Drug News

Rohypnol – Colorado
Reports of Blackouts Believed Caused by ‘Date Rape’ Drugs Boom in Aspen – abc NEWS

A young man who awoke disoriented in a movie theater showing “Avatar” 10 miles from where he had been drinking with friends is one of at least 11 people from the tony ski town of Aspen, Colo., who claimed that someone surreptitiously slipped drugs into their drinks, police say.

Drug & Alcohol Addiction Prevention – Massachusetts
Kitty Dukakis joins panel addressing students about drug abuse – boston.com

Fifty six years after she graduated from Brookline High School, former Massachusetts First Lady Kitty Dukakis returned Thursday to discuss her struggles with drug and alcohol addiction before an audience of current students and parents.

Teen Drug & Alcohol Abuse – North Carolina
Teen drug & alcohol abuse up in NC; first time in decade – WWAY NewsChannel 3

The Partnership for a Drug-Free America/MetLife Foundation Attitude Tracking Study (PATS) shows the first reversal in the consistent decline of teen drug and alcohol abuse since 1998.

Cocaine – Rhode Island
3 Providence, RI, police officers arrested on drug charges, along with 3 other men – Associated Press

SCITUATE, R.I. (AP) — Three Providence police officers, including a narcotics detective and a school resource officer, were arrested Thursday on charges that they helped with a cocaine-dealing operation.

Drunk Driving – New Jersey
Mount Olive Municipal Court: Quadruple drunk limit for driver – Mount Olive Chronicle

MOUNT OLIVE TWP. – In-patient rehab, jail time, more than $1,000 in fines and a 10 year license suspension were the penalties for a Woodbridge man who admitted in court on Monday, Feb. 22, that he drove while four times over the limit for legal intoxication.

Drunken Gambling Lawsuit – Indiana
Ky. gambler sues casino for drunken losses – UPI.com

PAOLI, Ind., March 4 (UPI) — A Kentucky businessman has filed a lawsuit against an Indiana casino for loaning him $75,000 — which he lost — while he was drunk, court records showed.

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.

HEROIN – USA
Heroin-related deaths rise in Tarrant County as drug’s potency increases – Fort Worth Star Telegram

Three more heroin-related deaths in Tarrant County were confirmed in the past week, bringing the total this year to at least 15, which outpaces the 2008 rate, reports show.

ALCOHOL – USA
Using Science to Keep Teens Sober at Prom – The New York Times

Instead of just telling kids not to consume alcohol at parties, parents should use science to reinforce the no-drinking message, according to a new report from the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

ALCOHOL – UK
24% of adults ‘risking health through alcohol’ – Guardian

New NHS figures show rise in people admitted to hospital with alcohol-related injuries or conditions, and increase in deaths linked to drinking.

METH – USA
Methamphetamine Use Triples Among Pregnant Rehab Patients – Atlanta Journal Constitution

More pregnant women in drug treatment programs are there due to methamphetamine use than any other drug, new research shows.

PRESCRIPTION – USA
Prescription Drug Cases on the Rise – WEAU News

Both the Rusk County sheriff and the Ladysmith police chief are dealing with a spike in total drug cases and both say prescription drug cases are climbing the fastest.

PRESCRIPTION – USA
Prescription drug abuse on rise among young people – Peabody Gazette Bulletin

The largest increase in prescription drug abuse during the past decade has been in the 12-25-year-old age group. This is a special concern because the brain is not fully developed until age 25.

PRESCRIPTION – USA
Deaths From Prescription Drug Abuse Skyrockets – Opposing Views

Today, Gil Kerlikowske, Director of National Drug Control Policy, released a report on the diversion and abuse of prescription drugs at the National Methamphetamine Pharmaceutical Initiative (NMPI) in Nashville.

PRESCRIPTION – USA
Prescription drug abuse on the rise in S. Oregon –

The number of people abusing prescription pain medication is on the rise across the country.

HEROIN – USA
Warning: Heroin being mixed with date rape drug –

Suffolk police have warned drug users that local heroin dealers may be mixing their product with ‘date rape drug’ Rohypnol.