Drug News

Alcohol – New York
Rise in EMS calls leads to concern over student drinking habits – The Miscellany News

Alcoholic, caffeinated beverages partially blamed for trend

Cocaine Detection – Study
New Method To Detect Cocaine Stored In Alcohol – From Outside The Bottle – Medical News TODAY

In two landmark studies published in the journal Drug Testing and Analysis (DTA), UK and Swiss research teams reveal two techniques proven to identify dissolved cocaine in bottles of wine or rum. These tools will allow customs officials to quickly identify bottles being used to smuggle cocaine, without the need to open or disturb the container.

Overdose Related Death – USA Celebrity
Comedian Greg Giraldo Passes Away At 44 – Thaindian News

Sep 30, (THAINDIAN NEWS) Highly acclaimed American comedian Greg Giraldo breathed his last on Wednesday after spending about five days in a medical facility where he was admitted over the weekend for drug overdose. The comedy artist passed away, due to complications that arose from the overdose of drugs, at the Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in the presence of family members as well as friends. Greg Giraldo was 44 years old at the time of his demise.

Drug & Alcohol Death – UK
Brit man on dance drug dies after downing pint of vodka in 4 seconds – Thaindian News

London, Sept 30 (ANI): A Brit drinker who had taken the dance drug mephedrone died after downing a pint of vodka in four seconds, an inquest heard.

Drug Smuggler Fooled Employer – New Zealand
Drug smuggler hid past to get New Zealand hospital job – Thaindian News

Wellington, Sep 30 (IANS) A Nigerian drug smuggler who fooled immigration officials to get a job as a psychiatrist in a New Zealand hospital has been jailed for 16 months.

Methadone – Scotland
Time to get off methadone – Record View, Scotland’s Voice

The continuing rise in the cost of the country’s methadone programme is alarming. More than £105million over four years boils down to a massive £67,000-plus every single day.

Marijuana – Texas
Mom nabbed over kid drug dealer – KTEN 10, Associated Press

SAN JUAN, Texas (AP) – A 22-year-old south Texas woman is behind bars after her neighbors reported that her 4-year-old daughter was trying to sell a brick of marijuana.

Prescription Drug Abuse – Australia
We Must Stop Prescription Drug Abuse With Transparency, Australia – Medical News TODAY

The Australian Nursing Federation said the abuse of opiates based prescription drugs is a rising problem in Australia and we need urgent electronic streamlining of health records to stop the abuse.

Drug Trafficking – Saudi Arabia
210 drug traffickers held in Saudi Arabia – Thaindian News

Riyadh, Sep 29 (IANS) Saudi authorities Wednesday said they have arrested 210 drug traffickers, including Indians, in the last three months.

Meth – Mexico to Colorado
Nine indicted in alleged Mexico-Colo meth ring – Colorado connection

DENVER (AP) — The Colorado Attorney General’s office says it has indicted nine people suspected of importing as much as 50 pounds of methamphetamine from Mexico into Colorado.

Teen Drug & Alcohol Use – Study
Popularity Affects Drug And Alcohol Consumption – Medical News TODAY

The consumption of drugs and alcohol by teenagers is not just about rebellion or emotional troubles. It’s about being one of the cool kids, according to a study by led by researchers at the Universite de Montreal.

Drugs Trafficking to USA – Puerto Rico
DEA: Mailmen in Puerto Rico Shipped Drugs to US – CBSNEWS

7 Postal Workers Indicted on Charges They Shipped Heroin, Cocaine and Marijuana Through the Mail to Texas, Calif. and Ariz.

Cocaine Possession – USA Celebrity
Rapper Kid Cudi Pleads Guilty For Drug Possession – Thaindian News

Sep 28, (THAINDIAN NEWS) Rapper Kid Cudi pleaded guilty for criminal possession of Cocaine. Although he explained saying that he has “kicked off” the habit long time back, the court has ordered him to perform a two day long community service, and if he can successfully avoid further legal troubles and consumption of drugs, then his case may be dismissed within the next six months.

Drug Free Schools – India
Parents to take ‘anti-narcotics’ oath for drug-free Himachal – Thaindian News

Shimla, Sep 28 (IANS) Parents in Himachal Pradesh will take an ‘anti-narcotics’ oath at the time of their children’s admission to school to ensure that the kids are “not hooked to drugs”, a senior official said Tuesday.

Marijuana Seizure – Texas
$3 million drug bust in Central Texas – FOX10tv.com

FAYETTE COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) – Fayette County Sheriff’s deputies seized 2,000 marijuana plants from a 55-acre property at 14650 North SH 95 on Sunday.

Drug Trafficking Prevention – USA
FBI wants right to tap texts, emails and websites under proposed new bill – Thaindian News

Washington, Sept 28 (ANI): A new Bill proposed to be introduced in the United States Congress in 2011, would reportedly allow the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to tap text messages, emails and networking websites.

Drug-Related Murder – Mexico
Small-Town Mayor Stoned to Death in Mexico – KTLA.com

MORELIA, Mexico — The mayor of the Mexican town of Tancitaro and his aide were found stoned to death Monday on a dirt road in the drug-plagued state of Michoacan.

Driving While Intoxicated – North Carolina
15 charges stem from DWI checkpoint – ENCToday.com

A DWI checkpoint in Jones County on Friday resulted in 15 charges, according to a news release issued Monday by the Jones County Sheriff’s Office.

Teen Substance Abuse Prevention – USA
Frequent Family Dinners Linked To Lower Tobacco, Alcohol And Marijuana Use Among Teens – Medical News TODAY

American teenagers who regularly have family dinners are much less likely to have used drugs, alcohol or marijuana compared to their peers who have family dinners infrequently, according to a new study – The Importance of Family Dinners VI – carried out by researchers from The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA), Columbia University. Those defined as having family dinners frequently did so from five to seven times per week, while those who had family dinners fewer than three times a week had infrequent family dinners.

Prescription Medication Collection – USA
The Push to Empty Medicine Cabinets – abc NEWS VIDEO

DEA sets up “take-back” locations where people can dispose of unused medication.

Cocaine – UK
Flight attendant jailed for drug smuggling – Brighouse ECHO

A flight attendant who tried to smuggle cocaine into the UK, via Heathrow, by hiding it in her bra and knickers has been jailed for seven years.

Rehab – USA Celebrity
Lindsay Lohan to check into rehab once again – Thaindian News

Sep 27 (THAINDIAN NEWS) After her release from the Lynwood jail on Friday night on a $300,000 bail, actress Lindsay Lohan is reportedly taking her recovery from drug addiction to another level.

Drug Troubles in USA – Jamaican Musician
Buju Banton’s drug trial the talk of Jamaica – klewtv.com3

KINGSTON, Jamaica (AP) – The U.S. drug trial of reggae star Buju Banton is the talk of Jamaica, where islanders are debating his guilt or innocence on street corners, in offices, in letters to the editor and on social networking websites.

Substance Use Prevention For Adolescents – USA
Ban Tobacco Ads And Restrict Alcohol And Erectile Dysfunction Ads, Urges The American Academy Of Pediatrics – Medical News TODAY

The monumental task of persuading children and adolescents to say “No” to drugs, alcohol and tobacco is being constantly undermined by the $25 billions’ worth of advertising and marketing each year, which has precisely the opposite effect, says the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). The AAP adds that children should not be exposed to erectile dysfunction ads before ten at night.

Prescription Drugs – Massachusetts
A Wave of Addiction and Crime, with the Medicine Cabinet to Blame – The New York Times

BOSTON — Police departments have collected thousands of handguns through buy-back programs in communities throughout the country. Now they want the contents of your medicine cabinet.

Drug-Related Trouble – UK
Britain’s youngest mother aged 12 evicted over ‘wild drug-fueled parties’ – Thaindian News

London, Sept 24 (ANI): The woman, who became Britain’s youngest mother after a one-night stand at the age of 12, has been evicted from her home for throwing “wild drug-fueled parties”.

Alcohol – New Mexico
DWI/Drug Court graduates extol program’s value – News-Bulletin.com

John Savedra was on a mission: He was drunk, but he wanted to get drunker. So he hopped into his Jeep CJ5 with the intention of buying more beer and almost ended up killing himself.

Drug Tainted Water – Spain
Cocaine And Ecstasy Detected In Waters Of The L’Albufera In Valencia – Medical News TODAY

The water in the canals and irrigation channels in the L’Albufera Natural Park in Valencia contain cocaine, ecstasy and a further six drugs. This has been confirmed by a study carried out by researchers from the University of Valencia (UV), who have issued a warning about the continued presence of these substances on wildlife and human health.

Heroin – UK
Pembrokeshire heroin conspiracy gang jailed – BBC NEWS South West Wales

Eleven drug gang members have been jailed for a total of over 30 years for supplying heroin in Pembrokeshire.

Marijuana – Kansas
US woman receives marijuana along with shoe order – Thaindian News

Kansas, Sept 24 (ANI): A free gift along with a pair of shoes ordered online is nothing unusual, but when that gift turns out to be marijuana, it is an entirely different matter.

Party Drugs – UK
Party Drug Dependence Higher Among Gay Men, Expert Warns, UK – Medical News TODAY

In 2009, in response to patients experiencing severe withdrawal reactions from GBL, a party drugs clinic was established in South London. After a year of operation, it was clear that the majority of patients were gay men, consistent with recent findings that they are much more likely to use illegal drugs than the general population.

Marijuana – Colorado
Judge: State pot law no defense for drug charges – seattle pi

DENVER — A Colorado pot grower trying a first-in-the-nation drug defense based on Obama administration memos about marijuana saw his case take a serious blow Wednesday when a federal judge felled the effort.

National Drug & Alcohol Addiction Recovery Month – Pennsylvania
Alcohol and drug addiction a major community concern – New Pittsburgh Courier

Throughout the month of September, the United States will celebrate the 21st year of National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month, focusing on “spreading the word that addiction is a medical illness, treatment is effective, and recovery is possible.”

Prescription Drug Disposal – Arizona
Arizona parents urged to dispose of prescription drugs – azcentral.com

One in five children abuse prescription drugs, according to the federal Drug Enforcement Administration, and to help fight the problem, law enforcement agencies throughout the state will be collecting unused or expired prescription drugs Saturday.

Drug Testing – USA
Use a Home Drug Test Kit to Check Your Child’s Saliva for Cocaine and Cannabis – MeDINDIA

A disposable drugs test, developed by Brit boffins, allows parents to check whether their wards have been taking cannabis or cocaine by analysing a droplet of their saliva.

Cocaine – Trafficking
Feds: Calif.-based team flew coke to Pa., lost bag – The Associated Press

PITTSBURGH (AP) – Twenty-two people conspired for a decade to fly cocaine from California to Pittsburgh while bypassing airport security measures but lost a drug-filled bag when it was mistakenly unloaded during a layover, federal authorities say.

Probation Violation – USA Celebrity
Lindsay Lohan: Back To Jail On Friday? – The Huffington Post

Lindsay Lohan will appear in court Friday morning for a hearing to determine if she violated her probation, and she may go back to jail that same day.

Heroin – Ireland
Belfast man accused over friend’s heroin death – BBC NEWS Northern Ireland

A man has appeared in court accused of killing a friend by injecting him with heroin in Belfast city centre.

Underage Drinking & Drug Use – South Carolina
Two Boiling Springs SC Teachers Charged After Throwing Parties for Minors – Thaindian News

Sep 22 (THAINDIAN NEWS) Two teachers from Boiling Springs were taken into custody by the Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Department on Monday after they allegedly threw parties for teenagers which involved alcohol, marijuana, and immoral acts.

Alcoholic Energy Drinks – Michigan
Mich. to Review Alcoholic Energy Drink Labels – Join Together

Michigan’s Liquor Control Commission will scrutinize the labels and packaging of alcoholic energy drinks, the Associated Press reported Sept. 18.

Cocaine – USA Celebrity
Japan Bars Paris Hilton After Cocaine Confession – MeDINDIA

Paris Hilton was barred from entering Japan after admitting cocaine possession in a US court just a few hours earlier.

Marijuana – Arizona
Ex-Arizona restaurateur sentenced in drug case – azcentral.com

TUCSON – The former co-owner of an Oro Valley restaurant has been sentenced to three years in federal prison for his involvement in a cross-country marijuana distribution ring.

Substance Abuse – USA Celebrity
Why Would Lindsay Lohan Tweet Her Relapse? – abc NEWS / Entertainment

In the tweet heard ’round the world, Lindsay Lohan confirmed late Friday that she’d failed a court-ordered drug test – an outcome that could send her back to jail, under the terms of her probation. TMZ.com reported that the actress had also tested positive for cocaine last week.

Cocaine – USA Celebrity
Guilty Paris Hilton avoids prison, gets 1-yr suspended sentence – Thaindian News

London, Sep 21 (ANI): Paris Hilton has been given a one-year, suspended sentence after she pleaded guilty to drug possession and obstructing a police officer.

Drunk Driving Prevention – UK
Call for restrictions on newly-qualified drivers – The Independent

Banning newly qualified young motorists from driving at night, drinking alcohol and carrying passengers of a similar age would save 200 lives a year and result in 1,700 fewer injuries, research suggests.

Meth – Michigan
Shots fired, Kalamazoo County sheriff’s deputy treated at hospital after confrontation with meth-lab suspects – Mlive.com

WAKESHMA TOWNSHIP — Police said they were searching this morning for two suspects who were shot at by a Kalamazoo County sheriff’s deputy after they tried to run the deputy over.

Marijuana – New Mexico
NM police: We need info about licensed medical pot – The Daily News Galveston County

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — The tip about a backyard marijuana-growing operation set the Pecos Valley Drug Task Force in motion.

Drunk Driving Prevention – USA
Increasing penalties for alcohol related crimes – WHYY News and Information

A top Pennsylvania State Senate Republican wants to increase fines for drinking-related offenses.

Cocaine – USA Celebrity
Paris Hilton To Plead Guilty – Thaindian News

Sep 20, (THAINDIAN NEWS) The 29 year old Paris Hilton is ready to plead guilty in court in order to save herself from serving a jail sentence. Paris Hilton was arrested last month on August 27 when she was caught with cocaine. She has two charges against herself, one is that of being in possession of Cocaine and the second is that of obstructing an officer.

Heroin Related Arrests – UK
Three heroin dealers jailed – THE COURIER / Press Association Ltd.

Three drug dealers in Sunderland have been jailed after police seized thousands of pounds worth of heroin.

Cocaine Use – USA Celebrity
Lindsay Lohan’s comeback in doubt after positive drugs test – Telegraph.co.uk

Lindsay Lohan’s latest cinema comeback could be in doubt after the actress tested positive for drugs.

Methamphetamine – Michigan
Police: Shots fired, officer injured as meth-lab suspect tries to run down Kalamazoo County Sheriff’s deputy – Mlive.com

WAKESHMA TOWNSHIP — A sheriff’s deputy investigating a mobile methamphetamine lab early Monday in southeastern Kalamazoo County fired three gunshots at a suspect who tried to run him over with a vehicle, authorities said.

Substance Abuse Awareness & Prevention – Texas College
Students celebrate their sobriety – The Daily Texan

It was a typical college party, except there wasn’t a drop of alcohol in sight. Dance Dance Sober Revolution, hosted by the Center for Students in Recovery at the Texas Union Ballroom Friday night, gave students recovering from drug and alcohol addictions a chance to get down without pressure from the substances they are trying to put behind them.

Drug Abuse Research – USA
Secrets to Drug Addiction in Our Blood – Kansas City infoZine

Richland WA – infoZine – Newswise – A new collaboration between the Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) and the Air Force’s 59th Medical Wing hopes to improve on drug tests for illicit drug use and abuse. Not only are the researchers looking for a better indicator of current or past use, but they’d like to be able to identify people prone to abusing drugs in the first place.

Illegal Drugs – USA Celebrity
T.I. Allegedly Had Codeine, Ecstasy, Marijuana During L.A. Arrest – MTV NEWS

Judge orders rapper to appear in court to explain why probation should not be revoked.

Drug Countries – President Obama
Obama names India, Pakistan among drug majors – Thaindian News

Washington, Sep 17 (IANS) US President Barack Obama has identified India, Pakistan, Afghanistan and 17 other countries as major drug transit or major illicit drug-producing nations.

Adolescent Drug Risks – USA
Not Just Robotripping: 5 Risky Things Kids Do – abc NEWS

Telltale Signs of Deadly Behaviors May Help Parents Keep Their Kids Safe

Drug Bust – North Carolina
Police: 14 arrested in drug bust – ENCTODAY.COM

HAVELOCK — A seven-month drug investigation involving city, state and federal authorities netted 14 arrests Wednesday of Havelock-area residents on 51 charges.

Alcohol Risks – USA Study
Alcohol Consumption After Breast Cancer Diagnosis May Increase Recurrence Risk – Medical News TODAY

In the Life After Cancer Epidemiology (LACE) study, 1,897 participants diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer between 1997 and 2000 and recruited on average 2 years post-breast cancer diagnosis were evaluated for the association between alcohol intake and breast cancer recurrence and death. The women, who were generally light drinkers, were followed for an average of 7.4 years. The study reported an increase in risk of breast cancer recurrence and breast cancer death, but no effect on total mortality, to be associated with consumption of 3 to 4 or more drinks per week when compared with women not drinking following their cancer diagnosis.

Alcohol Limit Questions – Commercial Pilots
Pilots’ Alcohol Limits Debated – abc NEWS / Travel

An airline pilot caught this week in Amsterdam for being over the legal alcohol limit just before takeoff highlights an issue among U.S. pilots that occurs once a month on average, government data show.