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RELEASE, the organisation which deals with legal and other problems of drug use, has just produced an Les excellent pamphiet, "Trouble with Tranquillisers' (TWT)* about the fourth most widely used group of drugs (after alcohol, nicotine and cannabis) in Britain. This is the benzodiazepine tranquillisers and sleeping drugs (including Valium, Librium and Mogadon) - tranx for short.

Introduced in 1960 to replace the highly addictive and hazardous barbiturates, their intended purpose is to relieve the symptoms of anxiety, or, in higher doses, to help people to sleep. Such has been their success that 2% of the adult British population takes them every day. of the year, while 15% take them at some time during the year -tranx are tie commonest drugs on repeat prescriptions (where you don't have to see the doctor). Usage is higher among women and men without a steady job outside the home.

The problem with 'treating' something like 'anxiety' or 'insomnia' is that there is considerable scope for argument about what it is, and in any case there are many causes - but for medical purposes, these diverse causes and symptoms are given only one 'treatment"

True, tranx do reduce anxiety and help people sleep - for a time! They lose effectiveness against anxiety after about four months and against insomnia after 3 to 14 days continuous use. This, of course, is what we would expect, knowing something of how tranx work (see 'Trials and Tribulin' SO 92).

Tranx may allow people to deal more calmly with their problems, but are probably more likely to allow people to avoid dealing with them - TWI imply, by London Labour Briefing.

Using the same format and style, it is an attempt to give expression to the curr ent discussions among the Labour Left in the Merseyside area.

The idea was first discussed at a meeting of the Merseyside Labour Coordinating Committee, and the MLCC has been the major. sponsor of the Briefing in terms of finance and production.

The MLCC decided, however, not to see it as its own house organ - rather, to follow the London example and open the Briefing up to all interested Labour Party members, no matter what shade of opinion. suggests some this:1. Taking a pill may make people feel that the problem is with them rather than their situation. 2. It may make them feel less confident about their ability to cope. 3. It may make them feel less miserable about their situation, making the intolerable tolerable, so they don't feel the need to change it.

Side effects Tranx also have many side-effects, mild and serious. TWT mentions dizziness, headaches, nausea, drowsiness, blurred vision, and slight loss of co-ordination (making it dangerous to operate machines). Some people may become depressed and even suicidal, an interesting observation in view of Paul Foot's report (last week's New Statesman) of two previouscheerful old people who killed themselves while taking the sleeping pill Halcion (banned in Holland). We'll say nothing of provision of space for minor. ity views as well as individual contributions.

The magazine will be a forum for all views on the Labour Left, and not a 'line' journal.

Sponsorship for the journal is sought from all schools of thought within the Merseyside Labour Party, from single-issue campaigns, CLPs, wards, TU branches, etc.

Contributors to the first issue include county leader Kevan Coombes, city party leader John Hamilton. There is also a review of the Labour women's conference and an article against the register.

Copies from C.Erswell, c/o 59 September Road, Liverpool 6. the possible link between Valium and cancer (SO 34, 35).

TWT goes on to talk about the serious problem of addiction to tranx, thought to affect some 100,000 people in Britain (5 times as many as there are heroin addicts). The serious withdrawal symptoms that can follow are listed (readers may remember these from SO 38 and 44) and are also described by a former tranx addict in a letter at the end of TWT: 'Throughout withdrawal I honestly thought I was going mad, I had never felt so ill. My head felt explosive. Noise was so unbearable ... Even eating (when I could) was so painful ... M eyes would hurt ... I became very confused at the world around me ... It appeared unreal; colours were much brighter, outlines more defined, more vital, vibrant, bigger than life sometimes.' Clearly, such symptoms are not those of the original TWT is informative pamphlet. use it!

*available postage Elgin W93PR. ions for Labour Party conference; resolutions including one on campaigning for police accountability; the NHS dispute; and other reports.

All local groups are asked to send delegates - and to operate "positive discrimination' by sending a woman delegate if possible. Comrades who will be going to Labour Party conference are also specially asked to attend, whether they are local group delegates or not, for the discussion on Conference preparations.

For creche facilities or accommodation in Manchester, phone John Bloxam at 01-609 3071. anxiety, as some length.

Possibly the most useful part of TWT is the four pages of hints for coming off tranx which ends with suggestions for trying to change the conditions of life which cause anxiety.

TWT looks at the fact that twice as many women as men are tranx users and tries to analyse this in terms of the social unacceptability in women of a 'masculine' pattern of drinking alcohol to let off steam' or 'drown one's sorrows' Alcohol is a drug which helps men let their feelings out while tranx 'help' women bottle them up.

an interesting. and useful Buy it, read it, for 40p plus rom Release, Ave • London

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The miners turned the tide against the Heath government in 1972. They forced the Tories into a general election in 1974. They made Thatcher back down over pit closures in 1981. Now they have a new left leadership under Arthur Scargill. JOHN McILROY looks at prospects -