June 15th Drug Addiction News

ADDICTION – SOUTH AFRICA
DA: Not enough govt action on drug addiction – Mail and Guardian
Key government departments are doing nothing to stop drug addiction, the Democratic Alliance (DA) said on Thursday.

METHADONE – USA
METHADONE - Fast facts – Youngstown Vindicator
Methadone is a synthetic narcotic used for more than 30 years to treat opiate addiction. Here are some other facts associated with the drug.

ALCOHOL – UK
Drink and drugs fuel rise in teen sex disease – Times Online
Rising consumption of drugs and alcohol among teenagers is leading to a surge in sexually transmitted diseases, as young people take more risks when under the influence.

ALCOHOL – UK
Alcohol blamed for half of Russia's premature deaths – The Independent
Excessive drinking causes nearly half of all deaths among Russian men of working age, researchers have found. But it is not just vodka doing the damage.

CANNABIS – UK
Police get high to find cannabis factories – Belfast Telegraph
Ulster's increasing drug trade in home-grown cannabis is being foiled from the sky by police.

ADDERALL – USA
Prescription addiction – News Times SLO
Back in the day, students seeking an academic advantage chose stimulants like coffee, energy drinks and caffeine pills to help them stay up late and cram for final examinations.

OPIUM – BANGLAD
Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran agree to stop drug trafficking – The Financial Express
Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan have agreed to work closely to stop drug trafficking along their common borders by building more physical barriers, launching joint counter-narcotic operations and improving communication.

OPIUM – USA
Opium trade impacts military – United Press International
Congress wants the U.S. military to play a bigger role in combating the production of opium in Afghanistan.

COCAINE – USA
Cheap Cocaine: It's a 'Social Thing' – ABC News
Despite 36 Years of Battling, the Government Has Been Unable to Halt Cocaine Use.

DRUGS – USA
"This Gives Me A Reason To Say No" – Pushing Back
Another school board in New Jersey has approved the implementation of a random drug testing program for its students.

June 11th Drug Addiction News

OPIUM – NETHERLANDS
United States Opposes Legalizing Opium Poppy Crop in Afghanistan – Press Zoom
Legalizing the opium poppy crop in Afghanistan would be disastrous for that country and for the world, a U.S. State Department official says.

COCAINE – USA
Cocaine: Hidden in Plain Sight – New York Times
Drug-abuse experts say the blasé attitude toward cocaine use is a result of “generational amnesia.”

METH – USA
Hundreds join campaign against meth – Billings Gazette
While areas around this Northern Cheyenne town flooded Friday, the main street was awash in a sea of blue T-shirts as an anti-drug march surged through town.

METH – UK
Coming in a rush: The rise of crystal meth in the UK – Ealing Times
Although the problem of methamphetamine, or crystal meth, is not yet as prevalent in this country as in places like America, Australia, New Zealand and south-east Asia.

METH – USA
Meth leads to no good – Chico Enterprise-Record
Meth and madness go hand in hand, and in the end, there is violence, heartbreak and destruction. Those in the psychotic state that meth eventually brings on do unthinkable things to themselves and others, with a super-human strength the drug provides.

ALCOHOL – USA
Editorial: Do students get message about drugs, alcohol? – Janesville Gazette
In the survey taken in March, 59 percent of seniors said they drank beer in the previous year. That continues a downward trend since 76 percent said they did in the 1994 survey.

PRESCRIPTION – USA
Unused Prescription Medicine Drop-Off in Milwaukee – MyFox Milwaukee
The Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District's second Medicine Collection Day gave folks a chance to properly dispose of their unused prescription and over-the-counter medications.

PRESCRIPTION – USA
Watch out for abuse of prescription drugs – Arizona Republic
It sits inconspicuously in your medicine cabinet. That prescription from when you broke your ankle, had back pain, a root canal or the time when you suffered from insomnia.

PRESCRIPTION – USA
Community Educates Parents and Grandparents to Curb Prescription Abuse – CADCA
Like many communities across the country, rural Armstrong County, Penn. was seeing increasingly more cases of teens abusing prescription medications, such as pain relievers.

ALCOHOL – AUSTRALIA
Youth on deadly drink trail – The Age
The number of young people being treated for alcohol-related brain damage has grown fivefold in the past decade, prompting calls for urgent action on teenage binge drinking.

ALCOHOL – AUSTRALIA
Alcohol problem surges – Bendigo Advertiser
Recent Federal Government figures show almost one third of young people regularly drink amounts of alcohol that put them at risk or at high risk of alcohol-related harm.

June 9th Drug Addiction News

DRUGS – USA
Overdoses Drive Up Accidental Death Rate in U.S. – Join Together
The rate is rising again, and part of the blame is being focused on accidental overdoses on legal and illicit drugs.

METHADONE – ROMAINIA
Inaction as Methadone Toll Rises – PR Log
Methadone related deaths continue their upward trend in many areas across the
Country. Currently Methadone is the #2 Killer Drug in the United States.

ALCOHOL – USA
Adults face alcohol liability – Columbus Telegram
Under the bill, adults who serve or provide alcohol to minors can be held liable if that individual harms or kills someone.

ALCOHOL – USA
Alcohol use by teens can't be ignored – Hillsboro Argus
School is almost over and idle kids will soon look for some fun. Most of them will be involved in healthy, enriching activities. Unfortunately, a growing number will look to alcohol, typically beer or hard liquor, for their entertainment.

OPIUM – QATAR
Kashmir declares war on poppy as violence ebbs – Gulf Times
Police and soldiers armed with sickles, sticks and guns are swooping on the fields of Jammu and Kashmir, not in a hunt for militants, but to destroy fields of opium poppy, the source of heroin.

METH – USA
Tribal community struggles with meth crisis – Medill Reports
As a drug counselor for United Indian Health Service, Gerald Green tries to show American Indian kids hooked on methamphetamines that the drug ruins everything.

PAINKILLER – USA
Lollipop painkiller generated 47 deaths nationwide – News 8 Austin
This highly addictive lollipop has been linked to 47 deaths across the United States. Although the FDA approved it in 1998 for cancer patients, more then 80 percent of lollipop users don't have cancer.

ADDICTION – USA
Using the "Getting to Outcomes" Approach to Help Communities Prevent Underage Drinking – RAND
This research brief summarizes guides that provide key accountability questions, worksheets, tools, and examples to help communities plan, implement, and evaluate their efforts to reduce and prevent underage drinking.

June 8th Drug Addiction News

METHADONE – UK
Grieving mum's tragic drugs plea – Wigan Observer
A mother whose teenage son died from a lethal dose of methadone says PARENTS must be educated about drugs.

ALCOHOL – USA
New U.K. Alcohol Strategy Includes Adult Drinkers – Join Together
Kids are the typical targets for campaigns to prevent problem drinking, but a new strategy unveiled in Great Britain also includes a focus on older adults who drink at home.

ALCOHOL – USA
Alcopop Billboards Banned Around Schools, Parks, Churches – Join Together
The Illinois House last week approved a ban on billboard ads for alcopop drinks within 500 feet of schools, churches, parks and amusement parks.

ALCOHOL – USA
Alcohol Crisis Grips Australia – HULIQ
Alcohol is enfolding Australia in its grip. A new report says that one in eight Aussies drinks at dangerous levels.

ALCOHOL – GERMANY
Powdered Alcohol Causes Legal Dilemma – Short News
Booz2Go, a product developed by students in Holland that contains powdered alcohol, has the potential to be legally purchased by minors.

HEROIN – USA
Cheap heroin gains popularity with teens – The Union of Grass Valley
If you overhear kids talking about "cheese," you may want to listen a little closer - they may not be discussing their favorite pizza topping, but rather, a killer version of heroin popular with teens.

PAINKILLER – CANADA
Painkiller ruled addictive – Straight Goods
The maker of the narcotic painkiller OxyContin and three executives pleaded guilty Thursday to making false claims about the drug's risk of addiction.

METH – USA
Officials: Meth Law Working, More Work Needed – KETV Omaha News
Iowa public safety officials said Wednesday that the state's tough anti-methamphetamine law is working -- but the job isn't done.

June 7th Drug Addiction News

ADDICTION – CANADA
Treating youth addiction must happen 'very quickly'– The Guardian
Providing treatment to Island youth hampered by drug and alcohol addiction will be a priority of the new Liberal government.

METH – USA
Meth and Children – Central Illinois Proud
The state is seeing a growing number of kids being exposed to methamphetamine. That's because they're living with parents who are making and using the drug-- putting them in contact with dangerous chemicals.


METH – USA
High School Hosts Meth-Lab Awareness Class – Whttp://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gifLKY News
City leaders sponsored a meth-lab awareness workshop at Male High School Tuesday night. Last year.

METHADONE – USA
Report Shows Methadone Leading Cause Of Overdose Deaths – WKYT News
Out of nearly 500 overdose deaths in Kentucky last year, the state medical examiner's annual report says more than 40 percent of the autopsies showed the pain killer, Methadone was the leading cause.

ALCOHOL – UK
Call for alcohol alternatives as binge drinking soars – Religious Intelligence
The Department of Health statistics found there are an estimated 7.1 million ‘hazardous and harmful’ drinkers in England, while 1.1 million are ‘dependant drinkers’.

ALCOHOL – NEW ZEALAND
Dutch students develop powdered alcohol – Stuff.nz
Top it up with water and you have a bubbly, lime-coloured and -flavoured drink with just 3 per cent alcohol content.

ALCOHOL – INDIA
New alcohol strategy aims to discourage boozing culture – What is the Word
This new method is being encouraged after it emerged that the cost of alcohol related disorders and crimes is a whooping £20 billion on an annual basis.

ALCOHOL – USA
Australian Rehab Group Calls For Health Warning Labels On Alcohol – All Headline News
An Adelaide-based alcohol rehabilitation group has called for health warning labels on all beer, wine and spirits sold in Australia.

ALCOHOL – USA
Police Sell Blood Alcohol Tests to Public – WIBW News
In it's ongoing mission to curb underage drinking, the Derby Police Department is making take-home breathalyzer tests available to the public.

ALCOHOL – USA
Alcohol advertising ban on children's replica kits to be implemented in UK – Drinks Business Review
Following the introduction of a new voluntary ban, children's replica sports shirts in the UK will no longer display logos advertising alcoholic drinks.

June 1st Drug Addiction News

ALCOHOL – USA
Alcohol and Its Effects on Family Life – Dental Plans
Alcohol and its effects on family life can have life long consequences for those who live under its influence. This is the view point from a child who survived the silent war that alcohol waged upon his family.

METH – CANADA
Restrictions choking meth efforts – Abbotsford News
A plan to choke off the supply of crystal methamphetamine in Surrey is welcome. Unfortunately, such plans are hampered by restrictions on landlords, law enforcement personnel and city staff.

METH – USA
Candy-Flavored Meth Raising Concerns – WLNS News
A candy-flavored drug may be on its way to Michigan, and police are urging parents to be on the lookout.

COCAINE – SOUTH AFRICA
Wake up and smell the cocaine in Italy – Independent Online
An Italian scientific study has found particles of cocaine in Rome's air, Italy's national research council (CNR) said on Thursday.

COCAINE – USA
Study Finds Cocaine, Pot in Rome's Air – Fox News
Researchers may have figured out what makes la vita so dolce in Rome. A report from Italy's National Research Council released Thursday found that there are traces of cocaine and cannabis in the air of the Eternal City.

METH – USA
CrimeStoppers launches anti-methamphetamine campaign – Meridian Star
Local airwaves, television sets and the newspaper in Meridian will soon be flooded with anti-methamphetamine ads — a move that is designed to deter people from ever trying the drug.

May 29th Drug Addiction News

METH – USA
DEA teaches meth-cooking 101 – The Denver Post
The class was held as part of the DEA's first Citizens Academy in order to give the public a close-up view of what the agency does to keep drugs off the street.

MARIJUANA – USA
Ice Cream Truck Sells $5 & $10 Bags Of Marijuana To Kids – The Post Chronicle
Marijuana "treats" sold by ice cream truck in Texas? Police say the jingle of this particular ice cream truck signaled the arrival of "pot-sickles."

ALCOHOL – USA
Alcohol Labels Get Detailed in Britain – The Washington Post
Beer, wine and hard liquor packaging in Britain will carry warning labels next year detailing how many units of alcohol each drink contains as well as recommended safe drinking levels.

ALCOHOL – USA
Study: Big allowances tied to teen alcohol abuse – MSNBC News
Teenagers with large allowances may be more likely to become problem drinkers, research conducted in the UK hints.

TRANQUILIZER – UK
Tranquilizers use increases in North West – Belfast Telegraph
Almost 140,000 prescriptions for tranquilisers were issued by doctors in the Western Health and Social Services Board area last year. The number of benzodiazepine sedatives prescribed to local people rose to its highest level in four years.

ALCOHOL – UK
Binge drinking 'doubles breast cancer threat' – The Telegraph
The statistics will be alarming to the many thousands of British women who are increasingly binge drinking at weekends.

DRUGS – AFGANISTAN
A Country Seen as a Drugs Factory – e-Ariana News
European parents concerned about their children having access to lethal drugs may have good reason to fear that crops cultivated in Afghanistan can end up too close to home for their comfort.

ALCOHOL – UK
Someone tell the alcocops where to put their labels – Times online
Labels will spell out how many units of alcohol the drink contains, official guidelines about how much (ie, little) to drink, and “advice” such as “Drink responsibly” and “Know your limits”.

ALCOHOL – UK
Drink firms wary of health labels on alcohol – The Telegraph
However, while most in the industry support the principle of better labeling, many have reservations about what to put on their bottles and object to being forced to follow a Government template.

May 28th Drug Addiction News

METH – USA
Candy-flavored meth has some concerned – Chillicothe Gazette
School and law enforcement officials are sounding an alarm for teachers and parents that a pink, strawberry-flavored variety of crystal methamphetamine could wind up in area schools.

COCAINE – IRELAND
Why the US is losing its war on cocaine – Irish Independent
America has spent billions battling the drug industry in Bolivia, Colombia and Peru. And the result? Production as high as ever, street prices at a low, and the governments of the region in open revolt.

ADDICTION – USA
Hollywood's problem with addiction – LA Times
HBO's Chris Albrecht is just the latest to crash. The industry tends to let addictions slide and then feign surprise when someone falls.

METH – USA
Meth film provides a warning — and hope – The Desert News
People hear the rumors about meth. Justin Hunt is determined to show them the reality. Hunt is the independent filmmaker behind the feature-length documentary "American Meth," which he's currently touring around the western United States. The movie will be shown free to the public.

METH – USA
Officials concerned colorful meth could be seen as candy – Coshocton Tribune
School and law enforcement officials are sounding an alarm for teachers and parents that a pink, strawberry-flavored variety of crystal methamphetamine could wind up in area schools.

ALCOHOL – USA
Bracelet that senses alcohol use gaining acceptance – KSWO News
A bracelet that senses when its wearer uses alcohol is being used more by courts in cases involving someone with a drinking problem.

OPIUM – PAKISTAN
Smash our trade in opium, Afghans tell British – Pak Tribune
The Afghan government has demanded that British troops destroy the opium trade in the country after a record poppy harvest that threatens to flood Europe with cheap, high-purity heroin.

ALCOHOL – UK
Drinks to carry alcohol limit warnings – The Telegraph
Alcoholic drinks are to carry health warnings similar to those on cigarette packets from the end of next year.

May 27th Drug Addiction News

CANNABIS – UK
Dangers of smoking cannabis highlighted by students – 24dash.com
Young people in Kensington and Chelsea have been highlighting the dangers of smoking marijuana by taking part in the Cannabis Action Group’s Media Challenge.

PRESCRIPTION – USA
Prescription Concerns – WSLS News
When you're taking a prescription, you probably expect that it's been tested to treat your condition--and that the Food and Drug Administration has approved it for that use. But you could be mistaken.
alcohol
OPIUM – UK
Smash our trade in opium, Afghans tell British – The Telegraph
The Afghan government has demanded that British troops destroy the opium trade in the country after a record poppy harvest that threatens to flood Europe with cheap, high-purity heroin.

ALCOHOL – USA
Troubling trends: Survey shows alcohol, drug use at L-S – Lincoln Journal
A recent survey on risky behaviors shows that alcohol and drug use is common among Lincoln-Sudbury students. Nearly a quarter of Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School students reported binge drinking in the last 30 days.

METH –
Asian regional control of amphetamines needed, says UN anti-drug chief – UN News Centre
With Asia driving the global market for methamphetamine, the continent needs regional control of synthetic drugs to safeguard decades of hard-won progress against illicit substances.

OPIUM – United Arab Emirates
G8 wants Iran help for Afghan opium fight – The Khaleej Times
The G8 industrial nations are concerned about the rise of opium production in Afghanistan and want to enlist Iran and other neighboring countries to crush trafficking of the drug.

METH – USA
$5.6 Million in Anti-meth Funding for Missouri – Kansas City infoZone
The grants and tough anti-meth legislation signed by the governor in 2005 will help with Missouri's ongoing efforts to combat meth and eliminate dangerous lab operations across the state.

METH – USA
Police say new kind of meth headed East – WAVY News
Virginia State Police are warning troopers about a new form of methamphetamine that is spreading across the country toward Virginia.

ADDICTION – USA
Dad's addiction inspires boy's mission – Orlando Sentinel
Winning a D.A.R.E. essay contest normally doesn't garner widespread attention, but John's account of how addiction can cripple a family nearly brought Lake School Board members and others to tears Monday night as he read his composition during a public meeting.

DRUGS – UK
New sponsors save drugs charity – BBC News
A pioneering Nottinghamshire drugs awareness charity which faced serious financial problems has been saved.

ALCOHOL – UK
Steady rise in deaths from heavy drinking – Times Online
A steady rise in long-term heavy drinking has led to a doubling of alcohol-related deaths among men over the past decade, according to official figures.

DRUGS – UK
New era, new trend in drugs – Edinburgh Evening News
We are in a period of great change - new government, new council, and when it comes to alcohol and drugs - new problems.

METH – USA
Officials concerned drug could be seen as candy – WTOL News
School and law enforcement officials are sounding an alarm for teachers and parents that a pink, strawberry-flavored variety of crystal methamphetamine could wind up in area schools.

May 25th Drug Addiction News

METH – USA
Children targeted with new meth – The Daily Journal
A new form of crystallized methamphetamine, nicknamed “Strawberry Quick,” has been developed and is being targeted to children. It looks like the pop rocks candy that sizzles in the mouth, and is a dark pink color with a strawberry scent.

DRUGS – PAKISTAN
Iran, like the West, has a drugs problem – Daily Times
Iran shares a 900-km border with Afghanistan, the world's number one producer of the opium poppy which is the key ingredient for heroin.

PRESCRIPTION – USA
Prescription Addict's Message – Channel 9 WSYR News
Drug treatment centers across in the Syracuse area are reporting a huge increase in the number of teens they're seeing who are addicted to prescription painkillers. We sat down with one recovering addict who has a message for teens and adults alike.

ALCOHOL – UK
Alcohol-related deaths for men doubled in 12 years – The Independent
The number of alcohol-related deaths that could have been prevented has more than doubled in men since 1993, figures show.

ALCOHOL – USA
Workplace Drinking Culture Influences Alcohol Intake Elsewhere – Medical News Today
A restrictive drinking culture at work curbs an individual's overall alcohol intake, including outside of work, suggests research published ahead of print in Occupational and Environmental Medicine.

PRESCRIPTION – USA
District judge alerts consumers to misuse of drugs – Pittsburgh Leader Times
DeComo, a leading activist for drug and alcohol prevention in Armstrong County, was unaware that there was a growing problem with the abuse of prescription pain relievers such as OxyContin, Vicodin, Percocet and pain patches.

DRUGS – USA
Crime And Punishment – Hartford Advocate
Honestly, people how many times do we have to say it. If you’re going to drive while on drugs or if you have drugs in your car, drive safely and slowly, lest you risk not only getting arrested but this column’s detached ironic amusement.

ALCOHOL – USA
Help teenagers get over fool's hill – News Leader
This is a little about me and a lot about our kids. Please know this is not about our differences but about a real issue that confronts many of us living in Nassau County with regard to our teenagers.

May 18th Drug Addiction News

METH – AUSTRALIA
GPs key to breaking 'ice' epidemic – The Age
A Sydney doctor is urging fellow GPs to lead the fight against methamphetamines and help end the nation's devastating "ice" epidemic.

METH – USA
'Candy-Flavored' Meth Makes Its Way To Nebraska – KTIV
Most kids know how to "just say no to drugs." But, when drugs like meth are disguised to look like candy it may end up being just too good for kids to resist.

METH – USA
Flavored meth presents dangerous new drug trend – KHAS TV
A new type of methamphetamine that targets young children is making its way across the country. It is candy–flavored meth.

METH – USA
Authorities on the Look out for Candy-Flavor Meth – KCRG News
It may sound like an Internet rumor, but candy-flavor meth is real, and is a real threat. But drug investigators tell TV9 they can't find it in Iowa, at least not yet.

ALCOHOL – USA
Quebecers and alcohol in 2007: An overall healthy approach, despite specific problems to resolve and certain needs that must be addressed – News Wire
Quebecers have a healthy approach to alcohol. While, over the past five years, drinking habits have become more regular and the consumption of wines and spirits has continued to grow.

PRESCRIPTION – USA
Prescription Drug Use Up in Teen Girls – Web Med
The number of teens, especially girls, taking prescription drugs for type 2 diabetes, sleep problems, and other illnesses is up.

METH – USA
Nevada meth study panel hears examples from other states – WMC-TV Action News
Arkansas Attorney General Dustin McDaniel joined other state attorney generals in Las Vegas today for a conference on methamphetamine.

DRUGS – USA
Inhalant Abuse – Pediatrics Publications
Inhalant abuse is the intentional inhalation of a volatile substance for the purpose of achieving an altered mental state. As an important, yet-underrecognized form of substance abuse, inhalant abuse crosses all demographic, ethnic, and socioeconomic boundaries, causing significant morbidity and mortality in school-aged and older children.

DRUGS – USA
Sales of Home Drug-Test Kits Soar Despite Warnings from Experts – Join Together
The number of parents buying home drug-test kits has increased dramatically despite warnings from treatment professionals and government officials that home-testing adolescents is not a good idea.

DRUGS – USA
Industry Group Launches Website on Cough Medicine Abuse – Join Together
The Consumer Healthcare Products Association (CHPA), which represents manufacturers of over-the-counter (OTC) drugs, has launched an educational campaign on cough medicine abuse focused on a new website.

HEROIN – USA
Deadly Combination of Heroin and Cold Medicine Invades Dallas – Join Together
A deadly mixture of heroin and cold medication, called "cheese," has become a scourge among youth in the Dallas area.

May 17th Drug Addiction News

PRESCRIPTION – USA
Teens: Prescription Drugs & 'Pharm' Parties – Tampa Bay Local State News
Drug trends among teenagers are constantly changing. Next time your kids head to a party, marijuana and cocaine may not be the concern but legal prescription drugs.

METH – USA
Flavored Meth Showing Up – Omaha News
Drug dealers are adding in powdered lemonade and Kool-Aid to make the meth look like the popular candy “Pop Rocks.”

METH – USA
Meth is Death draws large crowd – Arizona Silver Belt
Everybody in the community is impacted by the epidemic of methamphetamine abuse, and it might get worse before it gets any better

METH – USA
City employees learn dangers of meth labs – The Seguin Gazette-Enterprise
If a so-called “cook” was manufacturing methamphetamine here in Seguin, think that wouldn’t be your problem, even if you owned the place?

METH – CANADA
Crystal meth topic of forum – The Powell River Peak
A person can walk into a kitchen that is doubling as a lab for making crystal methamphetamine and not even know it.

HEROIN – FRANCE
'Cheese' heroin tempts Texas teens at two dollars a hit – France 24
Sold in torn paper still bearing class notes, a cheap and deadly form of heroin called "cheese" is sweeping through northern Texas schools where it has claimed the lives of at least 21 teenagers.

PRESCRIPTION – USA
Curbing drug abuse – The Washington Times
The nature of America's drug problem is changing. No longer is the problem characterized exclusively by the stereotypical street-corner drug dealer with a bindle of heroin or a baggie of marijuana. Now, prescription drugs are being misused in record numbers.

METH – USA
Program raises methamphetamine danger awareness – The Prairie Star
Methamphetamine is a highly addictive drug that is affecting every segment of society, especially rural America.

METH – USA
Madigan declares progress in fight against methamphetamine – The Southern Illinoisan
The message, which she delivered as keynote speaker at the fourth annual Southern Illinois Methamphetamine Conference, offered hope to those serving on the front lines of the war against the highly addictive and dangerous drug.

ALCOHOL – USA
Cars, Alcohol & Women Are Deadly Mix – CBS News
Young women are quickly catching up to their male counterparts when it comes to alcohol-related fatal car crashes and other risky driving behavior, according to a new study.

May 15th Drug Addiction News

CANNABIS – BELGIUM
One in four addicted to cannabis – Expatica
Almost one in four of the young drug users who seek professional help is addicted to cannabis. Seven years ago that figure was just one in ten.

CANNABIS – TURKEY
Europe unites against cannabis in Istanbul – Turkish Daily News
In an effort to fight against drugs European leaders meet in Turkey, one of Europe's major drug traffic hubs, to advocate a cannabis free world.

ALCOHOL – UK
Scotland tops UK for those on benefits due to alcohol – The Herald
Alcohol abuse prevents thousands of Scots from working and the west of Scotland has the highest rate of drink-related benefit claimants in the UK, according to new figures.

HEROIN – USA
Is heroin becoming the new trend? – Gazette Extra
Heroin used to be the drug of choice for "experienced" addicts, Patek said. Now, it's reaching a younger audience.

DRUGS – USA
New England Anti-Drug Testing? – Associated Construction Publications
Drug abuse across New England job sites is arguably as bad as, if not worse than, other regions of the country. And while drug abuse is widespread in general, it's particularly severe within the construction sector.

HEROIN – AUSTRALIA
Asian gangs develop highly potent cannabis strain – The Daily Telegraph
Latest criminal intelligence suggests that Australia-based Vietnamese drug dealers have traveled to Canada to learn how to cultivate the highly addictive cannabis.

METH – USA
Rural Meth Users at Greater Risk – Nebraska Farmer
A new study has determined that rural methamphetamine users are younger when they start using meth, are more likely to use intravenously, have more psychoses, smoke more cigarettes and are more likely to be alcoholic than urban methamphetamine users.

COCAINE – GERMANY
Europe Rushes to Stem Flood of Cocaine Coming Through Africa – Deutsche Welle
round 10 million Europeans, or over three percent of all adults, have used cocaine at least once in their lives, a historically high figure, according to the European Monitoring Center for Drugs and Drug Addiction.

METH – USA
As meth cases increase, cleanup help coming – News Democrat and Leader
The production of methamphetamine is a dirty and dangerous- not to mention illegal- process. Poisonous chemicals are used, highly flammable solutions are created and toxic fumes are released. Because of this, meth labs are a health hazard and even continue to be so after they are shut down.

METH – USA
Flavored Meth Targets Youth – WTVF News
Anti-drug advocates and law enforcement said drug dealers are selling flavored crystal methamphetamine, which targets new, young users.

METH – USA
Crack is the New Meth – WENY Local News
The drug of choice will always be replaced for something else, and in this fact we believe because of our close proximity to the New York area.

RITALIN – USA
Finals Week Means Popping Pills – Psych Central
A new study finds that students are using prescription stimulants to improve concentration during long study sessions and all-nighters.

ADDICTION – USA
Fight against drugs moves to living room – Detroit Free Press
In the Royal Oak home of Kirk and Catherine Goddard, about a dozen friends and neighbors gathered around a 27-inch television and settled in for an evening of pizza, salad, soda, movie watching and friendly conversation.

METH – USA
Panel tackles meth addiction in Iowa – DesMoines Register
Treating abusers costs half as much as sending them to prison, but federal funding for such programs ends soon.http://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gif

METH – USA
Filmmaker urges action in meth movie – Grand Junction Sentinel
The filmmaker, who hails from Grand Junction, spent 16 months documenting the lives of meth addicts and drug treatment options around the West

RITALIN – UK
Ritalin Abuse Poses Risk During College Exam Week – Medical News Today
College is hard enough. But throw in end-of-semester exams, term papers and standardized tests, and there just aren't enough hours in the day. Enter Ritalin, the latest drug of choice among sleep-deprived students struggling to make the grade.

May 14th Drug Addiction News

ALCOHOL – UK
Alcohol is a killer for Swiss – Alcoholics Anonymous Reviews
Alcohol is a major cause of death – in many cases premature - among the population in Switzerland, according to a study.

ALCOHOL – AUSTRALIA
Teens in mass binge-drinking arranged over the internet – The Sydney Morning Herald
http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/teens-in-mass-bingedrinking-arranged-over-the-internet/2007/05/12/1178899158412.html
YOUNG girls are the new face of underage drinking, lured to hastily organised booze sessions in parks and beaches by internet sites such as MySpace.

DRUGS – INDIA
Beware of Date Rape drugs – Hindustan Times
The effects of these drugs, victims may be physically helpless, unable to refuse sex, and can't remember what happened. The drugs often have no color, smell or taste and are easily added to flavored drinks without the victim's knowledge.

PRESCRIPTION – USA
Health Tip: Never Share Prescription Medications – Atlanta Journal Constitution
Although you may be tempted to use a medication that has been prescribed to someone else, this is a dangerous practice.

PRESCRIPTION – USA
Don't flush your old prescription drugs; they could harm the environment –WiscNews
Prescription medications can flush toxins from the body, but flushing the expired or unused remedies down pipes into the local sewer system may increase toxins in the environment.

METH – THAILAND
Crackdown against methamphetamine abuse is on – Nation Multimedia
Methamphetamine abuse in Bangkok and other urban centres is on the rise and the Narcotics Control Board will launch a crackdown between now and September.

ALCOHOL – UK
Alcohol at home could help cut teenage binge drinking – Scots Man News
A survey of 10,000 British teenagers aged 15-16 found 75 per cent had drunk alcohol, but those who were first introduced to it at home were less likely to binge-drink, drink frequently or drink in public places.

COCAINE – UK
Euro Zoned Out: Euro Is Choice Of Cocaine – Anorak
The Euro is the No. 1 choice in the cocaine industry. Users might prefer to use rolled up fivers, but the traffickers love the euro.

COCAINE – INDIA
Banned ‘Cocaine’ drink re-emerges as ‘Censored’ – Daily News and Analysis
An energy drink that was barred by the US government from going on the market with the name “Cocaine” will re-emerge under the tongue-in-cheek moniker “Censored.”

DRUGS – USA
Next Generation Of Latino Drug Abuse Experts At University Of Houston To Learn, Teach – Medical News Today
National experts on drug abuse in the Latino community will be at the University of Houston for a week long conference to address current issues and research, and guide new scholars as they study the problem.

ALCOHOL – UK
Alcohol at home can cut teenage binge drinking, study says – Guardian Unlimited
Teenagers who drink alcohol with their parents are less likely to binge drink, according to a survey of 10,000 children which backs the continental style of introducing teenagers to small amounts of alcohol early.

ALCOHOL – CHINA
Study shows alcohol as major cause of death in Switzerland – China View Health
Alcohol is a major cause of death -- in many cases premature -- among the population in Switzerland, Swiss Radio International quoted a study as saying on Thursday.

ALCOHOL – USA
Officials urge Anheuser-Busch to warn of risks with alcohol, energy drinks – The Stamford Advocate
Attorneys general in 27 states on Thursday urged Anheuser-Busch Inc. to issue warnings about the risks of mixing alcohol with caffeinated energy drinks.

METH – USA
State police warn parents about ‘new’ meth – The Journal Press
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, methamphetamine is a very addictive Schedule II stimulant drug that can be taken orally, it can be snorted, injected, or smoked. Abusers can become addicted very quickly and need higher doses more often.

PRESCRIPTION – USA
Availability of prescription drugs puts young people at risk – The Herald Tribune
The killer typically attacks via our bathroom medicine cabinets, or worse yet, is allowed to attack under the guise of a legal medical prescription.

PRESCRIPTION – USA
Warn Teens about Prescription Drugs – 13 WAHM TV
Prescription medications can change a teen's life in seconds. One moment they’re strong and athletic, and the next, they’re headed to the hospital emergency room barely breathing.

DRUGS – UK
UN urges random drug tests for drivers – Yahoo News
Ordinary drivers and workers who operate heavy equipment or do other hazardous jobs should be subject to random drug tests similar to the spot checks police in some countries now conduct for alcohol.

DRUGS – USA
10+ Percent of Adults Abuse or Become Dependent on Drugs – Kansas City infoZine
Drug abuse refers to the intense desire to take drugs at the exclusion of other activities, and dependence occurs when the body becomes physically dependent on an illicit substance.

DRUGS – USA
Rally 'kools' kids' temptations to abuse drugs – The Jackson County Floridan
“Drugs can stop your heart from beating" read one of the signs at the third annual Kool Kids Day, where third-graders from the five-county area learned that drug and alcohol abuse can not only break the hearts of those who love you, it can literally break your heart.

May 9th Drug Addiction News

DRUGS – USA
Drug dealers peddling new kid-friendly mixes – MSNBC
Meth, heroin laced with candy and strawberry flavoring to appeal to youth.

DRUGS – THIALAND
Companies 'clever at giving alcohol a good image' – National Multimedia
Alcohol companies are very clever at creating a good image of drinking by sponsoring sports and musical events, a mass communications lecturer said yesterday.

ALCOHOL – USA
Alcohol Manufacturer Takes Steps To Help Reduce Teen Drinking – North Country Gazette
Beam Global, the nation’s largest distilled spirits company, has adopted a comprehensive set of new policies designed to reduce exposure of its advertising to underage persons.

METH – USA
'Our No. 1 drug problem' – Tucson Citizen
Gov. Janet Napolitano is calling for a crackdown on the cross-border methamphetamine traffic and an expansion of addiction treatment to combat the illegal drug's growing threat to public health and safety.

METH – USA
Meth Strike Force should continue; only question is how – Statesman Journal
It shows what can happens when a community takes charge of a problem instead of leaving it for someone else to solve.

METH – USA
Is meth becoming the new white collar drug? – WFIE TV
It seems meth is used by everyone - from housewives, to teachers, to attorneys. Last Friday, police arrested a second Evansville lawyer on meth-related charges.

May 8th Drug Addiction News

COCAINE – USA
‘Cocaine’ drink yanked from shelves nationwide – MSNBC
Company plans to rebrand the energy beverage after FDA complaints. An energy drink called Cocaine has been from pulled from stores nationwide amid concerns about its name.

METH – USA
Study: Meth addicts in rural areas face more health problems – Journal Star
Experts say rural addicts typically have limited access to treatment facilities and health services, but that’s become even more unsettling in light of a new study comparing meth users living in rural areas with their urban counterparts.

METH – USA
Meth overwhelms the nation – The Daily
While most of us have heard something about the national meth problem, most would probably not term it an epidemic. That’s dangerously incorrect, and our ignorance of the problem is leading to its fast proliferation in our very own backyard.

METH – USA
Meth Update – Oroville Mercury Register
Many parents may needlessly worry that their teen or even preteen is using alcohol or other drugs. There may be a political conflict between a child's rights as a member of a free society and a parent's obligation as a caretaker of a developing individual.

METH – USA
Candy-Flavored Meth Targets New Users – CBS News
Officials say the "designer meth" can smooth the chemically rough ingestion of the drug, making it easier for first-time users to try.

PRESCRIPTION – USA
Parents, Check Your Medicine Cabinet –
If it passes later this month, a bill introduced by Suffolk County Legis. Lynne Nowick (R-St. James) will ban the sale of DXM products to minors. What could be bad about that?

PRESCRIPTION – USA
Teens seen turning to legal drugs for a 'high' – The Daily Record
The latest drug danger for teenagers and young adults is not new; it's legally purchased prescription drugs.

DRUGS – USA
Few parents tune in to teen drug talk – The Daily Herald
Information about drugs favored by local teenagers and how best to connect with them were some of the things parents learned at a special program staged by Warren Township High School on Thursday night.

DRUGS – USA
More Than 10 Percent Of Adults Abuse Or Become Dependent On Drugs During Their Lifetime – Science Daily
Approximately 10.3 percent of U.S. adults appear to have problems with drug use or abuse during their lives.

DRUGS – USA
Dramatic play changes opinions of drug abuse: study – Yahoo News
A dramatic play about drug abuse can change the opinions of the audience and even prompt them to donate money to prevention programs.

May 7th Drug Addiction News

DRUGS – UK
Don’t do drugs…Drugs are bad…Okay? – Drink and Drugs News
Let's learn from the failures of drug education in schools and change the emphasis to drug prevention.

METH – UK
Crystal meth: coming to a town near you – Times
It has been an epidemic in America and a major problem in many other parts of the world. Now it may be our turn to be hit by the world’s most addictive drug

DRUGS – GERMANY
Report Paints Mixed Picture of German Drug and Alcohol Use – DW World
Germany's annual report on drugs and addiction was released this week showing a overall decrease in drug-related deaths, but alarming data on prescription drug addiction and youth drinking.

COCAINE – USA
Cocaine use rising locally – Standard Speaker
Cocaine use may have eclipsed heroin in the Hazleton area for the first time in years, according to police and a drug-prevention expert.

COCAINE – USA
Crack cocaine now a local ‘epidemic’ – The Daily Review
While methamphetamine use has declined in Bradford County, crack cocaine use has now reached “epidemic” proportions in the county.

METH – USA
Meth marks the Tier: What you should know about this dangerous drug – Press and Sun-Bulletin
Meth is a very large problem in this country as well as the world. It shows no boundaries and spares no one. Since d-Meth was invented, the meth epidemic has taken off.

METH – USA
Dealers' latest lure: sweetened meth – Indianapolis Star
Manufacturers adding powdered drink mix to bitter drug to take edge off for new users.

METH – USA
Strawberry Quick, Meth's Dangerous New Form – Associated Content
They are calling this new form of meth "Strawberry Quick" and it looks like Pop Rocks candy that sizzle in your mouth. In it's current form, it is dark pink in color and has a strawberry scent to it.

CODEIN – UK
Taking painkillers can make your headaches worse – The Daily Mail
Taking too many headache tablets can made headaches worse, doctors have warned.

DRUGS – USA
Substance Use Among Young Military Personnel Differs From Civilians – Join Together
Young adults in the military report substantially different patterns of substance use than their civilian counterparts.

DRUGS – USA
Study finds alcohol advertising and marketing are associated with adolescent drinking – RAND
Children's exposure to alcohol advertising during early adolescence appears to influence both beer drinking and their intentions to drink a year later.

METH – USA
New form of meth heading this way; 'Strawberry Quick' combines drug with mix to give better taste – The Benton Courier
A new form of methamphetamine called "Strawberry Quick," targeted at a new, and possibly younger, market, could make its way into Saline County.

PRESCRIPTION – USA
Teen girls, young women outpace males for prescription drug abuse, dependence – Battle Creek Enquirer
A new data analysis finds alarming trends in prescription drug abuse. While overall illicit drug use is declining, the abuse of prescription drugs, particularly narcotic pain killers, remains disturbingly high.

May 6th Drug Addiction News

ALCOHOL – AUSTRALIA
Alice shops urged to stop selling mouthwash with alcohol – ABC Regional News
One pharmacist is no longer selling mouthwash, after noticing a 500 per cent increase in sales over the past few weeks.

ALCOHOL – UK
New study suggests alcohol promotes breast tumour growth – Cancer Research UK
Scientists have discovered that breast tumours in mice given the equivalent of two alcoholic drinks per day grow twice as fast as tumours in mice given no alcohol.

ALCOHOL – USA
Local study links alcohol to brain shrinking – MetroWest Daily News
A new study by a researcher at Wellesley College found that increased alcohol consumption is related to a reduction in brain volume.

ALCOHOL – NEW ZEALAND
Press Release - Alcohol Advertising Review – The Scoop
In their report released today the Alcohol Advertising Review Steering Group has made some useful recommendations however, they have fallen short of doing what is necessary to reduce youth drinking and reduce alcohol-related harm.

ALCOHOL – NEW ZEALAND
Alcohol Report Findings Disappoint Health Group – NewsWire
A health lobby group says a report favouring industry self-regulation over liquor advertising does not go far enough.

ALCOHOL – NEW ZEALAND
Alcohol advertising report released – The Scoop
Associate Health Minister Damien O'Connor today released a report into alcohol advertising.

ALCOHOL – USA
WW County youths use alcohol – The Union Bulletin
The 2006 Healthy Youth Survey, taken by the Washington state Department of Health, shows Walla Walla County youths above the state average in alcohol consumption by as early as sixth grade.

ALCOHOL – SWEDEN
RAND Study Finds Alcohol Advertising And Marketing Are Associated With Adolescent Drinking – All American Patriots
Children's exposure to alcohol advertising during early adolescence appears to influence both beer drinking and their intentions to drink a year later.

ALCOHOL – USA
Campaign takes aim at underage drinking in Montgomery County during May — and beyond – The Journal Review
Parents of pre-teen and teen-age children can help reduce underage drinking by beefing up their “supervisory” skills, through a campaign launched in May by the A.H.E.A.D. Coalition.

ALCOHOL – USA
Alcohol & proms: A deadly mix – Daily Courier
For high school students everywhere, prom is one of the most highly anticipated events of the year. And it is right around the corner.

PRESCRIPTION – USA
Teens Getting High From Prescription Sleeping Pills – Local 10 News
The new party pill for teenagers is a popular sleeping pill. It's easy for young people to get the pills because millions of Americans already have them at home in their medicine cabinets.

ALCOHOL – AUSTRALIA
Alcohol: the problem – The Age
Australia's cultural love affair with booze is jeopardizing the country's health and taking a large chunk out of its hip pocket.

ALCOHOL – AUSTRALIA
Alcohol: the solution – The Age
There is a recurring problem in the attempt to reduce alcohol harm. "What's popular doesn't work and what works isn't popular."

May 4th Drug Addiction News

DRUGS – USA
ONDCP Claims Pot Potency Doubled – Join Together
The report from the University of Mississippi's Potency Monitoring Project said the average THC content in seized marijuana samples was 8.5 percent, up from about 4 percent in 1983.

ALCOHOL – USA
Binge Drinking Prevention Mailings Effective, Study Says – Join Together
Problem drinkers who received informational mailings reduced their binge drinking by 10 percent, according to a study by University of Alberta researchers.

RITALIN – AUSTRALIA
ADHD is born in classrooms – The Daily Telegraph
Teachers were diagnosing a "hyper" child with potential ADHD because schools did not have sufficient resources to find educational answers.

DRUGS – USA
Study: Large Number of Students Abuse Drugs – My VLT 2 News
Shocking new concerns about drug abuse in Knox County, according to the Metropolitan Drug Commission, alcohol remains the most commonly used substance by high school students.

PRESCRIPTION – USA
Girls' Prescription Drug Abuse Up – Time Magazine
Females are bucking the traditional drug abuse trends when it comes to prescription drugs such as antidepressants and tranquilizers.

DRUGS – USA
Hanover Park details drug test plan – The Daily Record
A small but supportive group of about 40 parents showed up Wednesday night for the Hanover Park Regional High School District's panel discussion of its proposed drug-testing policy.

April 30th Drug Addiction News

PRESCRIPTION – USA
Michigan Ranks Among Top States In Nation In Teen Abuse Of Prescription Drugs – Medical News Today
The latest research shows that Michigan has one of the highest rates of teen prescription drug abuse in the country, as teens turn away from street drugs and use prescription drugs to get high.

ALCOHOL – UK
Alcohol liver deaths double since 1997 – STV TV
The number of people dying as a result of alcohol related liver failure has doubled since 1997.

COCAINE – USA
Cocaine Purer And Cheaper Despite Drug War – WJZ
Cocaine prices in the United States have dropped and the drug's purity increased, despite years of effort and nearly $5 billion spent by the U.S. government to combat Colombia's drug industry.

METH – UK
Meth abuse spreading through the UK – Press TV
The use of methamphetamine otherwise known as 'crystal meth' or 'ice' is a highly addictive drug and spreading throughout the United Kingdom.

METH – USA
Meth production flourishes south of the border As a U.S. crackdown against meth labs and precursor chemicals has been drying up domestic production in recent years, the Mexican cartels are enthusiastically filling the void.

METH – USA
Crow community walks against meth – Billings Gazette
Students here made a public stand against methamphetamine Friday.

METH – USA
Fighting meth from your computer: Drug-awareness video is available – The Observer
Rio Rancho has a new tool for people who want a crash course on methamphetamine.

ALCOHOL – USA
Drinking Alcohol Linked to Breast Cancer – Medical Breakthroughs
Alcohol is a well-established risk factor for breast cancer, even when consumed in moderation. Now, new animal studies confirm alcohol consumption stimulates tumor growth and malignancy of breast cancer.

ALCOHOL – USA
Alcohol and our young - Trenton Times
As hard as we try, as much as we preach, and as media coverage resounds, still more and more young people die before their time thanks to a totally preventable cause: alcohol abuse.

April 25th Drug Addiction News

ADDERALL – USA
Eight Wake Forest student films to be featured at screening – Wake Forest University
The film explores the growing underground culture of Adderall use on college campuses.

METH – UK
Addicts turn Lemsip into 'crystal meth' – ITV News
Addicts are turning flu drugs like Lemsip and Benylin into the lethal street narcotic crystal meth, the government has revealed.

METH – UK
Crystal meth fears over medicine – BBC News
Some over-the-counter flu remedies could face restrictions, amid fears that they are being used to produce the highly addictive drug, crystal meth.

ALCOHOL – USA
Higher beer taxes, 21 drinking age reduces traffic deaths of young people – PIRE
Communities with few alcohol regulations could consider raising taxes on beer as a way to reduce drunken driving fatalities among young people.

ALCOHOL – USA
Comparing Alcohol Policies Between Countries: Science or Silliness? – PLoS Medicine
It seems self-evident that it would be useful to have a way of comparing alcohol policies between countries. A metric to compare countries would enable improvements or changes to be monitored.

DRUGS – UK
Statistics on Drug Misuse, England, 2007 (full report) – The Information Centre
For the first time, this annual statistical bulletin presents information on drug misuse among both adults and children.

ALCOHOL – UK
Binge drinking raises cancer risk – BBC News
Women who drink the equivalent of roughly two bottles of wine over a weekend more than double their risk of breast cancer, say Danish researchers.

PRESCRIPTION – USA
8 Ways To Prevent Teen Prescription Drug Abuse – Pushing Back
Teens are turning away from street drugs and the stigma that goes along with using them, and abusing prescription drugs to get the same type of high.

April 24th Drug Addiction Headlines

DRUG ABUSE – AUSTRALIA
Drug laws don't protect public: study – The Age
The authors of a new study showing illicit drug use cost Australian business $3.3 billion in one year say the law enforcement approach to drugs has failed to protect people and commerce.

DRUG ABUSE– AUSTRALIA
War on ice targets foreign supply – The Age
Australian police will increase their presence overseas as part of the federal government's new push to tackle the ice epidemic.

ALCOHOL – INDIA
Alcohol Abuse During College Days Leads to Heart Disease in Later Life – MedIndia
Students who drink heavily during the college days has an increased chance of getting heart disease in the future, reports researchers at the American Heart Association's 8th Annual Conference on Arteriosclerosis.

ALCOHOL – USA
High schoolers get lesson on alcohol safety – Carroll County Times
Alcohol may not be available to teenagers legally, but during senior week, they are going to get it anyway, according to one school resource officer.

DRUG ABUSE – USA
Drug study: Avenues exist besides the drug culture – The Daily Collegian
A recent study brought some very disturbing information to light: Almost half of college students nationwide, about 3.8 million people, binge drink or abuse

RITALIN – USA
Experts say linked to long list of school shooting sprees – WorldNetDaily
Investigators also may want to check his medicine cabinet, because psychiatric drugs have been linked to hundreds of violent episodes, including most of the school shootings in the last two decades.

ALCOHOL – USA
Plenty of reason to worry about teens and alcohol – Bucyrus Telegraph Forum
Clearly, alcohol is one of the most dangerous drugs on the market today. Every year it is ranked as one the most common causes of death for teens and young adults.

METH – USA
An edgy, honest look at meth addiction – KTVA News
With prolonged meth use, a person will experience drug cravings, severe weight loss, withdrawal-related depression, rapid tooth decay or meth mouth.

April 23rd Drug Addiction Headlines

ADDICTION – PAKISTAN