will push up consumer inflation
about 0.2 percentage points in December.)

Date: Sat, 28 Nov 1998 14:19:09 -0800
From: owner-mapnews@mapinc.org (MAPNews)
To: mapnews@mapinc.org
Subject: MN: US CA: Cigarette Price Hikes May Ignite Inflation Surge
Sender: owner-mapnews@mapinc.org
Reply-To: owner-mapnews@mapinc.org
Organization: Media Awareness Project http://www.mapinc.org/lists/
Newshawk: Marcus/Mermelstein Family (mmfamily@ix.netcom.com)
Pubdate: Wed, 25 Nov 1998
Source: San Jose Mercury News (CA)
Copyright: 1998 Mercury Center
Contact: letters@sjmercury.com
Website: http://www.sjmercury.com/

CIGARETTE PRICE HIKES MAY IGNITE INFLATION SURGE

The tobacco industry's $206 billion health care settlement -- to be
financed through higher cigarette prices -- probably will push up
consumer inflation about 0.2 percentage points in December, according
to an economist at the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics. Philip
Morris Cos. and RJR Nabisco Holdings Corp., the nation's two largest
tobacco companies, increased wholesale cigarette prices Tuesday by 45
cents a pack to raise money for their share of the record-setting settlement.

Compiled from reports by Mercury News staff, Bloomberg News, Dow Jones
and the New York Times.

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Viagra Gets Expanded Health Warnings (The San Jose Mercury News
says the Food and Drug Administration is adding new labels warning that men
with heart problems and very high or very low blood pressure should be
carefully examined before getting a prescription for Pfizer's new
anti-impotence drug. Since it was approved in April, 130 deaths have been
linked to Viagra out of 3 million men who have used it. The FDA said Tuesday
it still considers Viagra "safe" - the problem is the sexual activity
it facilitates.)

Date: Thu, 26 Nov 1998 07:16:02 -0800
From: owner-mapnews@mapinc.org (MAPNews)
To: mapnews@mapinc.org
Subject: MN: US DC: Viagra Gets Expanded Health Warnings
Sender: owner-mapnews@mapinc.org
Reply-To: owner-mapnews@mapinc.org
Organization: Media Awareness Project http://www.mapinc.org/lists/
Newshawk: Marcus/Mermelstein Family (mmfamily@ix.netcom.com)
Pubdate: Wed, 25 Nov 1998
Source: San Jose Mercury News (CA)
Contact: letters@sjmercury.com
Website: http://www.sjmercury.com/
Copyright: 1998 Mercury Center

VIAGRA GETS EXPANDED HEALTH WARNINGS

Caution: FDA considers popular anti-impotence drug safe, but acts in wake of
130 deaths linked to medicine.

WASHINGTON -- The Food and Drug Administration is adding serious new health
warnings to the label on bottles of Viagra, the wildly popular
anti-impotence drug that has been prescribed for 3 million men since it was
approved for general use in April.

In expanded labels, the government warns doctors and patients that men with
heart problems and very high or very low blood pressure should be carefully
examined before getting a prescription for Viagra.

Patients with retinitis pigmentosa, an eye disease, also are at risk. And
the new description warns about the rare occurrence of priapism, a dangerous
condition involving painful, prolonged erections that can last more than
four hours.

The government still considers Viagra safe and effective, the Food and Drug
Administration said Tuesday. But it is sending a letter to doctors as well
as expanding the information printed on the labels by Pfizer, the drug
manufacturer.

The problem is not Viagra itself but the sexual activity it facilitates. Of
the 130 deaths reported to the FDA among men taking the drug, none has been
directly blamed on the drug. Instead, the FDA believes that many of those
who died -- whose average age was 64 -- had serious health problems that
were aggravated by sexual activity, resulting in heart attacks or strokes.

``The people who died had underlying cardiovascular problems,'' said Dr.
Lisa Rarick, director of the FDA division of reproductive and urologic drug
products.

She said the FDA is advising patients with serious heart problems to discuss
with their doctors whether sexual activity would be wise.

Many men with heart disease may be impotent because of their medical
condition. And the FDA is now emphasizing that sex for these patients
``carries a potential cardiac risk.''

If sex itself might be risky because of a patient's health problems, then
impotence treatments such as Viagra should be avoided, the FDA said in its
three-page announcement of the expanded warnings.

Viagra is prescribed for men who are unable to have erections. More than 6
million prescriptions have been written for 3 million men.

Currently, the Viagra label warns that the drug should not be used by people
taking heart medicine containing nitrates. The combination of nitrates and
Viagra can cause a dangerous, sometimes life-threatening drop in blood
pressure.

The new label will advise that Viagra be prescribed with caution in patients
who:

Had a heart attack, stroke, or a ``life-threatening arrhythmia'' (irregular
heartbeat) in the past six months.

Have a ``history of cardiac failure or coronary artery disease causing
unstable angina.''

Had ``significant'' low blood pressure or hypertension (high blood pressure
above 170/110).

Warning label and notifications are added as a drug increases in popularity
and more is learned about reactions. The changes are coming much faster
because of Viagra's explosive popularity. Usually, it would take a new drug
three to five years to reach Viagra's sales level, the FDA said.

One of Viagra's rare side effects, occurring in 3 percent of the men tested,
is visual disturbance. Its use is now suspected as a possible cause of a
plane crash Saturday that killed an actor, William Gardner Knight, who died
when his light plane crashed in Edgewater, Md. The Federal Aviation
Administration said the state medical examiner was asked to determine
whether Knight had been using Viagra.

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Court Awards Smuggler $50,000 (The New Brunswick Telegraph Journal
says a New Brunswick court has awarded a convicted cocaine smuggler
nearly $50,000 because of injuries he suffered when the Royal Canadian
Mounted Police cruiser carrying him to court smashed into another police car
four years ago.)

Date: Sat, 28 Nov 1998 14:18:59 -0800
From: owner-mapnews@mapinc.org (MAPNews)
To: mapnews@mapinc.org
Subject: MN: Canada: Court Awards Smuggler $50,000
Sender: owner-mapnews@mapinc.org
Reply-To: owner-mapnews@mapinc.org
Organization: Media Awareness Project http://www.mapinc.org/lists/
Newshawk: creator@mapinc.org
Pubdate: Wed, 25 Nov 1998
Source: New Brunswick Telegraph Journal (Canada)
Contact: tjetg@nbnet.nb.ca
Website: http://www.telegraphjournal.com/
Author: Andrew Veniot - The Telegraph Journal

COURT AWARDS SMUGGLER $50,000

Man Injured When RCMP Cruiser Crashed

MONCTON - A New Brunswick court has awarded a convicted drug smuggler
nearly $50,000 because of injuries he suffered when the RCMP cruiser
carrying him to court smashed into another police car four years ago.

Pierre Duguay of Lamque never made any money from trying to smuggle
$1.2-billion worth of cocaine into Canada. In fact, he got caught and
eventually received a lengthy prison sentence.

But his law-breaking has padded his bank account, thanks to some bad
RCMP driving.

Mr. Duguay, along with four others, tried to smuggle 710 kilograms of
cocaine into the country but were caught near Sheet Harbour, N.S. in
February, 1994.

As he was being driven to court from Renous Penitentiary on Feb. 24
that year, the RCMP car carrying him smashed into the rear of another
RCMP vehicle.

"This case has very strange circumstances surrounding it. The RCMP are
all roaring to the courthouse because of the biggest drug bust in
Canadian history. What happens is like the Keystone Kops," said
Michael Murphy, Mr. Duguay's lawyer.

"The RCMP guy in front slammed on his brakes - there was snow and ice
involved and they were going very fast toward the court house for this
big media event - and the RCMP car with my client smashed into him,"
said Mr. Murphy.

Mr. Duguay was taken to hospital before his court appearance.

"He had blood on him and his arm was in a sling," said his
lawyer.

Three doctors, including two orthopedic surgeons, examined Mr. Duguay
and testified at his civil trial that he suffered whiplash.

While on bail pending trial and later when he was an inmate at both
Dorchester and Springhill penitentiaries, the failed smuggler
underwent more than 50 sessions of physiotherapy.

And once he was released, Mr. Duguay's injury prevented him from
earning any money as a fisherman for 21 months.

"Lobster fishing is heavy work as it involves the daily lifting of 350
lobster traps weighing approximately 80 pounds each," said Mr. Justice
Alfred Landry in his judgement.

Sylvie Goguen, Mr. Duguay's common-law wife, testified that after the
accident he complained of pain every day and "that he had to sell his
boat as he could no longer fish, that he had to take medication every
night before going to bed, but despite that his sleep was very
agitated," wrote Judge Landry.

The judge ruled the accident was "a substantial cause of the injury
[and] that the defendant is liable for the full loss."

The defendants were the two RCMP officers, Daniel Quirion, Gerald
Moffett and the Attorney General of Canada.

Mr. Duguay's average income as a lobster fisherman for the two years
prior to his ill-fated smuggling career was $19,500.

Mr. Murphy claimed for pain and suffering and for the loss of Mr.
Duguay's wages while he was on bail for the year and a half awaiting
the final outcome of Mr. Duguay's trial.

In all, Judge Landry awarded Mr. Duguay $48,792.04.

Mr. Duguay is now in a halfway house and the judgement has been sent
to him.

"I don't have the cheque in hand but I expect it in a couple of weeks
and then give it to him," said Mr. Murphy.

The lawyer doesn't expect the RCMP to appeal since they've already
admitted liability and the trial dealt solely with the assessment of
damages.

"Mr. Duguay made money by getting into that van, and I'm saying to
myself, just maybe the RCMP is a little sore about this one. It adds a
little salt to the wounds and probably doesn't help the RCMP image,"
said Mr. Murphy.

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Blitz Fails To Halt Drug Flow (According to The Herald Sun,
Mick Palmer, the Australian federal police commissioner, admitted yesterday
that the country's biggest-ever heroin haul last month had not dented
local supply of the drug, or increased its price.)

Date: Mon, 30 Nov 1998 08:14:57 -0800
From: owner-mapnews@mapinc.org (MAPNews)
To: mapnews@mapinc.org
Subject: MN: Australia: Blitz Fails To Halt Drug Flow
Sender: owner-mapnews@mapinc.org
Reply-To: owner-mapnews@mapinc.org
Organization: Media Awareness Project http://www.mapinc.org/lists/
Newshawk: kenbo01@ozemail.com.au (Ken Russell)
Source: Herald Sun (Australia)
Contact: hseditor@hwt.newsltd.com.au
Website: http://www.heraldsun.com.au/
Copyright: News Limited 1998
Pubdate: Wed, 25 Nov 1998
Page: 22
Author: Kelly Ryan

BLITZ FAILS TO HALT DRUG FLOW

AUSTRALIA'S biggest ever heroin haul had not dented local supply of the
drug, Australian Federal police Commissioner Mick Palmer admitted yesterday.

The seizure last month of 400kg of heroin with a street value of $400
million led to the arrests of 18 people and was among the largest heroin
hauls in the world, Mr Palmer said.

But despite the size of the seizure, heroin prices had not risen and there
did not appear to be shortage of the drug in Australia, he said.

Mr Palmer said it would have been optimistic to have expected the seizure to
have impacted in Australia.

"But to give up because you don't see in the first instance an impact would
be stupidity," Mr Palmer said.

Mr Palmer discussed the issue of drugs after giving the keynote speech on
the third and final day of the International Conference on Drugs and Young
People held in Melbourne.

The nation's police chief could not say if the heroin seized from a NSW
beach on October 14 had already been replaced in Australia.

"Certainly, the indications are we haven't made much dent on the market," he
said.

"I don't think there is much sign of stockpiling in this country, but there
is a sign it is pretty easy to replace lost stock and that's a challenge for
us."

Mr Palmer said he was confident law enforcement efforts would impact on
Australia's drug problem.

"This is a real market with real suppliers and real users," he said.

"Like any other market, if you keep cutting away at supply, particularly in
regard to heroin, you obviously have to make a difference, just as if you
cut supply of any other commodity."

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Melbourne Mayors Call For ACT Heroin Trial (The Canberra Times
says mayors from 10 inner Melbourne communities called yesterday
for the Australian Capital Territory's proposed heroin maintenance trial
to proceed as part of a plan to minimise the harm caused by illegal drugs.
The plan signed by the mayors also sought the "gradual spread" of the caution
system, under which small-time cannabis users receive warnings rather than
criminal charges.)

Date: Mon, 30 Nov 1998 03:26:44 -0800
From: owner-mapnews@mapinc.org (MAPNews)
To: mapnews@mapinc.org
Subject: MN: Australia: Melbourne Mayors Call For ACT Heroin Trial
Sender: owner-mapnews@mapinc.org
Reply-To: owner-mapnews@mapinc.org
Organization: Media Awareness Project http://www.mapinc.org/lists/
Newshawk: Ken Russell (kenbo01@ozemail.com.au)
Pubdate: Wed, 25 Nov 1998
Source: Canberra Times (Australia)
Contact: letters.editor@canberratimes.com.au
Website: http://www.canberratimes.com.au/

MELBOURNE MAYORS CALL FOR ACT HEROIN TRIAL

MELBOURNE: Mayors from 10 inner Melbourne communities called yesterday for
the ACT's proposed heroin trial to proceed as part of a plan to minimise
the harm caused by illegal drugs.

Melbourne Lord Mayor Ivan Deveson said the plan, signed by the mayors, also
sought the "gradual spread" of the discretionary caution system, under
which small-time cannabis users received warnings rather than immediate
criminal charges.

"We are calling on Australia and the Prime Minister [John Howard] to
reconsider the ACT heroin trial early next year," Councillor Deveson said.

The ACT trial, in which addicts would be given heroin in a strictly
controlled rehabilitative environment, has been supported by Victoria and
South Australia but is likely to proceed only if backed by all states and
the Federal Government.

Earlier, Federal Police Commissioner Mick Palmer refused to comment on the
heroin trial specifically, but expressed his support for new initiatives
against drugs. "If something sounds like it might make sense and it's
something we can afford to do, why not give it a go?" Mr Palmer said.

Councillor Deveson said while the councils still supported tough penalties
for drug traffickers, radical efforts were required to reduce the harm done
to Melbourne communities by illegal drugs.

By signing the "anti-drug accord" yesterday, the mayors had committed their
communities to sharing information, communicating regularly and
experimenting with new initiatives.

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[End]