PORTLAND, Maine — The federal government advises throwing most unused or expired medications into the trash instead of down the drain, but they can end up in the water anyway, a study from Maine suggests.

Crack Cocaine – USA
Cedar Rapids, Iowa couple arrested on drug, gun, perjury and obstruction charges – Thaindian News

DeShawn Hull, 28, was arrested last Wednesday and held without bond. In 2009, he allegedly distributed crack cocaine within 1,000 feet of a school after being convicted of two felony drug offenses.

Heroin – South Africa
‘Drugs ruined my sweet child’ – The Cape Times

The heartbroken mother of Angelique Cilliers believes an attack in which her daughter, then 16, was raped, beaten and left for dead might have led her to a life of drug addiction and, ultimately, to face trial for murder.

Prescription Drugs – USA
Prescription drug abuse on the rise in Ohio – The Columbus Dispatch

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — An illegal prescription drug trade is killing more Ohioans every year, and frustrated authorities say they don’t have enough resources to stop it, a newspaper reported Sunday.

Drunk Driving – USA
Oregon police cracking down on drunk drivers for Super Bowl – Thaindian News

BEAVERTON, OREGON (BNO NEWS) – Super Bowl Sunday leads the Beaverton Police Department in Oregon to crack down on drunken driving offenses, police officials said on Friday.

Marijuana Bust – USA
Gilbert woman busted at border with pot – azcentral.com

DOUGLAS - Authorities say a 45-year-old Gilbert woman has been arrested after trying to enter the U.S. from Mexico with 112 pounds of marijuana concealed in her car.

Assistant Chief Coroner Ed Winter has said Murphy’s death was “preventable”, and that she would still be alive if she had seen a doctor instead of self-medicating.

Drug Treatment – USA
Redmond O’Neal headed back to residential drug treatment – Los Angeles Times

The troubled son of Ryan O’Neal and the late Farrah Fawcett is headed back to a residential drug treatment program after being in custody since late December on a probation violation stemming from a series of drug offenses, a judge ruled Tuesday.

Cocaine Overdose – Australia
Doctor charged with 2 cocaine deaths – UPI.com

SYDNEY, Feb. 4 (UPI) — An Australian neurosurgeon was charged Thursday with killing two women who allegedly took fatal cocaine overdoses at his Sydney apartment.

Addiction Risk – USA
Cocaine or ecstasy consumption during adolescence ups addiction risk – Thaindian News

Washington, Feb 5 (ANI): A new study from the University of Valencia (UV) has shown that exposure to ecstasy or cocaine during adolescence increases the ‘reinforcing effects’ that make people vulnerable to developing an addiction.

Prescription Monitoring – USA
New Research Gives Insight To The Frequency Of ‘Doctor Shopping’ Occurring Within Prescription Monitoring Programs – Medical News Today

Research presented at the American Academy of Pain Medicine’s 26th Annual Meeting provides early published data analyzing information gathered from California’s prescription monitoring program, known as the Controlled Substances Utilization Review and Evaluation System (CURES).

Alcohol – USA
Reno Tops 100 Drunkest Cities List Of US – Thaindian News

Reno, Feb 5, (THAINDIAN NEWS) A recent survey of ‘Men’s Health Magazine’, has released the name of one hundred drunkest cities of the United States and it is quite surprising that Las Vegas, which is known for its casinos and pubs has not topped the list. According to the reports, Reno, which is also known as the “Biggest Little City” has claimed the number one spot on this list. It has not only pushed back Las Vegas but also New Orleans, which is known to be one of the best destinations for parties and entertainment.

Brittany Murphy’s cause of death has been determined by the Los Angeles County coroner’s office. According to Yahoo! OMG!, the primary cause of Brittany Murphy’s death was pneumonia. Factors that contributed to her death included anemia, which is an iron deficiency, and drug intoxication.

Drug Trafficking – USA
Kingpin convicted in Colo. and Ariz. gets 17 years – TheSunNews.com

DENVER — A Mexican drug kingpin who led a fearsome cartel for more than a decade was sentenced Thursday to 17 years in prison for trafficking drugs across the U.S.-Mexico border.

Heroin – Canada
The Vancouver Experiment – Slate.com

One study of Vancouver’s injection-drug users has taken harm reduction to a level even beyond Insite…

Drug Arrest – USA
Leif Garrett HEROIN ARREST: Booked With Drug In His Shoe – The Huffington Post

LOS ANGELES — Former 1970s teen idol Leif Garrett has been released from jail on a charge he carried heroin into a Los Angeles subway station.

Drunk Driving – USA
Woman sentenced for fatal drunk driving crash – CarolinaLive.com

A Myrtle Beach woman was sentenced to 18 years in prison after pleading guilty in a drunk driving crash that killed a motorcyclist last May.

Synthetic Marijuana – USA
Ban on synthetic marijuana K2 draws closer in Kansas – KansasCity.com

TOPEKA | Time is running out for fake marijuana in Kansas. The Kansas House endorsed legislation Tuesday to outlaw synthetic marijuana, sold as incense under the brand name K2 and now perfectly legal.

NEW YORK CITY (BNO NEWS) – The ringleader of an OxyContin drug-dealing crew on Wednesday was sentenced to over 11 years in federal prison, prosecutors said.

Meth – USA
Traffic stops yield 33 pounds of meth – azcentral.com

The Arizona Department of Public Safety seized approximately 33.5 pounds of crystal methamphetamine in two unrelated traffic stops last week, officials said.

Marijuana – Netherlands
Dutch Crack Down On Marijuana Tourism – GlobalPost

And what’s more, Dutch youth aren’t even interested in smoking weed.

Meth – USA
Ariz. woman allegedly tries to smuggle meth in milk – azcentral.com

NOGALES, Ariz. - Authorities say a Nogales woman has been arrested for trying to smuggle 1½ pounds of crystal meth in a can of powder milk across the Arizona border.

Drug Overdose – USA
Michael Jackson’s Doctor To Be Slapped With Manslaughter Charges – Thaindian News

Feb 3, (THAINDIAN NEWS) The death of pop legend Michael Jackson shocked the music lovers worldwide a few months back. The singer died under mysterious circumstances though it was said that he died of drug overdose.

Drug Rehab – USA
Rip Torn to go into rehab – Thaindian News

Connecticut, Feb 2 (THAINDIAN NEWS) Actor Rip Torn was arrested when the he tried to loot a Connecticut Bank, armed with a gun. He was apparently so drunk, that he believed that he was at home, and he even left his hat and boots by the door, according to the court statement by the actor. Later he was released, and now he is all set to enter rehab for his drinking problem.

A tearful Brandon W. McLean was sentenced today to nine years in prison for drunken and drug-impaired driving that injured seven people after a Buffalo Bills game four months ago.

Marijuana – USA
More than two tons: State police make biggest pot bust in Pa. history – The Tribune-Democrat

HARRISBURG — State police say they may have made the biggest drug bust in Pennsylvania’s history over the weekend after pulling over a truck loaded with between two and three tons of marijuana.

Drug Dealer Sent to Prison – USA
Drug dealer sentenced to nearly 20 years in prison – CarolinaLive.com

Tuesday The Marlboro County Sheriff’s Office announced the sentencing of 39-year-old Antonio Goode aka “Polo” of Scotland County, NC.

Speed – Israel
‘Nazi Speed’ seized at Israeli airport – UPI.com

JERUSALEM, Feb. 2 (UPI) — A methamphetamine-based drug developed by the German Nazis to increase stamina is being smuggled into Israel from Thailand, officials said.

Prescription Drugs – USA
Judge sentences burglar to nine years in prison – aspendailynews.com

A man who admitted to burglarizing an Aspen pharmacy was sentenced to nine years in prison Monday.

Drug Testing – USA
Missouri welfare recipients could be drug tested – KFVS

POPLAR BLUFF, MO (KFVS) - How would you feel if people on welfare spent your tax dollars on illegal drugs?

Washington, DC /eNewsChannels/ — As spring and summer breaks approach, many students are getting ready for a trip abroad. The majority of students traveling abroad will have safe and enjoyable adventures. However, even with the best-planned trips, things can go wrong. Each year, more than 2,500 American citizens are arrested abroad – about half on narcotics charges, including possession of very small amounts of illegal substances.

Meth – USA
States mull Rx rule for meth ingredients – USA Today

State and local efforts to thwart methamphetamine production by further limiting consumer access to a popular decongestant are pitting law enforcement against pharmacists and patients.

Heroin – Vietnam
Vietnam to execute four over heroin  - AAP News Limited

A court in northern Vietnam has sentenced four men to death for trafficking heroin.

Heroin – UK
‘Babies born to heroin addicts deserve a fresh start in life’ – Telegraph.co.uk

Addicts who won’t give up heroin while pregnant should have their children removed.

Marijuana Bust – USA
743 pounds of pot found in septic-tank truck – azcentral.com

The Department of Public Safety says 743 pounds of marijuana was found inside the tank of a septic truck.

DUI Testing – USA
Prosecutors: Flawed DUI Tests In Springs Double – TheDenverChannel.com

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — The number of flawed Colorado Springs police DUI tests has doubled to 167 since a crime lab audit last year discovered that some blood-alcohol results were inflated, the Colorado Springs Gazette reported

Kuala Lumpur, Jan 29 (IANS) A 48-year-old Indian was Friday sentence to death by the Malaysian High Court which convicted him of drug trafficking.

Ecstasy – USA
Texas man sentenced to federal prison for distributing ecstasy – Thaindian News

NEW ORLEANS (BNO NEWS) – A Texas man on Thursday was sentenced to federal prison for his role in an ecstasy drug conspiracy.

Illegal Drugs – USA
Federal Corrections Officer charged with accepting bribes – Thaindian News

MIAMI (BNO NEWS) – A Federal Corrections Officer on Thursday was charged with accepting bribes and attempting to possess cocaine with the intent to distribute.

Drunk Driving – USA
Drunk driver gets into more trouble after posting Facebook photo – The Buffalo News

LOCKPORT — Ashley M. Sullivan is in Niagara County Jail, and Facebook may be to blame as much as the car crash that killed a Niagara Falls man.

Illegal Drugs – USA
Michael Douglas’s son pleads guilty to dealing drugs – Telegraph.co.uk

The son of Oscar-winning actor Michael Douglas has admitted in a New York court to possessing heroin and dealing large amounts of methamphetamine and cocaine out of his hotel room.

Opium – Canada
Tombstone used to smuggle drugs into Canada! – Thaindian News

Vancouver, Jan 27 (IANS) Canadians police have seized a record quantity of drugs hidden inside a tombstone that was imported from Iran. Though drug smugglers have always been deploying newer methods of smuggling to beat police, this novel method has left many dumbfounded.

Heavy metal music and TV reality star Ozzy Osbourne has been known for living on the edge, including decades of drug abuse and promiscuous sex. However, in a recent interview the artist opened up about the lessons he learned from his experiences and warned of potential dangers of a similar lifestyle.

Cocaine – USA
Chris Terry ARRESTED: Felony Drug Charge Follows Cocaine Finding – The Huffington Post

CLARKSVILLE, Ind. — Chris Terry, a former offensive lineman for Carolina and Kansas City, faces a felony drug charge following a traffic stop in southern Indiana.

Alcohol – USA
Father tells kids to bite officers during his arrest, police say – The Gazette

Colorado Springs police Tased and arrested a man Wednesday afternoon after passing out drunk in a children’s play area and then encouraging his kids to “bite the officers’ faces off.”

Drug Cartel – USA
Phoenix Number Two Kidnapping Capital as Drug Cartel Wars Intensify – Drug Addiction Treatment

Horrible images of kidnap victims tortured and held for ransom have long been the norm in Mexico, the number one kidnapping capital of the world. There, judges, police officers and others are targeted by the Mexican drug cartels and abductions are as common as graffiti-marked buildings. But the kidnapping problem has spilled over to the United States, specifically to Phoenix, Arizona. America’s fifth largest city, Phoenix has a population of 1.6 million people, and covers an area of 517 square miles (larger than Los Angeles).

Meth Lab – USA
Duo get prison time for Stickney meth lab – The Daily Republic

PLANKINTON — Two people arrested for maintaining a methamphetamine lab last year in Stickney were sentenced to prison Wednesday at the Aurora County Courthouse. Lance Calley, 34, was sentenced to four years in the state penitentiary by Judge Sean O’Brien. Calley received credit for 125 days of jail time served since his arrest on Sept. 25.

Cocaine – USA
Man sentenced in Ariz. for cocaine smuggling – azcentral.com

A Mexican citizen has been sentenced to seven years in federal prison for trying to smuggle more than $1 million of cocaine into Arizona.

WILDER, KY — Police and investigators from the Northern Kentucky Drug Strike Force found materials used in the production of methamphetamine at a home on Hillside Drive in Campbell County.

Drug Rehab – Cambodia
Rights Group Alleges Cambodian Drug Rehab Centres are Torture Chambers – MeDIndia

Detainees at Cambodian government-run drug rehabilitation centres suffer “sadistic violence” such as electric shocks, forced labour and rape, a human rights group said Monday.

Marijuana – USA
Major Drug Bust in Berks County – WPMT-TV

Police Seize 100 lbs of Marijuana

Methamphetamine – USA
Prescriptions Required for Cold Medicine? – About.com Alcoholism

Losing the battle against methamphetamine abuse, many states have passed laws requiring pharmacies to place cold and allergy medications behind the counter. Other states require photo identification from anyone purchasing medicines containing pseudoephedrine, a main ingredient in making meth.

Cocaine – USA
Woman accused of smuggling cocaine, pot – United Press International, Inc.

NEW YORK, Jan. 27 (UPI) — U.S. Customs and Border Protection authorities allege a Guyanese woman was caught trying to smuggle 54 pounds of cocaine through a New York airport.

DUI – USA
Woman Sentenced To Prison For 4th DUI – The Associated Press

OMAHA, Neb. — A Fremont woman who was caught driving drunk with her 5-month-old baby in the back seat has been given 15 to 36 months in prison.

Jeff Conaway can’t break his addiction to prescription drugs and now says he wants to die at home.

Prescription Drug Abuse – USA
Sheriffs push to make drug database mandatory – MarionStar.com

Ohio’s sheriffs have teamed with a state board to draft legislation to coerce doctors into using a program designed to track “doctor-shopping.”

Drug Abuse – Scotland
Drug use falling in Scotland.. but cocaine keeps firm grip – DailyRecord.co.uk

THE number of Scots using cocaine has stayed the same despite overall drug use declining, according to a new study.

Meth Arrest – USA
Rock salt packaged as meth in Newport drug bust – KGW-TV

NEWPORT, Ore. — Deputies in Lincoln County said packaged rock salt was going to be passed off as methamphetamine as part of a drug deal in Newport.

Prescription Drug Overdose Deaths – USA
Prescription Drug Overdose Deaths on the Rise – Ezine @rticles

Increasing steadily from the 1990s, the largest killers were the narcotic drugs, prescription narcotic pain killers, cocaine and heroin. These drugs accounted for nearly half of the deaths in this particular study. Poisoning deaths, of which drug poisoning accounts for about 95%, now run behind only auto accidents as the leading cause of accidental injury death in the US.

Meth – USA
‘One-pot’ method fuels record year for meth incidents in ‘09 - KALAMAZOO NEWS

Four years ago, it was a drug that took hours to make in elaborate labs hidden in basements, apartments and abandoned buildings. Now, in Southwest Michigan, methamphetamine has morphed into an even more prolific drug made in as little as 30 minutes in a plastic soda bottle.  And those cooking the meth have become bolder — setting up shop in the back seats of cars and in underground caves, even bringing ingredients into a patient room at a city hospital.