John Cummins, M.P. Delta-South Richmond

News Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 14, 1994

Ottawa--John Cummins, M.P. (Delta) asked the government today about the adverse effects of the anti-malarial drug mefloquine.

The suicide attempt in March 1993 by MCpl Clayton Matchee has been identified by a Canadian military doctor as quite possibly mefloquine related. Canadian soldiers in Rwanda are currently being administered the drug.

Concerns exist as to the possible interaction of mefloquine and alcohol. The Health Protection Branch at Health Canada contacted the manufacturer on July 22, 1993, quite possibly as a result of the events in Somalia, "regarding the incidence of psychiatric adverse events with Lariam and the possible interaction of Lariam and alcohol". The manufacturer provided the Branch on July 30, 1993 with data from its Canadian clinical study showing that there had been 302 psychiatric disorders. In addition a brief list of adverse events from its international database were provided where alcohol was a comedication (two incidences involved Canadians).

Question No. 105: With regard to the mandatory use of mefloquine by Canadian forces personnel,

(a) what clinical or field studies did the Department of National Defence undertake or fund into the possible adverse effects including the impairment of judgment of the mandatory use of mefloquine by Canadian forces while in Somalia, both while the personnel were in Somalia and on their return to Canada,

(b) what clinical or field studies did the Department of National Defence undertake or fund into the possible adverse effects including the impairment of judgment of the mandatory use of mefloquine by Canadian forces while in Rwanda, both while the personnel were in Rwanda and on their return to Canada,

(c) what amount of alcohol was available on a daily basis to Canadian forces personnel in Somalia and later in Rwanda who had received the mandatory dosage of mefloquine, what adjustments or precautions were made to the dosages by those administering the drug and what advice was given to persons required to take mefloquine who might be expected to use alcohol during their tour of duty,

(d) what screening and other precautions were taken by those administering mefloquine, and what advice was given to Canadian forces personnel in regard to self-administered recreational body building, locally grown stimulants and other such drugs that it could reasonably be expected that personnel might be taking concurrent to their usage of mefloquine,

(e) what ranks and occupations in the Canadian forces were not subject to the mandatory use of mefloquine in either Somalia or Rwanda and why were they not subject to the mandatory requirement to take mefloquine and

(f) why is the effective dosage of mefloquine taken by Canadian forces stronger than the equivalent dosage given U.S. military personnel and what are the possible adverse effects of such stronger dosages?

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For more information, please contact:

John Cummins, M.P.
(604) 940-8040 or 970-0937 (cell)