Drug News

METH – USA
Anti-drug campaign kicks off – Andalusia Star-News

Top Alabama leaders announced Thursday the implementation of a new statewide methamphetamine awareness campaign, known as ZEROMETH, that will start today.

PRESCRIPTION – AUSTRALIA
Medication addicts ‘the big problem’ – News Aus

PARAMEDICS are treating almost 8000 Melburnians a year for overdoses of prescription and over-the-counter drugs - 11 times the figure for heroin.

DRUGS – USA
Celebrity Addictions: Painkillers and Hollywood – ABC News

What started as a problem among the rural poor in America has now spread across the nation and into the Hollywood spotlight. The effective chemicals in prescription painkillers — called opioids — are derived from the same poppy plant used to make opium and heroin. Painkillers give a feeling of euphoria and, just like heroin or opium, carry a high risk for abuse and recreational use.

DRUGS – USA
Students speak about drug abuse – The Reflector

According to a March 2007 article in High Times magazine, prescription drug abuse is about to exceed the use of illicit street drugs in the U.S. “The high and increasing level of abuse of prescription drugs by both adolescents and adults is a serious cause for concern,” according to the International Narcotics Control Board.

ALCOHOL – UK
Stronger government action needed to tackle the epidemic of alcohol misuse, says new BMA report – British Medical Association

A new hard-hitting report1 ‘Alcohol misuse: tackling the UK epidemic’ launched today (Thursday 21 February 2008) by the BMA calls on the government to show leadership and implement a full range of effective control policies that will reduce the burden of alcohol misuse.

ALCOHOL – UK
The problem of ‘demon drink’ – BBC News

The British Medical Association (BMA) report shows alcohol now kills more people every month than heroin does in a year.

ALCOHOL – UK
How much do you drink? – NHS Choices

Are you concerned you might be drinking too much? Answer these simple questions and find out what kind of a relationship you have with alcohol.

ALCOHOL – UK
Using the law to curb Britain’s binge-drinking – Telegraph

Modern Britain is like an alcoholic who, after years of ruining family gatherings, has finally admitted that he has a problem. But no one has much confidence that he will be able to break the cycle of destructive drinking.

PAINKILLER – USA
Painkiller patches recalled – Monterey County Herald

Patches containing the prescription painkiller fentanyl were recalled for the second time in a week Monday, because of a flaw that could cause patients or caregivers to overdose on the potent drug inside.

PAINKILLER – USA
Fentanyl painkiller patches recalled for second time in a week – KLAS TV News

Another recall for patches containing the painkiller fentanyl. Patches sold by Actavis South Atlantic are being recalled because of a defect that could cause them to leak, putting patients or caregivers at risk of overdose.