Tuesday, March 13, 2001

WILMINGTON, NC – To ward off a cold or to increase energy, more people are using herbal remedies like echinacea or ginseng. Believing that herbals are natural, and therefore not drugs, can lead to serious health consequences say specialists at UNCW’s CROSSROADS Substance Abuse and Prevention and Education Program.

“Herbal remedies, unlike medical pharmaceuticals, are not scientifically tested prior to being sold to consumers,” said Suzanne “Sam” Shover, CROSSROADS coordinator. “These herbals can chemically react with other drugs or medications in a harmful way.”

This past fall, Shover and graduate assistant Vicki Hallman, compiled the latest information available from research publications and studies about not only herbal remedies but also “club” drugs such as ecstasy and GHB which have become increasingly popular. The 52-page booklet X (and Other Drug) Files: Myths and Mysteries of Popular Drug and Herbal Use outlines possible side effects, drug interactions and other precautionary information regarding herbal remedies and club drugs. An informational session based on the booklet is scheduled for 7 p.m., Wednesday, March 21, in the Warwick Center, Center Stage Café. Since conducting a presentation on the publication at the fall 2000 U.S. Department of Education National Conference on Substance Abuse and Violence Prevention, more than 100 copies of the booklet have been sold, said Shover.

To order the $11 booklet X (and Other Drug) Files: Myths and Mysteries of Popular Drug and Herbal Use, contact UNCW CROSSROADS at 910/962-4136. Orders of 25 or more copies will receive a discount. The information contained in this publication is not intended as medical advice. Readers should consult with a health professional regarding use of the herbal substances mentioned in the booklet.

Note to the media: Review copies are available. Contact Ms. Shover at 910/962-4136.