Drug News
Sunday
April 1 Drug Addiction Headlines
METH – USA Stronger meth is on the market – WALB NewsA small dose of meth-ice, a more potent form of the typically seen meth. METH – USA Meth, heroin were equally fatal to Oregonians in 2006 – The World LinkThough heroin and meth were equally fatal in 2006, the results represent a sharp diversion from numbers posted a decade ago. OPIUM – USA Could Afghan Opium Trade Go Legal? – Business WeekDespite efforts to eradicate Afghanistan's opium production, the problem keeps getting worse. And the Taliban insurgency is the primary beneficiary. METH – USA Police: New Candy-Flavored Meth Targets Young Users – KSBW Channel NewsAuthorities said drug dealers are adding color and candy flavor to methamphetamine, making it more appealing to young users. ALCOHOL – USA Study Finds 49% of US College Students Are Abusing Drugs or Alcohol – LifesiteA new report by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) at Columbia University found that forty-nine per cent (3.8 million) of full time college students binge drink and/or abuse prescription and illegal drugs. ALCOHOL – USA April is Alcohol Awareness Month – eMaxHealthOn March 30th Vermonters gather to kick off Alcohol Awareness Month at the 9th annual "Day of Recovery"at the Statehouse. ALCOHOL – USA A booze buzz for teenyboppers? – MSNBCAnheuser-Busch product so adorable it draws fire from alcohol abuse camp. MARIJUANA – USA Is Marijuana Kosher For Passover? – Washington PostIn Israel they won't be passing many dubbies this Passover. The country's pro-pot Green Leaf Party ("Aleh Yarok") has sent a mass e-mail to its members warning that hemp-related products may be a no-no for those who keep Kosher during Pesach. METH – USA Former meth addicts appear in videos given to schools – Tucson CitizenA teenager describes chewing the palms of her hands until they bled. A young woman wonders if she'll ever be able to have children. A gaunt man with a scarred, weathered face asks whether young people want to wind up looking like him. DRUGS – USA Drug addiction affects more people than just the abuser – OC RegisterIf anyone reading this is "dabbling" in drugs, thinking it will only hurt him- or herself, read on... Labels: alcohol, marijuana, methamphetamine, opium
Tuesday
March 26 Drug Headlines
CANNABIS – BULGARIA The Independent:UN warns of cannabis dangers as it backs 'IoS' drugs 'apology' – Focus NewsThe 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 NewsA 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 NewsIt'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 – MSNBCBritish study rated the substances more dangerous than marijuana, Ecstasy. METH – USA Yuma, we have a problem: Meth is everywhere – Yuma SunYou 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 NewsMeth 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 TribuneParents 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 HealthA 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 ColonistNinety 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 StarMethamphetamine has invaded Ventura County. In the past five years, addiction to this devastating stimulant has surpassed heroin, cocaine and other drugs Labels: alcohol, cannabis, heroin, methamphetamine, opium, prescription
Thursday
March 22 Drug Headlines
ADDICTION – GERMANY Cannabis Addiction Treatment at All-Time Highs, Potent "Skunk" Blamed – Short NewsSuper-strength varieties of home-grown skunk are replacing the North African hash found in Britain, which can approach strengths 25 times that of plants grown just a decade prior. OPIUM – MALAYSIA Narcotics police – Malaysia StarThe Narcotics Department continues a battle against drugs that began in the 1800s. OPIUM – AFGHANISTAN Drug Chief Says Opium Production In Southern Afghanistan "Out Of Control" – Radio Free AfghanistanThe situation is out of control in the southern part of [Afghanistan], in some provinces [opium poppy cultivation] increasing, in some provinces stable, but we don't have a specific number. METHADONE – USA A Fatal Dose – NewsweekHospital administrators confirmed to NEWSWEEK and NBC News last week that five veterans there died of overdoses of illegal and prescription drugs in less than three months this winter. METH – USA Gritty MT meth ads grab attention – KTVB NewsAs efforts to cut down on the use of methamphetamine use in the State of Idaho gear up, many are looking across the border to a groundbreaking project in Big Sky Country. METH – USA "LIFE OR METH" – NBC NEWSFinancial losses, ruined lives and cries for hope, all part of a one-hour prime time program tonight. METH – USA Meth Abuse – Black Hills TodayYoung people, ages 12-14, who live in small towns like those across South Dakota are over 100 percent more likely to use meth than those living in large cities. METH – USA Register for Meth Awareness Conference – Eastern Arizona CourierAttorney General God-dard was at the forefront of the initial state efforts to combat crystal meth. His campaign to target the production, distribution and use of crystal meth helped to bring this public health issue out of meetings and into the public eye. COCAINE – COLUMBIA Ireland and Scotland Face-Up to Increasing Cocaine Abuse – Shared ResponsibilityFollowing revelations of Irish and Scottish drug consumption figures indicating a two- and three-fold increase in cocaine use, respectively, both countries gear up to battle this trend. PRESCRIPTION – USA Prescription drug abuse on rise, especially among rural youth – Muskogee Daily PhoenixAbuse of prescription drugs has begun to rise, particularly among youths in rural or small communities. PRESCRIPTION – USA Students Selling Prescription Drugs – Omaha ABC NewsTeenagers selling illegal drugs. It’s not an unfamiliar crime but it seems more teens are being caught peddling prescription drugs to classmates. OXYCODONE – CANADA Issue must be addressed – Fort Frances Times OnlineMy thanks to Jeff Tilbury for his letter last week drawing attention to the exploding oxycodone addiction problem in our local communities. CANNABIS – UK Rethink urges government action over cannabis – Craegmoor Healthcare NewsYoung people are not sufficiently aware of the dangers of smoking high-strength cannabis. CANNABIS (SKUNK) – UK Skunk: growing danger on the streets – The TelegraphA record number of people are now seeking treatment for cannabis addiction as high-strength strains of the drug take a grip on users. Labels: cannabis, cocaine, methadone, methamphetamine, opium, oxycodone, prescription
March 15 Drug Headlines
ALCOHOL – USA Crackdown on serving alcohol to minors – Vail Daily NewsIt could happen on any given night at any given bar. Minors trying to order alcohol is not an uncommon event in Eagle County. PRESCRIPTION – USA Sleeping Pill Advertisement Targeting Children Illustrates Need for Congress to Reform Prescription Drug Ads – Yuba NetThis advertisement geared to children going 'back to school' is outrageous, and we urge the FDA take stronger and more timely actions in cases such as this. PRESCRIPTION – USA Emergency Room Visits Climb for Misuse of Prescription and Over-the-Counter Drugs – Media NewswireEmergency room visits related to the nonmedical use of pharmaceuticals, including prescription and over-the-counter drugs, increased 21 percent from 2004 to 2005. METH – USA Dangers of Methamphetamine – News 10 NowParticipants in Tuesday's Methamphetamine meeting found out everything from signs and symptoms, the different types and how it's made. OPIUM – IRAN NATO predicts opium-free northern Afghanistan in few years – Islamic Republic News AgencyAccording to assessment by experts in Afghanistan, the entire northern half of Afghanistan will be opium free in a few years. OPIUM – USA Afghanistan's poppy conundrum – Spero NewsThis year's eradication campaign in Helmand seems to be accomplishing little except beefing up support for the Taliban. COCAINE – UK Cocaine problem on the rise, police reveal – Newry DemocratPeople think that only the bad ones take drugs but there are a lot of good kids using them as recreation. The downside is that a lot of parents say their kids are only smoking blow and that it won’t do them any harm. That’s not true. CANNABIS – UK Cannabis cultivation ‘booming’ in Britain but law enforcement hitting local supplies – Drugscope NewsGrowing cannabis commercially near the point of sale can dramatically increase profits, but this increases the risk of detection. There are significant implications for police resources in trying to keep up with the growers who are becoming increasingly smart in establishing new farms and avoiding arrest. Labels: alcohol, cannabis, cocaine, methamphetamine, opium, prescription
Wednesday
March 14 Drug Headlines
ALCOHOL – USA Docs Call for Ban on Alcohol Ads in College Sports – Join TogetherThe 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 TogetherA 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 NewsA project tackling drug and alcohol misuse among children is being extended, it has been revealed. HEROIN – RUSSIA Russia hit by flood of heroin – ABC NewsLast 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 NewsHeroin has the biggest part of drug traffic in Bulgaria. ALCOHOL – USA Survey finds many county youngsters drink alcohol – Journal Times OnlineNearly 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 TodayOverdoses 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 OnlineWhile 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 TodayThe 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. Labels: alcohol, heroin, methamphetamine, opium
Friday
March 8 Drug Headlines
ALCOHOL – USA Surgeon General Calls for Action on Underage Drinking – Join TogetherNoting that alcohol "remains the most heavily abused substance by America's youth," acting U.S. Surgeon General Kenneth Moritsugu, M.D., M.P.H., called for government, school officials, parents, communities, and youth themselves to do more to prevent underage drinking. METH – CANADA ‘People’s lives are destroyed’ – Williams Lake TribuneLast week Williams Lake Indian Band hosted a workshop to help front-line workers get up to speed on drugs, particularly crystal methamphetamine, or just crystal meth. OPIUM – NEW ZEALAND Opium Production Could Rise Yet Again, UN Reports – Scoop, Independent NewsAfter Record Afghan Crop In 2006, Opium Production Could Rise Yet Again, UN Reports. METH – USA Anti-meth group to launch new ads – Montana ForumTargeting 1st-time users.The project was started by the Thomas and Stacey Siebel Foundation in 2005 with the goal of significantly reducing first-time use of meth by teenagers. ALCOHOL – USA Surgeon General Urges Action on Underage Drinking – Treatment OnlineIn an official confirmation of a widely recognized issue, Surgeon General Kenneth Moritsugu issued a call to arms regarding underage drinking, calling alcohol the "drug of choice" for teens and urging all corners of society to act toward minimizing the problem. METH – USA Meth seminar to focus on helping service workers – Black Hills PioneerMeth affects everyone in the community, even people who may never give it a second thought. METH – USA State, counties plan anti-meth ad campaign – Tucson CitizenAdolescents with rotting teeth, bloody sores and other disfigured features will grace Arizona TV screens and newspaper pages next month as part of $5 million campaign against methamphetamine use. MARIUJANA – CANADA More young people smoke pot than tobacco, survey finds – The Vancouver SunAverage age of first marijuana use is 14.7 years, compared to 13.9 years for tobacco and 14.1 years for alcohol. ALCOHOL – USA Study: 7.2 million U.S. teens binge drink – MSNBCAmericans need a wake-up call about the widespread use of alcohol by millions of underage drinkers. Labels: alcohol, marijuana, methamphetamine, opium
Wednesday
March 7 Drug Headlines
METHADONE – USA Scientists get a fix on methadone risks – NZZ OnlineSwiss scientists say hundreds of thousands of patients and drug addicts should no longer receive the most widely used form of methadone because of heart attack risks. ALCOHOL – AUSTRALIA Alcohol abuse `should be prime focus' – The Advertiser, AdelaideAlcohol abuse is the nation's biggest social drug problem, the incoming chief of the Mental Health Council of Australia has warned. PRESCRIPTION – USA Prescription drug abuse on the rise – News 14 CarolinaBelieve it or not, the new drug of choice for teens might be right in your medicine cabinet. PRESCRIPTION – USA Prescription-painkiller abuse on the rise – United Press InternationalTeenagers and young adults are abusing prescription drugs in staggering numbers, and the crippling effects of this addiction must be addressed head-on. METH – CANADA RCMP warn students about crystal meth – The CoasterTo some people it is more valuable than diamonds, more precious than gold. You can smoke it, snort it, or inject it. METH – USA Methamphetamine on the decline? – Daily Review AtlasAre the new methamphetamine laws finally putting a dent in the annual drug trade? That depends on whom you ask. OPIUM – USA U.N.: Afghan opium harvest rising – CNN NewsA "cancer of insurgency" in southern Afghanistan could drive the 2007 opium poppy harvest to record levels, the U.N. drug agency chief said Monday. ADDERALL – USA Prescription stimulant abuse rising on campuses – SIU Daily EgyptianThe abuse of prescription stimulants is most prevalent among whites, members of fraternities or sororities and students with poor grades, according to a report released by the National Institute on Drug Abuse. METH – USA Mom's Against Meth Air New Anti-Drug Movie Nationwide – Fox 12 BoiseA nationwide group called Mothers Against Meth has created a film called "Crystal Meth: They Call It Ice". OPIUM – USA Record Opium Crop Possible in Afghanistan, U.N. Study Predicts – The New York TimesAfghanistan’s opium harvest could be bigger than last year’s record crop, with nearly half of the provinces showing an increase in planting this year. OPIUM – USA U.N. forsees Afghan poppy harvest boom – Boston GlobeThe U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime predicted that last year's harvest record would be broken by an increase in 15 provinces. PAINKILLER – USA Study finds Utah tops nation in nonmedical painkiller abuse – Daily HeraldA federal study of painkiller use found Utah lead the nation in nonmedical use of prescription drugs in 2004 and 2005. METHADONE – USA Methadone, a New Killer – Canyon NewsMethadone, which is a drug, comes in pill form as well as in liquid. Labels: adderall, alcohol, methadone, methamphetamine, opium, painkillers, prescription
Monday
March 5 Drug Headlines
COCAINE – JAPAN Europe sleeping through a cocaine siege – The Japan TimesEuropean 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 NetEuropean 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 IndependentEl 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 TimesPoppy 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 – TBOCentral 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 ChronicleTuesday 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 NewsChild 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. Labels: cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, opium
Sunday
March 4 Drug Headlines
METH – USA Governor kicks off "March Against Meth" month – IDAHO News NowIf 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 ClevelandAccording 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 NewsThere'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 TimesIt 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 ChroniclceThe 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 – MSNBCIn 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 StarSuccess 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 FYIThe 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. Labels: alcohol, heroin, methamphetamine, opium
Wednesday
Feb 28 Drug Headlines
METHADONE – USA Methadone abuse continues to grow – Herald NetIt's the "easy-to-get" nature of the drug that has led to the spike in methadone deaths, according to government officials. PESCRIPTION – USA Prescription Drug Abuse on the Rise – News MaxWhen you think of drug abuse, you might imagine a frantic crack addict handing over cash to dealer in a seedy part of town. What about this portrait of drug abuse? A middle-class person walks up to a pharmacist and hands over a forged prescription for some pain killers. PAINKILLERS – USA Daily painkiller raises heart attack risk – The AgeTHE safety of popular over-the-counter painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs has been questioned after a huge Harvard study found prolonged use can increase the risk of heart attacks and strokes. PAINKILLERS – USA Painkiller Risk: High Blood Pressure – Health SentinelThe most widely used medicines in the world -- over-the-counter pain drugs -- raise a person's risk of high blood pressure. METH – USA War on Drugs no help as meth epidemic worsens in the U.S. – Trans World NewsMethamphetamine is a highly addictive psychostimulant drug that can have horrifying side effects, but perhaps the most shocking thing about this drug is that the FDA and Big Business may be contributing to its spread in pursuit of profits. MARIJUANA – USA Driving While Young: Teens and Marijuana – ABC Local NewsWith so many tragedies involving young drivers, our Eyewitness News special project "DWY: Driving While Young" looks at the dangers teens face behind the wheel. MARIJUANA – USA Lawmakers target marijuana-flavored candy – AJC Capitol UpdatesA bill that would ban the sale of marijuana-flavored candy to children in Georgia won approval from a legislative committee this morning, advancing the proposal toward a vote in the House of Representatives. METH – USA Boys & Girls Club takes meth program to schools – The Verde IndependentThe clubs have been presenting the nationally acclaimed MethSMART program in West Sedona and Big Park elementary schools in Sedona and Mingus High School in Cottonwood over five weeks. OPIUM – THIALAND The war that won't go away – Bangkok PostLike most wars, the society problem often labelled as the ''war on drugs'' is a matter of many small battles. This war has had many ups and downs. It should not be surprising that drug trafficking and usage are increasing once again. OPIUM – USA Opium eradication starts in Afghanistan – Houston ChronicleAnguish creased the weathered face of the opium farmer as a U.S.-trained eradication team swept through his farm fields in this southern Afghan village. Labels: marijuana, methadone, methamphetamine, opium, painkillers, prescription
Monday
Feb 26 Drug Headlines
METH – USA Senator Cogdill Fights To Remove Methamphetamine Problems – My Mother Lode NewsSenator Dave Cogdill is pushing hard to remove the problem of methamphetamine out of the Central Valley and rural California. METH – USA Personal horrors aid meth fight – Kansas City StarThe camera draws in on a young woman's face. Her teeth are blackened with decay. Her neck is covered with red sores - the work of a manic methamphetamine addict who can't stop clawing at her own skin. COCAINE – SOUTH AFRICA Teens plan 'cocaine parties' via cellphone – IOLPort Elizabeth high school girls are organising "cocaine parties" via their cellphones, according to media reports. METH – USA UCD study: Meth can lead to fatal form of heart disease – Daily DemocratYoung people who use methamphetamine, an addictive, illegal stimulant also known as meth, crank, crystal and speed, more than triple their risk of cardiomyopathy, a disease of the heart muscle. ADDICTION – USA Middle East's Opium Addiction – Epoch Times InternationalThriving drug addiction is one such problem that remains neglected. After the collapse of the Taliban, opium use more than doubled in Afghanistan. METHADONE – USA Anna Nicoles family tragedy not atypical – HARMD - Blogger News Network‘Don’t make us laugh’ respond HARMD (Helping America Reduce Methadone Deaths) - a large lobbyist group formed by families of methadone victims. ‘That hackneyed promo phrase is a bit off, given over 4000 deaths or one for every 50 addiction patients are occurring yearly now’. ALCOHOL – USA Turning the tables around on alcohol education in schools – Clanton AdvertiserWe all know the best way not to abuse alcohol is not to start, but if you do drink, then you should at least know how to do it safely. ALCOHOL – UK Alcohol is killing us … it’s time to show some spirit and fight back – Sunday HeraldLENT BEGAN last Wednesday, an annual opportunity to give up chocolate and to walk to work instead of taking the bus. This year we should forget about the jokey little sacrifices and skip to a big one; if there's one thing Scots could do with giving up permanently it's the booze. OPIUM – THAILAND Officials: Drug use on the rise in Thailand – Bangkok PostThe use of illicit recreational and hard drugs is growing again, especially among young people, after a lull during the deadly war on drugs by the former administration of Thaksin Shinawatra, according to officials. Labels: alcohol, cocaine, methadone, methamphetamine, opium
Sunday
Feb 24 Drug Headlines
METHADONE – UK Addicts offered a sporting chance – Sunday HeraldA NEW "abstinence" programme which helps drug and alcohol abusers escape their addictions by promoting a healthy lifestyle is set to be introduced across Scotland. ALCOHOL – USA PREGNANCY, ALCOHOL BAD MIX – Monterey HeraldYour unborn child eats what you eat and drinks what you drink, and drinking alcohol is no less than feeding your unborn child poison, say a growing number of health-care experts who believe it is time to sound an alarm. OPIUM – THAILAND Drugs a rising problem in Thailand – The NationThe area under opium cultivation has risen 10 per cent to 1,075 rai, while the amount of narcotics smuggled into the country through the northern border has also risen. METH – USA ‘Life's Great, Don't Meth It Up' – KDBC NewsKids and drugs -- It's a connection parents, teachers and even students have fought for years. Now U.S. Congressman Stevan Pearce is getting involved. METH – USA Meth presentation focuses on ways to help – The News ReviewSince taping the video years ago that played Thursday night at Umpqua Community College, Dr. Jack Stump — who has lectured about meth for 14 years — has used it and others like it to show the drastic effects the drug has on people. PESCRIPTION – USA Growing trend of prescription drug thefts – WRDW NewsInvestigators say they get reports of thieves taking highly addictive painkillers from the people who need them every week. In some cases, they say the drugs are sold on the streets. ALCOHOL – AUSTRALIA This country's biggest drug problem is alcohol – The AustralianTODAY about 175 Australians will go into hospital because of a major drugs problem. After tobacco, it is the major drugs problem in Australia, and one that we are not adequately tackling – alcohol. PESCRIPTION – USA Teens' prescription abuse up – Daily IowanWith the introduction of online pharmacies, prescription drugs are becoming easier to obtain, and recent studies show teens are increasingly using the substances recreationally. ALCOHOL – UK Big rise in number of young people killed by heavy drinking – The IndependentThe alcopops generation are drinking themselves to death, latest figures show. Labels: alcohol, methadone, methamphetamine, opium, prescription
Wednesday
Feb 20 Drug Headlines
PESCRIPTION – USA Feds Issue New Way To Curb Prescription Drug Abuse – WTOVThe 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 NewsMany 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 NewsMethamphetamine: It's a drug with far-reaching side effects that go way beyond the user. ADDICTION – USA Drug addiction affects all of us – Guelph MercuryToo 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 HeraldScotland'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 InternationalAfghanistan's ambassador to Australia has warned his country could become a terrorist-backed narco-state unles it gets help to combat drug trafficking. Labels: heroin, methamphetamine, opium, prescription
Tuesday
Feb 19 Drug Headlines
OPIUM – MEXICO Anti-drug raids hit border – The HeraldOfficials also said that in the two months since intensive raids began in central and western Mexico they have destroyed almost as many opium fields as plots of marijuana, long Mexico´s principal drug crop. MORPHINE – USA Drug test science adapts with the times – Charleston Daily MailIf lighting up a marijuana joint is in your evening plans, you’d better hope you’re not screened for drugs within the next 30 days. DRUGS – UK The terrible logic of kids, drugs and killing – Times OnlineWhenever I met young drug dealers who had either shot others or themselves been shot, I wondered whether they had any real notion of death as a permanent state of oblivion. PESCRIPTION – USA Makers of Cough Remedies Join with Anti-Drug Coalitions to Fight Medicine Abuse – Consumer Healthcare Products AssociationThe Consumer Healthcare Products Association (CHPA) and Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA) today launched a new campaign designed to educate communities about how to prevent cough medicine abuse among teenagers. PRESCRIPTION – USA Deadly risk seen from interactions of OTC, prescription meds – Denver PostThe timing of two recent news items - a national health report and the autopsy of an R&B singer - was coincidental. But coming on the same day, they illustrated a deadly, growing problem with prescription and over-the-counter medications. ALCOHOL – NEW ZEALAND Alcohol review targets teens – StuffThe Government is looking for ways to prevent underage teenagers from getting alcohol as experts point to its devastating effects. DRUGS – AUSTRALIA Dope loses its cool – Herald SunThe drug once perceived as harmless is now overwhelming viewed as dangerous, addictive and linked to a range of serious health and social problems. Labels: alcohol, morphine, opium, prescription
Friday
Feb 15 Drug Headlines
METH – USA Come together to fight meth – Montrose Daily PressThe toll of methamphetamine use can be felt in all aspects of the community and at all levels. Meth is a highly addictive drug that has a devastating impact on the individual as well as their families. And no one is immune from it. METH – USA Candy-Looking Meth Hits Streets – WVNS-TVMethamphetamine production and addiction is a continuing problem, especially in rural areas. Now, there's a troubling new development. Drug dealers are now targeting children with flavored, candy-colored versions of the drug. PRESCRIPTION – USA Report: Teens Using Prescription Drugs – Sci-Tech TodayWhile teen use of marijuana declined, the use of OxyContin, a painkiller, increased from 2.7 percent to 3.5 percent over the same period. METHADONE – USA METHADONE DEATHS – NBC NewschannelThe highly-addictive drug methadone was initially used to help heroin addicts break their addiction. A few years ago, Idaho became one of the first states to see methadone also being prescribed for chronic pain. RITALIN – USA Prescription Drug Use Among Students Growing – City on a Hill PressAccording to the Greater Dallas Council on Alcoholic and Drug Abuse website, Ritalin ranks in the top 10 most frequently reported controlled pharmaceuticals stolen from licensed handlers. PRESCRIPTION – CANADA Teens Continue To Abuse Prescription Drugs – E Canada NowThough U.S. teen use of some drugs is in decline their use of prescription drugs is going strong and increasing in certain areas. PRESCRIPTION – CANADA Teens Turning to Prescription DrugsMore and more US teens are turning away from marijuana in favor of prescription drugs from their own medicine cabinets. PRESCRIPTION – USA Teen abuse of prescription drugs holds steady – MSNBCAccording to an analysis of national surveys prepared by Walters’ office, 2.1 million teenagers abused prescription drugs in 2005. DRUGS – USA Dobbs: The war within, killing ourselves – CNNWe're losing the War on Drugs, and we've been in retreat for three decades. MARIJUANA – USA Parents are urged to learn about today's marijuana – Amador Ledger DispatchToday's marijuana is not yesterday's marijuana. I find this to be very interesting information for parents, teachers and anyone who has had the questions asked or will be asked: What's so wrong with smoking marijuana? It's not a drug? Right? METHADONE – USA Methadone Deaths More Common – Post ChronicleA study finds that U.S. deaths from methadone, the prescription drug often used to treat heroin addicts, almost quadrupled between 1999 and 2004. OPIUM – USA Afghanistan: What the United States Has Spent – ABC NewsDespite Billions Spent, and Lives Lost, Opium Trade Thrives and Fuels Insurgent Attacks. OPIUM – USA Losing Afghanistan to opium? – The Washington TimesThe spring opium harvest will soon begin in Afghanistan. So will a murderous spring offensive by the Taliban and its allies against U.S. and coalition troops. The two events are directly related. Labels: marijuana, methadone, methamphetamine, opium, prescription, ritalin
Wednesday
Feb 13 Drug Headlines
MARIJUANA – INDIA Smoking : Long-term marijuana smoking leads to respiratory complaints – Spirit IndiaLong-term exposure to marijuana smoke is linked to many of the same health problems as tobacco smoke, such as increased respiratory symptoms like cough, phlegm and wheeze, according to a new study by researchers at Yale School of Medicine. OPIUM – PAKISTAN US law makers for use of micro-herbicide on poppy plants – Pak TribuneExpressing concern over the increase in poppy cultivation in the country over the previous two years, several US law makers believe use of micro-herbicide is the only solution to the problem, which they argue is providing finances for terrorism. OPIUM – SWITZERLAND Helmand heads for record poppy harvest – ISNProvincial officials say 2007 could be the biggest year yet for opium production in the war-torn province. METH – USA Student designs wanted for anti-meth poster campaign – ZWireThe Van Buren County Methamphetamine Task Force has launched an anti-meth poster contest for middle school students in an effort to provide a creative way for them to learn about the drug's dangers. COCAINE – UK Key Farc role in US cocaine trade – BBC NewsNinety per cent of cocaine reaching the United States comes from Colombia - most of it via Farc rebels, a senior US official has told a magazine. OXYCODONE – USA CDC: Drug Overdoses on the Rise – News InfernoAccording to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, poisoning mortality rates in the United States increased each year. ADDERALL – USA Many Teens Abusing Medications – Journal of the American Medical AssociationWhile rates of illicit drug use among teens in the United States continue to decline, abuse of prescription and over-the-counter medication in this age group remains alarmingly high. METH – USA New "strawberry" meth has police concerned – ABC NewsIt's targetted at young people and others experimenting with drugs. METH – USA Anti-meth blitz set to educate – Peninsula ClarionStatewide campaign aimed to curb methamphetamine use. METH – CANADA Council and police take aim at crystal meth – The ChroniclePolice and town council are joining forces to meet crystal meth head on. Crystal meth is on their radar, including meth laboratory operations in the community. PRESCRIPTION – USA Guard Against Prescription Drug Error – Yahoo! NewsAccording to the National Academy of Medicine, approximately 1.5 million Americans annually fall victim to prescription drug error. ALCOHOL – UK Terrible toll of alcohol on Britain's children – Metro NewsAlcohol abuse is affecting increasing numbers of youngsters, with three children having been treated for alcohol-related liver cirrhosis in the last five years. ALCOHOL – UK It's too easy for kids to buy alcohol – Peterborough TodayStatistics obtained by The Evening Telegraph showed that a third of all children under the age of 18 have been able to buy booze from off-licences in the city. PRESCRIPTION – USA Deadly abuse of methadone tops other prescription drugs – ABC NewsMethadone has emerged as an increasingly popular and deadly street drug, joining narcotics such as Vicodin and OxyContin as frequently abused prescription drugs. PRESCRIPTION – CANADA Prescription drugs hit streets – The RecordPrescription pain medications, such as morphine and oxycodone, are increasingly being sold on the street. PRESCRIPTION – USA Prescription drugs are not the answer – Stoneham SunI am a volunteer for the Citizens Commission on Human Rights (www.cchreus.org). I recently took part in a protest in Sudbury to bring the exposure of the medications used by John Odgren. ALCOHOL – AUSTRALIA One in three young Australians binge drink – The Australian, HealthA third of Australians aged 18 to 24 are classified as binge drinkers, with nearly one in four drinking to the point of passing out on at least five occasions. Labels: adderall, alcohol, cocaine, marijuana, methamphetamine, opium, oxycodone, prescription
Tuesday
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 HealthThe 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 NewsAfghan police, supported by NATO forces, are about to begin a poppy eradication campaign in Afghanistan’s Helmand province PRESCRIPTION – USA Prescription Medicine Safety – ABC NewsIt'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' – TelegraphBottles 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 – ONDCPNew 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 TogetherMore 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 PostOut of the media spotlight, anti-narcotic officers are continuing their fight against smugglers along the borders. METHADONE – USA Methadone overdose on rise – ExaminerOverdoses 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 LinkIllegal 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 PeopleA DEADLY new type of cannabis called grit weed is sweeping Britain. DRUGS – USA CDC finds dramatic rise in drug deaths – Oblerlin TimesThis 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. Labels: alcohol, cannabis, heroin, methadone, opium, prescription
Friday
Feb 9 Drug Headlines
CODEINE – USA Be sure to read medicine labels – Beacon NewsKnow the ingredients and ask your doctor or pharmacist before combining any medications -- prescription, over-the-counter, herbal remedies or vitamins. ADDICTION – CANADA Upcoming show aims to spark discussion on Meth addiction – The Northern ViewA February 13 play at the Lester Centre of the Arts entitled “Meth” promises to examine the issue of Crystal Meth addiction in a way that has never been done before. OPIUM – USA GOP urges change in Afghan drug policy – Houston ChronicleMore needs to be done to counter the growing threat of narco-terrorism. OPIUM – UK The power of the poppy – The TelegraphThe Afghan government and its British backers face a crucial trial of strength in the poppy fields of Helmand province. Labels: codeine, opium
Tuesday
Jan 30 Drug Headlines
DRUGS – USA Report: Drug firm distorted Paxil test results – MSNBCGlaxoSmithKline Plc was accused on Monday of distorting clinical trial results of its antidepressant Seroxat, or Paxil, and covering up a link with suicide in teenagers. HEROIN – USA Bucking U.S., Afghanistan won’t spray heroin – MSNBCRebuffing months of U.S. pressure, President Hamid Karzai has decided Afghanistan will not implement a Colombia-style program to spray the country's heroin-producing poppies, bowing to pressure from top Cabinet members who feared a popular backlash, officials said Thursday. OPIUM – JAPAN Despite Colombian government claim, opium crops persist – Mainichi Daily NewsIt was touted as a landmark in the U.S.-backed war on drugs: Defense Minister Juan Manuel Santos took a two-foot-long machete and cut down what he said was the "last plant of opium poppy in the country." OPIUM – AUSTRALIA Afghanistan won't spray opium poppies – The AustralianIntense American pressure has failed to persuade President Karzai to start chemically spraying Afghanistan's opium poppy crop in an attempt to cripple the heroin trade. OPIUM – USA Afghanistan refuses to spray opium poppies – States ManDespite U.S. pressure, Afghan government says it won't spray herbicide to kill heroin-producing poppies. METH – USA Strawberry meth seized in search – Nevada AppealA new kind of methamphetamine that has a strawberry flavor and bright pink coloring was seized for the first time in Carson City during a search of a Como Street apartment on Saturday, an official said. METH – USA Placer High video to show dangers of meth – Auburn JournalPlacer High students were caught on film smoking meth on campus Friday afternoon. Funny thing is, their teacher was the one encouraging them to do it. METH – USA Learning the reponsibilites of Meth Task Force responders – WWMTEven though we've seen the number of meth labs decline over the last year, the problem has not been wiped out. HEROIN – USA Heroin drug of choice in Shelby – Bucyrus Telegraph ForumShelby police Capt. Lance Combs has seen too much of heroin in his town. "A lot of use, a lot of abuse, lots of overdoses and a lot of trafficking," he said. "It runs the gamut." Labels: heroin, methamphetamine, opium
Thursday
Jan 24 Drug Headlines
DRUGS – CANADA Flying in the face of facts, governments cling to futile drug strategies – Vancouver SunWith all the controversy about Vancouver's supervised injection facility, one could easily be lulled into thinking that we've all but abandoned enforcing Canada's drug laws, that we've chosen to emphasize harm reduction at the expense of prevention, treatment and enforcement. OPIUM – AFGHANISTAN AFGHANISTAN: Girls and women traded for opium debts – IRIN NewsHELMAND PROVINCE, 23 Jan 2007 (IRIN) - On 4 November 2006, Nasima, 25, a member of a local women’s council, grabbed the AK-47 from the policeman guarding the council meeting in the Grishk district of southern Helmand province and killed herself. METHAMPHETAMINE – USA DPA to Develop State Methamphetamine Education Program – Drug Policy AllianceDrug Policy Alliance New Mexico will create a statewide education program to address methamphetamine abuse among high school students, using a nearly $500,000 grant obtained by U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman (D-New Mexico) through a Department of Justice appropriations bill. ALCOHOL – UK Protecting fetuses from mothers who drink – New ScientistTaking cholesterol supplements during pregnancy may prevent at-risk mothers from conferring alcohol-related damage to their growing fetus, according to a preliminary study in zebrafish. Labels: alcohol, methamphetamine, opium
Friday
Dec 28 Drug Headlines
OPIUM – INDIA Rebels boosting poppy business in Myanmar – Hindustan TimesPoppy trade is flourishing in Myanmar, thanks to the activities of a rebel group that has the support of the country's military regime, a media report said. GENERAL – USA New Year's Eve, A Time to Help Those with Addiction – CBS NewsNew Year's Eve parties are the devil for people who are struggling with an addiction. "That belief that everyone should go out and celebrate and, of course, most celebrating involves alcohol, and so I do believe that it's a definite time of relapse for a lot of people," says Wausau Health Services Director Deborah Piskoty. ALCOHOL – UK Every day more than 70 victims seek help after alcohol-fuelled attacks – Scotsman NewsALCOHOL-FUELLED violence is responsible for nearly 30,000 admissions to Scotland's hospitals each year and the problem is getting worse, according to a stark new report. ALCOHOL – CANADA Happy Healthy Holidays! – Body and HealthThis time of year, many festivities involve alcohol. And with social events sometimes around every corner, it's easy to let our alcohol consumption increase. METH – USA Methamphetamine use increases artery tears & stroke risk – Zee NewsWashington, Dec 27: Methamphetamine use may be associated with increased risks of major neck artery tears and stroke, according to an article published in the December 26, 2006, issue of Neurology, the scientific journal of the American Academy of Neurology. ALCOHOL – USA Brains Can Recover From Alcoholic Damage But Patients Should Stop Drinking As Soon As Possible – Medical News TodayThe findings, published in the online edition of the journal Brain [1], used sophisticated scanning technology and computer software to measure how brain volume, form and function changed over six to seven weeks of abstinence from alcohol in 15 alcohol dependent patients (ten men, five women). GENERAL – USA Are Drugs Not Approved By The FDA Safe? - Health LifelineWe go to the doctor, get a prescription and assume it is safe, but each year, physicians and pharmacists unknowingly give patients drugs that don't have the government's OK. PRESCRIPTION – USA Study: Teens Using More Prescription Drugs – kxan.comA new study shows the lengths some teenagers are going to to get high. They're using everything from Ritalin to painkillers. Some are even crushing, then snorting the prescription drugs. METH – USA Meth might hurt ability to feel normal pleasure – The Post and CourierRonald See, a professor of neuroscience at the Medical University of South Carolina, said the effects of methamphetamine may be more damaging than some other illegal drugs because it produces a long-lasting high of eight hours or more. Labels: alcohol, methamphetamine, opium, prescription
Wednesday
Dec 12 Drug Headlines
GENERAL - MEXICO Calderon vows war against notorious drug gangs - CNNSoldiers stopped cars and frisked passengers Tuesday, searching for drugs or weapons. Helicopters swooped low over remote mountaintops, looking for signs of opium and marijuana fields. Ships patrolled Mexico's main Pacific port, a hub for drugs arriving from Central America and Colombia. OPIUM - AFGHAN Walters Says Poppies in Afghanistan Will Be Sprayed - Join TogetherThe director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) said at a news conference that Afghan poppies will be sprayed with herbicide to combat a steep rise in opium production in Afghanistan, the Associated Press reported Dec. 9. GENERAL - MEXICO Mexico launches drugs crackdown - BBCThousands of Mexican troops are patrolling the streets in Michoacan state in an anti-drug trafficking drive ordered by President Felipe Calderon. GENERAL - UK Christmas crackdown on city drugs - BBCAnti-social behaviour and illegal drug use in Leicester city centre are to be targeted as part of a police operation to clean up the city. Plain-clothed and uniformed officers will work with the force's passive drugs dog to "disrupt and detect" people involved with illegal drugs. ALCOHOL - UK What's your poison? - The GuardianMany of us would like to believe that different types of alcohol can produce very different effects. If only it were that simple, reports Emine Saner ALCOHOL - US B Vitamins Are Efficacious for Alcoholic Polyneuropathy - Join TogetherBoth the direct toxic effects of alcohol and alcoholism-associated vitamin deficiencies can cause mild to incapacitating sensorimotor polyneuropathy. GENERAL - AUSTRALIA Northern Rivers a haven for drugmakers: Police - Northern StarThe Northern Rivers is becoming a manufacturing centre for drugs aimed at the Brisbane and Gold Coast markets, police fear. And despite recent big busts, the problem is growing. CANNABIS - US Young cannabis users 'suffer from paranoia and blackouts' - 24 DashAnti-drug campaigners have called for urgent research into the effects of cannabis on teenagers' mental health after a survey found half of young users suffer paranoia and blackouts. GENERAL - MEXICO Thousands of Mexican troops ordered to arrest smugglers, burn marijuana and opium fields - Boston HeraldSoldiers stopped cars and frisked passengers Tuesday, searching for drugs or weapons. Helicopters swooped low over remote mountaintops, looking for signs of opium and marijuana fields. Ships patrolled Mexico’s main Pacific port, a hub for drugs arriving from Central America and Colombia. HEROIN - CANADA Addicts turn to hillbilly heroin - Edmonton SunHeroin use is fading out in Canada, but local addicts are increasingly turning to "hillbilly heroin" to bring them down from cocaine and meth highs, say cops and outreach workers. HEROIN - US City heroin's havoc in hinterlands - Philadephia Daily NewsI've been teaching at a northeastern Pennsylvania community college for the last three years. The region has been a gold mine for heroin dealers from the "Badlands" area of North Philadelphia that serves as an open-air drug market. I've quickly learned to identify those students who are users and have come to realize that heroin isn't just an inner-city problem. PRESCRIPTION - US Waismann Method of Detoxification Successfully Treats Severe Morphine and Methadone Levels While Leaving Patients With Reduced PainThe Waismann Method of Opiate Detoxification announced today the successful treatment of two patients taking dangerously high doses of prescription pain-relieving drugs. Both patients are now opiate-free and in less pain than they were prior to detoxification. OPIUM - AFGHAN The Drug Czar Has Another Brilliant Idea - Stop The Drug WarAfghanistan is in flames. The Taliban are resurgent. The opium economy provides livelihoods for millions of Afghans. And now, US drug czar John Walters announces over the weekend, that Afghanistan will begin spraying the poppy fields with glyphosate, the same stuff we've been using with such great success in Colombia against the coca crops. METH - US White House tabs coalition: Anti-drug efforts recognized - News ZapWith less than one year under its belt, the Northeast Valley Coalition Against Methamphetamine garnered recognition from the Bush Administration. Paul Skoczylas, staff member of the President’s Office of National Drug Policy, presented to the group Nov. 30 a certificate commending the coalition’s meth prevention and education efforts. Labels: alcohol, cannabis, heroin, methamphetamine, opium, prescription
Dec 11 Drug Headlines
ALCOHOL & GENERAL DRUGS - US National Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month, 2006 - White HouseEach year, thousands of Americans lose their lives in accidents involving drunk and drugged driving. During National Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month, we continue our efforts to promote awareness of the dangers of impaired driving and encourage fellow citizens to never drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs. GENERAL - US Drugs contract will put children’s rights first - The HeraldWhereas the focus of policy had been on the rights of addicts – to state support, treatment services etc – there is now a recognition of the rights of children, as enshrined in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, to be free from abuse, neglect and maltreatment. PRESCRIPTION - US Drugs factor in car crashes, study findsThe focus on the dangers of drinking and driving may have overshadowed a similarly serious problem: the effect of drugs, including prescription medication, on drivers. OPIUM - US Opiate Addicts Find Fewer Hospital-Run Detox Beds Available - Red OrbitAddicts who overdose on heroin or other opiates are likely to land first in a hospital emergency room, where doctors can often save them from brain damage or death. OTC - US Teen Use of Over-the-Counter Cold Medicines Rising - Join TogetherUse of over-the-counter cough and cold medicines has become one of the fastest-growing drug abuse problems for youths in California and elsewhere, and much of the increase is being seen in the pre-teen population, the Los Angeles Times reported Dec. 5. OPIUM - AFGHAN Afghanistan's opium poppies will be sprayed, says US drugs tsar - The GuardianAfghanistan has agreed to poppy-spraying measures in a desperate bid to deflate the soaring drugs trade, America's anti-narcotics tsar announced at the weekend. MARIJUANA - US Laws Don't Curb Teen Marijuana Use - Marijuana Policy ProjectA new report from the Marijuana Policy Project (MPP) in Washington, D.C., challenges the key assumption underlying present U.S. marijuana laws: that marijuana must be prohibited for adults in order to deter teens from using it. METH - US Stetson student busts meth mythsWilliam Collum knew methamphetamine ruined addicts' lives but was surprised to read the drug also hurt innocent victims -- such as a family that moved into a house where meth was once cooked. The report showed how failure to clean the house properly left the air toxic and sickened the family. A financial crisis, breakup and divorce followed, said Collum, a Stetson University political science major. Labels: alcohol, marijuana, methamphetamine, opium, over-the-counter, prescription
Tuesday
Dec 10 Drug Headlines
GENERAL - SCOTLAND Top traffic policeman warns officers are 'powerless' to tackle drug-drivers - ScotsmanScotland's most senior traffic policeman has admitted that officers are "powerless" to stop drug-drivers and that reliable tests capable of securing convictions are years away. PRESCRIPTION - US Ritalin on campus a growing problem - News Times LiveA 15-page paper to write. A major final exam to study for. When the pressure is on, college students sometimes feel they need a little help to make sure they can concentrate. Sometimes that help is a pill. OPIUM - AFGHAN For Many In Opium-infested Afghanistan, Drug Addiction Can Begin In The WombFarida's son inherited her drug addiction in the womb, and drank her opium-laced breast milk. And when he cried and fussed, she calmed him with specks of opium diluted in tea. OPIUM - AFGHAN U.S. anti-drug chief: Afghan poppies to be sprayed with herbicide - International Herlad Tribun | |
