(Events leading up to the day - events of the week - and manipulation of the news)

2/9/91

TV3 Sixty Minutes Programme on the dangers of valium, lithium, ativan and other benzodiazepines asked for viewer's comments. NZAVS letter to the programme ignored.

Drug being withdrawn

17/9/91		Evening Post reported the drug Mictural withdrawn from the market as its safety was under question.
28/9/91		NZ Herald article "On the Wrong End of Animal Rights" as told by Colin Blakemore (infamous British blinder of cats and monkeys). Though the Herald published a further article "Value in Animal Experiments" from Blakemore at University of Oxford in its letters column of 29/10/91 none of NZAVS letters of rebuttal were published.
3/10/91		World Animal Day. Radio Pacific Wellington talk-back invited listeners to phone in on the subject of Halcion. Bette Overell lasted 30 seconds before having the plug pulled out on her attempt to publicise the connection between vivisection and drugs gone wrong. "You've gotta have it" said talk-back host Peter Burke (of Halcion)... Complaints to the producer brought the comment: "It's his show he can do exactly as he likes."
3/10/91		TV1 News 10.10pm announced a special article on the withdrawal of the drug halcion. At the time it was due to commence a fire alarm cleared everyone from the studio and it did not eventuate!

Halcion days may be numbered

4/10/91

Dominion article on Halcion by Frances Ross, Health Reporter, in which Gavin Kellaway, chairman of the medicines assessment advisory committee said, "Halcion is a nice drug to take if you're flying overnight to Los Angeles because you get six hours sleep you probably wouldn't have otherwise". Dr Boyd, notorious for his role as State spokesperson for vivisection says, "There is no immediate danger to patients." NZAVS phoned the health reporter Ross to inform her that NZAVS had given the government details of the dangers of Halcion. her reply, "What's it got to do with health."!

Halcion users given warning

4/10/91		Independent Radio News Network reacted to NZAVS' phonecall with a ten minute interview informing reporter Greg Boyd that the NZ Government had been warned in 1984 about Halcion (and other drugs) in NZAVS Petition to Abolish the LD50 Test... and again in 1989 in NZAVS Petition to Abolish Vivisection. "You'll be pleased it's taken off the market then" was the reaction. When this was not reported on the news NZAVS 'phoned the sub-editor who said he had the story in front of him but "it isn't important enough". On the next news headlines was a report that Upjohn, the producers of Halcion, said "It was safe to keep using" This was followed by Dr Bob Boyd long-time promoter of vivisection, chairman of the restricted drugs committee who urged, "There is no immediate danger from Halcion... do not stop taking the drug."
7/10/91		Radio Pacific Auckland's Jenny Anderson invited Bette Overell to be interviewed on the work of NZAVS and its warning given to the government about prescription drugs like Halcion. This interview was for 20 minutes and the only one of the week wherein interviewers did not set themselves up as experts on vivisection, the safety of prescription drugs and our petition.