May 14th Drug Addiction News

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 10 Drug Addiction Headlines

METH – USA
Meth is top law enforcement problem – Eastern Arizona Courier
Users of methamphetamines endanger themselves and their children and create a law enforcement crisis for the entire state of Arizona.

ADDICTION – IRAN
“Mainline” reveals disaster of drug addiction among the youth: actress – Mehr News
Actress Bita Farahi believes that the film “Mainline” is a revelation about the disastrous effects of drug addiction amongst today’s youth.

METH – USA
CSU-Pueblo student earns award for issue on meth – CSU Pueblo Today
Pueblo’s student newspaper earned a first place regional award last month for a special news supplement on methamphetamine.

METH – USA
Getting to the bottom of how speed kills – San Bernardino Sun
Substance abuse researchers have known for years that methamphetamine use runs high on the West Coast, especially in the Los Angeles and San Diego areas.

PRESCRIPTION – USA
Understand prescription dangers – Wilson Daily Times
As if today's parents didn't have enough to worry about, now there's a reputed epidemic of prescription drug abuse.

April 9 Drug Addiction Headlines

PRESCRIPTION – USA
Nine Students Face Suspensions Over Prescription Drug – WBAY
Next week, Kimberly's school board plans to suspend nine freshmen high school students for giving and receiving the drug Adderall on school property.

PRESCRIPTION – USA
Prescription drugs, availability to children seen as main problems – The Evening Tribune
The city's drug problem may not be getting worse, but it is changing.

DRUGS – UK
Theatre is an educational tool in the fight against illicit drugs – Medical News Today
A new study finds that theatrical drama is an educational tool in the fight against drug addiction and abuse.

METH – USA
County hears of teen's meth use – The Daily Astorian
Rice presented a graphic, no-nonsense report on the highs and lows of meth use, complete with the signs that someone is using and ways to detect a meth lab.

METH – USA
How to Tell if Your Home Was Once A Meth Lab – WVLT News
Meth labs don't just land the dealers who get caught running them, in jail. They also leave a lasting and often dangerous impression on the home, apartment or business where they are busted.

DRUGS – USA
Elkhart Helps Keep Teens Drug And Alcohol Free – WNDU News
Parents in Elkhart County are able to get complimentary home alcohol saliva and drug tests, to test their children.

METH – USA
Flavored meth aims to addict new users – San Diego Union Tribune
Experts say the sweet flavor of “Strawberry Quick” may lure new users because it masks methamphetamine's bitter taste when snorted.

ALCOHOL – GUAM
Social costs of alcohol abuse – Pacific Daily News
Alcohol is the number one drug of choice among Guam's adolescents, and used by more young adults than any other illicit drug.

METH – USA
April meth awareness programs – Alamogordo Daily News
The Otero County Meth Prevention/Treatment Coalition continues in our efforts to educate the community about the devastating effects of meth abuse on our youth, families and communities.

METH – USA
Community invited to local meth forum – Nevada Appeal
A methamphetamine forum on Tuesday will give parents and other interested members of the community information about the drug and what can be done to combat the growing problem of meth abuse.

ALCOHOL – USA
2-ounce alcoholic drink called teen lure – North Jersey Media Group
They have a 12 percent alcohol content and are sold for less than a dollar, advertised as shots to be drunk alone or added to beer.

April 6 Drug Addiction Headlines

DRUGS – USA
Drug Abuse Prevention: Theater Motivates People To Help – Science Daily
A new study finds that theatrical drama is an educational tool in the fight against drug addiction and abuse.

DRUGS – UK
New Study Looks At Peer Pressure And Implications For Preventing Adolescent Substance Abuse – Medical News Today
Why do young people smoke cigarettes or use alcohol or drugs? What skills do they need to avoid starting these habits?

METH – USA
Candy-Coated Crystal Meth – The Hilltop
As if crystal methamphetamine, more commonly known as crystal meth, was not enough of a threat to rural America, meth manufacturers are now creating a candy-colored and flavored variety of the drug along with cartoon characters to recruit younger users.

DRUGS – CANADA
Thinking outside the hot box – The Gazette
Ritalin and alcohol, while legal, have potentially deadly side-effects on the heart and liver, respectively. On the other hand, marijuana has fewer detrimental effects, especially if it isn’t smoked.

ALCOHOL – USA
WHA sixth-graders complete alcohol use prevention program – Walker Pilot Independent
The goals are to delay the age when youth start using alcohol, to reduce alcohol use among students who have already tried alcohol, and to limit the number of social, emotional and behavioral problems related to alcohol use in young people.

PRESCRIPTION – USA
Prescription-Drug Abuse Major Problem In Northeast Kingdom – Caledonian Record
Prescription-drug abuse may be a bigger problem than heroin in the Northeast Kingdom.

April 5 Drug Addiction Headlines

METH – USA
Film reveals impact of meth in community – The Lake Country Echo
The devastating impact of methamphetamines in Minnesota is undeniable as revealed recently in a documentary entitled, "Revealing Meth in Minnesota."

COCAINE – USA
Peru's President Urges Air Strikes Against Cocaine Factories – HULIQ
Peru's President has urged the use of the military to destroy jungle factories that produce cocaine.

DRUGS – USA
Study links illegal stimulant use to increased risk of stroke – UT The Daily Texan
A recent study conducted by the UT Southwestern Medical Center provides researchers with further evidence of a correlation between frequent amphetamine and cocaine usage among young adults and the occurrence of strokes.

PRESCRIPTION – USA
Teen abuse of prescription drugs on rise – Wilson Daily Times
Law enforcement agencies and other organizations in Wilson say this area doesn't currently have a significant problem with teenage prescription drug abuse. But if families don't take care to monitor their children, authorities warn, that could change.

ALCOHOL – UK
MP shocked by amount of alcohol on the streets – Blyth Wansbeck Today
UNDER-AGE drinking on the streets has left a borough MP 'shocked and dismayed' after he witnessed the level of disorder caused by drunk youths.

METH – USA
Dealers now selling candy flavored drugs to youngsters – Casa Grande Valley Newspaper
Well, a new kind of methamphetamine that has a strawberry flavor and bright pink coloring has hit the market.

DRUGS – UK
Toxic bin fumes 'drug of choice' – BBC News
Setting wheelie bins on fire and sniffing the fumes is the new "drug of choice" for youths.

April 4 Drug Addiction Headlines

PRESCRIPTION – USA
Feds: Prescription drug problem in N.J. – Cherry Hill Courier Post
3 percent of residents have abused prescription drugs in the past year, with about 6 percent of those aged 18 to 25 reporting they have misused a prescription drug.

ALCOHOL – USA
April is Alcohol Awareness Month – SAMHSA
To recognize the serious problem of alcohol abuse, April is designated “Alcohol Awareness Month.”

DRUGS – USA
Drugs Are in the Water. Does It Matter? – The New York Times
Residues of birth control pills, antidepressants, painkillers, shampoos and a host of other compounds are finding their way into the nation’s waterways.

PRESCRIPTION – USA
Reserve struggling with abuse of prescription drugs – The Amherst Daily News
Using pliers to rip out healthy teeth just to get a narcotics prescription. Twelve-year-olds having sex with men in exchange for narcotics.

PRESCRIPTION – USA
Feds cite New Jersey prescription drug abuse problem – Newsday
New Jersey has a significant prescription drug abuse problem, White House drug policy officials said Monday.

METH – USA
Community fighting meth – Arizona Range News
Willcox Meth Task Force works to educate residents, prevent drug use.

DRUGS – USA
Authorities warn of new drug trend – Dublin Courier Herald
Parents are being warned by Dublin Police about a new drug trend hitting kids as early as middle school.

DRUGS – USA
The secret history of Big Pharma's role in creating and marketing heroin, LSD, meth, Ecstasy and speed – Newstarget
As you'll read here, drug companies actually invented many of the street drugs now considered to be the most devastating, including heroin and meth ("ice").

DRUGS – USA
Drug deaths on the rise in Tennessee – WREG Memphis News
The number of deaths in Tennessee caused by taking prescription drugs is now almost equal to the number of murders according to a new report.

April 2 Drug Addiction Headlines

PRESCRIPTION – USA
Prescription-drug deaths soar in state – Tennessean.com
Prescription drugs now outstrip illegal narcotics — such as cocaine, methamphetamine and heroin — as a cause of death across the state.

METH – USA
Number of ‘mom-and-pop’ meth labs declining – MSNBC
Crackdown on sales of ingredients used to make drug helping in some areas.

PRESCRIPTION – USA
Report: Prescription drugs deaths nearly equal murders in Tennessee – WMC News
A report by the Tennessean found that deaths from prescription drugs now roughly equal the number of murders in Tennessee.

METH – USA
Meth Declines, but Flavors May Entice Children – International News Service
Flavored meth, especially a variety known as "Strawberry Quick," has been popping up across the country, particularly in Western states.

DRUGS – USA
Atlas, Athena Programs Address Drugs in Sports – Join Together
The ATLAS and ATHENA anti-drug programs developed at Oregon Health and Sciences University address alcohol and other drug use among athletes, so it's no surprise that the curriculum is based on a team approach.

DRUGS – UK
Drugs are a bigger threat than terrorism, says expert – The Herald
These children are thought to be seven times more likely than the national average to develop a habit, a generational time bomb waiting to happen. Drugs are now so familiar it feels as if they have always been here. They haven't.

March 28 Drug Headlines

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

March 27 Drug Headlines

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

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

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

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

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

March 26 Drug Headlines

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

March 22 Drug Headlines

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

March 20 Drug Headlines

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

March 19 Drug Headlines

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

March 16 Drug Headlines

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

March 15 Drug Headlines

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

March 13 Drug Headlines

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

March 12 Drug Headlines

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

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

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

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

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

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

March 10 Drug Headlines

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

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

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

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

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

March 7 Drug Headlines

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

March 6 Drug Headlines

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

March 2 Drug Headlines

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

March 1 Drug Headlines

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

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

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

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

Feb 28 Drug Headlines

METHADONE – USA
Methadone abuse continues to grow – Herald Net
It'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 Max
When 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 Age
THE 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 Sentinel
The 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 News
Methamphetamine 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 News
With 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 Updates
A 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 Independent
The 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 Post
Like 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 Chronicle
Anguish 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.

Feb 27 Drug Headlines

DRUGS – USA
Discontinuing Buprenorphine (Suboxone) Detox or Maintenance – Addiction helpBlog
Treatment using Buprenorphine (Suboxone) may be stopped or discontinued by a physician for many reasons.

METHADONE – USA
Methadone Abuse is Our Fastest-Growing Drug Problem – Treatment Online
Initially developed as a drug to treat patients suffering from the often extreme elements of opiate withdrawal, methadone has become one of the most widely abused drugs in the world.

ALCOHOL – UK
'I drank so that I felt as if I belonged' - Telegraph
Alcohol-related deaths are soaring among young girls. Here, one former binge-drinker gives Michael Shelden a brutally honest insight into the highs and lows of excess.

PRESCRIPTION - USA
Survey Finds Teens and Parents Think Abuse of Prescription and Over-the-Counter Medicines is Safer Than Illicit Drug Use – Drug Free America
A new study released today by the Partnership for a Drug-Free America® and the MetLife Foundation found that more than a third of teens (40 percent) and parents (37 percent) think teen abuse of prescription pain killers is safer than abuse of illicit street drugs.

ALCOHOL – AUSTRALIA
Drink