Drug News

Overdose Death Study – Utah
Utah launches studies of its overdose deaths – The Salt Lake Tribune

Three-quarters of those who died were between the ages of 25 and 54. There’s a 50-50 chance they had been treated for mental illness or substance abuse.

Mephedrone – UK
Advisor attacks student drug test – BBC News

The government’s chief drugs adviser has criticised the use of students in research into the effects of the substance mephedrone as “unethical”.

Cocaine – UK
Sexy smuggler caught with cocaine hidden in bra! – Thaindian News

London, March 23 (ANI): A sexy young woman was busted by Italian police as she tried to smuggle nearly 200,000 pounds of pure cocaine in her bra and knickers.

Drug War – Mexico
Clinton, Gates, other top US officials head to Mexico with drug war on the agenda – Associated Press

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Almost a year after President Barack Obama promised to be a “full partner” with Mexico in its battle against drug cartels, a team of U.S. Cabinet secretaries and other top advisers will look for ways to help Mexico strengthen its law enforcement and judicial systems in meetings Tuesday.

Mephedrone Death – UK
North Yorkshire woman took mephedrone before death – BBC News

A woman who has died in North Yorkshire had recently taken the legal drug mephedrone, police have been told.

Overdose – California
Michael Jackson Doctor STOPPED CPR To Hide Drugs, Kids Saw – The Huffington Post

LOS ANGELES — Michael Jackson’s doctor halted CPR on the dying pop star and delayed calling paramedics so he could collect drug vials at the scene, according to documents obtained by The Associated Press that shed new light on the singer’s chaotic final moments.

Meth – USA
Winning the War on Meth Labs – abc WORLD NEWS

The newest front lines in the war on meth have been drawn and this time they are your local pharmacy.

DUI Arrest – Georgia
Miami Dolphins’ Ronnie Brown is arrested on DUI charge – The Miami Herald

Dolphins running back Ronnie Brown was arrested outside Atlanta on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol late Friday night, two sources said.

Meth – Michigan
Four face meth-related charges after tip at South Haven Wal-Mart – Kalamazoo News

SOUTH HAVEN — Four people are facing drug charges after employees at the South Haven Wal-Mart alerted police Saturday evening that several people were making purchases of components commonly used in manufacturing methamphetamine.

Teen Drug Abuse – USA
Teen Drug Use Rises Again – abc NEWS/Health

After a decade of declining drug use among US teens, dependence on alcohol, marijuana, and Ecstasy is reported to be on the rise.

Heroin – Pennsylvania
York County Drug Trafficker Arrested – WPMT-TV

Police have arrested a major drug trafficker in York County. 58 year-old heroin distributor, Jose Miguel Ortiz, also know as “Junior”, was arrested on March 10th by Pennsylvania State troopers.

Prescription Drugs – California
An arrest made in the death investigation of actor Corey Haim – Thaindian News

Los Angeles, Mar 20 (THAINDIAN NEWS) An arrest has being made in the death investigation of actor Corey Haim. California’s attorney general’s office said that there was an illegal prescription drug ring, and it is being suspected that the late actor Corey Haim used to procure drugs and pills from this ring.

Drug Overdose – California
Corey Haim Dead After Apparent Accidental Drug Overdose – abc GOOD MORNING AMERICA

Actor Corey Haim died from an apparent accidental drug overdose after he was rushed to a Los Angeles County hospital early this morning, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.

Marijuana – Colorado
Religious Marijuana Smoking Still Illegal: Judge – The Huffington Post

GEORGETOWN, Colo. — A Colorado man who says marijuana is a sacrament in his religion has been convicted of misdemeanor drug charges.

Drug Epidemic – World News
U.N. Official Addresses Increasing Drug Addiction In Developing Countries – Medical News TODAY

The U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) on Monday warned of an impending “health disaster facing developing countries if wealthy nations fail to control drugs,” Agence France-Presse reports.

Cocaine – North Carolina
Ayden, NC man sentenced for cocaine dealing – Thaindian News

GREENVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA (BNO NEWS) – A resident of Ayden, North Carolina, was sentenced to 52 months of imprisonment followed by five years of supervised release for aiding and abetting the distribution of more than 50 grams of cocaine base, U.S. Attorney George Holding announced on Wednesday.

Heroin – Colorado
5 men arrested in heroin incident on Tuesday – Colorado Connection

COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. — A Colorado Springs police surveillance effort set in the area of Highway 115 and Star Ranch Road on Tuesday morning resulted in the arrest of five men on heroin charges.

Meth – Michigan
Two burned in Constantine meth fire – Kalamazoo News

CONSTANTINE–Two people were transported to Bronson Methodist Hospital early today after St. Joseph County Sheriff’s deputies say the pair was severely burned in a suspected methamphetamine explosion.

Alcohol – Australia
Injury Pattern More Serious Among Intoxicated Pedestrians – MedIndia

As Australians commence a season of parties and family get-togethers over the Christmas-New Year period, the AMA is highlighting the need for extra care with alcohol consumption and travel – not just for drivers, but also for pedestrians.

Cocaine – USA
Police: CA Raid Yields $1 Million Worth Of Cocaine – The Associated Press

More Than $1 Million Worth Of Cocaine Seized During Drug Raid In California

Painkillers – USA
Steven Tyler In Rehab For Painkiller Addiction – The Associated Press

Steven Tyler has entered a rehabilitation facility to treat an addiction to painkillers the Aerosmith frontman has taken to cope with 10 years of performance injuries.

GBL – United Kingdom
GBL drug death identified by UK doctors – BBC News

The first known death from a drug popular with clubbers has emerged the day the government banned it.

Cocaine – United Kingdom
£375m cocaine found on ‘UK’ Ship – The Sun

COCAINE worth a third of a BILLION pounds has been seized on a ship bound for Britain. Cops found an astonishing 1.5 tons of the drug on the Destiny Empress off the Spanish coast.

Marijuana – USA
Teen Marijuana Use Might Have Lasting Effects on Mood, Anxiety – HealthScout

Marijuana use among teens may trigger neurological changes in the developing brain that lead to increased anxiety and stress levels that could persist into adulthood, new animal research suggests.

METH – USA
Idaho Meth Project targets minorities – FOX Idaho News

A year after a campaign was launched to warn teens and young adults away from methamphetamine through graphic television, radio, print and billboard ads, the Idaho Meth Project is targeting minority groups.

METH – USA
Shaken or cooked, meth can still kill – San Marcos Daily Record

It hasn’t been seen on the local level yet, but narcotics authorities are on the lookout for a new generation of methamphetamine that is said to be easier and cheaper to make, but just as dangerous as old-style “cooking” operations.

ALCOHOL – USA
Internet Can Help Curb Drinking Among College Students – US News and World Report

Heavy drinking is a growing problem among university students, but an Internet-based intervention may help them control their alcohol use, a new study finds.

ADDICTION – USA
Addicts Celebrate Continuing Recovery – WSMV News

Hundreds of people in middle Tennessee are battling addictions, whether it be to drugs or alcohol. In honor of this month being National Recovery Month, hundreds met at Centennial Park Tuesday to celebrate their continuing recovery from addiction.

ALCOHOL – USA
College Drinking Reduced by Online Interventions – Join Together

College students who received Internet-based screening and brief interventions were less likely to drink alcohol.

ALCOHOL – UK
Scottish alcohol death toll up to six times UK average – The Scotsman

Deaths linked to alcohol in some areas of Scotland are six times higher than the UK average, new figures reveal. The death rate in Glasgow Shettleston last year was 574 per cent of the UK national average.

ADDICTION – USA
Narconon Louisiana: The Solution To The Drug Addiction Epidemic – Trans World News

Narconon Louisiana, a non-profit drug and alcohol rehabilitation facility, opened its doors in 2006 as a resource for locals struggling with addiction. In an area that had seen some of the worst devastation in years after Hurricane Katrina, there was no real solution in place for the rampant drug use.

PRESCRIPTION – USA
OPD takes prescription drug abuse fight statewide – WFIE News

Owensboro Police will be joining the so-called Drug Diversion Task Force set up by the Kentucky Attorney General to fight prescription drug abuse. Police say it’s a growing problem.

PRESCRIPTION – USA
Calif. Drug Database to Target Prescription Abuse – ABC News

California is about to join 20 other states who have a database to monitor people abusing prescription drugs. The idea is to prevent people from going to different doctors to get their drugs.

PRESCRIPTION – USA
What parents should know about teen use of prescription – The Plain Dealer

The fact of the matter is that teens are abusing prescription and over-the-counter drugs in alarming numbers. This is the first of two columns about that abuse, and what parents need to know.

ALCOHOL – USA
Scotland Ranked Eighth In The World For Alcohol Consumption – Red Orbit

Scotland has been ranked No. 8 in the world in terms of alcohol consumption, according to statistics analyzed for the government. In 2007, Scots consumed nearly 50 million liters of pure alcohol, with those over 16 consuming the equivalent of 11.8 liters per person. By comparison, the figure for England and Wales was 9.9 liters.

HEROIN – USA
Heroin use on rise in burbs – Albany Times Union

A number of factors have contributed to the influx of the drug, officials say, including proximity to New York City, rising cocaine prices and the economy. But while the number of heroin-related arrests have increased, the number of patients seeking help to break their addiction has decreased.

COCAINE – UK
SAA introduces anti-drug measures after London arrest – AFP

South African Airways (SAA) said Sunday it was introducing stiff anti-drug measures after its crew members were arrested with a drugs haul last week at London’s Heathrow airport.

ALCOHOL – UK
Alcohol and young people: what’s the attraction? – Guardian

This statistic comes from a recent glut of research into how much alcohol young people consume, when they do it and where they’re getting it from. But do we know enough about why they drink?

ALCOHOL – USA
Tougher penalities proposed for selling booze to minors – Access North Georgia

Hall County Commissioners are looking at tougher penalties for alcohol vendors who sell to minors; the Commission reviewed code amendments Monday morning.

METH – USA
Use of meth in San Diego County down, but deaths up – San Diego Union Tribune

Use of methamphetamine in San Diego County is down, but more people are dying from using it, according to a report from the county’s Methamphetamine Strike Force.

METH – USA
Missouri leads country in methamphetamine incidents – Connect TriStates

A Missouri state law that went into effect in 2005 allows people to purchase a maximum of two boxes of medicine that contains pseudoephedrin, a main ingredient in the manufacturing of the drug methamphetamine.

PRESCRIPTION – USA
Mothers tackle prescription drug abuse – Lansdale Reporter

Justina McIntyre and Lynette Angstadt are two mothers who share a loss and the pain that comes with it. Now, they are coming together to make sure other parents don’t suffer the same pain and have a chance to save their children’s lives.

DRUGS – USA
Wave of Drug Violence Is Creeping Into Arizona From Mexico – The New York Times

The raging drug war among cartels in Mexico and their push to expand operations in the United States has led to a wave of kidnappings, shootings and home invasions in Arizona, state and federal officials said at a legislative hearing on Monday.

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?

ALCOHOL – UK
Fall Semester – A Time For Parents To Discuss The Risks Of College Drinking – Medical News Today

As college students arrive on campus this fall, it’s a time of new experiences, new friendships, and making memories that will last a lifetime. Unfortunately for many, it is also a time of excessive drinking and dealing with its aftermath-vandalism, violence, sexual aggression, and even death.

DRUGS – UK
Experts Encourage More Research Into Drugged Driving – New Study Guidelines Released – Medical News Today

Driving under the influence of drugs, also known as drugged driving, is a growing problem in many countries. In the United States alone, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that more than 17,000 people were killed in alcohol-related crashes in 2006.

PAINKILLER – USA
OxiContin the drug of choice of abusers – Jacksonville Daily News

When it comes to the abuse of prescription drugs in Jacksonville, police say OxiContin is by far the local favorite.

PAINKILLER – UK
Recalls – The Associated Press

Watson Pharmaceuticals Inc. said one lot of 75 microgram-per-hour Fentanyl Transdermal System patches is being recalled from wholesalers and pharmacies.

DRUGS – USA
Olympics Officials Admit Endless Battle with Drug Cheating – Join Together

Amid a wealth of new designer drugs and ways to elude testing, International Olympic Committee (IOC) officials acknowledge that they may never be able to guarantee an Olympics free of doping scandals.

ALCOHOL – UK
Men unaware of link between alcohol and cancer – Cancer Research UK

The message that drinking alcohol increases the risk of cancer is not getting through to the majority of men, an international charity has warned.
DRUGS – USA
Cocaine Use Rising in England as Cannabis Declines – Bloomberg

Use of cocaine and ecstasy rose in England and Wales last year as the number of people smoking cannabis declined, a government report showed.

HEROIN – USA
Youths’ heroin use rises – Akron Beacon Journal

Heroin abuse among white youth and young suburban adults is increasing in Ohio, according to a new report released today.

ALCOHOL – USA
Universities Move to Correct Misconceptions on Student Drinking Norms – Join Together

Several universities are working hard to correct some students’ notions about the extent of drinking in campus, armed in some cases with detailed data on actual patterns in student drinking behaviors.

ALCOHOL – USA
Alcohol, Tobacco Products Remain Popular in Tough Times – Join Together

Consumers worldwide are leaving room for purchases of alcohol and tobacco products even as they tighten their belts on other spending during difficult economic times

METH – CANADA
Meth ingredients easy to find – Barrie Advance

After the bust of a would-be meth lab in Essa Township last week, The Advance wanted to see how easily ingredients needed to create the drug could be obtained in Barrie.

METH – USA
Meth cravings are really intense – Barrie Advance

It’s known as speed, meth, chalk, ice, crystal, or crystal meth but no matter what it’s called, methamphetamine is a highly addictive drug.

METH – USA
Fantastic Freebies: Me Not Meth T-shirts – Wallet Pop

If you give register for a free account with http://www.menotmeth.org, and then fill out this form, the organization will send you up to 2 free Me-Not-Meth t-shirts or tank tops.

DRUGS – USA
Effective Border Enforcement Spurs More Addiction in Mexico – Join Together

Better border enforcement that is making it increasingly difficult for Mexican cartels to transport illegal drugs into the United States is being cited as the reason for a spike in drug addiction in Mexico.

PAINKILLER – FRANCE
US fentanyl deaths topped 1,000 over 2 years – International Herald Tribune

More than 1,000 people died over two years from an illegal version of the painkiller fentanyl, the government reported Thursday in its first national tally of those deaths.

PAINKILLER – USA
Feds blame at least 1,000 deaths on overdoses from illegal fentanyl – The Star-Ledger

At least 1,000 people nationwide died from overdosing on fentanyl created in illegal laboratories, according to a federal investigation that began after a cluster of the deaths was reported in New Jersey two years ago.

PRESCRIPTION – USA
Prescription medication teens’ drug of choice – Ventura County Star

The most popular pills include anti-anxiety medications such as Xanax and Valium, pain pills including Oxycontin and Vicodin, drugs for attention deficit disorder like Adderall and Ritalin, and Soma, a muscle relaxant.

PRESCRIPTION – USA
4 ways to keep your teens from abusing prescription drugs – Indianapolis Star

One in five teenagers admits to having used prescription drugs to get high, according to the Partnership for a Drug-Free America. Today there are more new abusers of prescription drugs than of marijuana.

PRESCRIPTION – USA
Deaths From Prescription Drugs, Alcohol Mix Increase Greatly – Chattah Box

A new study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine has shown that more people than ever are dying from accidental drug overdoses. These are being caused by mixing prescription drugs with street drugs, and alcohol.

ADDICTION – USA
Pain pill abuse serious – Muskogee Daily Phoenix

Oklahoma was recently ranked worst in the nation for pain reliever abuse by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

DRUGS – UK
Rapid rise seen in fatal medication errors at home – The Associated Press

Deaths from medication mistakes at home, like actor Heath Ledger’s accidental overdose, rose dramatically during the past two decades, an analysis of U.S. death certificates finds.

DRUGS – UK
Mexico battles drug addiction – United Press International

Health officials report drug addiction is a growing problem in Mexico since the government’s crackdown on cartels and stepped-up U.S. border enforcement.

DRUGS – USA
Drug-abuse backlash in Mexico – Arizona Republic

Mexico confronts a growing problem with drug addiction, a phenomenon that some experts blame on the Mexican government’s crackdown on drug cartels and stepped-up U.S. border enforcement.

HEROIN – USA
Student heroin use meeting – WWMT News

A Kalamazoo County community will come together to fight a dangerous trend Monday. They are concerned over teenagers abusing heroin and other drugs.

METH – USA
Expert educates law enforcement about dangers of meth – Foster’s Daily Democrat

Meth is more addictive than cocaine, crack-cocaine and amphetamines, and meth labs are driven by addiction, not by finance.

ALCOHOL – USA
Trailer donation aids Elkins’ alcohol awareness program – Northwest Arkansas Times

Elkins police have a way to transport their donated drunk driving education golf cart thanks to an additional donation by a local business, Ranalli Farms.

ALCOHOL – USA
Stemming the Tide of Alcohol? – red Orbit

When the head of the Royal College of Physicians says we are on the verge of a “tsunami” of alcohol-related health problems, perhaps we should all put down our pints or wine glasses and listen.

RITALIN – USA
AntiDepressants and Suicide – Injury Board

All but lost in the story is the fact that David had been prescribed “Ritalin, Zoloft and antidepressants, each with the broken promise of some return to normalcy.”

ALCOHOL – UK
Pub chains flout drinking rules – Times Online

Pub chains are flouting their own rules on responsible drinking by selling double measures of spirits cheaper than singles, offering two-for-one promotions and holding happy hours where prices are slashed.