Drug News

OPIUM – INDIA
Rebels boosting poppy business in Myanmar – Hindustan Times
Poppy trade is flourishing in Myanmar, thanks to the activities of a rebel group that has the support of the country’s military regime, a media report said.

GENERAL – USA
New Year’s Eve, A Time to Help Those with Addiction – CBS News
New Year’s Eve parties are the devil for people who are struggling with an addiction. “That belief that everyone should go out and celebrate and, of course, most celebrating involves alcohol, and so I do believe that it’s a definite time of relapse for a lot of people,” says Wausau Health Services Director Deborah Piskoty.

ALCOHOL – UK
Every day more than 70 victims seek help after alcohol-fuelled attacks – Scotsman News
ALCOHOL-FUELLED violence is responsible for nearly 30,000 admissions to Scotland’s hospitals each year and the problem is getting worse, according to a stark new report.

ALCOHOL – CANADA
Happy Healthy Holidays! – Body and Health
This time of year, many festivities involve alcohol. And with social events sometimes around every corner, it’s easy to let our alcohol consumption increase.

METH – USA
Methamphetamine use increases artery tears & stroke risk – Zee News
Washington, Dec 27: Methamphetamine use may be associated with increased risks of major neck artery tears and stroke, according to an article published in the December 26, 2006, issue of Neurology, the scientific journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

ALCOHOL – USA
Brains Can Recover From Alcoholic Damage But Patients Should Stop Drinking As Soon As Possible – Medical News Today
The findings, published in the online edition of the journal Brain [1], used sophisticated scanning technology and computer software to measure how brain volume, form and function changed over six to seven weeks of abstinence from alcohol in 15 alcohol dependent patients (ten men, five women).

GENERAL – USA
Are Drugs Not Approved By The FDA Safe? - Health Lifeline
We go to the doctor, get a prescription and assume it is safe, but each year, physicians and pharmacists unknowingly give patients drugs that don’t have the government’s OK.

PRESCRIPTION – USA
Study: Teens Using More Prescription Drugs – kxan.com
A new study shows the lengths some teenagers are going to to get high. They’re using everything from Ritalin to painkillers. Some are even crushing, then snorting the prescription drugs.

METH – USA
Meth might hurt ability to feel normal pleasure – The Post and Courier
Ronald See, a professor of neuroscience at the Medical University of South Carolina, said the effects of methamphetamine may be more damaging than some other illegal drugs because it produces a long-lasting high of eight hours or more.