March 30 Drug Headlines

ALCOHOL – AUSTRALIA
Alcohol top killer – Herald Sun
An internationally recognised study found 72,000 young people suffered alcohol-related deaths in the developed world during 2000, with young Australians and Britons the most in danger.

ADDICTION – USA
City of Phoenix Tackles Meth Addiction – KTAR News
On the street, it's referred to as uppers, speed, crank, crystal and glass. But, no matter what you call it, meth is dangerous.

DRUGS – UK
Smoking, Drinking and Drug Use Survey – Home Office
ALMOST half of young people aged between 11 and 15 have never had a proper alcoholic drink, six out of ten have never smoked and drug taking prevalence has dropped.

METH – USA
DEA: Candy-flavored meth is new ploy by drug dealers – WBIR News
Reports of candy-flavored methamphetamine are emerging around the nation, stirring concern among police and abuse prevention experts that drug dealers are marketing the drug to younger people.

ALCOHOL – UK
Tide Is Turning In The Fight Against Substance Misuse Amongst Young People, UK – Medical News Today
In 2006, 21 per cent drank alcohol in the previous week, dropping from 26 per cent in 2001. Almost half of the young people surveyed said they had never had a proper alcoholic drink.

HEROIN & METH – USA
Meth, Heroin Lead List Of Drug-Related Deaths – KPTV Fox News
Drug-related deaths in 2006 were the highest in Oregon since 1999, according to an annual report released by the Oregon state medical examiner.

METH – USA
Meth-related deaths set a record in Oregon in 2006 – The Oregonian
Deaths related to methamphetamine were at an all-time high in Oregon in 2006.

METH – USA
Warriors Against Meth to present conference at BCC on March 30 – The Glacier Reporter
"Warriors Against Meth" is a group begun in 2003 by Tana Fleury as a way to get people together who wanted to make a dent in a problem recognized by many but thus far solved by no one.

METH – USA
Flavored Meth – KAUZ News
By now we've all heard about the dangers of meth. That's why dealers are creating a new lure to target your youth.

METH – USA
Meth dangers chronicled – Whistler Question
The crystal meth “wave” hasn’t hit the two towns, but community members should know what to look for so they can identify methamphetamine labs and dump sites if the deadly drug begins to move in.

METH – USA
‘Ice’ becomes drug enforcement nightmare – MSNBC
Ice is a powerful form of the stimulant methamphetamine and is very addictive.

METH – USA
The quest against meth is just beginning – The Southern
If you ever doubted the deadly power of methamphetamine, one look at the front page of Wednesday's issue of The Southern Illinoisan might have changed your mind.

March 29 Drug Headlines

METH – USA
Officials Warn Of Candy-Flavored Meth – WTVM
There are reports across the country warning of candy-flavored methamphetamine. Meth use is down, so dealers are trying to come up with new ways to sell the drug.

METH – USA
Meth Task Force – WDEF News
Candy, powdered drink sweetener, even chocolate -- common household objects and all tools of the meth trade nowadays...anything to hook your children on the deadly drug.

METH – USA
Phoenix's Crystal Meth Education Videos Heading to Schools Statewide – Prime Newswire
Videos aimed at educating students on the dangers of crystal methamphetamine are on their way to schools all around Arizona.

METH – USA
Wet is a Problem in East Texas – KTRE Lufkin News
It's a popular way to get high and its affects are disturbing. People are smoking marijuana joints or tobacco cigarettes dipped in embalming fluid. On the street, it is known as wet or water.

CANNABIS - UK
Cannabis farm caused road collapse – Ananova
Police discovered an illegal cannabis farm in Leeds after it caused part of a road to collapse.

MARIJUANA – Africa
No hash matzos? Marijuana not kosher for Passover – SABC News
Marijuana is not kosher for Passover, a pro-cannabis advocacy group says, advising Jews who observe the week-long holiday's special dietary laws to take a break from smoking the weed.

ADDICTION – USA
Man dies from addiction after making anti-drug film – Bowling Green News
He was extremely satisfied, wanting to do more in getting the word out and showing kids what meth harm does.

March 28 Drug Headlines

ALCOHOL – UK
Substance Abuse And Teenage Pregnancies Could Be Reduced By Improving School Culture, UK – Medical News Today
Improving the institutional culture (ethos) of schools in the UK may help reduce substance abuse and teenage pregnancies, says an article in this week's BMJ.

METH – USA
Meet the new meth – Metro US
Reports of methamphetamine with candy, soda and fruit flavors have been received by Drug Enforcement Administration agents across the country.

PRESCRIPTION – USA
Prescription Abuse Increases Among College Students – Salve Regina University Mosaic Online
Imagine an unknown conglomeration of prescription pills being poured into a bowl, then grabbing a handful and ingesting a random and often dangerous combination of drugs in hopes of getting high.

PRESCRIPTION – USA
Teen Prescription Drug Misuse Becoming Growing Problem – KOTV
Police say teenagers misusing prescription drugs has become a huge problem that keeps getting bigger and it's not just happening in big cities

ADDERALL – USA
Adderall for overweight teens – SMU Daily Campus
Adderall, an amphetamine, has many side effects, including decreased appetite, insomnia, increased anxiety and irritability.

METH – USA
Man chronicles his death by meth use – MSNBC
A former trucker whose documentary chronicled an agonizing descent as methamphetamine ravaged his body has died, optimistic to the end that his story would keep others from the highly addictive stimulant.

METH – USA
Mo. Man Who Documented Meth Use Dies – The New York Times
A southeast Missouri man who drew global attention for his documentary about how methamphetamine hopelessly ravaged his body died Monday still optimistic his film steers others from the highly addictive stimulant.

CANNABIS – NEW ZEALAND
Cannabis linked to lung cancer risk – The New Zealand Herald
Cannabis smoking may cause 5 per cent of lung cancer cases in people up to middle age, according to a New Zealand study.

DRUGS – USA
Open Letter To Parents: Is This Where Your Teen Goes To Get High? – Pushing Back
The National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign has launched an Open Letter advertising campaign to help educate parents about the risks of abuse to teens.

March 27 Drug Headlines

CANNABIS (SKUNK) – UK
So how dangerous is skunk? – The Independent
Our decision to drop The Independent on Sunday's 1997 decriminalise cannabis campaign has been applauded and decried throughout the world. At the heart of the controversy is the link between skunk and schizophrenia.

TRANQUILIZER – USA
Prescription drug abuse on the rise – WHOI ABC News
Medical professionals say they are seeing more and more people abusing prescription drugs.

METH – GERMANY
Meth Now Comes In Flavors – Short News
The newest thing to come to the meth problem facing the US is flavored Meth. Officers have found meth on the street in flavors such as cola, Strawberry Quick, and chocolate.

ALCOHOL – USA
Survey: Drug, alcohol use by 12th-graders down – The Daily Record
Drug and alcohol use among local 12th-graders has decreased slightly in the last two years, according to recently released numbers from the statewide Healthy Youth Survey.

METH – USA
DEA sees flavored meth use – AZ Central
Reports of candy-flavored methamphetamine are emerging around the nation, stirring concern among police and abuse-prevention experts that drug dealers are marketing the drug to younger people.

March 26 Drug Headlines

CANNABIS – BULGARIA
The Independent:UN warns of cannabis dangers as it backs 'IoS' drugs 'apology' – Focus News
The United Nations has issued an unprecedented warning to Britain about the growing threat to public health from potent new forms of cannabis.

METH – CANADA
Meth curse can strike anywhere – Edmonton Sun News
A city drug cop says the meth-induced downward spiral of the privileged daughter of Alberta's top judge proves the demon drug doesn't discriminate between victims.

PRESCRIPTION – USA
Prescription drug dangers, focus of campaign – NBC News
It's spring cleaning that could save someone's life. Operation Medicine Cabinet is getting parents to throw out unused drugs.

ALCOHOL – USA
Alcohol, tobacco make top 10 list of risky drugs – MSNBC
British study rated the substances more dangerous than marijuana, Ecstasy.

METH – USA
Yuma, we have a problem: Meth is everywhere – Yuma Sun
You could pretty much go to any neighborhood and probably find meth - either someone using it or selling it.

METH – USA
Meth dealers hit the schoolyards with a new bag of tricks – Catoosa County News
Meth is old news in Georgia. Since appearing on the scene around 2001, it quickly became the state’s fastest spreading drug problem.

HEROIN – USA
Heroin a problem in Valley schools, police official says – East Valley Tribune
Parents leaving Gilbert’s annual drug prevention seminar Thursday night felt prepared to begin a conversation with their kids about drugs.

ALCOHOL – USA
Alcohol, drugs and violence impact the youth – eMax Health
A new survey of Washington students shows most kids are saying no to alcohol, drug use, and other risky behaviors, but too many continue to risk their health.

OPIUM – CANADA
Ninety per cent of British heroin is from Afghanistan, says U.K. attorney general – Victoria Times Colonist
Ninety per cent of the heroin in Britain comes from Afghanistan’s booming poppy trade.

METH – USA
'Meth is a monster,' says recovering addict – Ventura County Star
Methamphetamine has invaded Ventura County. In the past five years, addiction to this devastating stimulant has surpassed heroin, cocaine and other drugs

March 23 Drug Headlines

ADDICTION – USA
That Thing Which Screams A Whisper: Drug Addiction in America – American Chronicle
The moment you try a drug for any reason different than what a pharmaceutical is prescribed for (and note now that there is never any reason to try an illegal or illicit drug), your life, your limits, your past goals and beliefs, change.

ADDICTION – USA
Don’t take the addiction journey – The Citizens’ Voice
“The Journey of Addiction” is a very painful one.

METH – USA
Meth Habits Change in Southern Colorado – Colorado Springs ABC News
While the number of meth labs is decreasing the amount of meth found here is increasing. Drug trafficing from Mexico is now the focus of the Metro Vice Narcotics and Intelligence Division of The Colorado Springs Police Department.

METH – USA
Mokelumne Hill works to snuff out meth – The Union Democrat
Mokelumne Hill residents and several Calaveras County agencies are teaming up to clean up drug activity, specifically methamphetamine use, in the community.

ADDERALL – USA
FDA Concerned Over Use Of ADHD Drug To Treat Childhood Obesity – All Headline News
Raising ethical questions about the drug's usage, the FDA also warns that Adderall can cause psychiatric problems, such as hearing voices and becoming manic in some patients.

March 22 Drug Headlines

ADDICTION – GERMANY
Cannabis Addiction Treatment at All-Time Highs, Potent "Skunk" Blamed – Short News
Super-strength varieties of home-grown skunk are replacing the North African hash found in Britain, which can approach strengths 25 times that of plants grown just a decade prior.

OPIUM – MALAYSIA
Narcotics police – Malaysia Star
The Narcotics Department continues a battle against drugs that began in the 1800s.

OPIUM – AFGHANISTAN
Drug Chief Says Opium Production In Southern Afghanistan "Out Of Control" – Radio Free Afghanistan
The situation is out of control in the southern part of [Afghanistan], in some provinces [opium poppy cultivation] increasing, in some provinces stable, but we don't have a specific number.

METHADONE – USA
A Fatal Dose – Newsweek
Hospital administrators confirmed to NEWSWEEK and NBC News last week that five veterans there died of overdoses of illegal and prescription drugs in less than three months this winter.

METH – USA
Gritty MT meth ads grab attention – KTVB News
As efforts to cut down on the use of methamphetamine use in the State of Idaho gear up, many are looking across the border to a groundbreaking project in Big Sky Country.

METH – USA
"LIFE OR METH" – NBC NEWS
Financial losses, ruined lives and cries for hope, all part of a one-hour prime time program tonight.

METH – USA
Meth Abuse – Black Hills Today
Young people, ages 12-14, who live in small towns like those across South Dakota are over 100 percent more likely to use meth than those living in large cities.

METH – USA
Register for Meth Awareness Conference – Eastern Arizona Courier
Attorney General God-dard was at the forefront of the initial state efforts to combat crystal meth. His campaign to target the production, distribution and use of crystal meth helped to bring this public health issue out of meetings and into the public eye.

COCAINE – COLUMBIA
Ireland and Scotland Face-Up to Increasing Cocaine Abuse – Shared Responsibility
Following revelations of Irish and Scottish drug consumption figures indicating a two- and three-fold increase in cocaine use, respectively, both countries gear up to battle this trend.

PRESCRIPTION – USA
Prescription drug abuse on rise, especially among rural youth – Muskogee Daily Phoenix
Abuse of prescription drugs has begun to rise, particularly among youths in rural or small communities.

PRESCRIPTION – USA
Students Selling Prescription Drugs – Omaha ABC News
Teenagers selling illegal drugs. It’s not an unfamiliar crime but it seems more teens are being caught peddling prescription drugs to classmates.

OXYCODONE – CANADA
Issue must be addressed – Fort Frances Times Online
My thanks to Jeff Tilbury for his letter last week drawing attention to the exploding oxycodone addiction problem in our local communities.

CANNABIS – UK
Rethink urges government action over cannabis – Craegmoor Healthcare News
Young people are not sufficiently aware of the dangers of smoking high-strength cannabis.

CANNABIS (SKUNK) – UK
Skunk: growing danger on the streets – The Telegraph
A record number of people are now seeking treatment for cannabis addiction as high-strength strains of the drug take a grip on users.

March 21 Drug Headlines

CANNABIS – UK
Record number of youngsters seek help for cannabis problems – Norwich Evening News
An increasing number of young people are suffering severe mental health problems as a result of smoking cannabis, new figures have revealed.

CANNABIS – UK
Police issue warning about super strength Cannabis – ic Liverpool
Strength cannabis so potent that just one puff can cause schizophrenia is being grown by Merseyside drug gangs.

METH – USA
Community group forming to fight meth – Rome News Tribune
A local non-profit group is forming a community coalition to fight the effects of methamphetamines.

METH – USA
County helps fund meth task force – Glenwood Springs Post Independent
A regional study of methamphetamine use and related crimes is under way that will help quantify the problem in Garfield County.

ALCOHOL – USA
Teen alcohol laws apply to everyone – The Olympian
A new initiative has been launched in Washington state to curb teen alcohol consumption and to educate parents about the dangers of underage drinking.

ALCOHOL – USA
Report: Fewer City Teenagers Using Drugs And Alcohol – NY1
Health officials say fewer city teens are using drugs and alcohol, but there is still reason for concern.

ALCOHOL – USA
Report: Drug, alcohol use down among NYC teens – ABC News
Drug and alcohol use about city teens is declining, and it's actually below the national average.

March 20 Drug Headlines

METH – USA
Montana airs provocative anti-meth ad campaign – WAVY TV 10
Jarring, provocative, and effective is how some describe Montana's efforts to keep teens away from meth.

HEROIN – USA
Dallas Health Warns of Dangers of Cheese Heroin – eMax Health
Heroin is an old drug that is making a major come back in a new form known on the streets as cheese.

COCAINE – USA
West Africa becomes a hub for cocaine traffic to Europe – Baltimore Sun
A landmark shift in trafficking routes has transformed West Africa into a hub for cocaine smuggling from South America to a booming European market.

ALCOHOL – USA
Video steers teens away from alcohol, drugs – The Grand Rapids Press
A video from Mothers Against Drunk Driving will be in the back of Cameron Morgan's mind when he faces choices dealing with alcohol.

METHADONE – USA
Using methadone as a painkiller is proving deadly – The Wichita Eagle
The increasing use of methadone for pain relief, rather than to help people overcome addiction, has led to a sharp spike in deaths, both nationally and in Kansas.

ALCOHOL – USA
Increasing Alcohol and Drug Abuse Among the Nation's 'Best and Brightest' – The Epoch Times
College presidents are reluctant to take on issues they feel they cannot change and this growing public health crisis reflects today's society where students are socialized to consider substance abuse a harmless rite of passage.

CANNABIS – UK
Cannabis addiction soars as drug gets stronger – Daily Mail
Record numbers of teenagers are having treatment for addiction to super-strength cannabis.

METH – CANADA
Stay away from meth, pregnant women warned – Star Phoenix
It's very difficult to know the (troubles) that meth causes in humans because there's very little documentation about what they're exposed to.

CANNABIS – UK
How the Independent on Sunday got it horribly wrong on Cannabis – Transform Drug Policy Foundation
The facts are all over the place. On the front cover Jonathan Owen informs us that skunk today 'is 25 times stronger than the resin sold a decade ago'.

CANNABIS (SKUNK) – UK
Skunk and soap – The Guardian
Two products: heavily reconstituted hashish from Morocco, known as soap, and indoor-grown skunk.

SLEEPING PILLS – AUSTRALIA
One in ten Aussies pop sleeping pills – The Age
Popular sleeping tablet, Stilnox, can have bizarre side-effects, prompting some people to binge eat or even drive while asleep.

March 19 Drug Headlines

PRESCRIPTION – USA
Prescription Drug Use Joins Binge Drinking as Campus Drug Problems – Join Together
A new report from the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) finds that 49 percent of U.S. college students ages 18-24 are binge drinkers and that growing numbers of students are misusing prescription drugs.

ALCOHOL – USA
Young people able to buy beer at stores even without proper ID – Pacific Institute
Clerks at grocery and convenience stores were more likely to sell alcohol to a young person without asking for an ID than other stores.

ALCOHOL – USA
Binge Drinking And Drug Abuse On The Increase Among US Students Report Says – Medical News Today
A new study suggests that binge drinking and drug abuse is on the increase among American students and that colleges should do more to address the problem.

METH – USA
Montana Gives Meth a Face – Associated Content
Montana teens are tuning into more than music videos these days. The state has launched a provocative ad campaign in hopes of fighting the rampant use of meth within its borders.

ADDICTION – USA
Drug Addiction vs. Drug Dependence: Same or Different? – About News
The fear of addiction keeps doctors from prescribing opioids to relieve pain and keeps patients from controlling their pain.

PRESCRIPTION – USA
Drinking and Prescription Abuse Growing at Colleges – WLNS
A new report says binge drinking and prescription drug abuse are a growing problem among college students.

METH – USA
Seminar looks at how children are affected by meth use in their homes – Salem Times Commoner
Children living in meth labs might as well be taking the drug directly.

ALCOHOL – ROMANIA
College Life Oozes Drug and Alcohol Abuse – Playfuls
Almost half of U.S. college students dabble one time too many in alcohol, marijuana, sedatives, painkillers and stimulants – they might call it freedom and independence, but they are risking their lives.

METH – USA
Eagle Meth Meeting Focuses on Growing Drug Problem – Fox 12 Boise
The governor's March Against Meth began 15 days ago, and already several communities have gotten involved.

SKUNK – USA
Skunk: How the 'safe' drug of choice for the hippy generation became a serious health hazard – The Independent
In 1997, when this paper called for decriminalisation, 1,600 people were being treated for cannabis addiction. Today, the number is 22,000.

DRUGS – USA
New Anti-Drug Ad Hits the Airwaves – Pushing Back
The Partnership for a Drug-Free America and the Alliance for Consumer Education (ACE) released a new public service announcement.

PRESCRIPTION – USA
E.R. Visits Up for Prescription Drug Abuse – About: News
A new report indicates that abuse of prescription and over-the-counter drugs is increasing, while the abuse of illegal drugs remains about the same.

ALCOHOL – USA
Adolescent Drinking: It is Not Just About Limiting Media Exposure – RAND
Pro-drinking messages are delivered to adolescents through mass media, peers, and adult drinking behavior.

METH – USA
Montana Fights Meth, and Pulls No Punches – ABC News
Montana is one of the worst states in the nation when it comes to methamphetamine addiction, and it's one of the best at coping with it.

METH – USA
Class to help fight against meth – The Wabash Plain Dealer
The Southwood High School Adult Farmer Committee and Purdue Extension of Wabash County will host a Meth Awareness class Monday, March 19.

PAINKILLERS – USA
Oregon Has High Rate Of Painkiller Abuse – KOIN News
Oregon has one of the highest rates of painkiller abuse in the nation, especially among teenagers.

March 16 Drug Headlines

HEROIN – USA
Heroin use on rise in Nevada County – The Union of Grass Valley
While methamphetamine is still the drug of choice in Nevada County, two other narcotics are emerging on the scene - heroin and OxyContin - powerful and addictive substances.

COCAINE – USA
Cocaine confounds eradication efforts – San Luis Obispo Tribune
Colombia supplies 90 percent of cocaine that ends up in the U.S.

METHADONE – USA
Doctor speaks out against methadone – The Times-Journal
A local hospital physician told the DeKalb County Commission there are dangers associated with methadone.

DRUGS – USA
Health Highlights: March 15, 2007 – Washington Post
Here are some of the latest health and medical news developments, compiled by editors of Health Day.

PRESCRIPTION – USA
Kids Selling Prescription Drugs: Expert Says Problem Widespread – KETV
A drug prevention expert said teens and parents need to talk about the dangers of using and abusing prescription drugs.

PRESCRIPTION – AUSTRALIA
Prescription drugs on campus – The Daily Telegraph
PARENTS of university students often have binge drinking and class fees to worry about, but now a greater danger is threatening their children - prescription drugs.

ALCOHOL – USA
Binge drinking, pill abuse intensify at colleges – MSNBC
Report warns of dangers of ‘extreme’ substance abuse among students.

ALCOHOL – USA
Binge drinking among young stays high in EU – MSNBC
Survey: 1 in 5 15- to 24-year-olds have more than five drinks a session.

ALCOHOL – IRELAND
Ireland heads alcohol binge drinking ranking in Europe – Fin Facts Ireland
Binge drinking across Europe remains a problem in Ireland, the UK, Finland and Denmark.

DRUGS – USA
"Alarming Crisis" As More College Students Abuse Alcohol/Drugs – All Headline News
Among full-time college students, it is reported that 49 percent (equaling 3.8 million students) binge drink and/or abuse prescription and illegal drugs.

PRESCRIPTION – USA
Study: Prescription drugs a problem on campus – CNN Health
About half of U.S. college students binge drink or abuse drugs, and the number who abuse prescription medication such as painkillers is up sharply.

PRESCRIPTION – USA
FDA: Sleeping pills can cause 'sleep-driving' – CNN Health
All prescription sleeping pills may sometimes cause sleep-driving, federal health officials warned Wednesday.

PRESCRIPTION – USA
F.D.A. Issues Warning on Sleeping Pills – The New York Times
Prescription sleeping pills can cause unusual behavior like driving and eating while asleep.

March 15 Drug Headlines

ALCOHOL – USA
Crackdown on serving alcohol to minors – Vail Daily News
It could happen on any given night at any given bar. Minors trying to order alcohol is not an uncommon event in Eagle County.

PRESCRIPTION – USA
Sleeping Pill Advertisement Targeting Children Illustrates Need for Congress to Reform Prescription Drug Ads – Yuba Net
This advertisement geared to children going 'back to school' is outrageous, and we urge the FDA take stronger and more timely actions in cases such as this.

PRESCRIPTION – USA
Emergency Room Visits Climb for Misuse of Prescription and Over-the-Counter Drugs – Media Newswire
Emergency room visits related to the nonmedical use of pharmaceuticals, including prescription and over-the-counter drugs, increased 21 percent from 2004 to 2005.

METH – USA
Dangers of Methamphetamine – News 10 Now
Participants in Tuesday's Methamphetamine meeting found out everything from signs and symptoms, the different types and how it's made.

OPIUM – IRAN
NATO predicts opium-free northern Afghanistan in few years – Islamic Republic News Agency
According to assessment by experts in Afghanistan, the entire northern half of Afghanistan will be opium free in a few years.

OPIUM – USA
Afghanistan's poppy conundrum – Spero News
This year's eradication campaign in Helmand seems to be accomplishing little except beefing up support for the Taliban.

COCAINE – UK
Cocaine problem on the rise, police reveal – Newry Democrat
People think that only the bad ones take drugs but there are a lot of good kids using them as recreation. The downside is that a lot of parents say their kids are only smoking blow and that it won’t do them any harm. That’s not true.

CANNABIS – UK
Cannabis cultivation ‘booming’ in Britain but law enforcement hitting local supplies – Drugscope News
Growing cannabis commercially near the point of sale can dramatically increase profits, but this increases the risk of detection. There are significant implications for police resources in trying to keep up with the growers who are becoming increasingly smart in establishing new farms and avoiding arrest.

March 14 Drug Headlines

ALCOHOL – USA
Docs Call for Ban on Alcohol Ads in College Sports – Join Together
The American Medical Association (AMA) is paying for a series of ads in college newspapers calling on schools to stop accepting alcohol advertising during college sports events.

HEROIN – USA
Boston-Area Heroin Use Declining – Join Together
A new report from the Boston Public Health Commission indicates that heroin use may be declining in the Boston area, reversing a trend that has raised alarm about use of the drug in recent years.

DRUGS – UK
Substance abuse project extended – BBC News
A project tackling drug and alcohol misuse among children is being extended, it has been revealed.

HEROIN – RUSSIA
Russia hit by flood of heroin – ABC News
Last year, Afghanistan produced a record crop of opium poppies; production increased by nearly 60 per cent. It's now begun hitting the streets of Europe as high-grade heroin, and healthcare workers are bracing for a surge in drug overdoses.

HEROIN – BULGARIA
Heroin-the Most Often Drug-Traffic Powder in Bulgaria – International News
Heroin has the biggest part of drug traffic in Bulgaria.

ALCOHOL – USA
Survey finds many county youngsters drink alcohol – Journal Times Online
Nearly one in four Racine County eighth-graders have drunk alcohol in the past month, according to a study by a local nonprofit organization.

DRUGS – USA
Misuse of pharmaceuticals linked to more ER visits – USA Today
Overdoses of prescription and over-the-counter drugs are sending more people than ever to emergency rooms.

OPIUM – AUSTRALIA
Afghan opium crop plagues European streets – ABC Online
While it remains an open question as to who's winning the war on terrorism, in Afghanistan at least, there's no doubt who's winning on the second front in that country the drug war.

METH – USA
Auburn Forum to address Meth use – Roseville and Rocklin Today
The purpose of the forum is to increase awareness of meth abuse in communities such as Auburn, identify how drug-related behavior affects communities and brainstorm about possible solutions.

March 13 Drug Headlines

PAINKILLERS – USA
Hunting new option in balance between painkiller's help, and abuse – South Coast Today
Scientists are hunting new ways to help millions of pain sufferers — from addiction-resistant narcotics to using brain scanners for biofeedback — amid a worrisome rise in abuse of today's top prescription painkillers.

ADICTION – USA
On TV: 'Addiction' takes pains to show us real drug abuse – Seattle Post Intelligencer
Addiction is a demon that can slip into anyone's house without warning. Once inside, it can take a lifetime to evict.

DRUGS – UK
Just Say No to this ‘radical rethink’ on drugs – Spiked
The ‘Get Unhooked’ adverts offer a powerful endorsement of the myths underlying both current drugs policy and the RSA’s radical rethink.

PRESCRIPTION – AUSTRALIA
Prescription drug abuse on the rise: report – The World Today
It's usually illicit drugs that capture the headlines but research in Melbourne shows it is the abuse of prescription drugs that should be arousing real concern across the nation.

RITALIN – USA
Ritalin Bill "Not Perfect, but Good Step for Parents" – KCPW
After a five-year battle, parents' rights advocates got a victory late Friday when Governor Huntsman signed the so-called "Ritalin Bill."

METH – USA
Meth slide – Daily Journal
With meth arrests down by more than 30 percent in Northeast Mississippi in 2006, it appears that new laws designed to slow the manufacturing of the drug may be working.

CANNIBIS – NEW ZEALAND
Cannabis 'greatest enemy' – The Nelson Mail
A Golden Bay man whose son started taking cannabis at 15 says drugs are the "greatest enemy for parents in the world".

PAINKILLERS – USA
Scientists explore abuse-resistant painkillers – MSNBC
Growing misuse of pain meds drives hunt for drugs with no exploitation risk.

March 12 Drug Headlines

HEROIN –USA
Heroin is back, more destructive than ever – Journal and Courier
Narcotics investigators say the highly addictive opiate is quickly replacing methamphetamine among hard-core users.

COCAIANE – USA
Cocaine report shows increased use in Ireland – National Documentation Centre
Dr. Des Corrigan, chairman of the NACD, stated that all indicators show a continued increase in cocaine use that crosses all social strata.

PRESCRIPTION – USA
Abuse of legal drugs worse than heroin and ice – The Age
OVERDOSING on prescription or over-the-counter drugs is twice as common as overdosing on illicit drugs.

METHADONE – USA
Methadone use, overdoses on rise – Petoskey News Review
Just like other prescription drugs such as OxyContin and Fentanyl, which are very useful when handled properly, methadone has become popular among drug abusers in recent years.

PRESCRIPTION – USA
Doctors Alerted to Prescription Narcotics Abuse – eMaxHealth
The number of people abusing prescription narcotics is increasing. As a result, a physician's oversight group in Washington State has issued new guidelines.

METH – USA
It's a parade: students to March on Meth – The Verde Independent
Students and youth groups from all over the Verde Valley will march against methamphetamine March 31 in Cottonwood.

March 10 Drug Headlines

HEROIN – USA
New Report Shows Heroin Abuse Decreasing – Boston Channel
Heroin abuse in the city has stabilized in the past year, but alcohol remains a major substance of abuse.

PRESCRIPTION – USA
Prescription Drug Abuse Increases In Southeast Texas – KBTV
Authorities say prescription drug abuse is out of hand in Southeast Texas.

ALCOHOL – USA
Alcohol Ads in NCAA Sports Targeted – Central Florida News
Full-page ads in college newspapers Friday call on university leaders, athletic conferences and the NCAA to "stop the madness" by banning alcohol marketing from college sports.

ALCOHOL – USA
Extra Mile applauds surgeon general’s actions – Fremont Tribune
Research shows that young people who start drinking before the age of 15 are five times more likely to have alcohol-related problems later in life.

METH – USA
Flavored meth targets children – Idaho Press Tribune
Idaho drug and law enforcement officials are on the lookout for a new brightly colored version of methamphetamine that is either strawberry or chocolate flavored, resembles rock candy and targets the youngest potential addicts.

March 8 Drug Headlines

ALCOHOL – USA
Surgeon General Calls for Action on Underage Drinking – Join Together
Noting that alcohol "remains the most heavily abused substance by America's youth," acting U.S. Surgeon General Kenneth Moritsugu, M.D., M.P.H., called for government, school officials, parents, communities, and youth themselves to do more to prevent underage drinking.

METH – CANADA
‘People’s lives are destroyed’ – Williams Lake Tribune
Last week Williams Lake Indian Band hosted a workshop to help front-line workers get up to speed on drugs, particularly crystal methamphetamine, or just crystal meth.

OPIUM – NEW ZEALAND
Opium Production Could Rise Yet Again, UN Reports – Scoop, Independent News
After Record Afghan Crop In 2006, Opium Production Could Rise Yet Again, UN Reports.

METH – USA
Anti-meth group to launch new ads – Montana Forum
Targeting 1st-time users.The project was started by the Thomas and Stacey Siebel Foundation in 2005 with the goal of significantly reducing first-time use of meth by teenagers.

ALCOHOL – USA
Surgeon General Urges Action on Underage Drinking – Treatment Online
In an official confirmation of a widely recognized issue, Surgeon General Kenneth Moritsugu issued a call to arms regarding underage drinking, calling alcohol the "drug of choice" for teens and urging all corners of society to act toward minimizing the problem.

METH – USA
Meth seminar to focus on helping service workers – Black Hills Pioneer
Meth affects everyone in the community, even people who may never give it a second thought.

METH – USA
State, counties plan anti-meth ad campaign – Tucson Citizen
Adolescents with rotting teeth, bloody sores and other disfigured features will grace Arizona TV screens and newspaper pages next month as part of $5 million campaign against methamphetamine use.

MARIUJANA – CANADA
More young people smoke pot than tobacco, survey finds – The Vancouver Sun
Average age of first marijuana use is 14.7 years, compared to 13.9 years for tobacco and 14.1 years for alcohol.

ALCOHOL – USA
Study: 7.2 million U.S. teens binge drink – MSNBC
Americans need a wake-up call about the widespread use of alcohol by millions of underage drinkers.

March 7 Drug Headlines

METHADONE – USA
Scientists get a fix on methadone risks – NZZ Online
Swiss scientists say hundreds of thousands of patients and drug addicts should no longer receive the most widely used form of methadone because of heart attack risks.

ALCOHOL – AUSTRALIA
Alcohol abuse `should be prime focus' – The Advertiser, Adelaide
Alcohol abuse is the nation's biggest social drug problem, the incoming chief of the Mental Health Council of Australia has warned.

PRESCRIPTION – USA
Prescription drug abuse on the rise – News 14 Carolina
Believe it or not, the new drug of choice for teens might be right in your medicine cabinet.

PRESCRIPTION – USA
Prescription-painkiller abuse on the rise – United Press International
Teenagers and young adults are abusing prescription drugs in staggering numbers, and the crippling effects of this addiction must be addressed head-on.

METH – CANADA
RCMP warn students about crystal meth – The Coaster
To some people it is more valuable than diamonds, more precious than gold. You can smoke it, snort it, or inject it.

METH – USA
Methamphetamine on the decline? – Daily Review Atlas
Are the new methamphetamine laws finally putting a dent in the annual drug trade? That depends on whom you ask.

OPIUM – USA
U.N.: Afghan opium harvest rising – CNN News
A "cancer of insurgency" in southern Afghanistan could drive the 2007 opium poppy harvest to record levels, the U.N. drug agency chief said Monday.

ADDERALL – USA
Prescription stimulant abuse rising on campuses – SIU Daily Egyptian
The abuse of prescription stimulants is most prevalent among whites, members of fraternities or sororities and students with poor grades, according to a report released by the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

METH – USA
Mom's Against Meth Air New Anti-Drug Movie Nationwide – Fox 12 Boise
A nationwide group called Mothers Against Meth has created a film called "Crystal Meth: They Call It Ice".

OPIUM – USA
Record Opium Crop Possible in Afghanistan, U.N. Study Predicts – The New York Times
Afghanistan’s opium harvest could be bigger than last year’s record crop, with nearly half of the provinces showing an increase in planting this year.

OPIUM – USA
U.N. forsees Afghan poppy harvest boom – Boston Globe
The U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime predicted that last year's harvest record would be broken by an increase in 15 provinces.

PAINKILLER – USA
Study finds Utah tops nation in nonmedical painkiller abuse – Daily Herald
A federal study of painkiller use found Utah lead the nation in nonmedical use of prescription drugs in 2004 and 2005.

METHADONE – USA
Methadone, a New Killer – Canyon News
Methadone, which is a drug, comes in pill form as well as in liquid.

March 6 Drug Headlines

DRUGS – USA
Drug testing kids a bad idea, doctors say – MSNBC
Screening for substance abuse often inaccurate and leads to loss of trust.

MARIJUANA – USA
Video appears to show brothers, 2 and 5, smoking pot – CNN News
Police in suburban Fort Worth, Texas, said a videotape found in a search for stolen goods appears to show two teenagers persuading a 2-year-old boy and his 5-year-old brother to smoke marijuana.

DRUGS – USA
Teens and drugs – Hometown Life
Parents can play a bigger role than they may think in whether their children become drug users.

ALCOHOL – UK
Binge-drink battle gets £12m fund – Alcoholics Anonymous Reviews
A consortium of the UK's biggest alcohol companies is backing a £12m marketing initiative to promote responsible drinking among consumers.

PRESCRIPTION – UK
Prescription abuse outstrips illegal drug use, UN warns – Guardian Unlimited
The abuse and trafficking of prescription drugs, including painkillers and stimulants, has overtaken the use of nearly all illegal drugs with the sole exception of cannabis.

METH – UK
Crystal meth increasing problem – BBC News
The highly addictive drug crystal meth is moving away from clubs and becoming more widely available on London's streets, a drugs court judge reveals.

ALCOHOL – UK
Middle Aged Boozers Drink Themselves To Death – Alcoholics Anonymous Reviews
While teenage binge drinking makes most of the headlines, it is actually those in their thirties, forties and fifties who are more likely to drink themselves to death.

ALCOHOL – USA
Health Tip: Who Should Avoid Alcohol – Austin American Statesman
Here is a list of people for whom any amount of alcohol is dangerous and should be avoided.

March 5 Drug Headlines

COCAINE – JAPAN
Europe sleeping through a cocaine siege – The Japan Times
European leaders need to get serious about Europe's cocaine problem. The "white lady" is seducing a steadily growing number of Europeans, and remaining in a state of denial will only worsen the consequences.

COCAINE – UK
Kenya: Europe's cocaine flown from Nairobi – Somali Net
European cocaine habits are increasingly fed through African nations and the Kenyan capital is the major transit point for trafficking the drug.

METH – USA
Presentation reveals ugly 'Faces of Meth' – Gallup Independent
El Morro Theater hosted a presentation on Thursday night about the dangers of methamphetamine entitled "The Faces of Meth."

OPIUM – IRAN
Afghan opium hits record output – Tehran Times
Poppy production was up 25%, the US said Opium production in Afghanistan reached record levels last year.

COCAINE – USA
Central America Becomes Cocaine's Preferred Route – TBO
Central America has become a crucial way station in the billion-dollar cocaine business, with traffickers shipping hundreds of tons northward from Colombia.

OPIUM – USA
State's war on drugs a 100-year-old bust – San Francisco Chronicle
Tuesday marks the centennial of a fateful but forgotten watershed in state history: the start of California's war on drugs.

HEROIN – UK
Scandal of child heroin dealers – Scotsman News
Child dealers of heroin, cocaine and other banned substances are being arrested at the rate of one every four days in the latest sign that Scotland is in the grip of a drugs epidemic.

March 4 Drug Headlines

METH – USA
Governor kicks off "March Against Meth" month – IDAHO News Now
If your child hasn't heard about meth, they just might, thanks to a statewide campaign to educate children about the drug.

METH – USA
Toxic Meth Chemicals Lead to New Bill – My Fox Cleveland
According to DEA, the toxic chemicals used to make meth get into everything from walls to woodwork to carpets to furniture and can remain there for up to ten years.

METH – USA
Police On The Lookout For Strawberry Meth – Local ABC News
There's a new method drug dealers are using to get kids hooked on methamphetamine. It's called strawberry meth.

ALCOHOL – IRELAND
60% of pregnant women drink alcohol – The Irish Times
It examines trends in the consumption of alcohol, tobacco and drugs by over 120,000 pregnant women during the past two decades.

METH – USA
Faces tell methamphetamine story – The Dalles Chroniclce
The faces of meth are not pretty. King has put together a video showing the effect prolonged use of methamphetamine has on people. His pictorial subjects were inmates at the Multnomah County Jail.

DRUGS – USA
U.S. report cites friends, foes in global drug war – MSNBC
In its annual global survey of the drug war, the department said massive opium poppy production in Afghanistan, long the world's top producer of the main ingredient for heroin, continued to pose a major threat

OPIUM – USA
Opium called key – Kansas City Star
Success in Afghanistan depends less on defeating the Taliban than it does on curbing the country’s opium trade and cleaning up corrupt courts and police.

HEROIN – USA
Heroin activity in county rises – Longmont FYI
The Boulder County Drug Task Force is investigating an increase in heroin-related activity that officers say is illustrated by five fatal overdoses over the past five months.

March 2 Drug Headlines

ADDICTION – USA
Nevada panel targeting meth addiction holds first meeting – KOLO TV
A panel formed to help reduce methamphetamine addiction in Nevada held its first meeting Thursday, outlining plans to quickly endorse legislative proposals for anti-drug efforts.

METHADONE – USA
Growing Methadone problem – Acadiana’s News Channel
Methadone was first created in a German lab in the 1930's. The drug gained popularity in the 1990's as a treatment for people who were addicted to heroin and morphine. The trouble is you can't just quit taking it. KATC's David D'aquin found out it's one of the most difficult drug dependencies to treat.

PRESCRIPTION – USA
Abuse of prescription drugs surges across globe – MSNBC
In the United States, the abuse of prescription medications has gone beyond almost all illicit drugs with the exception of marijuana, the International Narcotics Control Board said.

CODEINE – INDIA
'Abuse of medicines on rise in India' – Chennai Online News
The use of cocaine and abuse of medicines like pain-killers and cough syrups is on the rise in India, which has emerged as a major transit point for smuggling of narcotics, a UN report said today.

METH – USA
2007 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report – US Department of State
Today, the Department of State releases its 24th annual International Narcotics Control Strategy Report (INCSR), which is mandated by law and produced by the Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs.

COCAINE – USA
Africa Increasingly Being Used in Cocaine Trafficking – VOA News
Africa is increasingly being used as a conduit to traffic cocaine, with increasing numbers of couriers apprehended and more bulk cocaine seized.

PRESCRIPTION – USA
Prescription Abuse Surpassing Illicit Drugs – Sci-Tech Today
Prescription drug abuse already has outstripped traditional illegal drugs such as heroin, cocaine and Ecstasy in parts of Europe, Africa and South Asia.

March 1 Drug Headlines

PESCRIPTION – USA
Prescription drug abuse among teenagers on the rise: NewsTarget.com – Trans World News
Forget the Mary Jane; all the cool kids are getting high right out of mom and dad's medicine cabinet – much to the alarm of teen drug abuse watchdogs.

PRESCRIPTION – USA
Prescription abuse to pass illicit drugs – Kansas City Star
Abuse of prescription drugs is about to exceed the use of illicit street narcotics worldwide, and the shift has spawned a lethal new trade in counterfeit painkillers, sedatives and other medicines potent enough to kill.

PRESCRIPTION – USA
Prescription Abuse to Pass Illicit Drugs – ABC News Health
Prescription drug abuse already has outstripped traditional illegal drugs such as heroin, cocaine and Ecstasy in parts of Europe, Africa and South Asia.

METH – USA
Principal charged with dealing crystal meth – CNN News
A middle school principal was charged with dealing crystal methamphetamine after police found the drug in his school office.