“Maine drug police say that some of the illegal drug cocaine that is reaching the state has been contaminated with a drug used to treat parasites in farm animals.” http://wbztv.com/wireapnewsme/Maine.drug.cops.2.1497136.html

“British health authorities issued an alert to drug users on Friday after a drug injecting heroin user in London tested positive for anthrax infection.” http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6143MB20100205

“Gunmen stormed into a nightclub in the Mexican beach resort of Mazatlan and shot dead six people in what looked like the latest in a flurry of drug cartel attacks.” http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2010/02/06/world/international-uk-mexico-drugs.html?_r=2

“The benefits of marijuana in tempering or reversing the effects of Alzheimer’s disease have been challenged in a new study by researchers at the University of British Columbia and Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute.” http://www.scienceblog.com/cms/marijuana-ineffective-alzheimers-treatment-ubc-vancouver-coastal-health-research.html

“Exposure to ecstasy or cocaine during adolescence increases the “reinforcing effects” that make people vulnerable to developing an addiction. This is the main conclusion of a research team from the University of Valencia (UV), which has shown for the first time how these changes persist into adulthood.” http://www.news-medical.net/news/20100205/Exposure-to-ecstasy-or-cocaine-during-adolescence-could-lead-to-drug-addiction.aspx

“Ohio pharmacists filled 2.7 million prescriptions in 2008 for high-powered painkillers such as OxyContin and Percocet, narcotics that contain oxycodone; that’s nearly one for every four people in the state, reports the Columbus Dispatch. They filled 4.8 million prescriptions for hydrocodone medications such as Vicodin, one for every 2 1/2 people in the state. County…

“Since OxyContin break-ins and thefts at pharmacies is in epidemic proportions, the maker of the drug, Purdue Pharma formed an organization called RX Patrol. The premise of RX Patrol is to reward an informant for information leading to the arrest of the person attempting to rob a pharmacy.” http://www.salem-news.com/articles/february072010/oxy_theft_ms.php

“Exposure to ecstasy or cocaine during adolescence increases the “reinforcing effects” that make people vulnerable to developing an addiction. This is the main conclusion of a research team from the University of Valencia (UV), which has shown for the first time how these changes persist into adulthood.” http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/02/100204101821.htm

“According to new research, ecstasy users are more eight times more likely to develop sleep apnea than those who are not ecstasy users. Sleep apnea is a common sleep disorder that causes pauses during sleep.” http://www.shiftworkdisorder.com/ecstasy-linked-to-sleep-apnea-10774.html