Antibiotic resistance poses far more serious threat to human health, claims ethicist
Governments around the world should stop squandering resources fighting an “unwinnable war” against illegal drugs, such as cocaine and heroin. Instead, they should use the cash to curb antibiotic misuse, which poses a far more serious threat to human health, claims a leading ethicist in the Journal of Medical Ethics.
Dr Jonny Anomaly, of Duke University, Durham in North Carolina, USA, says that concerted collective action is needed to tackle the excessive and casual prescribing of antibiotics, which has led to a worrying rise in resistance to these medicines.
“Government action is both more appropriate and more likely to be effective in regulating antibiotics than it is in criminalising narcotics,” he writes.
Dr Anomaly says the arguments put forward for continuing to plough resources into the war on illegal drugs, such as the need to curb the related violence and social harms, should, of course, be taken seriously.
But he contends that “most of the violence and crime associated with narcotics is caused by laws that prohibit drug use, rather than drug use itself.” And the argument that stimulant drugs increase violent tendencies is not based on strong evidence, he says.
He accepts that a drug habit takes its toll on friends and family, but argues that this does not justify treating this behaviour as a crime.
And while supporters of tough action on illegal drugs fear that the absence of harsh penalties will simply make it easier to get hold of them, Dr Anomaly points to the evidence in Portugal—the only country that has decriminalised recreational drug use.
This “suggests that consumption has not significantly increased for most drugs, and has actually declined for some…greater accessibility does not necessarily lead to more drug use by either adults or children,” he writes.
At the very least antibiotic resistant infections have the power to harm others and make illness more costly to treat, and they can often kill, he warns.
“This feature gives antimicrobial drugs a fundamentally different moral status from recreational drugs, and it suggests that current policy priorities are based on moral confusion, scientific ignorance, or both,” he suggests.
He puts forward several possible ways of tackling antibiotic resistance.
The Latest Bing News on:
Global antibiotic misuse
- Without a Prescription: Antibiotic Misuse Common in Eurasiaon November 27, 2023 at 8:40 am
Without immediate intervention, the WHO said in a press release, AMR could result in up to 10 million deaths a year by 2050. This burden falls disproportionately on low- and middle-income countries, ...
- Because of antibiotic misuse and overuse: Bulgaria has the highest death rate from antimicrobial resistanceon November 25, 2023 at 1:12 pm
Bulgaria has the highest mortality from bacterial infections that are antibiotic resistant. Due to overuse and improper treatment, this country is ...
- Antibiotics’ Misuse Puts Global Health at Risk, Doctors Cautionon November 24, 2023 at 8:31 pm
SRINAGAR: Doctors issue a stark warning on Friday, declaring antimicrobial resistance (AMR) as the most significant threat to global health. The misuse of antibiotics poses a serious risk, ...
- Misuse of antibiotics undermines efficacy – WHOon November 24, 2023 at 4:00 pm
The misuse of antibiotics poses a significant threat to their efficacy and is contributing to the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, warned the World Health Organization (WHO). According to ...
- Antibiotic misuse can result in 10 mn AMR-related deaths every year: WHOon November 24, 2023 at 2:22 am
In a new warning issued against the misuse of antibiotics, the World Health Organization (WHO) said it could result in up to 10 million deaths every year by 2050 due to Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR).
- Antibiotic misuse to drive 10 mn AMR-related deaths yearly by 2050: WHOon November 24, 2023 at 12:55 am
Factors include using antibiotics for viral symptoms, using them without a prescription, and not completing courses ...
- Antibiotic misuse to drive 10 mn AMR-related deaths a year by 2050: WHOon November 23, 2023 at 4:01 pm
has warned against the misuse of antibiotics which could result in up to 10 million deaths a year by 2050 due to antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Emerging as a silent pandemic, the global health ...
- WHO says misuse of antibiotics undermining efficacyon November 23, 2023 at 2:26 am
Misuse of antibiotics is denting their efficacy and spawning resistant bacteria which could be responsible for 10 million deaths worldwide by 2050, the World Health Organization warned Thursday.
- Antibiotic Resistance Kills 5 Million People Every Yearon November 21, 2023 at 11:34 am
Explore the rising crisis of antimicrobial resistance. From antibiotic abuse to its role in pandemics, uncover the global impact and solutions.
The Latest Google Headlines on:
Global antibiotic misuse
[google_news title=”” keyword=”global antibiotic misuse” num_posts=”10″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]
[/vc_column_text]
The Latest Bing News on:
Antibiotic resistance
- Veterinary Expert warns against consumption of antibiotic-laden meatson November 28, 2023 at 8:55 am
By Harriet Boateng Sarpong Accra, Nov.28, GNA–Professor Rapheal Folitse, a veterinary expert, has underscored the need to test meats in slaughterhouses for antibiotic residues to ensure safe ...
- Antibiotic Slashes Risk of Drug-Resistant TB in Kids, Finds Major SA Studyon November 28, 2023 at 5:10 am
For decades the standard way to prevent people who were exposed to tuberculosis (TB) from falling ill with the disease was to offer them a medicine called isoniazid, taken daily for six or more months ...
- Antibiotic resistance is a threat to humanity, yet we have no idea exactly how big the problem is in Australiaon November 27, 2023 at 10:00 am
Antimicrobial resistance is corroding one of the core pillars of modern pharmaceuticals, and it is rampant. Yet we do not know how many AMR incidents are occurring across Australia, nor how many ...
- Antibiotic-resistant superbugs in factory farms 'kill nearly 2,000 Brits a year'on November 27, 2023 at 9:41 am
Superbugs caused by over-use of drugs on factory farms kill nearly 2,000 Brits a year, it's been claimed, and sickness from infections cost the economy more than a billion pounds, a study found ...
- Antibiotic resistance can be preventedon November 26, 2023 at 4:01 pm
“We are increasingly seeing patients with resistant infections, especially among children. These infections are becoming more difficult to treat yet there are no new antibiotics being developed.
- Drug resistance threat: 'don't ask doctor for antibiotics for a cold'on November 26, 2023 at 1:00 pm
Antibiotics are being prescribed too often for no reason in the Hunter, causing increasing resistance to the drugs and deaths, the region's top infectious disease specialist says.
- E. coli bacteria is more capable of developing antibiotic resistance: Studyon November 26, 2023 at 9:31 am
According to a recent study published in Science, E. coli bacteria may be far more capable of developing antibiotic resistance than previously thought.
- E. coli bacteria more capable at evolving antibiotic resistance than previously thoughton November 25, 2023 at 1:06 pm
E. coli bacteria may be far more capable at evolving antibiotic resistance than scientists previously thought, according to a new study. Led by the Santa Fe Institute’s external professor Andreas ...
- A Concerning Link Between Malnutrition & Antibiotic Resistance is Discoveredon November 24, 2023 at 8:26 am
Humans and most animals host a community of microbes, including bacteria, fungi, and viruses, in their gastrointestinal tracts. | Microbiology ...
- Antibiotic Resistance: Causes, Impact And Prevention - 10 Pointson November 24, 2023 at 1:05 am
Antibiotic resistance happens when bacteria evolve to withstand the effects of antibiotics, which makes these medications ineffective. This phenomenon is a global threat that is the consequence of the ...
The Latest Google Headlines on:
Antibiotic resistance
[google_news title=”” keyword=”antibiotic resistance” num_posts=”10″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]