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Patients with ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) and psychiatrists are once again calling on the government to revert to branded medication as the current treatment is having a detrimental effect on some children and adults. Two years ago, patients who reacted poorly to a change in ADHD treatment – from a branded medication to a generic one – were investigated by an inquiry after mental health professionals and parents of children raised the alarm that some were regressing. The side effects were having an impact on sleeping patters, appetite, aggression and anxiety among others, and the switchover had even seen a person losing their job within three months, Times of Malta has been told. ....
Maltese human rights entities have written to the Foreign Affairs Minister expressing solidarity with Palestine and urging Malta to do and say more. Israel bombarded Gaza with artillery and airstrikes on Friday following a new barrage of rockets from the Hamas-run enclave, intensifying a conflict that has claimed more than 120 lives. The most intense fighting between Israel and Palestinian militants in Gaza since 2014 has been accompanied by an unprecedented outbreak of mob violence between Jews and Arabs inside Israel. Photo: Jonathan Borg Meanwhile, in a press conference on Friday, Palestinian Ambassador to Malta Fadi Hanania gave an overview to the media of the events unfolding in the region, as Palestinian families were displaced from there homes in Sheikh Jarrah in East Jerusalem, which is part of Palestinian occupied territory. ....
Medical organisations on Thursday welcomed the proposed decriminalisation of cannabis and applauded the government’s commitment to direct users to treatment rather than criminal justice. But their endorsement also included a list of warnings about regular use of the drug. According to the proposed reform, cannabis users will be allowed to grow their own plants at home and legally carry up to seven grams of the drug for personal use. In a position paper, the Maltese Association of Psychiatry (MAP) warned that early regular use is associated with symptoms of psychosis and bipolar disorder in younger people. It noted that cannabis is the most commonly used illicit substance among Maltese youths and it said it can affect brain maturation in a negative way. ....
Social workers in favour of decriminalising cannabis, but not legalisation Social workers association calls cannabis legalisation “devastating step” for society, Counselling profession questions White Paper treatment of cannabis as recreational substance 11 May 2021, 9:27am by Laura Calleja The Maltese Association of Social Workers (MASW) has come out in favour of the decriminalisation of cannabis, but will not support legalisation, calling it a “devastating step” for its service users and all society. “MASW supports the full decriminalisation of the use of cannabis where people are offered support to rehabilitate rather than sent before the Court. Persons selling the drug should still be prosecuted.” ....
However, only two care orders were issued between July and December, des-pite 639 referrals. Not all referrals merit a care order. In all, a total of 14 care orders were issued in 2020, down from 39 in 2019 and 50 in 2018. Family Minister Michael Falzon sounded concern over a lack of flexibility and cooperation from the courts when it came to child protection issues. Discussing amendments to the protection law in parliament earlier this month, he flagged the courts’ “lack of sensitivity” and expressed “frustration” about delays in court proceedings and decisions. In comments to Delays are extremely detrimental to a child’s development “All speakers – both from the government and opposition side – expressed concern over how court proceedings related to children’s issues were materialising,” the spokesperson said. ....