“The Flores brothers had never looked like much in the eyes of local narcotics agents. But by the time it all came crashing down this year, the drug-distribution network allegedly run by 28-year-old twins from the Mexican American barrios of Chicago was one of the largest and most sophisticated ever seen in the heartland, according…

“Teens who listen to music that mentions marijuana are significantly more likely to use the drug, a new study finds.” http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34525054/ns/health-addictions/

“Cocaine torches” are to be issued to pub and club stewards in Renfrewshire in an attempt to tackle drug abuse.” http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/glasgow_and_west/8428135.stm

“Aerosmith lead singer Steven Tyler has entered a rehab facility for pain management and an addiction to prescription painkillers resulting from 10 years of performance injuries, PEOPLE has learned.” http://www.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/Music/12/23/steven.tyler.pain.killers/index.html

“Health officials have confirmed that anthrax has been found in a third heroin user in Glasgow. Police and health officials believe contaminated heroin or a contaminated cutting agent may be responsible.” http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/glasgow_and_west/8425313.stm

“Local, state and federal officials announced Monday a major South American drug route leading into Orangeburg County and beyond has been closed with the conviction of some “hard-core criminals.” http://www.timesanddemocrat.com/articles/2009/12/22/news/doc4b3051c19b01a797895621.txt

“Township officials today announced the arrests of four Edison High School custodians accused of using their prescription drug plans to obtain the narcotic pain killer OxyContin — both for abuse and resale.” http://www.nj.com/news/local/index.ssf/2009/12/four_edison_high_custodians_ar.html

“FAIRBANKS — A Fort Wainwright woman has been accused of giving a prescription drug to her daughter so the teen could sell it at her high school.” http://newsminer.com/pages/full_story/push?article-Woman+accused+of+giving+daughter+drugs+to+sell+at+Fairbanks+school%20&id=5253086&instance=home_most_popular

“The case — the first of its kind — portrays northwest Africa as a new danger zone. Three men are accused of being Al Qaeda associates and conspiring to smuggle cocaine.” http://www.latimes.com/news/nation-and-world/la-na-al-qaeda-cocaine19-2009dec19,0,1837370.story?track=rss

“For two years, the center of Mexico’s bloody drug war has been this gritty city of 1.5 million people across the river from El Paso, Texas. Two of Mexico’s most powerful gangs are battling for control of the city, a gateway for drugs going to the U.S. as well as a growing local drug market.”…