Month: March 2011

A new national study indicates that the number of hospital emergency visits involving the illicit drug Ecstasy increased from 10,220 in 2004 to 17,865 visits in 2008 – a 74.8 percent increase. According to this new study by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) most of these Ecstasy-related visits (69.3 percent) involved…

In 2009, colored ecstasy pills started popping up around the country in the shape of President Barack Obama’s head. Those came on the heels of yellow smiley-faced marijuana gum balls appearing at a Howard County school, THC candy bars called “Stoners” marketed underground in California, and turtle-shaped chocolate psychedelic mushrooms in Oregon. Every year, it…

TALLAHASSEE — Gov. Rick Scott signed an executive order Tuesday that will require random drug testing of many current state employees as well as pre-hire testing for applicants. “Floridians deserve to know that those in public service, whose salaries are paid with taxpayer dollars, are part of a drug-free workplace,” Scott said. “Just as it…

Methamphetamine continues to be a major drug threat in Louisiana and law enforcement reporting indicates it is replacing crack cocaine as the primary drug threat in some areas because of its availability, low cost and long lasting effects. http://www.thenewsstar.com/article/20110327/UPDATES01/110327004

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and its community partners will hold the second National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day at sites throughout the United States. This will be an opportunity for the public to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs for safe disposal….

One person is dead and 10 more are hospitalized, including two in critical condition after a mass overdose, according to police. Blaine Police responded to a residence on the 9500 block of Monroe Street NE, just after midnight on Thursday for a medical situation involving an alleged overdose of synthetic drugs. Police say the substance…

The federal anti-drug campaign “Above the Influence” appears to have effectively reduced marijuana use by teenagers, new research shows. A study of more than 3,000 students in 20 communities nationwide found that by the end of 8th grade, 12 percent of those who had not reported having seen the campaign took up marijuana use compared…

The Drug Enforcement Administration on Tuesday banned for at least a year the chemicals used to make “K2” and “Spice,” popular smokeable herbs that mimic the marijuana high. The DEA used its emergency power to control five chemicals used to coat the herbs. The DEA placed the chemicals into Schedule 1, the most restrictive category…