Heather Ashton facts for kids

Heather Ashton (11 July 1929 – 15 September 2019) was a British doctor and scientist. She studied how medicines affect the mind and body. She is famous for her work on a type of medicine called benzodiazepines.

Early Life and Education

Chrystal Heather Champion was born in Dehradun, India, on July 11, 1929. Her father, Harry Champion, was a British expert in growing trees. Her mother, Chrystal Champion, was a secretary.

When she was six, Heather went to a boarding school in England. During World War II, she moved to Pennsylvania in the United States. Her ship was even attacked by a submarine on the way!

Studying Medicine

Heather Ashton loved to learn. She studied medicine at Somerville College, Oxford University. In 1951, she earned a special degree in how the body works. She became a doctor in 1954. Later, in 1956, she earned an advanced medical degree.

She finished her medical training at Middlesex Hospital. In 1975, she became a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians. This is a high honor for doctors in London.

Career and Helping Others

In 1965, Dr. Ashton started working at Newcastle University. She first worked in the department that studies medicines. Later, she moved to the department that studies mental health.

The Benzodiazepine Clinic

From 1982 to 1994, Dr. Ashton ran a special clinic. This clinic was at the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle. It helped people who needed to stop taking benzodiazepine medicines.

She also helped start a group called Victims of Tranquillisers (VOT). This group supported people affected by these medicines.

Dr. Ashton passed away on September 15, 2019. She was 90 years old.

Important Research Work

Dr. Ashton became an expert in how medicines affect the brain. She also studied how things like nicotine affect the brain.

Understanding Benzodiazepines

In the 1960s, medicines like diazepam became very popular. They were used to help with anxiety or trouble sleeping. Many people thought they were very safe.

However, Dr. Ashton's research showed something important. She found that these medicines could cause people to become physically dependent on them. This happened if people used them for a long time.

She also realized that stopping these medicines could be very hard. This was called benzodiazepine withdrawal syndrome. It was different from other types of withdrawal.

The Ashton Manual

Dr. Ashton wanted to help people. She wrote an important guide to help people stop using these medicines safely. This guide is called Benzodiazepines: How They Work and How to Withdraw.

It was first published in 1999. It is now known as the "Ashton Manual." This manual has been translated into 11 languages. It is used by people all over the world.

Her research made a big difference. It led to new rules for doctors about how to prescribe benzodiazepines. Dr. Ashton wrote over 200 articles and books about medicines. More than 50 of these were about benzodiazepines.