June 13th Drug Addiction News

HEROIN – USA
Deadly $2 heroin targets teens – CNN News
A cheap, highly addictive drug known as "cheese heroin" has killed 21 teenagers in the Dallas area over the past two years, and authorities say they are hoping they can stop the fad before it spreads across the nation.

DRUGS – USA
Report: Drug Deaths On Rise In Florida – Local 10 News
Illegal and prescription drugs were listed as the official cause of death in thousands of Florida autopsies.

CODEINE – UK
WOMEN'S HEALTH RISKS – Mirror News
Painkiller addiction affects 20,000 Britons. Seventy per cent are women, and of those more than half are housewives who started taking the pills to tackle problems such as backache.

METH – USA
So Long Crystal Meth, Hello Cocaine! – STATS
The Sunday Styles section helpfully pointed users and potential users (and presumably police as well) to online advertisements and tried to give the terminally un-hip some clues about current cocaine references in pop culture.

METH – USA
Native group tackles meth problems – KTUU News
According to NCAI delegates, meth manufacturers and dealers are targeting Indian Country because they view the population as more vulnerable and enforcement lenient.

METH – USA
An anti-meth campaign in a rural community – Range News
Willcox, Arizona is not immune to the devastation of methamphetamine, not unlike many other rural communities across the United States.

METH – USA
Tribal leaders unveil new ‘meth toolkit’ – KOB News
Leaders of the National Congress of American Indians say methamphetamine is endangering tribal cultures across the nation. So they’ve unveiled a new “meth toolkit” to help battle the crisis.

COCAINE – USA
Cocaine's Cachet Quietly Rising – Join Together
In certain trendy circles, cocaine use is enjoying a comeback reminiscent of its heyday in the '70s and '80s, the New York Times reported June 10.

DRUGS – UNITED NATIONS
International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking – UNODC
The slogan of the UNODC anti-drugs campaign to be launched on 26 June, the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, is "Do drugs control your life? Your life. Your community. No place for drugs." The slogan will be used for three years and focus on different aspects of drug control.

ALCOHOL – UK
UK drinking habits in flux – The Publican
UK drinking habits are in a state of flux following a period of responsible drinking messages, says a new report.

METH – USA
Montana Meth Ads Maybe Coming to Wichita – WIBW News
Authorities are hoping to crack down on methamphetamine related crimes by convincing kids not to try the drug even once.

June 12th Drug Addiction News

METH – USA
Meth adds scourge to troubled Native American lands – Scientific America
A brutal triple slaying in this remote corner of the vast Navajo reservation brought home what experts have seen coming for years: an explosion in crime on tribal lands linked to the cheap, potent and highly addictive stimulant methamphetamine.

METH – USA
Tribal leaders unveil new 'meth toolkit' – KXMC News
Leaders of the National Congress of American Indians say methamphetamine is endangering tribal cultures across the nation. So they've unveiled a new "meth toolkit" to help battle the crisis.

METH – USA
The Age of Ice Understanding Crystal Meth – Dental Plans
Unlike heroin, the most destructive drug of another generation, "ice," as it is commonly known, is not favored by one class or group of people over another.

HEROIN – USA
State: Alcohol, cocaine, tranquilizers most found drugs in dead – Sun Sentinel
More than 7,700 people who died in Florida in 2006 had drugs or alcohol in their system, with alcohol, cocaine and tranquilizers the most common.

METH – USA
A National Movie-Making Campaign to Stop the Spread of Methamphetamine – Mass Media Distribution LLC
A grassroots campaign is just beginning; one designed to stop methamphetamine with the help of local community youth, their talent and their love for the movies.

COCAINE – USA
Deadly use of cocaine on rise in South Florida, report says – Sun Sentinel
More South Florida residents died with cocaine in their bodies last year than the year before, and fewer died with heroin as a factor contributing to their deaths.

DRUGS – YEMEN
Yemen, UN to start joint efforts on fighting drugs – Yemen News Agency
Yemen and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) held a discussion session, on Sunday, over promoting cooperation ties in area of fighting drugs, and means of further improving this area of cooperation.

CANNABIS – SWEDEN
More cannabis in Sweden than previously thought – The Local
Swedish authorities have seriously underestimated the size of the country's cannabis market. Around 25-30 tonnes of cannabis are sold in Sweden every year, rather than the 3 tonnes previously estimated.

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.

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 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 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.

April 29th Drug Addiction News

METH – USA
Dangers of Methamphetamine – KOLO TV News
Authorities say the cold hard hitting fact about Methamphetamine is that all it takes is one high before you can become an addict.

METH – USA
Methamphetamine Abuse and Emergency Department Utilization – Academic Emergency Medicine
Objectives: To quantify the frequency, cost, and patient characteristics associated with methamphetamine-related emergency department (ED) visits.

PRESCRIPTION – USA
Teen prescription drug abuse on upswing – Duncan Banner
In February, a drug-awareness forum was held for the parents; aimed at getting parents more familiar with drugs and their dangers and to raise awareness of the growing trend among teens to misuse prescription drugs.

COCAINE – USA
U.S. cocaine prices drop, purity rises – BOGOTA
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 – USA
A new drug danger is hitting the streets, candy flavored meth – KQTV News
This is what police agencies throughout the country are referring to as "strawberry quick" methamphetamine, flavored to give it a strawberry taste.

METH – USA
New trend:Candy flavored crystal meth – Daily Review Atlas
Law enforcement agencies across the U.S. have been asked to be on the lookout for candy-flavored methamphetamine.

METH – USA
Meth for Kids – KTTc News
It's candy flavored meth and now lawmakers taking matters into their own hands, before kids in our area get it in their hands.

PRESCRIPTION – IRAN
Prescription drugs can be addictive – Press TV
Heroin may be the most notorious drug but it's only one in a class of addictive substances known as opioids, mostly used as pain killers.

DRUGS – UK
Cannabis and Drug Abuse: how should schools respond – Poverty Debate
Wellington College, the impressive Berkshire establishment, recently hosted a conference on Cannabis and Drug Abuse, focussing particularly on the ways in which schools should respond to the pervasive issue of drug abuse.

HEROIN – USA
'Cheese' Heroin: Questions and Answers – My Fox Dallas
WHAT IS CHEESE? Cheese is black-tar heroin and crushed Tylenol PM tablets. Drug abuse experts, doctors, and police say it's highly addictive and very, very dangerous.

April 26th Drug Addiction News

HEROIN - FRANCE
Drugs may cause addiction by 'remodelling' brain - PARIS (AFP)
A heroin addict aching for a fix years after kicking the habit is not simply weak-willed but may be tormented by enduring changes in the brain caused by the drug itself, according a groundbreaking study released Wednesday

COCAINE – USA
'Cocaine' drink pulled from local shelves – The Stamford Times
Hundreds of cases of an energy drink called Cocaine have been seized by the state, which accuses the Las Vegas company that produces it of not licensing it as required by law.

METH – NEW ZEALAND
Crystal meth fear may hit cold medicines – Stuff
LONDON: Some cold medicines may become prescription-only in Britain to prevent criminal gangs using them to make the crack-like drug, crystal meth.

DRUGS – USA
Drug overdoses up: Coroner sees more drug-related deaths – Shelby County Reporter
Shelby County Coroner Diana Hawkins continues her mission to combat an increase in the number of teens and young adults dying from substance abuse.

METH – UK
Is meth abuse a UK problem? – BBC News
The use of methamphetamine - commonly known as "crystal meth" or "ice" - could be spreading in the UK.

MARIJUANA – USA
Marijuana sold in U.S. stronger than ever – MSNBC News
The marijuana being sold across the United States is stronger than ever, which could explain a growing number of medical emergencies that involve the drug.

ALCOHOL – USA
Study: Men, women show alcohol problems differently – CNN Health News
Women with drinking problems may show it in different ways from men, which could make their alcohol abuse harder to detect, according to new research.

CANNABIS – NEW ZEALAND
US cannabis becoming more potent – TV3 News
US government experts claim the marijuana being sold across the United States is stronger than ever, which they say could explain a growing number of medical emergencies involving the drug.


MARIJUANA – US
U.S. marijuana grows stronger than before – Scientific America
Analysis of seized samples of marijuana and hashish showed that more of the cannabis on the market is of the strongest grade, the White House and National Institute for Drug Abuse said.

MARIJUANA – USA
Feds say marijuana still getting stronger – Team 4 News
The amount of the substance in marijuana seized last year reached eight-point-five percent, according to the White House drug-control policy office.

April 21st Drug Addiction Headlines

PRESCRIPTION – USA
Prescription drug abuse is on the rise among kids – Noblesville Daily Times
Parents are often unaware that pills are being pilfered from their prescription bottles or they don’t want to know.

PRESCRIPTION – USA
Prescription drug abuse paves wide path to illicit drug use – The Village News
America’s war on street drugs routinely garners headlines but much less attention is given to the problem with prescription drug abuse, despite the fact that it is more widespread than abuse of all types of illicit drugs combined.

METHAMPHETAMINE – USA
Local meth addicts deliver powerful radio message – Shakopee Valley News
Jenny, a Scott County mother, tells this story and how she lost custody of her children because of a meth addiction in a pair of radio ads.

ADDERALL – USA
Study: drug abuse on the rise – The Daily Targum
Cramming for exams and pulling all-nighters for students has become synonymous with drinking any and all forms of caffeine - such as coffee or soda - or purchasing over-the-counter caffeine pills. But college students are also introducing prescription drugs into their study habits.

HEROIN- QATAR
Britain’s drug problem worst in Europe: study – Gulf Times
Britain has the worst level of drug abuse in Europe and the second-highest rate of drug-related deaths, according to a study published yesterday.

ALCOHOL – USA
Youth leaders educate BOC on alcohol awareness issues – Curry County Reporter
A group of high school student leaders from Gold Beach, Pacific and Brookings-Harbor high schools, discuss their efforts to raise drug and alcohol awareness.

ADDICTION – USA
Town Hall studies teen addiction – Casa Grande Valley News
Teens, both boys and girls, report that during their lunch hour, they'll go somewhere to get high or to drink, and come back without anyone noticing.

April 18 Drug Addiction Headlines

HEROIN – USA
“Cheese” heroin killing kids in Dallas – Hot Air
As many as 17 Dallas County teenagers have died since 2005 from overdoses of the popular new form of heroin known as “cheese” – the most visible sign yet that more youths are caught in the grip of a growing crisis.

METH – USA
Scottsdale Students Get First Look at Arizona's New Meth Prevention Campaign – PR Newswire
Earlier today at Cocopah Middle School in Scottsdale, a classroom of eighth-graders got a first look at some of the television and print advertisements that depict the detrimental impacts of Meth use and that will ultimately be seen by teens across Arizona.

CANNABIS – UK
Cannabis use rife among teens – Scenta News
Research from Queen’s University Belfast has discovered that one in ten school children who had reported using cannabis at least once had now become daily users.

ALCOHOL – UK
British least likely to be breath-tested – Times Online
Britain has one of the worst records in Europe for reducing deaths from drink-driving, according to a study that calls for much tougher enforcement of the limit.

HEROIN – USA
Lethal heroin drug mix plagues Dallas schools – Seattle Times
The number of Dallas students getting hooked on a new drug called "cheese" is skyrocketing, with arrests for the heroin mix up 82 percent this school year.

CANNABIS –UK
One-third of pupils have tried cannabis by the age of 15 – The Independent
One in three young teenagers have used cannabis, some on a daily basis, according to new research. The study appears to confirm growing fears among teachers that joints have become the 21st-century equivalent of smoking behind the bike sheds.

METH – USA
Flavored Meth Making Its Way To Siouxland – KTIV News
Methamphetamine labs are declining in number in the Hawkeye State after a state law disrupted the flow of some raw materials used to make meth.

PRESCRIPTION – CANADA
Cramming students cautioned against taking stimulant without prescription – CBC News
It is not known how many students are using Dexedrine to study. Robin Tribble said its use is widespread among her friends in first year who live in residence. Some of the people are now dependent on Dexedrine for studying, she said.

April 17 Drug Addiction Headlines

HEROIN – USA
An Innocent Name For A Deadly Drug – ABC News
A New Kind Of Heroin Called "Cheese" Is Turning Teens Into Addicts And Causing Deaths.

ADDICTS – USA
Revolving Door for Addicts Adds to Medicaid Cost – The New York Times
With grim humor, some doctors in New York call them “frequent fliers” — addicts who check into hospital detoxification units so often that dozens of them spend more than 100 nights a year in those wards.

BENZODIAZEPINE – AUSTRALIA
Hotline reveals community under a hypnotic spell – The Australian
SLEEP medicine specialists have been amazed by the publicity surrounding recent reports of hundreds of callers inundating a Queensland pharmacy hotline with stories about unusual side effects after taking the world's most commonly prescribed hypnotic, zolpidem (Stilnox in Australia and Europe, Ambien in the USA).

COCAINE – USA
Legal Cocaine Will Soon Be Available – Associated Content
The Redux Beverages Company has been warned by the FDA about its packaging and promotion of a new drink being introduced by the company.

METH – USA
Osborne talks to students about meth addiction – KHAS TV News
He may no longer be a Congressman, but that is not slowing down Tom Osborne from working to improve the meth problem in Nebraska.

METH – USA
Community on Ice: The Meth Epidemic – LasVegasNow.com
Methamphetamine abuse in Nevada has been described as an epidemic problem. The Silver State ranks number one in the country for meth users over the age of 12.

METH – DENMARK
Gritty New Ads for Montana Meth Project Show Effect on Family and Friends – AdLand
Known for its gritty and hard-hitting portrayal of meth use, the latest ads for the Montana Meth Project don't disappoint.

ALCOHOL – USA
School to enforce alcohol-free dances with breath tests – The Dallas Morning News
Students at Wahlert High School are being tested to make sure they're not DUI – dancing under the influence.

PRESCRIPTION – INDIA
Youths pop prescription pills to get a high – Daily News & Analysis
An occasional puff or a beer are no longer cool enough for youngsters to get a high. Narcotics are now the ‘in-thing’ and youth are turning to prescription medicines, especially painkillers and cough syrups, to get their high.

April 16 Drug Addiction Headlines

HEROIN – USA
`Cheese' plague escalates in Dallas school district – Ohio.com
The number of Dallas students getting hooked on a new drug called "cheese" is skyrocketing, with arrests for the heroin mix up 82 percent so far this school year.

METH – NEW ZEALAND
Aussie opposition launches anti-meth plan – Stuff New Zealand
Opposition Leader Kevin Rudd said use of methamphetamine – including speed, ice and crystal meth – was rife with a recent study suggesting 100,000 Australians of all ages used the drugs in the last week.

METH – IRELAND
Baking Soda Could Go Behind the Counter – The Epoch Times
A Missouri state legislator is seeking to regulate baking soda sales in hopes of curbing crack cocaine production.

METH – CANADA
PROTOCOL IN PLACE TO PROTECT METH'S YOUNGEST VICTIMS – Manitoba Government
New measures to help protect Manitoba communities against the devastating effects of crystal meth, including mandatory procedures for decontamination and assessment of children found in home-based meth labs.

ALCOHOL – USA
Forum addresses teens' drug and alcohol abuse – Contra Costa Times
IN A RECENT survey given to Pleasanton's high school students, 17 percent of ninth graders and 35 percent of 11th graders admitted to drinking alcohol in the past 30 days.

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 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 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 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 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 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 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.

Feb 22 Drug Headlines

METH – NEW ZEALAND
Tenfold increase in methamphetamine entering NZ – New Zealand Herald
Police and customs officials say the amount of pure methamphetamine ("P") entering New Zealand has increased tenfold in the past year.

METH – USA
Local students are winning war on meth – Lake County Leader
The first-time sensation of meth is so powerful that someone dumb enough to try the drug is almost instantaneously hooked. They will never again attain that first ‘high’, but will ruin their lives in the attempt.

MARIJUANA – USA
U.S. Is Sued Over Position on Marijuana – New York Times
Frustrated by government policy and inaction, a group of advocates for medical marijuana sued two federal health agencies on Wednesday over the assertion that smoking it has no medical benefit.

ADDICTION – UK
'We can help each other' – The Guardian
In 1967, Mollie Craven, the mother of a heroin addict, wrote an article in the Guardian appealing to readers to start a self-help group for addicts and their families. Now, 40 years later, Addaction is Britain's leading drug charity.

ADDICTION – UK
Kicking old habits – The Guardian
It's a quiet morning in a quiet road just off Mare Street in Hackney, east London. Drop-in hours are not until the afternoon, but already people are arriving at the doors of Addaction Hackney Community Drug Service.

HEROIN – USA
Parents confront deadly heroin mix – KVUE
Parents and community leaders, concerned about a cheap and deadly drug that has invaded a cluster of northwest Dallas schools, demanded Wednesday that school and police officials take the problem more seriously.

CANNABIS – SWITZERLAND
'Cannabis is not for cows' – IOL News
Switzerland's agriculture ministry has called on the country's farmers to stop feeding their cows cannabis.

Feb 20 Drug Headlines

PESCRIPTION – USA
Feds Issue New Way To Curb Prescription Drug Abuse – WTOV
The federal government has issued new ways to get rid of old medicine in an effort to prevent kids from getting high on prescription drugs.

METH – USA
Strong Connection Between Identity Theft And Meth Use – Fox News
Many meth addicts can't work because of the drug's effect on the body. But identity theft is relatively easy and more lucrative than robbing a bank.

METH – USA
Health, safety officials address ongoing meth problem – KTUU News
Methamphetamine: It's a drug with far-reaching side effects that go way beyond the user.

ADDICTION – USA
Drug addiction affects all of us – Guelph Mercury
Too often, drug addiction is described as something affecting "those people" or people living in "that neighbourhood." The reality is much different.

HEROIN – UK
Calls for inquiry to settle heroin policies – The Herald
Scotland's top social workers yesterday called for a Royal Commission to settle the row over methadone.

OPIUM – USA
Afghan envoys warns of terrorist-drug link – United Press International
Afghanistan's ambassador to Australia has warned his country could become a terrorist-backed narco-state unles it gets help to combat drug trafficking.

Feb 12 Drug Headlines

PRESCRIPTION – USA
Deaths from drug poisoning on the rise – Food Consumer
Deaths from prescription drug poisoning increased by 68 percent between 1999 and 2004 in the United States, becoming second only to motor vehicle crashes as a cause of unintentional deaths in the country.

DRUGS – USA
Dramatic rise in accidental drug-overdose deaths reported – CNN Health
The number of accidental drug overdose deaths rose from 11,155 in 1999 to 19,838 in 2004, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

OPIUM – USA
Drug Eradication In Afghanistan – Voice of America News
Afghan police, supported by NATO forces, are about to begin a poppy eradication campaign in Afghanistan’s Helmand province

PRESCRIPTION – USA
Prescription Medicine Safety – ABC News
It's that time of year when everyone seems to be coming down with something.You may find yourself rustling through your medicine cabinet and finding an old prescription, but are you putting yourself in danger?

ALCOHOL – UK
Drink label 'warning to mothers' – Telegraph
Bottles and cans of alcohol should carry health warnings aimed at pregnant women, similar to those seen on tobacco products, campaigners said yesterday.

DRUGS – USA
White House Releases National Plan To Combat Drug Use in America – ONDCP
New Drug Control Strategy Focuses on Reducing Both Demand and Supply; Highlights Success in Reducing Meth Use, Addresses Emerging Prescription Drug Threat.

DRUGS – USA
84 Percent of Employers Require Pre-Employment Drug Tests – Join Together
More than four out of five U.S. employers now require pre-employment drug tests, and 39 percent conduct random drug testing of employees.

HERION – THAILAND
No letup in drug war – Bangkok Post
Out of the media spotlight, anti-narcotic officers are continuing their fight against smugglers along the borders.

METHADONE – USA
Methadone overdose on rise – Examiner
Overdoses of methadone — used as a replacement drug for opiate addicts but also an increasingly popular painkiller — can lead to heart and breathing problems and death.

PRESCRIPTION – USA
Illegal drug use declines, prescription drug abuse climbs – The World Link
Illegal drug use in the United States has dropped sharply since 2001 but abuse of prescription drugs remains a problem.

CANNABIS – UK
DRUGGIES IN DEADLY GRIT WEED ALERT – The People
A DEADLY new type of cannabis called grit weed is sweeping Britain.

DRUGS – USA
CDC finds dramatic rise in drug deaths – Oblerlin Times
This is the first study really to describe the large relative increases in poisoning mortality rates in rural states. Historically, the drug issue has been seen as an urban problem.

Feb 3 Drug Headlines

COCAINE – USA
Passion alone won't rescue Colombia from its narco-economy stigma – Guardian Unlimited
Thanks to the western appetite for cocaine, this stunningly beautiful country has the tourist appeal of Afghanistan.

ALCOHOL – USA
Women And Recovery From Alcoholism – Medical News
PhD candidate Ms Janice Withnall, from the UWS School of Education, is carrying out the project in a bid to better understand the experiences