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Copyright of Foro Internacional is the property of El Colegio de Mexico AC and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This paper seeks to highlight Mexico's interest in being at the forefront in Latin America and at the same time at the international level with the major players in the field of biotech medicines. Mexico has just adopted an amendment to the General Health Law that would allow the regulatory approval of biocomparable drugs (some countries refer to these as biosimilar or biogeneric drugs). Such reform consists in the incorporation of Article 222 Bis, which describes what is regarded as a biotechnology medicine, distinguishes between innovative and biocomparable medicines, sets the requirements to obtain sanitary registration and for marketing, describes the regulations regarding the pharmacovigilance of these products, as well as the studies that are necessary to demonstrate the quality, safety and efficacy of a biocomparable medicine which is supported with reference to an innovative medicine, and taking into consideration the Opinion of the Committee of New Molecules through the Subcommittee for the Evaluation of Biotechnology Products. This amendment also includes the assignment of the same International Non-propriety Name (INN) as for the reference product. The goal of the reform is to encourage competitiveness in Mexico by regulating the manufacture and approval of these medicines making them more affordable and hence fostering their access to the population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Medicines regulators, while performing a vital public health activity, are often perceived as both negative cost centers for governments and as impediments to innovation and economic development. The Mexican government recently undertook a regulatory optimization program focused on transforming the Mexican medicines regulatory pathway into one that is efficient, value-added, aligned with international norms, resource accountable, and one that protects and promotes public health, while also facilitating economic development. Methods: To facilitate the implementation of a new national access to medicines policy, the national government and the Mexican medicines regulatory agency instituted a multifaceted series of regulatory and legal reforms, which are described in this paper. These reforms encompassed multiple aspects of the regulatory oversight of medicines: administrative processes, clinical trials oversight, reliance on market authorization information and reports (ie, “work products”) of other trusted regulators, and validation of activities by both Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and WHO. Findings: These reforms have resulted in a marked positive impact on the availability of safe, effective, quality medicines at lower costs for Mexicans, both in the private and public sectors, while simultaneously facilitating expansion of the Mexican pharmaceutical industry. Interpretation: The regulatory optimization approach undertaken by Mexico could be a useful model for other countries that are trying to provide appropriate public health protection to their citizens, facilitate access to needed quality medicines, and encourage local economic development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents several abstracts on topics including policymaking in legislatures, evaluation of Mexican drug war, and policy challenges of civil society involvement in education.

This article explores agency as an ability to act and exert power creatively when failure implies literal death. It draws on interviews with an ex‐narco and rappers who willingly accept narco‐commissions in 2010s Tamaulipas, Mexico, a context where precarity and necropolitical logics prevail. It asserts that many rappers exert power creatively, despite the risks. Rappers shape narco‐aesthetics by determining the lyrical and sonic elements of songs; draw on experiences of narco‐life to contribute to narco‐ethics; and mould narco‐masculinities by encouraging listeners to stay firm. It proposes that prevalent discursive Us–Them dichotomies facilitate Othering and stigmatisation of actors in the narco‐world, and serve to accentuate narco‐power. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: Policing practices do not reflect recent decriminalization of drug possession in Mexico. We assessed knowledge of cannabis law as part of a police education program (PEP) post-drug law reform in Tijuana.Methods: Officers took pre-/post-PEP surveys; random subsample (n = 759) received follow-up assessments. Longitudinal logistic regression (pre-, post-, 3-months post-PEP) measured knowledge of cannabis law.Results: PEP increased conceptual knowledge of cannabis law from baseline to post-training (AOR = 56.1, CI: 41.0-76.8) and 3 months post-PEP (AOR = 11.3, CI: 9.0-14.2).Conclusion and Scientific Significance: PEPs improve police knowledge of cannabis law. Reforms should be bundled with PEPs to improve policy implementation. (Am J Addict 2018;XX:XX-XX). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers recent updates. The European Cancer Leagues (ECL) and European Alcohol Policy Alliance (Eurocare) has launched an alcohol and cancer website located at www.alcoholandcancer.eu. A joint statement on compulsory drug treatment centres (CCDUs) in East and Southeast Asia was issued by twelve UN agencies in 2012. A new legislation was signed by California Governor, Jerry Brown, on reducing the number of preventable deaths resulting from accidental drug overdoses.

The article offers information on the ongoing Mexican Drug War, an armed conflict between rival drug cartels fighting each other for regional control and Mexican government forces and also presents an evaluation of the drug policy of the U.S. It informs that drug war in Mexico emphasizes eradication, interdiction, and law enforcement. Several graphs depicting narcotics related extradition, marijuana eradication, and seizures are presented.

Copyright of Salud Mental is the property of Instituto Nacional de Psiquiatria Ramon de la Fuente and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)