Drug News

Marijuana – Arizona
Arizona man sentenced to 30 years for distributing over 10 tons of marijuana – Thaindian News

TUCSON, ARIZONA (BNO NEWS) — An Arizona man on Wednesday was sentenced to 360 months in federal prison for drug trafficking related offenses, prosecutors said.

Methadone – Nevada
Mom found guilty of murder in drug death of child – MY NEWS 3

RENO, Nev. (AP) — Jurors found a mother guilty of second-degree murder in the 2009 methadone poisoning death of her 3-year-old daughter.

Heroin – USA
Heroin Hits the Suburbs – abc NEWS VIDEO

An epidemic of teen heroin abuse is sweeping the nation.

Drug Arrests – Wisconsin
Police arrest 11 more in Wis. drug ring – WKBT.com

MADISON, Wis. (AP) – Police have arrested 11 more people they believe are connected to a massive drug ring on St. Croix Chippewa tribal lands.

Drug Trafficking – India
Seven arrested for drug trafficking in Ghaziabad – Thaindian News

Ghaziabad, Oct 20 (IANS) Seven people, including five students, were arrested for supplying brown sugar in different educational institutes of Ghaziabad, police said Wednesday.

Drug Bust Gone Bad – Missouri
Suspect killed, police hurt in drug bust – UPI.com

ST. LOUIS, Oct. 20 (UPI) — An undercover policeman was wounded and a drug suspect shot to death outside St. Louis, police said Wednesday.

Alcohol – New York
Rise in EMS calls leads to concern over student drinking habits – The Miscellany News

Alcoholic, caffeinated beverages partially blamed for trend

Cocaine Detection – Study
New Method To Detect Cocaine Stored In Alcohol – From Outside The Bottle – Medical News TODAY

In two landmark studies published in the journal Drug Testing and Analysis (DTA), UK and Swiss research teams reveal two techniques proven to identify dissolved cocaine in bottles of wine or rum. These tools will allow customs officials to quickly identify bottles being used to smuggle cocaine, without the need to open or disturb the container.

Overdose Related Death – USA Celebrity
Comedian Greg Giraldo Passes Away At 44 – Thaindian News

Sep 30, (THAINDIAN NEWS) Highly acclaimed American comedian Greg Giraldo breathed his last on Wednesday after spending about five days in a medical facility where he was admitted over the weekend for drug overdose. The comedy artist passed away, due to complications that arose from the overdose of drugs, at the Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in the presence of family members as well as friends. Greg Giraldo was 44 years old at the time of his demise.

Drug & Alcohol Death – UK
Brit man on dance drug dies after downing pint of vodka in 4 seconds – Thaindian News

London, Sept 30 (ANI): A Brit drinker who had taken the dance drug mephedrone died after downing a pint of vodka in four seconds, an inquest heard.

Drug Smuggler Fooled Employer – New Zealand
Drug smuggler hid past to get New Zealand hospital job – Thaindian News

Wellington, Sep 30 (IANS) A Nigerian drug smuggler who fooled immigration officials to get a job as a psychiatrist in a New Zealand hospital has been jailed for 16 months.

Methadone – Scotland
Time to get off methadone – Record View, Scotland’s Voice

The continuing rise in the cost of the country’s methadone programme is alarming. More than £105million over four years boils down to a massive £67,000-plus every single day.

Drug Addiction – Former Miss USA
Former Miss USA Tara Conner Talks About Her Drug Addiction On “Oprah Winfrey Show” – Thaindian News

Apr 29, (THAINDIAN NEWS) Former Miss USA Tara Conner created quite a buzz on Wednesday night when she appeared on the “Oprah Winfrey Show” and gave revealing insights into her addiction to drugs and how it had affected her in more ways than one.

Needle Sharing Leads to Syphilis – USA Study
Sharing needles may play major role in transmission of syphilis – Thaindian News

Washington, April 29 (ANI): A new study has discovered that female sex workers who inject drugs and share needles are at a greater danger of contracting syphilis than those who don’t.

Drug Trafficking – Ohio
Ravennans arrested for trafficking: Face felony charges for heroin, Oxycontin  – recordpub.com

Following a two-month-long investigation, the Portage County Drug Task Force arrested two Ravenna men Monday on drug trafficking charges.

Prescription Drug Abuse Awareness – Arizona
Mother talks about son’s tragic drug abuse – Eastern Arizona Courier

Tough love and a drug rehabilitation program couldn’t save the life of Adam Hall, who died eight years ago from an overdose of methadone and vicodin.

Anti-Meth Ad Campaign – New Mexico
Ad campaign targets meth use in Indian Country – FoxNews.com

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Federal officials are launching a national advertising campaign aimed at curbing methamphetamine use in American Indian communities.

Heroin Seizure – Africa
Nigerian arrested with 2.5 kg heroin – Thaindian News

Panipat (Haryana), April 29 (IANS) A 26-year-old Nigerian man was arrested in this Haryana town and over 2.5 kg heroin seized from him, police said Thursday.

Methadone – USA
Making a Killing Off of Methadone Clinics – Ezine @rticles

For years now, people have started noticing that methadone may not be all it is cracked up to be. In fact, thousands of people have discovered that methadone addiction is worse than heroin addiction.

Drug Trafficking – USA
Missing child’s cousin sentenced to prison – UPI.com

JACKSONVILLE, Fla., April 28 (UPI) — A teenage relative of Haleigh Cummings has been sentenced to 15 years in prison in a drug trafficking case involving the missing Florida child’s father.

Alcohol Related Health Risks – Study
One in Three Elderly Drinkers Face High Risk of Harm, Study Finds – Join Together

One-third of American drinkers over age 60 consume excessive amounts of alcohol, are at risk of dangerous interactions between alcohol and medications, or have illnesses that can be exacerbated by drinking, according to researchers at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA.

Prescription Drug Abuse – Study
Gender differences found in risk factors for pain drug abuse – Thaindian News

Washington, April 28 (ANI): A new research has shown that there are distinct gender differences underlying the risks for abuse of prescription pain drugs.

Illegal Drug Bust – Nebraska
Drug Investigation Nabs 12 In North Platte – KETV.com

OMAHA, Neb. — A join operation task force nabbed 12 people in North Platte suspected of distributing cocaine, methamphetamine, marijuana and prescription drugs.

Marijuana – Georgia
Cops: DUI chase leads to Gwinnett marijuana grow house – ajc

A fleeing DUI suspect led police on Saturday to his Gwinnett County marijuana grow house, authorities said.

Prescription Drug Abuse – USA
Hospitalizations for Prescription Drug Abuse on the Rise – Drug Addiction Treatment

Prescription drug poisoning is now the second leading cause of death from injury in the US. A recent study by the Injury Control Research Center in West Virginia showed that hospitalizations for accidental overdoses of painkillers and sedatives rose by one-third from 1999 to 2006.

Drug Arrest – New York
Six Arrested in Three-County Drug Bust – 13 WHAM.COM

Lyons, N.Y. — The Wayne County Narcotics Enforcement Team says that they, along with other law enforcement agencies, have arrested six people and seized “a significant amount of marijuana… along with numerous weapons” as part of a major drug investigation in Wayne, Cayuga and Seneca counties.

Meth & Ecstasy – Michigan
Kent County inmate dies after medical emergency at hospital, prompting investigation – mlive.com

GRAND RAPIDS — A man charged with possession of meth and ecstasy died in a Kalamazoo hospital after he was being taken from the Kent County Jail Monday evening, prompting an investigation into the circumstances.

Cocaine – Panama
1.5 tonnes of cocaine seized in Panama – Thaindian News

Panama City, April 14 (IANS/EFE) Three Colombians were arrested and 1.5 tonnes of cocaine was seized from Panama’s Pacific coast, a police official said.

Underage Drinking – USA
AAP Policy Statement: Underage Drinking And Associated Risks – Medical News TODAY

Although the minimum legal drinking age is 21 years, alcohol use by youth continues to be a major problem in the United States. Alcohol consumption can interfere with adolescent brain development, and use of alcohol early in life is associated with future alcohol-related problems.

Methadone – Warning
New Warnings About Methadone Poisoning – Drug Addiction Treatment

The dangers associated with overuse, overdose and unintended deaths due to methadone poisoning have long been known. But recent increases in the numbers of methadone-related deaths have prompted new warnings about methadone poisoning.

Teen Prescription Drug Abuse – USA
Teens’ abuse of prescription pills on the rise – MERCED SUN-STAR

Easy access to prescribed narcotics a major reason.

Drug Related Crime – Illinois
2 held after fake cash, date rape drug found in Hyatt room – Chicago Breaking News Center

Two Kentucky men were taken into custody at the downtown Hyatt Regency Hotel after police found counterfeit money, a bottle of a suspected “date rape” drug, fake IDs and a load of weapons in their possession, police said.

Heroin & Meth – New York
The NYC downfall of Hollywood heir Cameron Douglas – The Charlotte Observer

NEW YORK It was the summer of 2009, and Cameron Douglas was strung out on heroin – again.

Opiate Addiction – UK
Ex-care home manager Rachel Baker guilty of giving resident overdose – TIMESONLINE

Rachel Baker, 44, gave Lucy Cox, 97, lethal doses of medication while she herself was addicted to the opiate painkillers she stole from pensioners in her care at Parkfields Residential Care Home in Butleigh.

Methadone & Benzodiazepine Abuse – USA
Methadone’s Deadly Partner – Ezine @rticles

Methadone and Benzodiazepine Abuse – For years Methadone has been hailed as he miracle solution for opiate addicts. This drug was developed to finally rid addicts of the ever-present cravings and withdrawal symptoms that people addicted to opiates often feel. But what if this drug had one loop hole that patients weren’t aware of? Well it does. Methadone paired with benzodiazepines (Xanax, Ativan, Ambien, Klonipin) is the lethal combination that is claiming the lives of thousands of opiate addicts.

Student Drug Use – Maine
Drug use increasing on the Hill – The Colby Echo

Weekends for some students on Mayflower Hill often start as early as Wednesday evening and are fueled by an array of substances and stimulants, from alcohol to caffeine, to both hard and soft drugs.

Methadone – UK
The Big Question: Is methadone being over-prescribed as a treatment for drug addiction? – The Independent

A dispute has erupted over the treatment of drug addicts in prisons. According to the former government drugs tsar, Mike Trace, the Ministry of Justice and the Department of Health are battling to impose their differing approaches. The Ministry of Justice is said to favour pushing addicts towards abstinence, while the Department of Health is understood to back the “maintenance” prescribing of methadone to keep addicts stable.

Olympics – World News
IOC Withholds Jones’ 100-Meter Gold From Thanou – ABC News

The International Olympic Committee on Wednesday reallocated two individual medals stripped from Marion Jones for doping, but in an unprecedented move withheld her 100-meter prize from Greek sprinter Katerina Thanou because of her “disgraceful” behavior in evading drug tests at the 2004 Athens Olympics.

Oxycodone – Canada
Oxycodone Linked to Rise in Opioid-Related Deaths – HealthDayNews, Inc.

In the Canadian province of Ontario, painkiller abuse appears to have boosted the number of deaths from the drug known as oxycodone.

Narcotics – USA
Ky. Clinic Killing Highlights Region’s Drug Issues – The Associated Press

As the only doctor in a 30-mile swath of Appalachia, Dennis Sandlin was committed to using a tracking system designed to curb prescription drug abuse, an epidemic in the area he had served for nearly two decades.

Drugs – USA
Bodybuilders See Kidney Damage With Steroids – The New York Times

Many competitive bodybuilders take anabolic steroids to achieve their freakishly exaggerated physiques. That is no secret. But steroids can be only one part of an extreme regimen that can wreak havoc on the body. Human growth hormone, supplements, painkillers and diuretics can also be used to create the “shrink-wrapped” muscles so prized in the aesthetic.

Alcohol – USA
Drinkers Can Track BAC with New iPhone App – Join Together

A new iPhone application helps users keep track of their blood-alcohol content (BAC) and sends warning messages if data indicates the user is “buzzed” or legally intoxicated.

ADDICTION – NETHERLANDS
Teenage cannabis addiction on the rise – Expatica

The number of Dutch under-18s addicted to cannabis is on the increase. Many of them begin smoking pot regularly at age thirteen, and get into such difficulties that they have to be admitted to a rehab clinic.

COCAINE – USA
Cocaine’s detrimental effect on the cardiovascular system – Staten Island Advance

After marijuana, cocaine is the second most used illicit drug in the United States. It has been shown to have many detrimental effects; many of these effects involve the heart.

COCAINE – USA
DEA Warns of Tainted Cocaine; But it’s Government’s Fault – Opposing Views

This week the federal government warned that “substantial levels of cocaine” may be contaminated by levasimole hydrochloride, an anti-parasitic agent used in animals that kills white blood cells, leaving people vulnerable to potentially fatal infections.

COCAINE – USA
Crack Cocaine: Danville’s drug of choice – Madison Messenger

Crack cocaine breaks all social, economic and racial barriers as dealers supply addicts in affluent neighborhoods and impoverished housing projects.

METHADONE – USA
Oklahoma authorities say methadone use on the rise – KFSM News

Oklahoma authorities say the number of people dying from methadone use is growing. Last year, 110 people in Oklahoma died from either methadone overdoses or overdoses in which methadone was used in combination with other drugs.

ADDICTION – USA
Russia Heroin Addiction “Spreads Like Wildfire” – Addiction Inbox

Last week, both the New York Times and the Los Angeles Times declared that heroin addiction has reached epidemic proportions in Russia. However, Soviet drug enforcement officials have a plan: They have called on the United States to defoliate Afghanistan.

ADDERALL – USA
Adderall abuse not worth it in the long run – Chicago Flame

Now that the semester is well underway all us students have reached that big hurdle of surviving the first round of exams for the classes we have. Even though the college life is a high-pressure lifestyle many students are capable of making the grade through honest studying and dedication.

HEROIN – USA
Young and Suburban, and Falling for Heroin – New York Times

The kids weren’t all right. They lived in the same comfortable Long Island town and were barely in their teens when they took their first hit of marijuana or sip of alcohol, propelling them on dark journeys they couldn’t seem to escape. Within a couple of years, they were in heroin’s grip.

PRESCRIPTION – USA
Prescription drug can take deadly turn – WREX News

A state group educates people in Illinois about the dangers of mixing drugs with methadone.

ADDICTION – USA
Organization washes away addiction – UNLV Rebel Yell

September is national recovery month and UNLV’s Student Organization of Addiction Professionals is holding a number of events to bring awareness to addictions of all kinds.

PRESCRIPTION – USA
Law enforcement targets out-of-state prescriptions – Bluefield Daily Telegraph

Addicts and drug dealers using out-of-state painkiller prescriptions to fuel their trade were an issue addressed Thursday when a new round of drug indictments and arrests were released by the region’s law enforcement community.

DRUGS – USA
Oxycodone Combined With Many Drugs Pose Risk of Side Effects: Report – About Lawsuits

A recent study has found that combining the painkiller oxycodone with other drugs can cause unexpectedly increased or decreased effects, potentially putting patients at increased risk of excessive sedation or decreased pain fighting effects.

ALCOHOL – UK
Binge drinking ups infection risk – BBC News

Going on a drinking binge could leave you wide open to infections, as well as hangovers, work suggests. Drinking copious amounts of alcohol in one session scuppers the immune system by knocking out proteins essential for fighting off bacteria and viruses.

ALCOHOL – USA
PA Liquor Control Board Opens Annual Alcohol Awareness Poster Contest For PA’s K-12 Students – PR News Wire

Students throughout Pennsylvania will once again have the chance to tell their peers about the dangers of alcohol through the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board’s 2009-10 alcohol-awareness poster contest.

ALCOHOL – USA
With Alcohol, Starting Young May Lead to Dependency – Atlanta Journal Constitution

Teens who start drinking before age 15 could jump-start any genetic conditions they might have that predispose them to developing alcohol dependency, according to an Australian study.

PRESCRIPTION – USA
Prescription drug abuse awareness walk planned – The Reporter

The Souderton/Telford branch of “One Life, One Chance” and Montgomery County District Attorney Risa Vetri Ferman are hosting a two mile walk and public forum Saturday.

DRUGS – NEW ZEALAND
Drug-driving epidemic worse than thought – New Zealand Herald

New research suggests New Zealand’s drug-driving epidemic may be worse than officials thought.

ALCOHOL – USA
Chronic Alcohol Consumption Interferes With Body Clock – Modern Medicine

Chronic alcohol consumption interferes with circadian rhythms in hamsters, according to a study published in the September issue of the American Journal of Physiology — Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology.

ALCOHOL – UK
U.S. Colleges With Biggest Student Drinking Problems Have Failed To Turn The Tide – Medical News Today

The research, published in the September issue of the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, found that at 18 heavy-drinking U.S. campuses, students’ alcohol habits showed little change over a dozen years.

DRUGS – UK
DrugScope Street Drug Trends 2009: Falling Illegal Drug Quality ‘Accelerates Trend’ In Users Combining Different Drugs – Medical News Today

A downward trend in the quality of illegal drugs on the UK’s street drug market could be driving changes in patterns of drug use, with users increasingly interchanging or combining a range of low quality drugs.

ALCOHOL – UK
Top Doctor Backs BMA’s Call To Ban Alcohol Advertising – Medical News Today

The BMA’s call to ban alcohol advertising because of its damaging effects on young people is “a logical recommendation to attempt to reverse the all embracing pro-alcohol culture that has grown up in a period of deregulation and liberalisation over the last quarter of a century.”

DRUGS – USA
Prescription Drug Abuse Still A Problem In Oklahoma – KOKI Fox News

It consumes people, it tears families apart, and it controls the mind, and warps the senses. Prescription drug addiction. It’s a huge problem in Oklahoma, with nine out of 10 drug-related deaths involving pills.

PRESCRIPTION – USA
Prescription Drug Drop Off – WHSV News

In an effort to get prescription drugs out of the water system around Augusta County, a team from Augusta Health and area pharmacists will have a drop off so people can properly dispose of medicines.

METHADONE – USA
Methadone found in one of four overdose deaths in Brown Co. – Green Bay Press Gazette

A combination of availability and potency has made methadone the most common drug found in fatal overdoses in Brown County.

DRUGS – USA
IDHS’s Division of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse (DASA) Educates Illinoisans on the Safe Use of Methadone During National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month – IGNN

Although methadone has been used for decades to reduce drug withdrawal symptoms, recently it has been increasingly prescribed as a pain reliever for patients whose moderate-to-severe chronic pain does not respond to non-narcotic pain medications, which has led to over prescribing and inappropriate prescribing.