Drug News

According to court documents, 30-year-old Stephen Hale was delivering more than just letters on his mail routes. The 9 year United States Postal Service employee is charged with selling and using Oxycontin while on the clock. http://www.foxnews.com/us/2010/08/04/ma-mailman-accused-delivering-drugs-job/?test=latestnews

The new generation of drugs, including Ketamine, ecstasy and crystal meth, have taken the role of heroin as the most popular drugs in disco bars and karaokes in rural China, Guangzhou-based Southern Daily reported today. Read more: http://www.shanghaidaily.com/sp/article/2010/201008/20100802/article_445099.htm#ixzz0vfNq2ZBr

After looking at hospital admissions, drug test results and overdose deaths, Roosevelt University researchers concluded recently that heroin abuse in the Chicago region is more extreme than anywhere else in the country. And young suburbanites are a primary reason. They say the drug is alluring because it’s cheap and easy to obtain http://mobile.chicagotribune.com/wap/news/text.jsp?sid=289&nid=17576518&cid=16279&scid=1398&ith=0&title=Local+

SACRAMENTO – A Del Paso Heights couple is under arrest for allegedly coaxing their 6-year-old neighbor into taking a parole urine drug test. http://www.fox40.com/news/headlines/ktxl-news-childurinetest,0,3345126.story

A new study has revealed Scotland has some of the worst drug abuse rates in the world, and the situation is getting worse. The international survey by the UN includes results from 200 countries, and shows greater per-head use of heroin, ecstasy and cocaine in this country than almost any other.Shocking figures show that almost…

“Across the country, there is a growing problem with youth using prescription pain medications pilfered from home medicine cabinets,” council Chairwoman Mary Ellen Still said in a release. “These medications are often gateway drugs that can quickly become addicting, and that addiction can lead to heroin use.” http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/article/20100802/NEWS05/8020320/Heroin-deaths-increase-in-Dutchess–officials-warn-of-gateway-drugs

In the past few years, Dr. Richard Whitney, medical director of addictions services for Licking Memorial Health Systems, has seen an increase in his female patients. “It used to be about a three or four to one male to female ratio,” he said. “Now it’s not uncommon at all to have a ratio of two…

The issue of prescription drug abuse, especially among teens, has been gaining attention over the past few years. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration would also like to gain allies in its battle against it. “Prescription for Disaster: How Teens Abuse Medicine” is a guide to help parents and others better understand and identify the prescription…

More than half the owners of medical-marijuana centers in Colorado have criminal arrest or conviction records for crimes such as dealing drugs, sexual assault, burglary and weapons violations, according to statistics developed by the Drug Enforcement Administration and obtained by 9News. http://www.denverpost.com/headlines/ci_15627263

Studies have shown an increase of 5.1 percent in marijuana use by adults ages 55 to 59 from 2002 to 2008. Tri-County’s older adult care services work with patients 65 and older and are expecting increases in the drug’s use by the aging baby boomer population. Older adults have cited using the drug for medicinal…