Drug News

Underage Drinking – Nebraska
Solutions Sought For Alcohol-Related Crashes – KETV.com

OMAHA, Neb. — Frustration mounted in a meeting Wednesday of educators, law officials and advocates on how best to contain the problem of underage drinking.

Substance Abuse – USA WWE
Substance Abuse In WWE Dogs Linda McMahon’s Senate Run – THE 33 CW Dallas Fort Worth

In December 2007, a performer for World Wrestling Entertainment named Lance Cade suffered a devastating shoulder injury during a show in Atlanta….

Meth – California
CVS to pay $75 million fine for selling key meth ingredient – 10 NEWS WTSP.com

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Federal prosecutors say CVS Pharmacy Inc. has agreed to pay $75 million in fines for allowing repeated purchases of a key methamphetamine ingredient that led to a spike in Southern California drug trafficking.

Drug Trafficking – Mexico, Colombia
U.S. Treasury targets Mexican drug cartel – UPI.com

WASHINGTON, Oct. 14 (UPI) — The U.S. Treasury Department said it placed sanctions on a Mexican pilot for training drug carriers for the Sinaloa drug cartel.

Drug Dealers Arrested – UK
Nine arrests in anti-drugs raids in Coventry – BBC NEWS Coventry & Warwickshire

West Midlands Police organised early-morning raids as part of an operation against drug-dealing in the city.

Teen Drug & Alcohol Abuse Prevention – Nebraska
Peer Pressure Targeted In Drug, Alcohol Abuse – KETV.com

OMAHA, Neb. — A group of Omaha teenagers from five high schools gathered Thursday to try to change the way their peers respond to messages about drugs and alcohol.

Cocaine – Canada
Taser use questioned in drug user’s death – cnews Crime

In a state of excited delirium from a weekend of smoking, snorting and injecting cocaine, Marreel wreaked havoc on the hamlet of Fisher’s Glen in the county of Norfolk in southern Ontario, testified Norfolk OPP officers at the John Sopinka Courthouse in Hamilton Tuesday.

Methamphetamine & Cocaine Bust – California
$300K of meth and cocaine found at Calif. Border – DTVN RENO / Associated Press

SAN DIEGO (AP) – Border patrol agents busted a suspected drug smuggler after discovering nearly $300,000 in cocaine and methamphetamine hidden in a car bumper at a checkpoint near Pine Valley in San Diego County.

Partnership for a Drug-Free America – USA
New Name and Celebrity Spokesperson for The Partnership – Join Together

The Partnership for a Drug-Free America has a new name and a new spokesperson in actress Melissa Gilbert, the Associated Press reported Oct. 7.

Drug Abuse Reduction & Prevention – Canada
Government Of Canada Works With The Province Of Manitoba To Reduce Illicit Drug Use – Medical News TODAY

Joy Smith, Member of Parliament for Kildonan-St.Paul, announced today $6,363,708 in funding for drug treatment initiatives for the province of Manitoba under the National Anti-Drug Strategy. Joy Smith made this announcement on behalf of the Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of Health.

Drunk Driving – Nebraska
Crash Victim On Life Support – KETV.com

OMAHA, Neb. — One of two people critically injured in a suspected drunk driving crash has “no brain activity”, according to the Omaha police department.

Marijuana Legalization Issues – California
Legalizing marijuana in California would not substantially cut cartel revenues, study finds – e! Science News

Legalizing marijuana in California will not dramatically reduce the drug revenues collected by Mexican drug trafficking organizations from sales to the United States, according to a new RAND Corporation study. The only scenario where legalization in California could substantially reduce the revenue of the drug trafficking organizations is if high-potency, California-produced marijuana is smuggled to other U.S. states at prices that are lower than those of current Mexican supplies, according to the study from the RAND Drug Policy Research Center. RAND is a nonprofit research organization.

Heroin – India
Six drug peddlers arrested – Thaindian News

Kolkata, Oct 7 (IANS) Six members of a drug peddling gang, who used to extort money in the guise of Maoists, were arrested Thursday in West Bengal’s ultra-Left-affected West Midnapore district, police said.”Acting on a tipoff, we have arrested six people from Kaju forest near Benageria in Jhargram sub-division. Disguised as Maoists, they used to extort people. We have also recovered cash worth Rs.1.61 lakh, 30 grams of heroin, five mobile phones, SIM cards, firearms and ammunition from them,” Jhargram Police District Superintendent Praveen Tripathi said.

Substance Abuse Prevention – US Navy
Navy, substance abuse center form online program to help with abuse issues – jdnews.com

RICHMOND, Va. — The Navy is teaming up with a highly regarded addiction treatment center to provide Web-based support for thousands of sailors, their families and retired personnel struggling with alcohol and drug abuse.

Drug Use – UK
Drug users are turning to legal highs – report – BBC NEWS HEALTH

Young adults are turning to so-called legal highs as they seek alternatives to other drugs, according to experts.

Methamphetamine – Arizona
Border agents seize bundles of meth – azcentral.com

YUMA – U.S. Border Patrol agents seized several bundles of methamphetamine Tuesday at the Interstate 8 checkpoint east of Yuma.

Alcohol – USA Cancer Study
Poor Habits Double Number of Young Oral Cancer Patients – MeDINDIA

Oral cancer has doubled the number of young people affected because of drinking, smoking and a unhealthy diet, warn experts.

Marijuana – California
Deputies bust drug dealers at medical pot clinics – kmov.com St. Louis

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies have seized marijuana and conducted raids at 16 locations across Southern California.

Marijuana Arrests – California
More Than 4 Dozen Arrested In Mendocino Anti-Pot Sweep – CBS San Francisco

COVELO, Mendocino County (AP) — A major drug sweep in rural Mendocino County has netted more than four dozen arrests as authorities crack down on rural marijuana gardens.

Drug Abuse Awareness – USA Military
Department Monitors Substance Abuse Trends – U.S. Department Of Defense

WASHINGTON, Oct. 1, 2010 – October 25 starts Red Ribbon Week for drug awareness, and this year Defense Department officials hope to shed light on what may be a disturbing new trend in substance abuse by servicemembers, according to the department’s director of health promotion and preventative services policy.

Celebrity Drug Use – USA
Hollywood Celebrities and the Drug Scene – MeDINDIA

Analysing the drug scenario has revealed the manner by which Hollywood celebrities get their fix.

Drug Rehab Again – Lindsay Lohan, USA Celebrity
LINDSAY LOHAN COMMITS HERSELF TO BETTY FORD – ALLVOICES

The troubled Lindsay Lohan has committed herself to the Betty Ford Clinic to treat her drug and alcohol addiction.

Drunk Driving – Michigan
Officers: Drunk man drove woman to police – UPI.com

CLAWSON, Mich., Sept. 30 (UPI) — Police in Michigan said they arrested a man who was allegedly drunk when he drove an intoxicated woman to the police station for questioning.

Cocaine – South America
Denise Van Outen finds £90k of cocaine – Telegraph.co.uk

Denise Van Outen, the television presenter, found almost £100,000 of cocaine while hiking in the Andes.

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.

Overdose – USA
Accidental Overdose Still a Leading Cause of Young Adult Deaths – Drug Addiction Treatment

Accidental overdose claims the lives of more than 26,000 people each year in the United States, and reached record levels in 2006. In fact, death by unintentional overdose is the second leading cause of death for teenagers, and the primary cause of death for young adults in the mid-30s and mid-40s age group.

Fake Cocaine – California
Prison guard charged with trying to sell fake drugs – FOX 5 SAN DIEGO

SAN DIEGO – A prison guard faces a federal drug charge after authorities say he wanted to sell cocaine provided to him during a sting.

Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention – Ohio
Drug bill would make database ‘go live’ (video) – CoshoctonTribune.com

COLUMBUS — Two Republican Ohio House members plan to introduce legislation to revamp how the state’s dangerous-drug database can be used in an effort to keep pills off the streets.

Illegal Drugs – USA
Illegal Drug Use Up Sharply Last Year – The Huffington Post

WASHINGTON — The rate of illegal drug use rose last year to the highest level in nearly a decade, fueled by a sharp increase in marijuana use and a surge in ecstasy and methamphetamine abuse, the government reported Wednesday.

Heroin – Australia
Biker gang reportedly gets hands on heroin – UPI.com

SYDNEY, Sept. 15 (UPI) — A biker gang has obtained most of a large shipment of Chinese heroin that arrived in Australia in July, law enforcement officials said this week.

Painkiller Addiction – USA Celebrity
Eminem’s Struggle with an Addiction to Painkillers – Drug Addiction Treatment

Fame, money and a recording contract aren’t enough to keep a star away from the destructive world of drugs. Surprisingly, some may have believed they have escaped the curse if they never lay a hand on illegal substances. For too many, however, the relief is not sought in something they buy from a dealer on the street, but instead something a well-trusted physician will prescribe.

Alcohol – South Carolina
Police: Father Was Drunk When He Fell on Baby – abc NEWS 4

Greenville, SC – Authorities say a 2-month-old girl is fighting for her life after her drunk father fell on top of her.

“Doctor Shopping” – California
AG says Haim obtained 550 pills before death – The Associated Press

LOS ANGELES – Actor Corey Haim employed “doctor shopping” to obtain 553 prescription pills in the two months before his death, California Attorney General Jerry Brown said Tuesday.

Heroin Bust – New York
Errant text massage leads to heroin bust – Examiner.com

Three people in New York state face felony drug charges after a text message was mistakenly sent to a drug task force officer, alerting cops of a heroin deal.

Underage Drinking – South Carolina
Deputies to check for underage alcohol sales – CaroinaLive.com

Deputies with the Florence County Sheriff’s Office are participating in the “Out of Their Hands” enforcement effort designed to reduce the availability of alcohol to teenagers during the 2010 Spring break and Prom season.

Marijuana – Arizona
Arizona woman allegedly sold pot from ice-cream truck – azcentral.com

LAKE HAVASU CITY – A Lake Havasu City woman has been arrested for allegedly selling marijuana out of her ice-cream truck.

Drunken Party Banned – California
‘Unmitigated Chaos’: Authorities Plan To Sink Santa Barbara’s ‘Floatopia’ Party – The Huffington Post

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. Authorities say they plan to close access points to popular beaches near the University of California, Santa Barbara in an effort to shut down a massive beach party known as Floatopia.

Meth – West Coast USA
U.S. cracks West Coast meth-smuggling ring – UPI.com

LOS ANGELES, April 1 (UPI) — An alleged Mexican methamphetamine smuggling ring operating on the U.S. West Coast has been broken up, federal prosecutors announced Thursday.

Drug War – Mexico
Border Wars: Ongoing Bloody Battle Over Drugs and Money – Drug Addiction Treatment

Mexican drug trafficking cartels have long fought bloody battles amongst themselves, each trying to assert dominance in the never-ending struggle for turf and coveted drug-trafficking routes. The bloodbath has been spilling into the streets of Mexican border cities and towns in increasing frequency since Mexican President Felipe Calderon took office in December 2006 and launched an offensive against drug traffickers, deploying some 10,000 Mexican soldiers. The death toll to date in Mexico as a result of the drug wars is nearly 19,000.

Underage Drinking – USA
More Town Hall Meetings Than Ever Being Held Across America To Address The Dangers Of Underage Drinking – Medical News TODAY

In recognition of Alcohol Awareness Month in April, communities throughout the nation are conducting town hall meetings to discuss what can be done to prevent and reduce underage drinking. This year more than 1,700 community-based organizations will conduct town hall meetings across the country up from 1,500 in 2008, the last time this national event took place.

Alcohol – World Study
Diet quality worsens as alcohol intake increases – virtualmedicalcentre.com

People who drink more are also likely to eat less fruit and consume more calories from a combination of alcoholic beverages and foods high in unhealthy fats and added sugars, according to a new study by researchers at the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), National Cancer Institute (NCI), and the the US Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Marijuana – Iowa
Mystery pot package taken by robber – UPI.com

DES MOINES, Iowa, April 1 (UPI) — Iowa police said the recipients of a package containing 53 pounds of marijuana addressed to Thomas Jefferson were robbed by the package’s apparent real owner.

Cocaine & Meth – Florida
21 Arrested, More Sought in East Polk Meth Ring Investigation – TheLedger.com

Detectives Seize a Total of More Than 150 Pounds of Cocaine and Meth and $533,000 Cash

Mobile Meth Labs – Michigan
Meth-lab remnants showing up along Southwest Michigan roads: Snow melt has exposed dump sites – Kalamazoo News

Kalamazoo County Sheriff’s deputies Scott Erdos left, and Tim Briggs, prep meth lab materials for disposal Wednesday on E. O N Ave. It was the fourth location that the members of the Clandestine Methamphetamine Lab Responders team worked to clean up Wednesday, and they expected to do few more by day’s end.

Drunk Teaching – California
Drunk SoCal Teacher Charged: Felony Child Endangerment – Thaindian News

Mar 25 (THAINDIAN NEWS) A teacher from Southern California has been arrested for teaching under the influence. She was taken into custody from Toro Canyon Middle School in Thermal, California on Tuesday and booked into the Indio Jail. The charges were felony child endangerment, even though it has been said that no children were ever actually in any danger. The case is under investigation.

Meth Seizure – Arizona
$300,000 worth of meth found during traffic stop in Goodyear – azcentral.com

A traffic stop led to the seizure of more than $300,000 worth of methamphetamine in Goodyear Tuesday morning.

Drug Arrest – Michigan
Van Buren County Sheriff arrests eight on suspicion of cocaine, heroin sales in and around Hartford and Covert – Kalamazoo News

HARTFORD — Van Buren County Sheriff’s Office announced the bust-up of a drug ring working from Hartford and Covert. Seven people were arrested.

Mephedrone Ban – Scotland
Alex Salmond ready to ban legal drug mephedrone before UK Government – DailyRecord.co.uk

THE First Minister said today he will not wait for the UK Government to ban a “legal high” before taking action in Scotland.

Marijuana – Nebraska
Lincoln Police Raid Another Pot House – The Associated Press

LINCOLN, Neb. — Lincoln police said they’ve found remnants of another suspected marijuana growing operation, making for their 12th bust since March 5.

Marijuana – USA
NFL Draft Class’s Marijuana Use ‘Epidemic,’ Scouts Say – The Huffington Post

The 2010 NFL Draft class is a highly regarded group of pro football prospects, but some NFL scouts worry that a problem lies beneath the surface. Sports Illustrated reports that “numerous NFL personnel evaluators” are worried by the number of players with marijuana use in their past. According to one source, nearly a dozen potential first-round draft choices could be red-flagged for using the drug in college.

DUI – New Jersey
Doc Gooden busted on DUI charges in NJ: report – New York Post

Former Mets and Yankees ace Dwight “Doc” Gooden was busted again — this time in New Jersey after getting into a car crash while under the influence of drugs with a child in his vehicle, authorities said.

Heroin – UK
Fewer Women Entering Heroin Addiction Treatment – More Successfully Completing Treatment, England – Medical News TODAY

Far fewer women are entering treatment for heroin addiction and more women are successfully completing treatment for drug dependency than ever before. A detailed study of statistics about women in treatment in England shows a 19 per cent fall in the number of adult females under 30 entering heroin programmes over the last five years – 1,000 fewer female addicts than in 2005.

Meth – Arizona
Woman in animal-cruelty case gets prison for meth – azcentral.com

TUCSON – A Tucson woman on probation for animal cruelty two years ago has been sentenced to six months in prison after admitting to using drugs.

Drunk Teaching – California
Drunk Teacher: Tonya Neff Arrested In Alleged Drunken Teaching – The Huffington Post

THERMAL, Calif. — A Southern California school teacher has been arrested for allegedly teaching while drunk.

Marijuana – Colorado
Home invasion, medical marijuana plants stolen – Colorado Connection

COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. — Three men wearing orange masks broke into a home just before 5 a.m. Wednesday, menaced the residents with a pistol, beat them up and also shocked them with a stun gun, according to Colorado Springs Police Department.