JIST

It has been 10 long and arduous years since I took charge as Editor of the nascent Journal of Indian Society of Toxicology (JIST) and struggled almost singlehandedly to make it one of the best peer reviewed journals on medical toxicology in India. The very first issue of this journal which today has a large subscription base, and is perhaps the most widely read scientific journal on toxicology in the Indian sub-continent was released in June 2005, with about 75 life members and 9 subscribers! We have come a long way since then, and I feel a sense of satisfaction (and relief!) as I hand over charge of editorship of this flagship journal on medical toxicology to my eminent young colleague, who also happens to be the current President of the society that manages the journal: Dr Kusa Kumar Shaha. He will be constituting a brand new team of editorial board members and referees for JIST which will take the reins from January 2015. I am confident that Dr Shaha and his team will ensure that JIST continues to maintain its legendary regularity and punctuality of publication, as well as the high quality of content. Part of the reputation of JIST as a quality journal is because it has always been meticulously edited with as few printing and subject errors as possible, and stringent copy editing.

I am also pleased to announce that the next Annual Conference of the Indian Society of Toxicology (TOXOCON-9) will be organized by Prof Srinivasa Ragavan, Head, Dept of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology at Saveetha Medical College, Thandalam, Chennai 602105, Tamil Nadu.

The theme of this instalment of TOXOCON is Substance Abuse. It is a very intriguing, attractive, and useful theme to all those professionals and students of clinical medicine, forensic medicine, emergency medicine, intensive care, pediatrics, forensic science, etc who are eager to know about the paradigm shift in the scenario of substance abuse that has taken place over the last decade in our country. Believe me, it is not just the usual suspects any more (alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, opium and opiates, barbiturates, etc), but a whole lot of new drugs on the block - cocaine, methamphetamine, designer drugs, phencyclidine, ketamine, and many more new and exotic substances. It is enough to blow your mind (pun intended)!

Prof Srinivasa Ragavan has assured me that he would design the program very carefully with lectures by eminent experts in the field of substance abuse, scientific paper sessions that will cover all aspects of substance abuse (clinical, forensic, analytical, occupational, sociomedical), and stimulating discussions and debates.

The tentative date is in the 3rd week of August 2015. Keep yourself free from all other engagements during this period! Wait for a detailed announcement and the brochure with registration details. As always, TOXOCON-9 will also be a high quality affair focused on academic and scientific sessions with scant attention to frivolities. A grand banquet on the intervening night of the two-day event will of course receive the attention that it deserves!