Seanagh Sloan

For The C. egar Sun

One drug which has generat
ed a great deal of controversy in
the last few years is the antide
Pressant drug fluoroxetine
commonly known as Prozac
Over 3 million prescriptions for
fluoroxetine have been written
in North America, Much of the
media has reported that this
drug is responsible for suicidal
tendencies, and or the suicide of
depressed individuals

According to the Citizens
Commission on Human Rights
(CCHR), which was established
by the Church of Scientology,
“evidence against Prozac shows
that the drug. only increases the
propensity to experience a
heightened depression, and in
numerous instances leads the
person to commit suicide.”

Eli Lilly Canada Inc., the
company which began produc
ing and selling the drug in Cana
da in January of 1989, has
responded by suggesting that the

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Wetme Wiaon

EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION
FOR INFANTS AND TODDLERS (Post-Basic)
This new program will be offered at the Castlegar campus on a part
time basis. Applicants mast have completed a Certificate in Early
Childhood Education (Basic) or equivalent and be able to provide
evidence that there is no criminal record which would prohibit
Pracucum placements
Dates: September 28 - December 16, 1993,
Tuesdays, 6 - 10 p.m.; Fridays, 6-9 p.m
and Saturdays, 9 a.m. - 3:30 p.m

Application Deadline is September 25, 1993
For more information, or to register,
contact Admissions Department at 365-1297

ki & Castlegar Campus
Box 1200
IS Castlegar, B.C. VIN 311
(604) 365-7292

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License #780051

We cover all the local news and sports

The other side of

CCHR hay its own agenda,

ils “front organization

tology, “preys on patients suffer
ing from:mental illness and
counts them as converts and as
income.”

Mark Fleming, regional man
ager of Eli Lilly Canada noted
that “over the last few years,
CCHR has organized mini rallies
in front of community hospitals
waving ‘Prozac kills’ placards
and then phoning local commu.
nity papers to cover these rallies.
Often these non-events are cov
ered in the newspapers unop
posed by the scientific facts.

‘Certainly CCHR has initiated
discussion through press releas-
es, talk show circuits, aS well as
lobbying with United States
Congress and Food and Drug
Administration to ban Prozac
their president was even speak
ing on the Phil Donahue show,”

Understanding what Prozac
does is the first step in under-
standing the concerns from both
sides. Essentially, Prozac is one
of a number of serotonin reup
take inhibitors (SSRIs). Along
with other drugs in its family, it
inhibits the agent which removes
seratonin—and seratonin is the
Neurotransmitter the brain pro-
duces to give a feeling of well
being.

Fleming, stated that “recent
studies have concluded that
Prozac may be a preferential

ar Sun

e controversial dru

choice of therapy for puicidal
patients because of its wide mar
gin of safety in overdoses.”

He also noted that oldeF tradi
tional antidepressants, such the
tricyclics, can be lethal in small
overdoses, Eli Lilly Canada
claim that Prozac “appears to
rapidly reverse suicidal thoughts
and ideas

Scientific studies performed
through quantifiable research
methods suggest that, while
there are some negative effects
associated with Prozac, it does
nol increase suicidal thoughts
any more than other antidepres.
sant drugs. One important study
does appear to support the con-
tentions of CCHR. Published in
the American Journal of Psychi-
atry in 1990, Teicher reported
the cases of six depressed
patients treated with Prozac,
who thought intensely about sui-
cide (called suicidal ideation)
only after treatment

However, The British
Columbia Medical Journal has
stated that “all of these patients
had a history of suicidal
ideation, although none was sui-
cidal at treatment initiation.”
The journal also stated that the
diagnosis was made within two
months of the therapy

An independent review of
data collected between 1979 and
1991 from 11 double-blind stud-
ies (of 459 patients), found that

that there was not enough evi
dence that SSRIs (which include
Prozac) cause suicidal thoughts
beyond the normal course of
depression. Studies comparing
Selective SSRIs (one of which
was Prozac) found that SSRIs
had better control of suicidal
thoughts as assessed by the
Hamilton Rating Scale of
Depression.

The article also noted that sui
cide and depression were two
variables, and that the
researchers couldn't correlate
each quality to specific neuro-
transmitters. However, they did
State that there is a strong corre-
lation between suicide and low
levels of a one serotonin ele-
ment, 5S-HIAA

“People with personality dis-
orders or schizophrenia who
attempt suicide while obeying
command hallucinations also
had low levels of 5-HIAA in the
CFS [cerebral spinal fluid).”

The report concluded that
SSRI's do not increase the inten-
Sity or frequency of suicidal
thoughts, but rather it improves
people's suicidal thoughts more
than other heterocyclic antide-
Pressants.

As a closing note, the report
indicated that while there, is a
correlation between less suicidal
thoughts and Prozac, there was
not necessarily a correlation
between suicidal thoughts and

Wednesday, September 22, 1993

g Prozac

Suicidal behaviors——"the associ
ation between suicidal ideation
and suicidal behavior needs to
be clarified.”

As with any therapy and
medicine, success is not guaran
teed. Prozac has side effects;
including nausea, insomnia, and
headaches. Research by Kupfer
and Bromet found that taking
antidepressants, which increase
patients energy and initiative
before improving mood, does
appear to put those patients more
at risk of acting on their suicidal
thoughts.

Patients who may have been
depressed initially, but who were
not depressed during the initia-
tion of the antidepressants, may
also re-experience depression
remissions. Those who may
anticipate change, but are disap-
pointed when it does not occur,
may feel more hopeless.

Fleming commented that
“suicide is an inherent part of the
illness of depressions,” He noted
that an estimated 50 per cent of
all patients who attempt suicide
suffer from major depression,
and, that one quarter diagnosed
with major depression attempt
suicide. Fleming said that Sci-
entology and CCHR's “insidious
efforts have helped to propagate
the stigma of mental illness and
depression and scare off patients
from lifesaving, proven therapies
for this devastating illness.”

Wednesday, September 22, 1993

Wood stove emissions could

KAREN KERKHOFF
Sun staff

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Year 200

Seanagh Sloan
For The Castlegar Sun

A recent poll conducted by Angus Reid
has indicated a number of issued raised by
British Columbia citizens concerning Year
2000 initiatives

The poll reported that approximately 60
per cent of the people are somewhat aware
of Year 2000 and those changes-most peo
ple wanted the system to fine tuned: 60 per
cent suppost present funding levels. While
those surveyed gave strong support for eval
uation and standardized testing, two-thirds
are opposed to'elementary letter yrades

Year 2000 was a term coined in the
Royal Commission on Education. Headed
by Barry Sullivan, the commission chaned
economic, political and social changes
occurring in society. approximately seven
years ago, and suggested that if B.C.'s edu-
cation system were to reach its three pri
mary goals of intellectual, career, and
human and social development in a dynam.
ic and changing environment, it must
accommodate to meet those changes in
society.

“Year 2000 was a start, but in reality the
only thing that has happened with Year
2000 is the Primary Program. Intermediate
and Graduate Programs have not existed. In
the six years that we've talked about them,
they've never come to point where we've
put them in place,” said Superintendent of
School District No. 9, Everette Surgenor.

Surgenor stated that “people are still con-
fused about the Year 2000 schools—have
always gone through a variety of changes—
Cooperative learning, team-building prob-
lem solving, many of those things were

{there before Year 2000."

In response to concerns about competi-
liveness and standardized testing at the
graduation level, Surgenor notes that “basi-
cally the curriculum has been in place for
years. So when someone says we have to
get back to the basics, I ask them what they
medn.”’

Anecdotal reporting is a new feature of
assessment ‘and reporting methods for the
students aged approximately five to eight in
the Primary Program

The progress report includes a written
description of what students can actually do,
and what needs to be improved. It is a means
of reporting that has occurred for the last
four years in the Castlegar School District

Surgendr noted that “most of the people
in the adult community can understand the
school system through the ABCD system.””
He stated that one major difference is at
Standards are not set on the traditional bell
curve

“The view of the Primary Program and
the Year 2000 document is that we look at
the individual potential of children as we
assess them against their ability and perfor-
mance.”

“My personal opinion is that Parents
should have had the opportunity to know
whether the program is producing students
who can go through a provincial assessment
and can read, write spell, etc. At the grade
four level, we should o.k. we've had
the Primary Program for three years, why
not have an assessment to verify that stu-
dents are able to do these basic skills that
we expect them to do. We believe that they
are progressing well, but [without the tests]
you are open to all sorts of charges that kids
can read or not read.”

Another problem -with standardized tests is

O—is it working?

that it is difficult to design one which deter-
mines whether children are good problem
solvers, or are creative individuals, and
administer it to an entire class or school at one
time. While another problem is that they have
not been redefined by the testing company to
measure skills now viewed as important

The Angus Reid poll also found that
younger respondents (39 and younger) are
more supportive of mainstreaming and inte-
gration of students with special needs than
older respondents.

Surgenor stated that “integration is work-
ing well, but the biggest issue is behavioral
issues—and who has primary, responsibility
for problems—the teacher or the parent.”

Discussion from teachers has focused on
those children who have a difficult time fit-
ting into the regular classtroom—whether
they are disrupting other students opportuni-
ies to learn. The school district has recently
hired a Special Needs Helping Teacher, who
aspists teachers (with integration throughout
the district).

New guidelines for School District Annu
al Reports will soon be issued from the
Ministry. According the 1992 Annual
Report, 61 school districts analyzed two
years earlier tended to report finances (89
Per cent reported this item), Year 2000 ini-
tatives (67 per cent), and provincial exams
(67 per cent), and not more controversial
information such as district drop out rates (7
Per cent), class sizes (21 per cent) or gradu-
ation rates (34 per cent)

The report issued from School District
No. 9 usually included a calendar of infor-
mation about Year 2000.

Surgenor noted that, “we will make
adjustments to the report after the Ministry
provides other directions.”

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2

Not many of us think of a
warm fire as being a health risk
to ourselves and those around
us, but a recent report from the
Office of the Provincial Health
Officer, indicates that the emis
sions from wood burning stoves
could be ngerous to your

tions and contribute to an
increase in school absences
The report also suggests that the
number of extra emergency or
Physician visits, hospitaliza
tions, and deaths might be
attributed to high levels of
wood smoke in certain B.C
communities

The report said that although
wood burning,in large urban
area appears to be decreasing,
“residential wood burning, at
least, remains prevalent in the
smaller cities and towns in
British Columbia where wood
smoke pollution has historically
been the worst.”

The report also suggests that

low level indoor exposure to
wood smoke from wood stoves
might also have an adverse effect
on occupants, especially children
Dr. Millar said the report
“clearly indicates the need for
increased monitoring of air
borne particulate in the
province's population centres
and the ed to develop appro.
priate air quality standards
based on health outcomes
Director of Air Resources,
Dr. McTaggart-Cowan, said
that since mid 1990 when emis
sion levels first began being
monitored, PM 10, which is
small particulates, have
reached 80 micrograms per

Judy Wearmouth, Head Librarian for Castlegar Library cradles a new computer
donated by the Tri-City Health Promotion Project. Julie Kalesnikoff of the Library
and Marilyn Gauthier of the Tri-City project join Wearmouth. The computer contains
health service research data for library patrons.

Page 5A

cubic metre eight per cent of
The accepted level set
out by the Provincial Health
Officer of PM 10 is 50 micro
and
at on
occasion emissions are 30
micrograms higher than the
accepted level, Mc gart
Cowan said there is a statistic
which is even more ominous
Those levels are based on
data which is collected only
once every six days.”
McTaggart-Cowan said the
emissions come from many
sources: such as automobiles;
back yard burning; wood
Stoves, or slash burning. In

the ime

grams per cubic metre
even though that means t

—

Motor
vehicle
accident

Sun Staff

A two-vehicle acci- «
dent occurred at the
Highway 3 ramp and
Columbia Avenue
September 18 when a
1989 Ford pickup driven
by Deanna Bankert,of
Robson, rear-ended a

ing to encourage industry and
the public to start improving the
Situation.”

order to reduce the particulates
McTaggart-Cowan said the
Provincial Government is “try

1993 GMC pickup driv-
en by James Sanders, of
South Slocan.

Although there were
no injuries, or charges
laid, total damage was
estimates at $1,500.

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SUN STAFF PHOTO /John Van Putten

Beer
Making Centre

Settlement for HIV blood recipients

Sun Staff

Former Health Minister, Eliza-
beth Cull, has announced that
British Columbia residents who
contracted HIV or AIDS through
tainted blood transfusions will be
receiving $30,000 a year for life.

Along with the annual pay-
ments, those affected will also
receive an immediate payment of
$20,000 and financial assistance
for surviving spouses and chil-
dren.

Cull said the settlement comes
only after careful consideration
and conference with other health
ministers across Canada. 7

“It will assist those British
Columbians who have lived with
the devastating effects of con-

Impaired
driving
charge

A Castlegar man will
appear in court November 3
to answer to a charge of
impaired driving.

Alex Barisoff, of Crescent
Valley was southbound on
Columbia Avenue Septem-
ber 14, when a northbound
vehicle suddenly turned in
front of him at the 18th
Street intersection.

Although there were no
injuries, total damage to
the two vehicles was esti-
mated at $9,000. The name
of the man charged has not
been released

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tracting HIV through the blood
system to live out their lives in
financial dignity and provide their
families with a certain level of
financial comfort and security.”

The settlement package con
tas many components such as
$30,000 a year for life for the
person infected; $20,000 imme
diate payment for the person
infected, or their surviving
spouse upon enrollment in the
program, $20,000 a year for four
years for surviving spouses, and;
$4,000 a year for four years for
each dependant child.

The individuals who are eligi
ble for the package are those who
received blood or blood products
which were distributed in Canada
between 1978 and 1989

In British Columbia alone

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