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Toddler Dies of Meth Overdose
In what seems to be an unintended consequence of methamphetamine use, a toddler died in Spanaway, Washington. No arrests have yet been made. According to the News Tribune of Tacoma, Washington, “Residents of the house admitted to authorities after the death that they used drugs, Troyer said. He said there were no signs of drugs…
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California Rogue Pharmacists Feeding Addictions
California rogue pharmacists are teaming up with rogue doctors in over dispensing prescription medications to addicts. A number of deaths have occurred as a result. According to the L. A. Times, “Rogue pharmacists have a symbiotic relationship with physicians who prescribe drugs for addicts. Neither can flourish without the other. “Their cooperation is usually unplanned.…
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Bath Salts Drugs on Chopping Block in Ohio
Makers of synthetic drugs and packaged them as bath salts may now get stiffer penalties in Ohio. Attorney General Mike DeWine wants to go after the makers, sellers and users of so-called bath salts which in effect if ingested act like a hit of both methamphetamines and hallucinogens. According to the Columbus Dispatch, “Ohio has…
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Red Ribbon Week 2012
Red Ribbon Week 2012 runs from October 23 – 31. I’ve talked about Red Ribbon Week several times in the past starting in 2007. Last year there was a contest in which students could win an iPad2 for themselves and $1,000 for their schools. There is another contest this year held by the National Family…
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Colombia’s Queen of Cocaine Killed
Griselda Blanco, 69, was also known in Colombia as the “Queen of Cocaine.” Blanco was killed by two gunshot wounds at close range. According to CNN, “Witnesses heard the roar of a motorcycle and two gunshots Monday afternoon, Medellin police spokesman Diego Chavarria said. By the time authorities arrived at the scene in Belen, a…
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Two Drug Cocktail to Treat Cocaine Addiction
Two drugs currently being used for other purposes are now being tested in humans to treat cocaine addiction. Buprenorphine and naltrexone together have researchers excited that they have found a real treatment for cocaine and possibly meth addictions as well. According to Time.com, “That complication precluded the possibility of testing buprenorphine on its own in…
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Prescription Painkiller Deaths Now Outrank Traffic Deaths
Prescription painkillers have now taken the infamous honor of being the number one cause of accident deaths in the U. S. Traffic deaths have fallen to the number two cause. The shift actually took place in 2008 when there were 41,000 accidental American deaths due to painkillers and 38,000 deaths due to traffic accidents. According…
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Cocaine Vaccine Picking Up Steam
As wacky as it may sound a cocaine vaccine is in the works and is actually more science than it is science fiction. Now this caught my attention: “Addicts unable to kick a cocaine habit could one day be vaccinated against cocaine and see proof with a molecular imaging technique that shows how the vaccine…
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$80 Million Prescription Drug Theft Ring Broken Up
Today the FBI broke up a prescription drug theft ring in Florida that swiped at least $80 million worth of medication. There were 22 people charged in this raid on the East Coast. One of the biggest drug heists was in Connecticut in 2010. According to Fox News, “The thieves hit warehouses and stole tractor-trailers…
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Mike The Situation Sorrentino in Drug Rehab
On March 22, 2012 Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino from the reality TV show “Jersey Shores” had his rep release a statement that he was not in drug rehab. A couple of hours later, Sorrentino recanted via Facebook saying that he was in rehab for an addiction to prescription medication. Sorrentino had checked into the Cirque…
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Alcohol in Movies Correlates to Adolescent Binge Drinking
According to the journal “Pediatrics” there is an association between adolescents viewing drinking in movies and binge drinking. The study involved six European countries including Iceland, Germany, Poland, Netherlands, Scotland and Italy. According to Pediatrics, “Alcohol-related health and social problems are prevalent in almost all societies that consume alcohol. For young people, injury remains the…
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Whitney Houston Dies February 11, 2012 Drugs Alcohol Suspected
Legendary pop singer Whitney Houston died at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, in Beverly Hills, California at 3:35pm PST on Saturday, February 11, 2012. She died in her hotel room according to those closest to her. Houston was attending a Clive Davis pre-Grammy party on Saturday when the incident occurred. The Grammys are scheduled for February…
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Miss Russia Goes to Drug Rehab
In 1998, Anna Malova was named Miss Russia and finished in the top 10 in the Miss Universe pageant. Today, however, Ms. Malova has been sentenced to a last chance in drug rehab. The former Miss Russia is back in a residential rehab center after being charged with forging doctor’s signatures in order to get…
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Hezbollah and Mexican Drug Cartels Push Cocaine into U.S.
It seems like the plot of a B-movie, but in fact worldwide organized crime knows no bounds. Recently, Hezbollah, the Mexican drug cartels, Colombia cocaine manufacturers and a Lebanese national have all been linked. A man named Ayman Joumaa who is currently at large is said to have connections to all of the above listed…
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National Quit and Recovery Registry Promotes Addiction Heroes
There is a new addiction website online with a wonderful idea behind it. And that idea is to use the strategies of “addiction heroes” (those people who have at least one year of sobriety) to help others struggling with alcohol, drugs or other addictions. According to CBS News, “Those … who have turned around their…
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Red Ribbon Week October 23 – 31 2011 and Contest
“It’s up to me to be drug free” is the new slogan for this year’s Red Ribbon Week, October 23 – 31, 2011. Red Ribbon Week is the nation’s oldest drug prevention program reaching out to students K-12 in schools across the US. The National Family Partnership (NFP) is running a contest where students who…
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Other Kinds of Addictions
This website and blog focuses primarily on drug and alcohol addiction and rehab as a means to recover from these addictions. I would like to take a short break from this focus to point out that there are other kinds of addictions worth noting. Yes, I’m sure you’ve heard about eating disorders and gambling addictions…
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Amy Winehouse Dies – Speculators Says Drugs Alcohol Involved
There is no proof yet that famous singer Amy Winehouse who died Saturday, July 23 in London, England did so because of drugs and/or alcohol. The toxicology reports are still 4 weeks away and the initial coroner’s autopsy was inconclusive. Adding to the mystery is that no illicit drugs or alcohol were found by her…
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Zanny the Nanny Xanax and Addiction
In the Casey Anthony trial that is happening now, we were introduced to “Zanny the Nanny” which is what Ms. Anthony called her fictitious babysitter. Anthony also called her babysitter Zenaida and said Zanny was short for that. But, anyone who has been around the drug and alcohol field for a while will recognize that…