An estimated 10 percent to 20 percent of nurses and nursing students in the United States may have substance abuse, misuse, dependency or addiction problems. http://news.vanderbilt.edu/2011/02/help-nurses-tackle-substance-abuse/

An alarming number of companies in Cape Town are seeking help for employees who use -and in some cases even sell – drugs in the workplace. “More companies are asking for assistance. More employees are using drugs at work, and even selling them there, using the workplace as a marketplace.” Peter Schultz, chairman of the…

Teenage girls are about three times as likely as boys to attempt suicide for drug-related reasons, according to an analysis of emergency-room visits. A government study also found boys are far more likely to attempt drug-related suicide in the month of December, while the suicide rate for girls stays fairly steady throughout the year. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703313304576132672563248028.html

The war on drugs in West Virginia is now dominated by the abuse of prescription pills. The use of those prescription pills is the leading cause of death among West Virginia drug users. Federal prosecutor Booth Goodwin says nine out of every ten drug-related deaths in West Virginia is blamed solely–or at least in part…

A silent epidemic is taking its toll in Ohio, killing more people every year than motor vehicle crashes. The cause? Accidental drug overdoses — especially of heroin and prescription painkillers. The victims are young and old, rural and urban, rich and poor. They leave behind families that are broken, some beyond repair. http://www.chillicothegazette.com/article/20091206/NEWS01/91203016/Special-report-Rx-death?odyssey=nav%7Chead

As much as officials agree a danger lurks in bath salts and synthetic marijuana, they do not believe those types of “legal highs” are widely used in this region. While synthetic marijuana has been around for a while, bath salts are relatively new on the scene. Both can be easily obtained locally. “I know it’s…

Arizonans getting certain welfare benefits would be subject to random drug testing under the terms of legislation approved Tuesday night by the Senate Appropriations Committee. http://www.yumasun.com/news/antenori-67887-benefits-testing.html

Private companies like Wal-Mart can fire Michigan employees who fail drug tests even though the state’s medical marijuana law might protect them from criminal prosecution, a federal judge in Grand Rapids, Mich., ruled. http://www.necn.com/02/15/11/Man-pleads-in-medical-marijuana-patients/landing_health.html?&blockID=3&apID=3f8e40f4ac364c89a4412e63fed33205

Here is a great opportunity for young adults: Develop an engaging Public Service Announcement about how young adults are taking action in their communities to prevent substance abuse and promote emotional well-being. The winning PSA will receive wide-reaching exposure and national distribution, through online channels! It will also be installed as part of the Drug…

Employers requiring the staff to undergo a drug test is not a new concept in America. The issue is not controversial and has become an accepted way of life for wage earners. In contrast, bills requiring welfare recipients to take a drug test to continue receiving a check at tax payer expense have become hotly…