“Most cocaine coming into the United States has been diluted with a veterinary drug that is used to deworm horses and other animals but can cause severe illness and death in humans, public health experts say.” Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2009/12/29/MNDS1B6HAS.DTL#ixzz0bl665FSK

“A New York City-funded guidebook for heroin users is offering information on how to prepare drugs carefully and how to care for veins to avoid infection. But the state’s top official with the Drug Enforcement Administration called it a “step-by-step instruction on how to inject a poison.” http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local-beat/NYCs-Heroin-How-To-Handbook-Not-A-Hit-80570847.html

“Interviews, files and court records trace a syndicate’s growth from small-time pot smuggling to a mega-empire with a hub in Houston.” http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/hotstories/6796067.html

“The rise in prescription drug abuse threatens the health of many Floridians. According to the Grand Jury Interim Report in Broward County, FL, from the Florida State Attorney’s office, there is a huge increase in prescription drug use and illegal trafficking in the state currently.” http://www.transworldnews.com/NewsStory.aspx?id=152653&cat=15

“Last week the NHS’s National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse released figures showing how many teenagers are being treated for drug and alcohol problems in England. Used in tandem with the regional statistics we covered in March, they build a picture of how widespread the drugs problem is for today’s young people.” http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/datablog/2009/dec/30/teenage-drug-alcohol-cannabis-use

“Washington is said to be one of four states where there are measures that have been introduced towards the legalization and regulation of marijuana. There are also around two dozen other states that are looking into marijuana-related legislation, from medical marijuana to not considering the possession of small amounts of marijuana as a crime.” Read…

“Much of the cocaine in the United States has been cut with a drug used to deworm horses that can be deadly to humans, San Francisco health officials say.” http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2009/12/30/Cocaine-cut-with-dangerous-horse-drug/UPI-51751262156508/

“A crackdown on drug dealers in west Norfolk is to continue after police claimed success for a six-month campaign. Pressure will be kept on known drug dealers in the Downham Market area next year, a police spokesman said.” http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/norfolk/8434404.stm