Drug News

DRUG ADDICTION – USA
Michael Jackson accused of drug addiction: ‘It was his milk’ – Examiner.com

Michael Jackson is being accused of drug addiction in the involuntary manslaughter case against Dr. Conrad Murray. While the doctor has pled not guilty to …

DRUG COURT REHAB – USA
Addict says drug court got her sober – Philadelphia Neshoba Democrat

Denise Tubby of Philadelphia said that when she started Drug Court she desperately needed help because of her addiction to drugs. She told those gathered in …

HEROIN – USA
Heroin, Rx pain-killer deaths high in 2009 – Zanesville Times Recorder ‎

Orman Hall, director of the Ohio Department of Alcohol and Drug Addiction Services, said the data reinforces only the widespread belief that heroin and …

DRUG OVERDOSE – SCOTLAND
Report: Drug users given no help – Herald Scotland ‎

More than a third of Scots who died from illegal drug use did not get any help for their addiction, a report showed yesterday. The analysis of 432 deaths …

DRUG ADDICTION – USA
Up to 35% of wounded soldiers addicted to drugs – USAToday

Medical officials estimate that 25% to 35% of about 10,000 ailing soldiers assigned to special wounded-care companies or battalions are addicted or dependent on drugs

PRESCRIPTION DRUGS – USA
Prescription drugs: Abuse can be lethal – Danville Weekly

“Addiction can happen quickly and recovery can be extremely difficult and costly.” The latest National Survey on Drug Use and Health reported that 56 …

METHAMPHETAMINE – USA
Count of children affected by methamphetamine up – Jackson Sun

In a record year for meth lab busts in Tennessee, the illegal drug making also affected a substantially higher …

New campaign takes cocaine impact to Europe – Reuters

A picture campaign highlighting the devastation caused in Colombia by the production of cocaine for markets in Europe and America came to London on Wednesday before heading across Europe.

ALCOHOL – UK
Alcohol And Energy Drinks Serve Up Double Danger – Medical News Today
People who drink alcohol mixed with energy drinks can double their chances of being hurt or injured after drinking, needing medical attention and travelling with a drunk driver, according to new US research.

HEROIN – USA
Deadly strain of heroin circulating in Hartford – WTNH News

A spokesman for Hartford Hospital says the ER has seen multiple victims who have overdosed on a lethal strain of heroin.

ALCOHOL – AUSTRALIA
Lower alcohol wines seen as way to curb binge drinking – ABC News

The Australian Wine Research Institute says making wines with a lower alcohol content would be a more effective approach to dealing with irresponsible drinking, than tax rises on alcoholic drinks.

DRUGS – USA
Drug Rehab Warns Against Opiate Addiction – Trans World News

There are many forms of substance addiction. Addiction in any form, of course, should be a cause for raised concern. There are increased risks however that stem from opiate addiction. Unlike forms of stimulant addiction, opiates run a greater risk of overdosing.

HEROIN – USA
Authorities struggle to combat surge in Ohio heroin cases – Huntington Herald Dispatch

Authorities are barely keeping up with a surge in the amount of heroin flowing into the Columbus area, the government’s top anti-drug agent for Ohio said Tuesday.

HEROIN – USA
Eighth Graders Get In-Depth Look At Heroin Use – WMDT News

Eighth graders in Salisbury got an in-depth look at the effects of heroin use Tuesday morning.
ALCOHOL – INDIA
Alcohol Awareness Campaign Inaugurated in UK – Indian Wine Academy

If you don’t know the standard unit of a wine glass, do not despair. A recent alcohol awareness campaign in England has revealed that three-fourth of British drinkers don’t know it either.

ALCOHOL – USA
Del Mar bans alcohol on beaches – San Jose Mercury News

The sands of Del Mar are no longer allowing booze. The City Council on Monday night unanimously approved an emergency ordinance that bans alcohol at city parks and beaches starting Friday and continuing through Labor Day.

ALCOHOL – USA
Alcohol banned at beaches for summer – San Diego Union Tribune

The Del Mar City Council last night unanimously approved an emergency ordinance banning alcohol at city parks and beaches from Memorial Day through Labor Day.

PRESCRIPTION – AUSTRALIA
Prescription drugs making older drivers dizzy, clumsy – Melbourne Herald Sun

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

PRESCRIPTION – AUSTRALIA
Qlders ignoring prescription drug warnings: survey – ABC News
New research has found that almost a quarter of Queenslanders are ignoring warning labels and driving under the influence of prescription drugs.

PRESCRIPTION – AUSTRALIA
Motorists over 55 on prescription drugs are dangerous – Courier Mail

A NEW study shows motorists, especially those aged over 55, are putting lives at risk by driving after taking medicine that can make them drowsy.

DRUGS – USA
Teens target prescription drugs; watch public service announcement – Pougkeepsie Journal

More than half of teens agree prescription drugs are easier to get than illegal drugs, and 4.5 million American children have reported they’ve abused prescription drugs, according to the state Department of Health.

METH – USA
Declare war on ‘tweekers’ – The Eureka Reporter

“Tweekers” — the word sounds so innocuous, almost whimsical, but it is evil in its effects on our community. Tweekers ruin the local parks, leave needles in children’s playgrounds, perform theft and petty crimes or aggressive panhandling — all caused by the use of methamphetamine.

ALCOHOL – UK
Councils ‘fail’ on youth drinking – BBC News

More than a third of councils in Scotland have not suspended a single shop licence in the past five years for sales of alcohol to underage drinkers.

ALCOHOL – USA
Gender gap in alcohol drinking, dependence shrinks – Reuters

There have been marked increases in alcohol consumption and alcohol dependence among U.S. women, particularly among white and Hispanic women born in the U.S. after World War II, new research shows.

ALCOHOL – UK
‘Radical measures’ vow to cut alcohol abuse – The Scotsman

A long-term strategy on alcohol misuse is due to be published shortly and is expected to contain significant plans to cut alcohol-related harm.

ALCOHOL – UK
MP calls for alcohol ad ban at sports events – The Independent

A ban on alcohol advertising at sporting events is being demanded by a Labour MP in an attempt to tackle binge drinking among young people.

PRESCRIPTION – USA
Overuse Of Non-Prescription Pain Drugs Poses Dangers – WBNS TV News

Overuse of over-the-counter pain medications can cause serious health problems. A new study shows that many people take far more than the recommended dosages of non-prescription analgesics.

ALCOHOL – USA
Alcohol Becoming Equal Opportunity Destroyer – Join Together

Alcohol dependence was once much more common among men than women in the U.S., but the gender gap is closing.

ADDERALL – USA
Bucky’s Little Helper: UW students turn to Adderall to get through finals – The Capital Times

With final exams coming up, Renee figures she could fetch about $20 per capsule for Adderall, a prescription amphetamine widely known across campus as a “study drug.” But she sells her surplus only to close friends, generally charging $5 per pill, which helps her cover her monthly refill costs of $25.

HEROIN – USA
Cheap heroin hooks a wider population – Atlanta Journal Constitution

The cause of Georgia Tech baseball player Michael Hutts’ death hasn’t been determined, but the mention of heroin in the police report on his death was a reminder that abuse of the addictive drug is on the rise.

PRESCRIPTION – USA
Teen prescription drug abuse a growing trend – Council Bluffs Daily Nonpareil

Sandi Delack has encountered middle school students who’ve taken their parents’ prescription medications in order to get high. Delack is a Rhode Island school nurse and president-elect of the National Association of School Nurses.

ALCOHOL – USA
Forum addresses alcohol abuse as ‘societal problem’ – The Reporter
That’s the message local officials were hoping to drive home during a public forum titled “Responsible Drinking or Dead Drunk — It’s Your Choice.” The forum was held Thursday night in the Legislative Chambers of the City County Government Center.

ALCOHOL – USA
Being aware during Alcohol Awareness Month – Santa Cruz Sentinel

In 2006, 43,000 Californians sought publicly funded treatment for alcohol addiction, including vulnerable populations like seniors and youth. But, recent studies show that more than 2.2 million people in our state meet the criteria for alcohol dependence or abuse.

ALCOHOL – USA
Bradley greeks step up for alcohol awareness – Peoria Journal Star

In light of recent alcohol-related deaths on Bradley University’s campus, the school’s fraternities and sororities are stepping up their alcohol awareness program.

ALCOHOL – USA
Youth learn of alcohol’s perils – 2 The Advocate

Tracy Mitchell prepared no script for the message she planned to deliver to the audience of teenagers attending the alcohol awareness concert at LSU on Saturday.

ALCOHOL – USA
Boozy Betty: a warning of the effects of alcohol – Sunday Herald

A prevailing image of students has tended to be that of the Boozy Betty is no different. She’s out drinking kind. hard-drinking with friends into the wee hours, she can’t remember how she got home and her grades are beginning to suffer as a result.

METH – USA
Auditions Held for Anti-Meth Commercial Campaign – KNDO News

Actors of all ages came out in Yakima today to audition for a new county wide commercial campaign. A local production company along with Citizens for Safe Yakima Valley Communities is looking for actors for their upcoming “Meth-Lied” campaign.

METH – USA
A thanks to media on meth program – Arizona Republic

On behalf of the Arizona affiliate of the Partnership for a Drug-Free America, I thank the Arizona media for their participation and support of the recent Crystal Darkness program.

ADDICTION – INDIA
Painting Exhibition on Alcohol and Drugs De-addiction on Apr 20 – Daiji World

An awareness programme is being organized on ‘Alcohol and drugs de-addiction’ by Janajagruthi Vedike at SDM Law college here today, Sunday April 20.

COCAINE – UK
Doctors Should Ask About Cocaine Use When Younger Patients Present With Chest Pains – Medical News Today

In a bid to improve management of patients who present with chest pain and other heart attack symptoms, the American Heart Association (AHA) has issued a scientific statement recommending doctors ask about cocaine use when they examine younger patients with chest pains and who have no obvious risk factors for heart disease.

ALCOHOL – UK
Teen Drinking More Difficult To Tackle In Urban Areas – Medical News Today

Keeping middle schoolers from alcohol is a tougher task in the inner city than in rural areas, even for experts armed with the best prevention programs, a new University of Florida study shows.

METH – UK
California Launches Campaign Aimed To Discourage MSM From Using Crystal Meth, Reduce High-Risk Sexual Activity – Medical News Today
California drug officials on Thursday launched an $11 million media campaign that aims to discourage men who have sex with men from using crystal methamphetamine.

METH – UK
ADP Launches New Campaign To Reduce Meth Use In California – Medical News Today

“Methamphetamine use is a problem in California and we are committed to doing all we can to address it,” said Renee Zito, Director of ADP.

COCAINE – INDIA
Cocaine Abuse During Youth May Trigger Heart Attack? – News Locale

As if cocaine abuse was not bad enough, the American Heart Association (AHA) has now said that young people who use the drug could suffer from heart attack symptoms like chest pain, anxiety and palpitations.

METH – AUSTRALIA
Ice curse tightening grip on Sydney – The Daily Telegraph

SYDNEY’s war with the devastating drug ice shows no sign of easing, with new statistics showing its use continues to soar amid warnings that underground drug laboratories are becoming larger and more sophisticated.

PRESCRIPTION – USA
Battle for lives: Parents are front-line fighters against drug misuse – The Salt Lake Tribune

Those battles are still being fought, but the war has a new front – medicine cabinets in urban, rural and suburban homes – and a new target: prescription drugs. But the most vulnerable victims are still teenagers and adolescents. Parents are the front-line soldiers in this new battle.

METH – USA
United against meth – Sacramento Bee

Next week, six Sacramento-area TV stations will hit the pause button in their normally cutthroat battle for viewers. This cease-fire will happen for only a half-hour, at 6:30 p.m. March 26, but it nonetheless is an extraordinary step. They have all agreed to air the same program at the same time. Commercial-free, to boot.

ALCOHOL – USA
Irish call for holiday alcohol restraint – USA Today

A record-setting 650,000 revelers lined the sunny streets of Dublin for St. Patrick’s Day on Monday, as Ireland’s leaders urged the nation to honor its “most famous immigrant” — and avoid drinking too much alcohol.

ALCOHOL – USA
Curbing Teen Drinking Difficult In Urban Areas – Science Daily

Keeping middle schoolers from alcohol is a tougher task in the inner city than in rural areas, even for experts armed with the best prevention programs, a new University of Florida study shows.

PRESCRIPTION – USA
Rock County prepares for another effort to destroy old or unwanted prescription drugs – WCLO Talk Radio

The Rock County Board of Health is now up to date on another effort to rid the county of unwanted prescription drugs.
PRESCRIPTION – USA
Local law enforcement officials get training on prescription drug abuse – Southeast Missourian

More than 40 officers from 13 law enforcement agencies gathered Monday at the Clinton building in Sikeston for a presentation on prescription drug abuse and investigations, according to the Scott County Sheriff’s Department.

HEROIN – AUSTRALIA
Heroin overdoses on the rise – The Sydney Morning Herald

HEROIN is making a comeback on Australian streets, with health workers reporting more overdoses, methamphetamine users moving back to narcotics and an increasing presence of drugs from Afghanistan.

METH – USA
Wyo. takes up Montana antimeth program – KXMC News
An effort is under way in Wyoming to begin a methamphetamine prevention program that has been successful in Montana. The Wyoming Meth Project will use the same marketing strategies and tools used by Montana.

CANNABIS – USA
Zambia: Leading in Cannabis Cultivation and Abuse – All Africa

IT should be a matter of grave concern to authorities and all Zambians that the country has been cited in the 2007 International Narcotics Board report as being among the few countries in Africa leading in cannabis cultivation and abuse.

ADDERALL – USA
Adderall Abuse Hot Topic on Campus – Trans World News

The newest trend among college aged students is not alcohol, pot or other “hard” drugs. It is a drug available in pharmacies: Adderall.

ALCOHOL – UK
Mortality Risk Influenced By Quantity And Frequency Of Drinking – Medical News Today

How much and how often people drink – not just the average amount of alcohol they consume over time – independently influence the risk of death from several causes, according to a new study by researchers at the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

PRESCRIPTION – USA
College prescription drug abuse – WFIE News

About one fifth of surveyed college students say they’ve taken prescription drugs without a prescription to get high.

METH – USA
Wyoming takes up Montana anti-meth program – Great Falls Tribune

An effort is under way in Wyoming to begin a methamphetamine prevention program that has been successful in Montana.

METH – USA
Shock tactics hoped to scare students away from drugs – TV3 News

A group of former detectives is taking a hard-hitting message to New Zealand high schools about the dangers of methamphetamine. It uses shock tactics, but there is debate about whether such seminars will deter its use.

ADDICTION – USA
Addiction Epidemic in Young Adults – ABC local News

Any night, anywhere in the Valley, young people are partying. Some drinking alcohol, some smoking pot, but many are getting their kicks from pills or meth.

DRUGS – USA
Danger lurks in pill bottles – Elmira Star Gazette News

While much attention is devoted to fighting illegal drugs like crack, methamphetamine and marijuana, plenty of people are getting a buzz from pharmaceutical drugs that are purchased legally and then resold underground.

DRUGS – UK
Innocence lost as children turn to the hard drugs – The Scotsman

ONE in 20 children in the Capital has a £26-a-week drug habit, a new survey has revealed.

ALCOHOL – UK
Study Recommends That ‘Tweens’ Alcohol Prevention Programs Occur As Early As Third Grade – Medical News Today

A study by the University of Minnesota School of Public Health and the University of Florida suggests that ‘tweens’ should receive alcohol prevention programs prior to sixth grade, when nearly one in six children are already alcohol users.

METH – USA
DA part of statewide anti-meth campaign – Hartselle Enquirer

Morgan County District Attorney Bob Burrell is among those working with the governor on a new statewide initiative to stop methamphetamine use.

PRESCRIPTION – USA
Campaign fights prescription drug abuse in Hemet, San Jacinto – Press Enterprise

The sticker is a part of the “Not in Our Town! We are Responsible” campaign headed by La Vista Prevention and Education Services in San Jacinto against over-the-counter and prescription drug abuse and misuse.

ADDICTION – USA
Jeff Conaway beats drug addiction with Scientology – Monsters and Critics

Actor Jeff Conaway of “Celebrity Rehab” claims he’s clean of drugs. Jeff told Inside Edition that John Travolta and Scientology have helped him.

ADDICTION – USA
Surging Heroin Addiction a Major Public Health Threat – FOX Central Oregon News

Opioid addiction, particularly to heroin, is a rapidly growing public health threat in the greater Washington, D.C. area.