MCGILL PAYS STUDY SUBJECTS $500 TO TAKE COCAINE

MONTREAL - The federal and provincial governments have contributed
close to $700,000 for a series of studies at McGill University in
which a psychiatry professor is offering people $500 to use cocaine.

Marco Leyton placed ads in student and community newspapers, and chose
10 men who are all in their 20s and are regular cocaine users.

Leyton said they are given a mirror, a razor blade, a straw and a bag
of pharmaceutical-grade cocaine to snort on four different occasions.

Each time they visit, the men are given a different protein shake,
which he believes may reduce certain cravings for the drug.

"Can we diminish the euphoria induced by the drug?" asked Leyton. "If
so, that would be a very promising direction for treatments to be developed."

Once they've drunk the shakes, subjects are asked to fill out a
questionnaire to monitor their cravings.

Leyton doesn't believe his study will turn people into cocaine
addicts.

"Previous studies done by other investigators in the U.S. indicate
that when they follow up these individuals, if anything their drug use
actually goes down the following year," he said.

The study was approved by the ethics board at the McGill University
Health Centre.

Leyton received Customs clearance to ship the drug from Scotland to Montreal.