Drug News

Drug & Alcohol Rehab – USA
‘Two and a Half Men’ star Charlie Sheen goes into rehab – Norwalk Reflector

LOS ANGELES (MCT) – In a surprise development Tuesday that casts doubt on the rest of its season, television’s top-rated sitcom, “Two and a Half Men,” halted production after its star Charlie Sheen announced he was checking into a drug and alcohol rehabilitation clinic.

Heroin – UK
Drug addict’s ‘letter to heroin’ published after her death –Telegraph.co.uk

The family of a teenage drug addict who wrote a moving letter to heroin days before she overdosed have released her words in the hope of inspiring other youngsters to steer clear of drugs.

Drug Addiction – USA
Kelly O: Drugs worse than being fat – Press Association

Kelly Osbourne claims she was looked down on for being overweight more than she was for her drug addiction.

Drug Testing – USA
Cubs minor leaguer says bring on testing – MESA, Ariz. – Southtown Star

While major league players, through their union, have resisted blood testing for performance-enhancing drugs, the Cubs’ top draft pick from last year said he’s all for baseball’s plan to start blood-testing minor leaguers for HGH.

Drug Prevention – USA
More Than $1.1 Million In Grants Available For Community-Based Drug Prevention Coalitions – Medical News TODAY

The White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) and the U.S Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is announcing the availability of more than $1.1 million for new Drug Free Communities Support Mentoring program (DFC Mentoring) grants. An estimated 15 new Mentoring grants will be awarded (up to $75,000 per grant, per year) to drug and alcohol prevention community coalitions from across the nation. The length of the project period is up to two years.

Prescription Drug Abuse – Nepal
Date rape drugs, prescription pill abuse rising, warns report – Thaindian News

Kathmandu, Feb 25 (IANS) The use of “date rape drugs” as well as abuse of prescription drugs is rising with India emerging as one of the main sources of drugs sold through illegal Internet pharmacies, drugs watchdog International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) has warned.

PAINKILLER – USA
Pharmaceutical drugs affecting water quality – Statesman Journal

In her July 25 guest opinion, Karen Wheeler of the Department of Human Services refers to the dangers of methamphetamine and other “street drugs” in Oregon’s untreated wastewater.

PAINKILLER – USA
Don’t flush that! – The Courier News

Elgin Township was going to have a drop-off program for pharmaceuticals that residents no longer want or need, but plans fell apart.

ALCOHOL – UK
More Than 1 In 10 Major Injuries In Ontario Involve High Blood Alcohol Levels – Medical News Today

A study of hospitalizations for severe injury in Ontario’s designated trauma centres shows alcohol was involved in at least 12% of major trauma cases in 2007-2008.

PAINKILLER – USA
One in 10 High School Seniors Have Used Narcotic Painkillers – MSN Health and Fitness News

Pain relief isn’t the main reason why one in 10 high school seniors have tried opioid drugs, a new U.S. study finds.

ALCOHOL – USA
Bill Would Mandate Use of Ignition-Interlock Devices – Join Together

A federal transportation bill now being debated in Congress would compel all states to require convicted drunk drivers to install alcohol-detecting ignition-interlock devices on their vehicles.

PRESCRIPTION – USA
More teens using prescription painkillers to get high – Bartlesville News

Experts say more and more teenagers are using prescription painkillers to get high. Other studies have found many teens get strong painkillers from their own previous prescriptions.

PRESCRIPTION – USA
12 percent of U.S. teens report opioid use – United Pres International

Some 12 percent of U.S. high school seniors say they have taken opioid drugs without a prescription for pain, relaxation or to get high, researchers said.

DRUGS – UK
Pain Relief Only One Motive For Opioid Use Among High School Seniors – Medical News Today

Taking opioid drugs without a prescription appears relatively common among high school seniors, according to a report in the August issue of Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

ALCOHOL – UK
Heavy Drinkers Of Beer And Spirits Face Significantly Increased Cancer Risk – Medical News Today

Heavy drinkers of beer and spirits face a much higher risk of developing cancer than the population at large, says a group of Montreal epidemiologists and cancer researchers.

HEROIN – USA
Heroin a problem even in Antigo – Chicago Tribune

Heroin has been a drug most common in big cities, but the police chief says even Antigo in central Wisconsin is experiencing a rise in cases involving the potent and illegal drug.

HEROIN – USA
Antigo Police Are Seeing An Increase In Heroin On The City Streets – WSAW News

An illegal street drug you might not think of being a problem here in Central Wisconsin appears to be the drug of choice in Antigo.

ALCOHOL – USA
Alcohol abuse on rise among US soldiers: reports – AFP

Nearly twice as many US army soldiers today compared to six years ago are either alcoholic or engage in damaging behavior such as binge drinking, according to army statistics.

ALCOHOL – USA
Alcohol Abuse, Addiction Affect Suicide Rates – eMax Health

Factors that affect suicide rates include drug addiction and alcohol abuse. Studies also shows that being male, or part of a minority group, affects the incidence of suicide.

ADDERALL – USA
Abuse of ADHD medications by teens: an urgent report – Examiner

The Iowa Statewide Poison Control Center (ISPCC) has issued an urgent report to Iowa physicians concerning the abuse of medications for attention deficit/ hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).  In the past two days, the ISPCC has seen an increase in the number of teens and young adults, ages 13 to 24, who have abused or misused medication prescribed for ADHD.

ALCOHOL – USA
Alcohol’s dehydrating, disorienting effects affect judgement – Ocean City Today

The beach might seem like the perfect place to drink alcoholic beverages, but it isn’t the safest place to do so.

ALCOHOL – USA
Drug and Alcohol Treatment through Integrated Method of Recovery – Trans World News

For many people suffering from drug and alcohol addictions the first step to recovery is often a treatment center that focuses on ending the substance abuse and carving a path of sobriety for the rest of their life.

METH – USA
Motorcycle Ride Benefits Meth Awareness – Rome News Wire

Members of a local church teamed together Saturday Morning to bring awareness and raise money against methamphetamines.

HEROIN – USA
Many on Long Island learn of heroin’s tight grip – Newday

Across Long Island, thousands of people, some barely in their teens, are learning that heroin addiction is a monster not easily conquered. The drug holds its users in a tight grasp and won’t let go without a mammoth struggle.

ADDERALL – USA
More students using ‘academic steroids’ despite risks, ethical questions – Contra Costa Times

A 2006 Northeastern University study found misuse of so-called “Academic Steroids” is most prevalent at private colleges on the East Coast. But interviews with dozens of students and administrators show a culture of Adderall abuse is taking root in the Bay Area and the state.

PAINKILLERS – USA
Painkiller Patch Can Lead To Addiction – Science Daily

Morphine patches are supposed to reduce use of painkillers, and provide more control over their use in chronic pain conditions. But researchers at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) and St. Olavs Hospital in Trondheim have found otherwise.

METH – USA
Students learn of the dangers of meth – El Defensor Chieftain

The Socorro Rotary Club, in collaboration with the Sheriff’s Department and Healthy Family Initiative, hosted an informative seminar on the dangers of methenphetamine use for students at Zimmerly Elementary School.

PRESCRIPTION – USA
Getting Rid of Unwanted Prescription Medication – WYTV News

Boardman Police are helping residents dispose of unused medications. The police have teamed up with Home Instead Senior Care to toss out unwanted and expired prescriptions and over-the-counter medications.

HEROIN – USA
Signals of heroin abuse – Aurora Beacon News

Here are some symptoms or clues from the Heroin Awareness Foundation that are key indicators of possible heroin use.

ALCOHOL – USA
Drug, alcohol testing coming to Carson High – Nevada Appeal

Drug and alcohol use has been prevalent among student-athletes for years. Weekend parties were, and still are, the norm. The only way a student-athlete has ever been penalized in the past is by getting caught red-handed or turned in by a fellow student. All that will change when school resumes in the fall, as Carson and Douglas high schools become the third and fourth schools in Nevada to go to mandatory drug testing of its student-athletes.

DRUGS – USA
Move over cocaine and heroin: Law enforcement fight a growing trend of prescription drug abuse – Shelby Star

They come in all colors, shapes and sizes.
Police have fought heroin, cocaine and meth for years. But now prescription drugs are a major problem.

HEROIN – USA
Back in heroin’s grasp: Deadly drug making a comeback on the Peninsula – WTKR TV News

On the street, they call it thunder, dust, junk or smack. Some shoot, smoke or snort it to feel the warm sensation — or to numb the pain. Like other drugs, heroin is popular one minute and fades into the background the next.

ALCOHOL – USA
Communication is key for parents addressing alcohol with children – Oshkosh Northwestern

For many parents, May signals the end of high school careers while for others it may mean their children having to readjust after returning home from their first year away at college.

ADDERALL – USA
Final exams causes students to have stress, bad habits – The Maneater

As finals week approaches, some students will push their bodies to unhealthy limits in attempts to study for long periods before exams. Some students use the drug Adderall to focus while they study.

ADDERALL – USA
Adderall Fuels College Finals – WCAX

Most Vermont college students are busy taking final exams this week and many are getting a little extra help from popping pills.

ALCOHOL – USA
Alcohol Education Summit held in Kalispell – Montana’s News Station

Around 160 officers and alcohol enforcement experts from across Montana gathered in Kalispell on Thursday to take part in a two day Alcohol Education Summit aimed at addressing one of the state’s most pressing issues.

ALCOHOL – USA
Alcohol and the Air Force don’t mix – Pactrick Air Force Base

As the start of the “101 Critical Days of Summer” nears, I would like to remind everyone to be safe in their recreational and leisure time activities, not only while using 45th Force Support Squadron facilities, but off-base as well.

METH – USA
Alaska’s war on meth – KTVA CBS News

Alaskans are using meth at alarming rates. Now, one group is trying to stop the drug from ravaging our state any further.

METH – USA
Drug use on decline in state workplaces; numbers still above national average – The Journal Record

Fewer Oklahoma workers were found to have used illegal drugs last year than in 2007, including a strong decline in cocaine in particular, according to the latest drug test index by Quest Diagnostics Inc.

METH – USA
Meth users get creative to get high – WAFF News

It’s been labeled a living death.  It’s an addiction that causes violent mood swings, internal bleeding and brittle bones.

PRESCRIPTION – USA
Prescription Drug Epidemic a Growing Concern Across the State – WDTV News

Prescription drug abuse is something we’ve been hearing more and more about recently, and it’s got police working overtime to get the drugs off the streets.

HEROIN – USA
Overdoses may have been ‘bad batch of heroin’ – News Dispatch

A second death from a possible bad batch of heroin was said to be imminent Thursday after life support was removed Wednesday, authorities said.

ALCOHOL – USA
Alcohol Rehabilitation Center Provides A Second Chance Start To Life – 1988 Press Release

At some point in time, everyone feels as if their life is spiraling out of control. In that split second moment, each person scrambles for that person or place that will help get them back on their feet and face life again.

METH – USA
Meth Watch Program Kicks Off in Nebraska – KOLN News

“It starts out gradual and you think when you start that you can quit at any time. Then you try and you can’t,” said Chevy Logewolf was addicted to meth for nearly a decade. Now she’s sober and working with the Nebraska Meth Watch program to educate others on the dangers of the drug.

PRESCRIPTION – USA
Prescription drug abuse rising – Huntington Herald Dispatch

Prescription drug abuse is no “big city” problem, experts say. In fact, the growing use and abuse of pain pills and other drugs increasingly hurt hundreds of families across the Tri-State.

ALCOHOL – UK
Cheap alcohol fuels health crisis – Guardian

Scotland is in the grip of a health crisis after research revealed that more than half of men and 30% of women drink to excess.

ALCOHOL – UK
Scots drink nearly 12 litres of pure alcohol a year … each – The Sunday Herald

Figures released today by the government, based on a comprehensive analysis of alcohol sales, found people in Scotland drank the equivalent of nearly 50 million litres of pure alcohol, or 11.8 litres for everyone over the age of 16, placing the country above Spain, France and Italy in the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) league table of alcohol sales

ALCOHOL – UK
Scotland calls for drink-drive limit reduction – Guardian

The Scottish government is calling on Westminster to reduce the drink-drive limit, or give it the powers to introduce different laws north of the border, in a bid to save lives.

ALCOHOL – UK
Scots rank high on drink levels – BBC News

Scotland has the eighth-highest level of alcohol consumption in the world, according to statistics analysed for the Scottish Government.

PRESCRIPTION – USA
Abuse of prescription painkillers growing, experts say – Billing Gazette

In what addiction specialists are calling the next drug epidemic, Americans are abusing prescription painkillers at an alarming rate. Slightly more than 10 percent of 18- to 25-year-olds in Montana and Wyoming have misused prescription pain relievers, according to the federal government. About 8 percent of teenagers have used a painkiller for a non-medical use.

COCAINE – UK
Cocaine smuggling soars through West Africa – The Associated Press

Cocaine smuggling to Europe is dramatically increasing through West Africa, posing a substantial threat to the stability of a region already troubled by war and poverty, an international watchdog warned Thursday.

PAINKILLER – USA
Painkiller Abuse Rises Among U.S., European Youth, UN Warns – Bloomberg

A United Nations drug panel warned policy makers in Europe and the U.S. that the rising use of illegally obtained painkillers is risking the health of young people.

COCAINE – UK
Cocaine price halves in a decade – BBC News

The UN International Narcotics Control Board says a major new cocaine trafficking route has developed into Western Europe through the Balkans.

COCAINE – USA
West Africa Becomes Hub for Cocaine Smuggling to Europe – Voice of America News

A new report finds that West Africa has become a major hub of cocaine smuggling to Europe, a trend that threatens to undermine African countries as well as European law enforcement efforts.

ALCOHOL – USA
Teens used to oppose Sunday alcohol sales in Ga. – Sovo

Conservative Christians packed a state Senate hearing Feb. 18 by recruiting middle and high school-aged children to fight a bill that would allow Georgia counties to vote on Sunday alcohol sales.

ALCOHOL – UK
Alcohol culture in the UK – Guardian

There is good news and bad news about under age drinking in Britain. While the number of teenagers drinking has declined in recent years, those who do drink are consuming more alcohol, more often.

PRESCRIPTION – USA
More Utahns dying from prescription drug overdoses than car accidents – KSL TV News

Two years ago, the number of deaths from prescription drug overdoses surpassed the number of highway fatalities in Utah. New numbers now show how quickly the problem took off.

PRESCRIPTION – IRELAND
Excessive prescribing in west, says report – RTE News

A new report by a west of Ireland-based drugs taskforce says there is excessive prescribing of minor tranquilisers and sedatives by doctors in the region.

ALCOHOL – USA
Fox Valley schools combat alcohol abuse – Wrightstown Post Gazette

Neenah teacher Vicki Bayer can rattle off experiences to illustrate the extent of alcohol abuse in the lives of students.

COCAINE – UK
Supply routes make cocaine cheaper – The Press Association

The price of cocaine is set to plunge further as traffickers exploit new smuggling routes, an international drugs agency warned.

CANNABIS – UK
Schoolchildren in the UK are the worst in Europe for cannabis abuse, UN report finds – Telegraph

Schoolchildren in the UK are the worst in Europe for cannabis abuse with almost half of youngsters admitting taking the drug, the United Nations has warned.

CANNABIS – SOUTH AFRICA
‘Cannabis has become more potent’ – Independent Online

A UN drugs agency warned on Thursday against danger of underestimating the dangerous power of cannabis.

CANNABIS – UK
International drugs body calls for global action as internet dealing rises to ‘alarming’ levels – Guardian

The internet is playing an increasing and “alarming” role in the trafficking of both illegal and unauthorised prescription drugs, according to the body that monitors the trafficking and use of narcotics.

COCAINE – UK
Cocaine price ‘set to fall more’ – BBC News

The price of cocaine in Europe is set to fall even further as smugglers use new routes through West Africa and the Balkans, says the UN anti-drugs agency.

ADDICTION – USA
Individual Addiction Treatment Plans Are Hallmark Of Cliffside Malibu – New Design World

The experienced staff at Cliffside Malibu drug rehabilitation center all have one thing in common: the treatment and well being of each resident.

DRUGS – USA
Stressed students turn to study aid alternatives under midterm pressure – Villanovan

Faced with deadlines, especially during high stress times like midterms and finals weeks, many students turn to study aid stimulants such as coffee, Red Bull, or 5-Hour Energy shots, while others resort to more drastic measures, such as Adderall or Ritalin.

ALCOHOL – USA
Ark. Senate votes to ban devices that allow drinkers to inhale alcohol – KFSM News

A ban on devices that allow drinkers to inhale alcohol has won the approval of the Arkansas Senate.

ALCOHOL – UK
Transplant row over organs for drinkers – Guardian

Heavy drinkers are receiving nearly one in four of the UK’s liver transplants, it was revealed last night, igniting a furious row about the ethics of allocating organs to people with alcohol problems.

DRUGS – AUSTRALIA
Ecstasy use shoots up across the city – The Sydney Morning Herald

The use of ecstasy in Sydney has skyrocketed by as much as 112 per cent in the past two years, highlighting the ineffectiveness of deterrent strategies such as sniffer dogs, a drug expert has said.

DRUGS – AUSTRALIA
Substance abuse the tip of the iceberg – Science Alert

The first study profiling young people who attend alcohol and other drug (AOD) treatment services in New Zealand has revealed a number of areas that need to be addressed in order to provide more effective treatment for this age group.

DRUGS – NEW ZEALAND
US expert: Women use drugs for weight loss – TVNZ

One of the reasons more women are turning to drugs like cocaine and methamphetamine is to lose weight, a visiting expert from the United States told Close Up.

COCAINE – UK
NHS Forth Valley issues health warning for cocaine users – STV News

Health professionals in the Forth Valley area have been issued with a warning to be vigilant after two cocaine users in Glasgow were treated for a rare and life-threatening condition associated with the use of the drug.

DRUGS – USA
Why Isn’t There Nearly As Big A Fuss About Amphetamines In Baseball As There Is About Steroids? – Fan IQ

What is the definition of performance enhancing drugs?  Personally, I believe it means any drug that allows a player to perform at a higher level than if he never took the drug.

ALCOHOL – INDIA
Fight against alcohol through plays – Times of India

A creative way to fight against consumption of alcohol is to hold street plays across the state. And this is what the temperance board under the information and Kannada culture department will do.

ALCOHOL – UK
Alcohol abuse leads to rise in liver swaps – Independent

The past decade has seen a sharp increase in the number of transplanted livers going to people whose own organs have been damaged by alcohol misuse.

ALCOHOL – UK
Research shows success of optional education courses for binge offenders – CRP News

Dacorum Borough’s Alcohol Diversion Scheme has shown that optional educational courses can be an effective way of engaging with binge drinkers, changing their behaviour and reducing violence and disorder.

ADDICTION – UK
Breaking the Cycle – Addaction

Addaction are the UK’s biggest drug and alcohol treatment charity. We work with all kinds of people, from all walks of life, and we know that addiction doesn’t just affect individuals – it also causes pain and problems for their friends, their family and – more often than not – their children.

ALCOHOL – UK
A third ‘drink over daily limit’ – BBC News

Over a third of adults in Britain drink over the recommended daily amount at least one day a week, figures show.

CANNABIS – UK
More teenagers get drug treatment – BBC News

More teenagers are being treated for drug and alcohol problems than in previous years because it is now easier to access services, a new report says.

PRESCRIPTION – UK
Prescription drug addiction is “serious problem” – Management In Practice

The government has warned that drugs sold over the counter or bought over the internet are creating a serious problem of addiction and are often the first choice for drug users.

ALCOHOL – USA
Australian Study Links Alcohol-Containing Mouthwash to Cancer – Join Together

Scientists at the University of Melbourne are recommending that Australian supermarkets stop selling mouthwash that contains alcohol after a research review found that users may face an increased risk of developing oral cancer.

DRUGS – USA
Plans to Drug-Test Teachers Face Opposition – Join Together

A number of schools across the U.S. want to administer random drug tests to teachers, but the proposals are hitting strong opposition from educators and teachers’ unions.

DRUGS – UK
Cognitive-enhancing drug abuse on the rise – Cherwell News

There are claims that Oxford undergraduates are part of the increasing trend amongst UK university students to turn to cognitive enhancing drugs to stay on top of academic work.

ALCOHOL – UK
Newly unemployed urged not to turn to alcohol – Belfast Telegraph

Fianna Fail Senator Mary White is urging people who lose their jobs in the current economic downturn to avoid drinking alcohol to overcome depression.

HEROIN – USA
2 deaths renew ‘cheese’ heroin alarm in Dallas schools – The Dallas Morning News

Authorities fear that “cheese” heroin could be making a comeback in some Dallas public schools after two teens died this month from apparent overdoses of the deadly powder.

PAINKILLER – UK
The perils of your everyday painkiller – Daily Mail

What’s the best painkiller to take? It’s a question I’m often asked as there is such a huge variety available.