Drug News

PRESCRIPTION – USA
Are Prescription Drugs America’s New Addiction? – Black Voices

Most of us think that drugs which come out of a legal manufacturer are going to be safer than those being sold by a dealer on the corner. That was once the case. But with the deaths of Michael Jackson, Heath Ledger and Anna Nicole Smith, it has become clearer by the day that prescription drugs are fast becoming America’s new obsession.

ADDICTION – UK
Treatments helping addicts, says drug study – Guardian

Two-thirds of heroin and crack cocaine addicts on drug treatment programmes either abstain or substantially reduce their use of street drugs during the first six months, according to the biggest study of outcomes ever attempted.

COCAINE – UK
Cocaine drug of choice for under-25s, NHS figures suggest – Guardian

Fewer young adults with a drug problem are using heroin and crack – the two substances most likely to cause addiction, increase crime and pose serious health risks – but the number of under-25s seeking treatment for dependency on cocaine is rising significantly, official figures show.

PRESCRIPTION – USA
Gazette opinion: Let’s put a lid on the pills that kill – Billings Gazette

“Abuse of legal drugs killing people.” That front-page headline over a national story in last Thursday’s Billings Gazette explains why Montana Attorney General Steve Bullock recently created a prescription drug advisory council and why his office has obtained a $1.2 million federal grant to reduce abuse of prescription drugs.

HEROIN – USA
Buffalo Grove forum to address rise in heroin use – Daily Herald

In the last few years, there’s been a spike in heroin use across the Northwest suburbs. Area treatment facilities have waiting lists, and the village of Buffalo Grove, for example, now averages one heroin overdose death per year, with victims ranging in age from 18 to mid-40s.

PAINKILLER – USA
Painkillers in sports series: Counselor says use of drugs ‘rampant’ among athletes – Myrtle Beach Sun News

The National Survey of Alcohol and Drug Use by College Athletes said 75 percent of college athletes used some kind of painkiller medicine for sports-related injuries. And that was in 1991, before illicit online acquisition of drugs was a major problem.

ALCOHOL – AFRICA
Government Must Treat This Alcohol Crisis Seriously – All Africa

The numbers of people dying of acute alcohol poisoning, especially from improperly distilled local gin is increasing by day. According to media reports, 26 people from Kampala and Wakiso districts reportedly died in a space of just one week!

ALCOHOL – USA
KU asking students for input on alcohol policy – Kansas City Star

The University of Kansas is asking students for help on how to address alcohol abuse on campus. The school says any student may join a committee to help form an alcohol abuse policy. The committee’s next meeting scheduled for Oct. 22.

HEROIN – UK
Health experts to join families at heroin information event – Tyrone Times

HEALTH professionals and families whose loved ones have been affected by the devastating drug heroin, will be on the panel at a special information evening organised by Dungannon based alcohol and drugs awareness centre, Breakthru.

HEROIN – USA
Lebanon County coroner warns of spike in heroin-related deaths – PennLive

Lebanon County Coroner Dr. Jeffery A. Yocum has issued a warning about deaths in Lebanon City within the past week in which heroin use was a contributing factor. It is uncertain if this illegal product is tainted or of unusual purity, according to the warning.

PRESCRIPTION – USA
Prescription mistakes a scary, growing trend – Norwhich Bulletin

Pharmacy errors are increasing, according to the Institute of Medicine and the National Boards of Pharmacy. About 5 percent of all prescriptions filled in the U.S. each year are incorrect, and 7,000 people die each year because of pharmacy mistakes.

DRUGS – UK
The misery of youth: Teenagers depressed and fearful as drink, drugs and crime take their toll – Daily Mail
Young people believe they are unhappier than ever before as crime, alcohol and drugs wreck their lives, according to a report. Instead of enjoying their youth, many are in the depths of depression, the survey found.

PRESCRIPTION – USA
Abuse of prescription drugs a concern – Bennington Banner

The problem of prescription drug abuse has been on the increase throughout the country, causing law enforcement officials and doctors to re-examine the tactics used to combat it.

ALCOHOL – UK
Overindulgence Of Alcohol Encouraged By Loud Music – Medical News Today

Commercial venues are very aware of the effects that the environment – in this case, music – can have on in-store traffic flow, sales volumes, product choices, and consumer time spent in the immediate vicinity. A study of the effects of music levels on drinking in a bar setting has found that loud music leads to more drinking in less time.

ALCOHOL – USA
Beach alcohol rules on tap for SRIA meeting – Pensacola News Journal

No drinking alcohol. No loud music. No employees parking in the patrons’ spaces. Designating an alcohol-free section of the Gulf side of Pensacola Beach, excluding restaurants or bars.

ALCOHOL –USA
Permanent Beach Alcohol Ban To Be Decided In November – KGTV News

Voters should be asked in November whether to make the one-year trial ban on alcohol at San Diego’s beaches permanent, two City Council members said Tuesday.

ALCOHOL –UK
Cheap alcohol is fuelling binge drinking, study says –Telegraph
The research, carried out by Sheffield University, examined the impact of cheap supermarket deals on beer, wine and spirits and identified a link with binge drinking.

COCAINE – UK
Govt starts cocaine crackdown – Politics

A new government crackdown on cocaine begins today with drug minister Vernon Coaker announcing a £1 million FRANK campaign aimed at 15 to 18-year-olds and a government commitment to Colombia’s ‘Shared Responsibility’ campaign.

ADDICTION – USA
Sunset Malibu-Catering to your individual addiction – Trans World News

Any alcohol and drug treatment center talk about the importance of “expert” clinical care. Unfortunately, words don’t always translate into practice.

ADDICTION – USA
New Drug Addiction and Alcohol Drug Treatment Center Opens in Palm Springs : Recover from Addiction and Discover

Palm Springs Recovery, a luxurious yet affordable addiction and alcohol drug treatment center, announced its grand opening May 19. Palm Springs Recovery is dedicated to the practice of teaching a healthy, sober lifestyle in which clients are able to carry back into the real world.

METH – USA
Numbers Show Improvement In Meth Battle – KCRA News

Like the effects of the drug, methamphetamine hit Stanislaus County fast and with intensity.

METH – USA
Meth Coalition Reaching out to Hastings – Nebraska TV

“Growing up I lived in foster homes because of parents who used meth.” Having seen what meth can do, Betty Vertin tries to help others. But finds many don’t think it’s a problem in a town like Hastings.

METH – USA
Kroger says meth, environment top priorities as Ore. AG – KCBY News

The federal prosecutor turned law professor who is about to become the next Oregon attorney general says his top priorities are battling the illegal methamphetamine trade and getting tough on enforcing environmental laws.

DRUGS – AUSTRALIA
More older drivers under influence – Melbourne Herald Sun

DRIVERS, especially those over 55, are putting lives at risk by driving while drowsy, dizzy and clumsy on prescription medication, new research shows.

ALCOHOL – UK
BMA Response To Government Campaign On Alcohol Units, UK – Medical News Today

People could be risking their health and driving over the limit because they don’t know how many alcohol units they’re consuming.

METH – USA
Group hopes to CLEAR meth use from Loveland – Reporter Herald

John Giroux feels plenty of passion about methamphetamine. He has one simple goal: make it CLEAR that meth has no business in the Loveland community.

DRUGS – USA
What We Can Learn from Heath Ledger’s Death: Don’t Mix Downs!!! – The Huffington Post

Although “just say no” is certainly the safest position to take on recreational drug use, the vast majority of humans ignore this advice. Some use alcohol, nicotine or caffeine; others take prescription medicines in ways other than as prescribed; others use illegal drugs like marijuana, cocaine and heroin. Add that all up and a significant majority of the population is “under the influence” at any given time.

ALCOHOL – UK
Alcohol-related deaths ‘rising’ – BBC News

Office for National Statistics figures show there were 13.4 alcohol-related deaths per 100,000 population in 2006 – up from 12.9 in 2005.

ALCOHOL – UK
Scots alcohol death rate twice that of UK – The Scotsman
THE rate of alcohol-related deaths in Scotland is rising – and is more than double the rate for the UK as a whole, figures out yesterday showed.

ALCOHOL – UK
Princess gives royal seal of approval to drug and alcohol project – The Scotsman

PRINCESS Anne has officially opened a groundbreaking new drug and alcohol project in the Capital.

ALCOHOL – UK
Alcohol-related deaths have doubled in 15 years, report says – The Guardian

A sharp increase in the number of middle-aged people drinking themselves to death was revealed yesterday.

COCAINE – IRELAND
Study finds increased cocaine use – The Irish Times

A study into drug use is expected to show an increase in the use of cocaine in Ireland.

ALCOHOL – UK
We need to change children’s attitudes to alcohol – The Guardian

Mentor UK have studies showing that young people in rural areas are more at risk from falling into alcohol misuse and have identified boredom and a lack of hope and aspiration as specific problems.

PRESCRIPTION – USA
How to avoid prescription drug dangers – WATE

So, could it happen to you? The experts say doctor-prescribed drugs can be just as dangerous as those you find on the street.

DRUGS – USA
Local school districts that test for drugs – The Dallas Morning News
Most North Texas school districts do not drug test students. Shown are local school districts that do and what they test for.

METHADONE – USA
Deaths among Methadone users on the rise – The Journal Review
According to the National Drug Intelligence Center, in a report released in December 2007, deaths from overdose of Methadone have increased 390 percent from 1999 to 2004 — and that trend is continuing.