Drug News

ALCOHOL – UK
Alcohol related 999 calls rise 11 per cent in a year, MPs told – Telegraph

One in five calls 999 calls to London Ambulance service between 10pm and 2am on Thursday, Friday and Saturday night are about drunk people, paramedic Brian Hayes told MPs.

ALCOHOL – USA
New KU anti-drinking strategy has merit — and flaws – Kansas City Star

The decision to alert parents about students’ alcohol violations is a good, if overdue, step as the University of Kansas attempts to curb drinking and drug use.

ALCOHOL – CANADA
More U.K. women drinking to excess – Canada.com

More British women are binge-drinking and while fewer teens and young adults are drinking alcohol, those who do are guzzling more than in the past, according to research published on Wednesday.

METH – USA
Gov. Launches Aggressive Meth Awareness Project – CBS 4 Denver

A new statewide awareness campaign to prevent people from trying methamphetamine involves graphic ads depicting the consequences of using the drug.

METH – USA
Kentucky Counties Get Money to Fight Meth – WTVW News

Daviess County law enforcement now has $65,000 more to help fight the war on methamphetamine. It’s a federal grant targeted for meth “hot spots” around the country.

DRUGS – UK
Ban considered for Spice Gold, herbal high as strong as some skunk cannabis – Guardian

The government’s drug advisers are to consider next week whether to ban Spice Gold, a herbal smoking mixture that is as strong as some strains of skunk cannabis, and other “legal highs”.

DRUGS – UK
Virtual street to teach children how to deal with drug gangs and paedophiles – Daily Mail

British children are to be taught about the dangers posed by drug dealers and paedophiles by exploring a virtual world.

ALCOHOL – UK
The impact of more visible standard drink labelling on youth alcohol consumption – Drug Education Forum

In response to increasing concerns about excessive drinking among young people the Australian alcohol industry announced that it will introduce more visible standard drink labels. This study sought to examine whether young people use this information in a way that decreases, or increases, alcohol-related harms.

ALCOHOL – AUSTRALIA
Apparent Consumption of Alcohol, Australia, 2007-08 – Australia Bureau Statistics

This publication provides estimates of apparent consumption of alcohol based on the availability of alcoholic beverages in Australia. The publication provides estimates of the quantity of beer and wine available for consumption, and estimates of the quantity of pure alcohol available for consumption from beer, wine, spirits, and ready to drink pre-mixed products.

ALCOHOL – AUSTRALIA
Updated alcohol resources – Drug Info Clearinghouse

These updated guidelines recommend that healthy women and men drink no more than two standard drinks a day over their lifetime if they want to reduce their risk of experiencing an alcohol-related injury or disease.

ALCOHOL – USA
URI alcohol guidelines still bring controversy – URI The Good 5 Cent Cigar

Carothers became president of the University of Rhode Island in the summer of 1991, he had no intention of revamping the university’s alcohol policy. After a few years of dealing with alcohol related sexual assaults, fights and vandalisms Carothers decided campus culture warranted change.

ALCOHOL – AUSTRALIA
Younger brains ‘tricked’ by alcohol – The Age

Teenagers who drink heavily can associate bad experiences such as vomiting and car accidents with pleasure, according to a US expert on alcohol abuse.

ALCOHO L- USA
Signs That Your Teen is Binge Drinking – Ozarks First

Here’s a scary statistic. A recent survey of local colleges found that more than one third of kids under 21 have engaged in binge drinking in the past two weeks.

METH – USA
Mother’s Against Meth Gets New Tool To Fight Addiction – KFDA News

Many law enforcement agencies consider meth the most dangerous drug in the Panhandle.

METH – USA
Families Advised To Watch For Meth Mouth – News on 6

The number of meth labs in the City of Tulsa is on record pace.  Experts say one of the best ways to stop it is to recognize signs of abuse.  There is one sign that doctors say is easy to spot.

MARIJUANA – USA
Study: Teens Turn to Marijuana in Lieu of Prescription Drugs – Join Together

Some teenagers are smoking marijuana for its medical benefits and not to get high, using the drug to self-medicate for conditions like depression, sleep problems, anxiety, stress, pain, and problems with concentration.

PAINKILLER – USA
New labels to carry painkiller risk warning – ABC Local News

But the federal government says, if overdone, these painkillers can be harmful to your health. That’s why the Food and Drug Administration says labels will carry new, bolder warnings about the risk’s of liver damage or stomach bleeding. These products include Advil and Tylenol.

PAINKILLER – USA
Your Life Depends On The Success Of Your Drug Addiction Program – Trans World News

Every addict is unique. So is every form of addiction. There is no such thing as a one-size-fits-all addiction treatment program. On the contrary, the most successful private drug addiction treatment facilities are those which are specifically tailored to the task at hand.

ALCOHOL – USA
Educating against alcohol – The Berkshire Eagle

On Tuesday, state officials sponsored a reality check: Kids are drinking. That fact is nothing new, but ways to change underage drinking are being constantly rethought.

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?

PRESCRIPTION – USA
Teens Having Easier Time Getting Prescription Drugs – US News and World Report

It’s easier to illegally obtain prescription drugs such as OxyContin, Percocet, Vicodin or Ritalin than it is to get beer, say a growing number of American teens.

PRESCRIPTION – USA
Teen drug abuse – Watertown Daily Times

Surveys have shown a decline in illegal drug use by teenagers in recent years, but many of the same surveys have also shown an increase in the teens abusing prescription drugs.

METH – USA
First Global Conference on Methamphetamine to Feature 80 Speakers from 16 Countries – Drug War Chronicles
First Global Conference on Methamphetamine to Feature 80 Speakers from 16 Countries
Full Program Agenda Available for Conference September 15-16, 2008, Prague, Czech Republic.

METH – USA
The Lure Of Methamphetamine – Black Voice News

It’s known by many names: meth, crystal, ice, methamphetamine, speed, crank, glass, yaba, tina and many others. Methamphetamine is also extremely addictive and is plowing through the nation, from coast to coast and from city to countryside, leaving behind a trail of broken families and destroyed lives.

ALCOHOL – AUSTRALIA
Govt urged to collect better data on alcohol consumption – ABC News

A leading Australian health scientist is calling on the Federal Government to order liquor retailers to provide accurate data on alcohol sales in Australia.

ALCOHOL – AUSTALIA
Australia failing to collect data on alcohol consumption – The Australian
DOCTORS say policies to tackle drinking are under threat from a lack of figures on alcohol consumption and warn Australia may become the only OECD nation not to collect the information.
PRESCRIPTION – USA
Prescription drugs are in drinking water – Best Syndication

It sounds like the plot of a bad movie; people taking low doses of antibiotics without knowing it until they are no longer able to fight off even simple infections. Believe it or not, this is rapidly becoming a stark reality.

PRESCRIPTION – USA
Free outdated prescription drug disposal available Saturday – Times Daily

Curtis Burns said that in at least three out of four households in the Shoals there are outdated prescription drugs that should be disposed of.

PRESCRIPTION – USA
Prescription drug abuse “rampant” in Ohio – WTAM News Radio

The Ohio Department of Alcohol and Drug Addiction Services has released its biannual report on the latest drug trends across the state.

METHADONE – USA
Methadone use, deaths increasing – Statesman

A synthetic form of opium, it is a cheap and powerful pain reliever that has helped millions. But because it is also abused by thrill seekers and prescribed by doctors unfamiliar with its risks, methadone is now the fastest-growing cause of narcotic deaths.

DRUGS – UK
Scotland facing ‘drugs Doomsday’ – BBC News

Scotland could find itself facing a drugs Doomsday that would see primary school children following their parents into drug use, an expert has warned.

DRUGS – UK
The drugs scourge – The Herald

Drug-users tend to die young, but we know surprisingly little about those who survive the dangers of overdose or violence to which their lifestyle makes them susceptible.

DRUGS – UK
Drug abuse inquiry unravels secret of higher death rates in Scotland – The Herald

Drug abuse is a key factor behind previously unexplained higher death rates in Scotland compared to England and Wales, according to a study published today.

ALCOHOL – UK
Alcohol hospital admissions hide individual tragedies – BMA

The new government figures released today (Tuesday 22 July 2008) revealing that 811,000 people in England were admitted to hospital with alcohol misuse problems in 2006 hide the individual tragedies that hospital frontline staff see day in day out, said the BMA.

ALCOHOL –USA
Family Meals Can Help Teen Girls Avoid Drugs, Alcohol – The WashingtonPost

Eating meals together as a family can reduce a teen girl’s risk of turning to alcohol or drugs, a new study suggests.

ALCOHOL – UK
Frontline Health Staff See Individual Tragedies Of Alcohol Misuse Problems In England – Medical News Today

According to government figures published today, 811,000 people were admitted to hospital with alcohol misuse problems in 2006 in England. The figures hide the individual tragedies that hospital frontline staff see everyday, says the British Medical Association.

CANNABIS – SOUTH AFRICA
SA drug culture hit by ‘very dangerous’ cannabis – Daily Dispatch

A NEW strain of higher-potency cannabis was being produced that is more addictive than ever before, says a UN official.

DRUGS – USA
U.S. Ranks #1 in Consumption of Pot, Cocaine, Smokes – Alter Net

According to a new study released June 30 by the World Health Organization, the U.S. leads the world and — just in time for the Olympics — takes the gold for the use of tobacco, pot, and cocaine, far outpacing other countries.

DRUGS – USA
Random Student Drug Testing Stops Drug Use Before it Begins – Pushing Back

The goal of prevention is to stop substance use before it ever begins. Believing not only in this mission but in our ability to achieve it, this Administration outlined a strategy 6 years ago that called upon multiple sectors of society—parents, schools, employers, communities, and the media—to help Americans, and youth in particular, take a stand against drugs.

PROZAC – AUSTRALIA
Subsidised Prozac prescribed to children – NEWS.au.com

Several hundred thousand scripts for anti-depressants such as Zoloft and Prozac were last year prescribed to children and subsidised through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, despite the Federal Government’s own drug watchdog not recommending them for use by anyone under the age of 24.

DRUGS – AUSTRALIA
Overdose Awareness Day – Salvation Army

We are inviting you to participate in Overdose Awareness Day 2008. This year, on the 31st August 2008, we will be remembering those who have died from having suffered overdose as well as those who live with permanent injuries from overdose.

DRUGS – UK
World Drug Day 2008 – UN Office on Drug and Crime

On 26 June, UNODC offices around the world held different events to celebrate the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. On the same day, UNODC also launched its 2008 World Drug Report.

DRUGS – UK
Nearly one in 10 Welsh prisoners test positive for drugs – Western Mail

NEARLY one in 10 Welsh prisoners has tested positive for drugs in random tests, according to figures released under the Freedom of Information Act.

CANNABIS – UK
Skunk ‘psychosis risk’ warning – BBC News

People who smoke the strongest form of cannabis – known as skunk – may be more at risk of psychosis than those who use milder forms, UK researchers claim.

ALCOHOL – IRELAND
Alcohol ad regulation could prove troublesome – Sunday Business Post

The new self-regulatory codes on alcohol advertising sound comprehensive, but they could prove tricky to implement in some cases.

ALCOHOL – USA
More Drug, Alcohol Recognition Experts on the Road This Weekend – WFMZ News

Pennsylvania State Troopers will be stepping up patrols this holiday weekend. This year they’re also increasing efforts to recognize drivers who are under the influence.

METH – USA
Miss. Realtors Required To Disclose Meth Lab Houses – WAPT News

Mississippi home buyers will soon be able to find out if the house they want to purchase was used as a meth lab.

PRESCRIPTION – USA
More teens abusing prescription drugs – Canton Repository

When issued by a doctor, prescription drugs are supposed to offer a safe way to help people. They dilute pain, help control behavior, regulate sickness and heal ills. But for some, prescription drugs also offer an easy way to get high. And there are signs that abuse is rising among Ohio teens.

METH – USA
Minnesota’s anti-meth law is a big success story – DL Online

An anti- methamphetamine law passed in Minnesota three years ago has been a big success.

METH – USA
Official: Check your propane tanks – Jackson Sun

People grilling this summer should inspect their propane tanks as some methamphetamine producers are using them to store harmful chemicals.

DRUGS – USA
Broad Differences In Alcohol, Tobacco And Illegal Drug Use Across Countries – Medical News Today

A survey conducted by the World Health Organization (WHO) research consortium found that the United States had among the highest lifetime rates of tobacco and alcohol use and led in the proportion of participants reporting cannabis (marijuana) or cocaine use at least once during their lifetime.

CODEINE – CANADA
Be careful when you take a pill – The Sault Star

Then there are the people who get addicted to codeine in some pills and have to take more and more. Some don’t even know they are hooked until they try to stop taking the pills.

DRUGS – USA
Survey Finds U.S. Leads World in Substance Abuse – FOX News

The U.S. leads the world in marijuana and cocaine experimentation, as well as in lifetime tobacco use, according to a survey released this week by the World Health Organization.

ALCOHOL – USA
It’s July: Impaired drivers beware – Star Tribune

It is frankly embarrassing, and even more so disturbing, that impaired driving continues to be a major safety concern and threat on Minnesota roads.

DRUGS – USA
Menino supports drug testing – The Boston Globe

Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino declared his support for requiring random drug and alcohol testing for all police and firefighters in the state yesterday, saying cities and towns should not have to negotiate the testing with public safety unions.

DRUGS – USA
Addiction to painkillers on the rise, police say – Salisbury Post

Hyrocodone, a painkiller, is the most frequently prescribed opiate in the United States, according to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.

PRESCRIPTION – USA
Drug Rehab Looks at Prescription Drug Addiction – Trans World News

The biggest problem facing this country currently, when it comes to addiction, is that of prescription drugs. Most individuals who have a prescription drug problem are not even aware that they are addicted.

ADDICTION – UK
Taking Drug Addiction Recovery to a Whole New Level – Earth Times

Laguna is a very upscale yet affordable drug and alcohol rehab treatment center located on California’s beautiful Laguna Beach.

DRUGS – NEW ZEALAND
NZ slipping into ‘world’s gutters’ – drug expert – Otago Daily Times

Latest international cannabis use figures prove that New Zealand is descending into “the world’s gutters”, says outspoken drug education expert Mike Sabin.

METH – USA
Meth labs declining in Minnesota – Hutchinson Leader

The report, Methamphetamine in Minnesota: a report on the impact of one illicit drug, is the first comprehensive review of the impact of meth in Minnesota.

PRESCRIPTION – USA
Prescription Drug Confusion – Today’s TMJ4

Have you ever reached into your medicine cabinet and forgot what that prescription is for? Pharmacists say it happens all the time. Today’s TMJ4’s Courtny Gerrish shows us how to end the confusion.

PRESCRIPTION – UK
MEDai Technology Identifies Prescription Drug Misuse – Earth Times

MEDai, Inc. provides several reports that focus on the identification of potential misuse of prescription drugs, a subject that has quickly climbed to the top of the concerns list for those in the payer space.

METH – USA
A look at meth addiction in Southwest Florida – Wink News

Just how big of a problem has meth become in Lee County? Local addiction specialists say they are hearing from more recovering addicts that meth was one of their drugs of choice.

METH – USA
Drug Use Becoming More Common Worldwide – Join Together
Use of various illicit drugs has become more common worldwide over the years, and the United States has some of the world’s highest rates of lifetime alcohol and tobacco use, according to an international survey conducted by the World Health Organization.

METH – USA
Home disclosure clear on meth – Biloxi Sun Herald

Potential homebuyers in Mississippi now have a means of learning whether that cute cottage on the market was once a meth lab.

MARIJUANA – USA
More Marijuana in the Movies – Join Together

It may not signal a return to the Cheech and Chong days, but marijuana use has definitely staged a comeback on the big screen, drawing laughs and establishing cultural credibility among young moviegoers.

ALCOHOL – USA
Anheuser-Busch to stop mixing alcohol and caffeine – North Platte Bulletin

After months of public criticism, a threatened lawsuit, and an 11-state Attorneys General investigation, Anheuser-Busch, Inc. announced June 26 that it will discontinue the production and marketing of caffeinated alcoholic beverages and pledges to call on other brewers and distillers to follow suit.

ALCOHOL – USA
US leads world in substance abuse, WHO finds – Reuters

The United States leads the world in rates of experimenting with marijuana and cocaine despite strict drug laws, World Health Organization researchers said on Tuesday.

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.

ADDERALL – USA
Students depend on study aids for cram sessions – The Daily Collegian

Pressured for time, many students turn to study aids such as coffee, energy drinks and Adderall to help them through finals week.

ADDERALL – USA
The Other Side of Adderall – BU Today

The stress of keeping up with academic life, especially around finals time, can be challenging, even for the best of students.

METHADONE – USA
Methadone overdoses continue to climb in state – Fay Observer

Methadone, a painkiller, has been used for years to help wean addicts off heroin and similar drugs. But in recent years, medical officials and lawmen have seen increases in overdoses of the drug.

CANNABIS – GERMANY
German Youths Choose Alcohol Over Cannabis, Drug Czar Says –

German youths are turning away from tobacco and cannabis. But there’s been an “alarming” rise in binge-drinking, according to the annual report released by the government’s commissioner on drug abuse.

CANNABIS – UK
Smoking, cannabis-use down among German youth, but drinking up – Earth Times

German youths are turning away from tobacco and cannabis, but there is an “alarming” rise in binge drinking, according to the annual report released by the government’s commissioner on drug-abuse Monday.

METH – USA
Some Former Meth Houses Sold Without Being Cleaned – CBS Denver News

Some Coloradans may be living in a home that once contained a drug lab and not even know it.

COCAINE – UK
Cocaine found at university bars – BBC News

Drugs testing by students at the University of Bristol has suggested cocaine is used at most of its bars.

ALCOHOL – USA
College Party Characteristics Related to Likelihood of High-Risk Drinking – Join Together

High-risk drinking among college students is related to the types of parties they attend, according to a recent web survey of undergraduate students attending two large urban universities.

METH – USA
New Anti-Meth Campaign for American Indians/Alaska Natives – Join Together

T he Partnership for a Drug-Free America, and the National Congress of American Indians to launch the first ever anti-meth public service campaign targeted toward American Indian and Native Alaskan populations.

METH – USA
Tweaked Anti-Meth Campaign Posters – SFist

Addendums to the anti-drug campaign posters have reflected all kinds of sentiments to the most recent effort to get the homosexuals off the crazy crack. Here are just a few.