Drug News

ADDICTION – USA
National study to treat addiction to prescription pain medications – News Medical
Researchers funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), part of the National Institutes of Health, launched the first large-scale national study evaluating a treatment for addiction to prescription opioid analgesics (i.e., painkillers) such as Vicodin and OxyContin.

ADDICTION – ITALY
Drug Addiction: Italian Market Number Two in Europe – Agenzia Giornalistica Italia
During 2006, the Italian market has been supplied mainly by cocaine coming from Colombia, by Afghani heroin, hashish from Morocco, Albanian marijuana and synthetic drugs mainly originating in Holland. Italy is considered the second main consumer of cocaine in Europe after Spain.

ALCOHOL – UK
Alcohol blamed for rise in violence – The Scotsman
Binge-drinking and growing inequality has been blamed for the spike in violence.

METH – USA
Hooley announces meth legislation – Clackamas Review
It started with the west coast – but now the rest of the country is ready to take notice.

METH – USA
Arizona teens sign pledge to stay away from meth – The Arizona Republic
The effort is part of the Arizona Meth Project, which launched in April with a graphic ad campaign. The idea is to persuade teens not to try the highly-addictive drug - “not even once.”

PRESCRIPTION – USA
Prescription-drug abuse on the rise – The Daily Iowan
Sometimes coffee just isn’t enough. After their energy has perished and they’re in over their heads with finals, some students skip the caffeine and find new ways to stay awake.

PRESCRIPTION – USA
Prescription drugs being abused in Sarasota – Tampa Bay News
Sarasota, Florida-Sarasota is one of the most beautiful places in the Bay area. But throughout different neighborhoods in this city, undercover officers say there’s a very ugly problem that’s absolutely heartbreaking, “It is sad and it is surprising when you see young kids addicted to drugs.”

METH – USA
Meth Use Among Youth Higher Than Expected – The Real Truth
A study published in the journal Addiction found that crystal methamphetamine use among young adults was twice as high as originally expected.