“A New South Wales policeman is in an induced coma in hospital after being exposed to fumes from rotting drugs, during an audit of exhibits that were up to 13 years old.” http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/08/04/2645133.htm

International drug trade drives illicit safrole-oil factories deep in the Cardamom mountains.By Sam Campbell — Special to GlobalPost “Clandestine factories deep in the Cardamom Mountains of western Cambodia are producing safrole oil — also known as sassafras oil — the main ingredient in the party drug Ecstasy. There is a growing, and perhaps just as…

By ALFREDO CORCHADO and ANGELA KOCHERGA “CIUDAD JUÁREZ, Mexico – The massacre of 18 people at a drug rehabilitation center near the Texas border is part of a final push by one drug cartel to finish off another, authorities and analysts say.” http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/world/stories/DN-juarez_04int.ART.State.Edition2.4bcfae5.html

“A Cumberland County nursing home worker is accused of stealing liquid morphine from patients and replacing the pain-relieving drug with water. Link worked at the Bridges at Bent Creek Assisted Living facility in Silver Springs Township. While there, police said Lint stole the morphine and other prescription drugs to feed her own habit.” http://www.wgal.com/cnn-news/20687523/detail.html

Border Crackdown Makes Farming in U.S. Forests Attractive; Cartel Links SuspectedBy STEPHANIE SIMON “Marijuana growers, many believed to be affiliated with Mexican drug cartels, are aggressively expanding their illegal farming operations in the U.S., clearing land to plant pot in dozens of national forests from coast to coast. Authorities have discovered pot farms in 61…

Mark SchlachtenhaufenThe Edmond Sun “Some metro hospitals, including Edmond Medical Center, are sharing medical records of patients electronically to combat prescription drug abuse and deaths, an escalating state problem.” http://www.edmondsun.com/local/local_story_244003349.html

AP “CIUDAD JUAREZ, Mexico (Sept. 3) – Gunmen broke into a drug rehabilitation center, lined people against a wall and shot 17 dead in a particularly bloody day in Mexico’s relentless drug war. The brazen attack followed the killing of the No. 2 security official in President Felipe Calderon’s home state.” http://news.aol.com/article/mexico-drug-rehab-center-shooting/517393

John Hultjhult “A study released today by Columbia University’s National Center on Substance Abuse shows that teens have easy access to prescription drugs.More than one-third of 12- to 17-year-olds can get prescription drugs within a day, the survey said. Almost one in five teens can get them within an hour.” http://www.argusleader.com/article/20090826/NEWS/90826038/1003/BUSINESS

Fairview High graduate died of lethal levels of morphine from teaBy Vanessa Miller Camera Staff Writer “An autopsy has revealed that a Boulder teenager who died in July after drinking poppy-pod tea had lethal levels of morphine in his system — indicating the brewed beverage killed him, Boulder County Coroner Tom Faure said. Investigators suspected…

By JON GAMBRELL (AP) – 18 hours ago “Nearly a third of all cocaine seized in the United States is laced with a dangerous veterinary medicine — a livestock de-worming drug that might enhance cocaine’s effects but has been blamed in at least three deaths and scores of serious illnesses. The medication called levamisole has…