Drug News

METH – USA
Programs to fight meth abuse are important – Farmington Daily Times

Methamphetamine use is rampant in the Southwest and the average age of abusers is getting younger. Children often are approached in elementary school and offered methamphetamines. They might think it’s cool to give it a try not realizing the negative impact it will have on their lives.

ALCOHOL – USA
Caffeine Experts Call For Warning Labels For Energy Drinks – Science Daily

Johns Hopkins scientists who have spent decades researching the effects of caffeine report that a slew of caffeinated energy drinks now on the market should carry prominent labels that note caffeine doses and warn of potential health risks for consumers.

ALCOHOL – UK
Rise in alcohol poisoning as incidents soar – Scotsman

THE number of people admitted to hospital with alcohol poisoning has shot up in the Lothians over the last decade.

ALCOHOL – USA
Alcohol wrong choice for teens – Honolulu Advertiser

The war against underage drinking was turned up a notch yesterday when officials announced a statewide “We Don’t Serve Teens Week.” The event started Sunday and runs for a week, but it also kicks off a larger campaign that will last through October.

ALCOHOL – USA
Cultural Attitudes Influence Excessive Drinking – Join Together

Cultural influences are a dominant factor in youth attitudes about drinking and drunkenness.

MARIJUANA – USA
Marijuana Awareness Kit Available for Free Online – Pushing Back

As leaders in the effort to raise healthy, drug-free youth, you can be key partners in our efforts to educate Americans about the serious harms of marijuana.

ALCOHOL – UK
Alcohol poisoning on the rise – The Press Association

The numbers admitted to hospital in Lothian with alcohol poisoning has increased by half over the last 10 years - from 682 in 1998 to 934 last year.

DRUGS – USA
Parents, board debate athlete drug, alcohol policy – Battle Creek Enquirer

A Lakeview School District board member’s suggestion to stiffen the penalty for athletes caught using drugs or alcohol drew criticism on Monday, as parents and administrators disagreed with the policy but welcomed the discussion.

CODEINE – USA
‘Nerve Pill’ abuse epidemic among some Kentuckians – Kentucky

The biggest drug problem in Kentucky is not cocaine. Not crack. Not even marijuana. “It’s overmedication through prescription drugs,” said Leo Marcum, the Martin County commonwealth’s attorney. Nerve pills.

PRESCRIPTION – USA
Most prescription drugs kids take not approved for their use – Detroit Free Press

All of the prescription drugs your kids are taking probably aren’t approved for them. If you didn’t know that, you’ve got company. The majority of parents surveyed in a recent poll think whatever their pediatrician prescribes is safe.

PRESCRIPTION – USA
Teen prescription-drug abuse grows – Benton County Daily Record

While methamphetamine remains the main drug in the area, local narcotics investigators are alarmed at the dangers posed by prescription drugs, especially to teens.

ALCOHOL – NEW ZEALAND
Coroner urges warnings on alcohol – Stuff

A HAMILTON coroner is calling for alcohol to carry warning labels after ruling on four deaths this year from people who had been drinking to excess.

DRUGS – USA
Narcotics the main medicines flushed – San Francisco Chronicle

In a frustrating quirk in government policy, the most tightly controlled drugs - like painkilling narcotics prone to abuse - are the ones that most often elude environmental regulation when they become waste.

DRUGS – UK
Drugs misuse is on the increase – South Wales Evening Post

Alcohol and drug abuse is destroying more and more lives in Swansea, a leading expert has warned.

DRUGS – USA
New Tool Available to Educate Teens About Dangers of Substance Abuse – CADCA

CADCA, in partnership with the Newspaper in Education (NIE) Institute, the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), and the Consumer Healthcare Products Association (CHPA), has published a 16-page newspaper supplement to help educate parents and teens about the dangers of abusing drugs and alcohol.

DRUGS – UK
All rookie cops face drugs tests – Scotsman

ROOKIE police officers will be randomly tested for drugs and alcohol in a bid to root out addicts and heavy drinkers before they can cause harm.

COCAINE – IRELAND
90% of young drug abusers have cocaine problem – Irish Examiner

NINE out of 10 young people attending the country’s only residential drug treatment centre for adolescents have a cocaine problem.

DRUGS – USA
Controlled drugs dumped uncontrolled into water – Washington Posts

In a frustrating quirk in government policy, the most tightly controlled drugs _ like painkilling narcotics prone to abuse _ are the ones that most often elude environmental regulation when they become waste.

ALCOHOL – USA
‘Wizard Stick’ Parties a Binge Drinking Concern – Join Together

A drinking game that encourages young men to drink enough beer to make a stack of cans exceeding their own height has some experts concerned that it’s contributing to rising binge drinking rates.

PRESCRIPTION – USA
Use caution with prescription drugs – Detroit Free Press

Every year, millions of Americans get the wrong drugs at pharmacies or don’t take them correctly. This can lead to life-threatening health problems. Here are tips from pharmacists on staying safe.

METH – USA
Anti-meth campaign to take to the state’s airwaves – Tulsa World

The state is about to launch an all-out, prime-time assault against methamphetamine use.

ALCOHOL –NEW ZEALAND
Coroner urges warnings on alcohol – Sunday Star Times

A HAMILTON coroner is calling for alcohol to carry warning labels after ruling on four deaths this year from people who had been drinking to excess.

ALCOHOL – USA
Okanogan County ranks No. 1 in drug and alcohol death rates – The Wenatchee World Online

More people per capita in Okanogan County die of drug- or alcohol-related causes than in any other county in Washington. More youth are arrested for drug violations than anywhere else in the state, too.

ALCOHOL – UK
MillerCoors to put Sparks Red on hold – The Associated Press

MillerCoors says it’s going to put plans for a new caffeine-infused alcoholic energy drink on hold pending talks with the 25 states that asked the company not to release the beverage.

ADDERALL – USA
Adderall, Good for an “A”, Bad for the Body – College OTR

High doses may result in dangerously high body temperature and irregular heartbeat. There is also the potential for cardiovascular failure or lethal seizures.

ADDICTION – USA
Ride, concert mark National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month – Daytona Beach News Journal

Local agencies are sponsoring events for the 19th annual National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month.

ADDICTION – USA
Prevention group offers Webcast on teen addiction – Newton Kansan

Bring your lunch and join the South Central Regional Prevention Center at Mirror Inc. and Communities In Schools of Harvey County Drug-Free Youth Coalition for a webcast titled “Teen Addiction and the Path to Recovery.”

PAINKILLER – NEW ZEALAND
Experts urge caution over painkiller – New Zealand Herald

Some asthma experts are urging greater caution in the use of paracetamol, after an international study of more than 200,000 children suggested the painkiller increased the risk of the breathing complaint.

ALCOHOL – UK
Carry on carry-out – The Edinburg Journal

Most people agree that the alcohol culture in Scotland must change. Anybody out and about on a Friday and Saturday evening will have seen the unpleasant effects of over-indulgence.

ALCOHOL – UK
SNP puts forward radical plans to curb alcohol abuse – Financial Times

Scotland, which led the UK in its ban on smoking in public spaces, is poised to pioneer measures aimed at curbing alcohol abuse.

RITALIN – USA
Eyes, ears, teeth can be trouble spots – Roanoke Times

Is your child already struggling to pay attention in school? Don’t jump to Ritalin for the answer. Check out his eyes, ears and teeth for possible trouble spots.

ALCOHOL – USA
States urge MillerCoors to axe alcoholic energy drink – Biz Journal

Attorneys general from 25 states are calling on Miller Coors LLC to abandon its plan to introduce a new alcoholic energy drink called Sparks Red.

ALCOHOL – UK
Singer bans alcohol at concerts – BBC News

Van Morrison has shocked concert promoters and fans by imposing an alcohol ban at all of his UK concerts.

ALCOHOL – USA
States Urge MillerCoors to Scrap Caffeinated Drink – The Wall Street Journal

A group of 25 state attorneys general asked MillerCoors LLC to abandon its plans to introduce a caffeinated alcoholic beverage aimed at young people.

PAINKILLER – USA
Paracetamol use linked to asthma – Nursing in Practice

A major new study has discovered strong links between incidences of childhood asthma and the use of a common painkiller.

PAINKILLER – UK
Giving paracetamol to children could cause them to develop asthma – Daily Mail

The use of paracetamol for babies and young children could be one of the driving forces behind an epidemic of childhood asthma, a major study says.

PAINKILLER – AUSTRALIA
Painkiller ‘linked to kid’s asthma’ – The Australian

BABIES and toddlers who are given the common painkiller paracetamol to relieve fever are much more likely to develop asthma or eczema at primary school, new research suggests.

PAINKILLER – UK
Paracetamol ‘linked to asthma’ – The Press Association

A common painkiller may be one of the key driving forces behind the worldwide epidemic of childhood asthma, according to evidence from a major study.

DRUGS – USA
Oxycontin may hook teens more easily than adults – Reuters

The powerful painkiller Oxycontin may be even more addictive for adolescents than it is for adults, new research in mice suggests.

ADDICTION – USA
Real addiction recovery is that which prepares an addict for life in the real world – Trans World News

Rehab is and must always be a long-term process. Unfortunately, some Los Angeles treatment facilities operate under the assumption that rehab is “finished” on the last day of a client’s primary treatment program. Nothing could be further from the truth.

HEROIN – USA
U.S. Attorney Keeping Close Eye On Heroin Scene – WPTZ TV News

Despite a recent spike in heroin-related crimes in Vermont, United States Attorney Tom Anderson says prescription drugs and cocaine are still the two biggest concerns for the local law enforcement community.

ALCOHOL – IRELAND
Psychiatrists call for total ban on alcohol advertising – Irish Times

A GROUP of psychiatrists has called for a complete ban on all alcohol advertising and sponsorship in Ireland.

ALCOHOL – USA
Local college officials join the debate over push to lower the drinking age – Buffalo News

Young adults for years have questioned the rationale that 18 was old enough to vote and fight wars, but not old enough to drink a few beers.

DRUGS – IRELAND
‘Fight drugs, alcohol as one’ – Irish Examiner
A GOVERNMENT working group has called for an integrated framework in the fight against alcohol and illegal drug abuse, but has stopped short of recommending one combined strategy for both substances.

ALCOHOL – UK
Revealed: the nine types of heavy drinker – Guardian

The Department of Health will today identify the nine personality types of heavy drinkers at risk of liver damage and other alcohol-related illnesses that are costing the NHS in England about £2.7bn a year.

METH – USA
Methamphetamine Dangers – Trans World News

Methamphetamine and other stimulants are being abused more and more worldwide, and many people, although having heard about it, don’t really know what methamphetamine is or what it does.

ALCOHOL – USA
U.K. Program Targets Nine Types of Problem Drinkers – Join Together

British researchers have identified nine categories of drinkers as part of a a new campaign that focuses on heavy alcohol use.

PRESCRIPTION – USA
FDA issues warnings on Indian-made generic prescription drugs – Los Angeles Times

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday put the Indian generic drug giant Ranbaxy on notice that it would block entry to the U.S. market of 25 generic prescription drugs widely used by American consumers.

PRESCRIPTION – USA
Prescription drug abuse vexes the medical profession – The Plain Dealer

Some say prescription drug abuse is on the rise among health-care professionals. Others say the numbers have not changed much, but that drugs of choice are more powerful, and addicted professionals often go to greater lengths to get them.

DRUGS – USA
Drug abuse by teens takes prescriptive turn – Sioux Falls Argus Leader

Teens increasingly are becoming addicted to prescription and over-the-counter drugs, substances as lethal as any illicit drug but often more readily available.

METH – USA
Hot New Country Group to Help Raise Money for Idaho Meth Project – Local News

One of country music’s hottest new groups will be in Idaho Falls to help raise money for the Idaho Meth Project.

METH – UK
Crystal meth: easy to make, highly dangerous and devastating some US states – Channel 4 News

It is one of the most dangerous drugs known to man and can be made from legal and easily obtainable ingredients.

ADDICTION – USA
Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month set; State, local agencies partner together – Cape Coral Daily Breeze

The Department of Children and Families will join community partners across the state to bring local awareness to the issue of drug and alcohol addiction.

ADDICTION – USA
Fundraiser to benefit addiction treatment groups – Albany Times Union

While addicts struggle to recover, some of the agencies that serve them struggle to survive.

DRUGS – USA
Family Day – CASA

A Day to Eat Dinner with Your ChildrenTM is a national movement to inform parents that the parental engagement fostered during frequent family dinners is an effective tool to help keep America’s kids substance free. Family Day reminds parents that Dinner Makes A Difference!

DRUGS – USA
College Campuses Concerned About Prescription Drug Abuse – Trans World News

Many campuses nationwide are taking prescription drug abuse seriously. Adderral, Ritalin, and other prescription drugs are being abused at an alarming rate.

PRESCRIPTION – USA
Prevent prescription drug abuse – The Spectrum

As parents, we worry about our teenagers and drugs. We see the results of teen drug use in the media, our neighborhoods and sometimes in our own families. Did you know that a significant source of the drugs teens abuse is our own medicine cabinets?

PRESCRIPTION – USA

Youths’ drug of choice? Prescription – Los Angeles Times

Baby boomers made marijuana their ‘gateway’ — and some still can’t let go, a report says — but a younger generation finds prescription drugs are an easier score.

PRESCRIPTION – USA

Prescription drugs affect your body’s ability to exercise – News of the North

Various drugs have different effects on the body’s response to exercise, and if you want the best results for the amount of work your putting in (and who doesn’t?) then it all has to be out in the open. Here I’m going to address common exercise issues associated with the most frequently prescribed types of medication.

PRESCRIPTION – FRANCE

Guidelines for disposal of prescription drugs – International Herald Tribune

Here are the federal guidelines for proper disposal of prescription drugs:

PRESCRIPTION – CANADA

Prescription drug abuse grows – Nanaimo Daily News

A longtime Nanaimo pharmacist says prescription drug abuse is so bad, some clients are only allowed a daily dose that they must consume before they leave. The pharmacy fears the pills will end up on the streets.

METH – FRANCE

Drug conference warns ‘meth’ booming beyond cocaine or heroin – AFP

The chemical street drug methamphetamine, or “meth”, is becoming more popular than cocaine or heroin in many countries, experts at a conference in Prague said Monday.

ADDICTION – USA

Local groups team up to fight addiction – Ithaca Journal

September marks the 19th annual National Drug & Alcohol Recovery Month. In actuality, this year it could be called National Transformation Month.

PRESCRIPTION – USA

CADCA, CHPA, and PhRMA Join Forces to Educate Parents and Youth about Dangers of Medicine Abuse – CHPA

Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA), the Consumer Healthcare Products Association (CHPA), and the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) are introducing a new tool in the fight against medicine abuse.

CODEINE – USA

Narcotics under tight control — until it’s time to dump them – USA Today

In a frustrating quirk in government policy, the most tightly controlled drugs — like painkilling narcotics prone to abuse — are the ones that most often elude environmental regulation when they become waste.

METHADONE – USA

Methadone Deaths Still On The Rise – Trans World News

What drug tops the chart as causing the most accidental deaths? Some would think heroin, maybe cocaine. While these do contribute to their share of accidental deaths, the number one drug killer in the US? Methadone.

METH – THAILAND

Asian synthetic drug use rise concerns UN – Bangkok Post

In 2006, almost half of Asian countries reported an increase in methamphetamine use. Amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS) were falsely perceived as being harmless.

ADDICTION – USA

Information available on drug, alcohol addiction – Yucaipa News Mirror

On Sept. 20, recovery advocates from around the country will be celebrating National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery month with community organizations sponsoring such events as voter registration, education and participation to picnics and rallies for recovery.

PAINKILLER – UK

NIH/NIDA Expert Warns Of Increasing Painkiller Abuse, Discusses NIDA Support For A New Drug Candidate For Opioid Withdrawal And Addiction – Medical News Today

Opioid medications, including Vicodin, Darvoset, Codeine, Oxycontin, Demerol and Fentanyl, are commonly used to relieve acute and chronic pain and are one of the most widely prescribed classes of drugs in the United States:

DRUGS – BELGIUM

Belgium is second top synthetic drugs producer – Expatica

Belgium ranks second after the Netherlands in the production and exportation of synthetic drugs such as ecstasy, reports the daily De Morgen on Wednesday.

PRESCRIPTION – USA

W.Va. starts prescription drug abuse hot line – Daily Mail

Help for thousands of West Virginians struggling with prescription drug addiction could be just a phone call away.

PRESCRIPTION – USA

Eclectic group gathers to fight prescription drug abuse – Daily Herald

Utah County is calling on doctors, pharmacists, police officers, school representatives, youth group volunteers, elected officials, religious leaders and others to come up with a plan to fight its prescription drug abuse problem.

PAINKILLERS – USA

Abuse Of Painkillers Can Predispose Adolescents To Lifelong Addiction – Medical News Today

No child aspires to a lifetime of addiction. But their brains might. In new research to appear online in the journal Neuropsychopharmacology this week, Rockefeller University researchers reveal that adolescent brains exposed to the painkiller Oxycontin can sustain lifelong and permanent changes in their reward system.

DRUGS – USA

46 million affected by trace drugs in drinking water – CNN News

Testing prompted by an Associated Press about trace amounts of pharmaceuticals in drinking water has shown that more Americans are affected by the problem than previously thought — at least 46 million.

OPIUM – UK

Drug pushers disguise deadly opium as children’s sweets – The Examiner

DEADLY opium has been seized in Huddersfield, disguised as sweets. Now detectives are warning people to be on their guard in case the drugs fall into the hands of young children.

PRESCRIPTION – USA

Program aims to curb prescription abuse – Cleveland Daily Banner

With prescription drug abuse at an all-time high in the state, the Tennessee Medical Association is in the early stages of developing a prescription safety program in hopes of reducing prescription abuse while maintaining quality medical attention and pain management.

PRESCRIPTION – USA

Prescription Meds, Addiction, and Drug Rehab – Trans World News

Last week, the FDA came out with their list of potentially hazardous drugs.  One on the list is OxyContin, a time-released pain medication.  The potential risk is that of “drug misuse, abuse, and overdose.”  A lot of times, this is the medication that is the culprit in pharmacy robberies and home invasions.

PRESCRIPTION – USA

Old prescription drugs a problem at home – Casa Grande Valley Newspapers

Leftover prescription drugs are in all of our cabinets. They come from prescriptions which we did not finish when we were sick. Some of these are seriously out of date and others are narcotics which should not be lying around.

PRESCRIPTION – USA

Pharmaceutical Companies Use New Media to Market to Teens – Join Together

As government officials warn about the increased misuse of prescription drugs by adolescents, drug companies are using text messages, e-mail, and even music downloads to market pharmaceuticals directly to teens.

ADDICTION – USA

More funding needed for addiction treatment – The Tennessean

Nationwide, only 10.3 percent of people who needed treatment for alcohol and drug disorders in 2002 actually received it. Locally, we can help by increasing state and local funds to support our cities’ treatment programs.

METH – USA

A look at meth in Montana – KPAX News

The US Drug Enforcement Administration reports that methamphetamine is a problem that goes back for several decades.

ALCOHOL – USA

School To Test For Alcohol – Courant

The school board has adopted a new policy that subjects students to breath testing for alcohol at school functions.

ADDICTION – USA

September marks Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month – Wilmington News Journal

For the thousands of families and individuals affected by substance abuse and addiction, asking for help and finding treatment is essential to getting back to a healthy, fulfilling life through recovery.

ADDICTION – USA

Commissioners Observe Drug Addiction Recovery Month – North Central Ohio

http://www.northcentralohio.com/newsboard/single.asp?Story=33012

The Richland County Commissioners Tuesday issued a proclamation observing September as National Drug and Alcohol Addiction Recovery Month.

ADDICTION – USA

Activities for September-National Drug and Alcohol Addiction Recovery Month – Trans World News

Recovery month is upon us!   This is the time to create hope and inspiration for those already in recovery and to encourage those who need it to begin the journey.

METH – UK

The drug that could bring a new ‘ice age’ to Scotland – The Herald

Experts are set to warn that the dangerous illegal drug crystal meth could rapidly make inroads in