http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/drugabuse/ en-us Tue, 8 Dec 2009 13:00:22 GMT Focus Forum 15 http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2402739/posts Tiger Woods Admitted to Hospital as OD Posted Dec 8th 2009 1:00AM by TMZ Staff Tiger Woods was admitted to Health Central Hospital the day after Thanksgiving as an overdose. Sources connected with the hospital tell TMZ the admissions chart lists "OD" and that he was having trouble breathing. We're told the fifth floor of the hospital was put on lockdown when Tiger arrived. Tiger was admitted under an alias -- William Smith. His wife, Elin Nordegren was by his side. As we first reported, Elin gave paramedics two pill bottles at the accident scene -- we now know the... http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2402739/posts#comment Tue, 8 Dec 2009 13:00:22 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2291573/posts Hip Hype Justice? by: Brittany Fortier, July 13, 2009 The ongoing debate concerning the disproportionate presence of African-Americans and other minorities in the criminal justice system has become crucial as the United States tries to find an approach to fund its prisons in an ailing economy. Paul Butler, a former prosecutor and author of the book Let’s Get Free: A Hip Hop Theory of Justice, spoke about this issue at the Center for American Progress (CAP) on July 1, 2009. He believes the criminal justice system needs to undergo major reform. “I didn’t go to law school to put anybody... Campus Report http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2291573/posts#comment Mon, 13 Jul 2009 17:36:21 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2244938/posts Hackers last week broke into a Virginia state Web site used by pharmacists to track prescription drug abuse. They deleted records on more than 8 million patients and replaced the site's homepage with a ransom note demanding $10 million for the return of the records, according to a posting on Wikileaks.org, an online clearinghouse for leaked documents. Wikileaks reports that the Web site for the Virginia Prescription Monitoring Program was defaced last week with a message claiming that the database of prescriptions had been bundled into an encrypted, password-protected file. washington post http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2244938/posts#comment Tue, 5 May 2009 23:39:41 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2217278/posts An explosive video being shopped to media outlets has plunged the White House and Vice President Joe Biden into a cocaine scandal, RadarOnline.com has learned exclusively. The video shows a woman, who is represented by the seller and his attorneys to be Biden’s daughter Ashley, snorting several lines of cocaine. The tape has been viewed by a RadarOnline.com freelance reporter who confirms the woman looks identical to Ashley Biden. Tom Dunlap, an attorney for Dunlap, Grubb and Weaver in Washington D.C. is representing the seller of the tape in brokering a deal and several news organizations have seen the footage.... Radar Online http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2217278/posts#comment Sun, 29 Mar 2009 08:09:48 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2046940/posts After spending $5 million on its five automated public toilets, Seattle is calling it quits. In the end, the restrooms, installed in early 2004, had become so filthy, so overrun with drug abusers and prostitutes, that although use was free of charge, even some of the city’s most destitute people refused to step inside them. The units were put up for sale Wednesday afternoon on eBay, with a starting bid set by the city at $89,000 apiece. The dismal outcome coincides with plans by New York, Los Angeles and Boston, among other cities, to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars... The New York Times http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2046940/posts#comment Thu, 17 Jul 2008 15:41:44 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2042115/posts An argument at a south Hilton Head Island nightclub spilled over to a north-island all-night breakfast restaurant, where a group of up to 15 women fought, some using their high heels as weapons, according to a Beaufort County sheriff’s report released today. The fight occurred just after 5 a.m. Saturday in the parking of Huddle House, 40 Palmetto Parkway. Several of the women had been in an argument earlier in the evening at Club Life, 81 Pope Ave., the report stated. When officers arrived, the people involved in the fight were uncooperative with the deputies and left the area, authorities... The Island Packet http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2042115/posts#comment Mon, 7 Jul 2008 23:55:05 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2037448/posts RIVERTON — Tie dye, tee-pees, and cries for free love and world peace. If it sounds like an image of the 1960s, residents near Pinedale may believe they've traveled back in time next week when a large band of "hippies" hold their annual gathering at a national forest near Pinedale. Federal officials began arriving in Riverton earlier this month to prepare for the arrival of the group, which calls itself the Rainbow Family of Living Light. Anywhere between several hundred to a few thousand members of the group are expected, and their arrival has already drawn the ire of some... KTAK Radio http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2037448/posts#comment Fri, 27 Jun 2008 21:13:55 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1981361/posts CHICAGO (Reuters) - Vermont leads the United States in marijuana use, while Utah has the highest number of people reporting mental health problems, U.S. government researchers said on Thursday, based on a new state-by-state report. They said substance abuse and mental health issues vary widely by state, but all struggle with these problems to some degree. "This report shows that although states may be uniquely affected by serious public health problems like underage drinking, every state and region must confront these issues," said Terry Cline, chief of the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, which compiled the study.... Reuters http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1981361/posts#comment Thu, 6 Mar 2008 16:29:24 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1978847/posts For Immediate ReleaseOffice of the Press SecretaryMarch 1, 2008 President's Radio Address   President's Radio Address  Audio  En Español       2008 National Drug Control Policy (PDF, 6.73MB, 79 pages) THE PRESIDENT: Good morning. Today, my Administration is releasing our 2008 National Drug Control Strategy. This report lays out the methods we are using to combat drug abuse in America. And it highlights the hopeful progress we're making in the fight against addiction. When I took office in 2001, our country was facing a troubling rate of drug abuse, particularly among young people. Throughout America, young men and women saw their dreams disrupted... WhiteHouse.gov http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1978847/posts#comment Sat, 1 Mar 2008 17:01:19 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/1957883/posts If this is true Obama is done. There have been rumors about Obama experimentig with drugs as a teen. Even people from Hillary Clinton's camp have said that something big was coming out about Obama back around Christmas. Could this be it? I don't really care for Obama but I don't like Hillary Clinton. Eventually Obama will have to respond. Mr Sircy's blogspot http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/1957883/posts#comment Tue, 22 Jan 2008 23:36:46 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1965870/posts Heath Ledger's death on Jan. 22 was due to an accidental mixture of prescription drugs, the Office of Chief Medical Examiner for the City of New York has concluded. "Mr. Heath Ledger died as the result of acute intoxication by the combined effects of oxycodone, hydrocodone, diazepam, temazepam, alprazolam, and doxylamine," said an announcement released Wednesday morning by office spokesperson Ellen Borakove. Oxycodone is a pain medication, hydrocodone is a cough suppressant, diazepam is commonly called Valium, temazepam treats anxiety or sleeplessness, alprazolam is known as Xanax, and doxylamine is a sedating antihistamine. People.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1965870/posts#comment Wed, 6 Feb 2008 16:08:05 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1964056/posts Los Angeles - Eva Mendes has checked into Utah’s Cirque Lodge, the substance abuse treatment centre where Lindsay Lohan recently completed a rehabiliatory stint. The Hitch actress’ rep confirmed that Mendes has been seeking treatment for the last several weeks for a substance abuse problem. -snip- Eontarionow http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1964056/posts#comment Sun, 3 Feb 2008 02:39:57 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1945328/posts Ahh, cancer. One learns so much from being diagnosed with a death-sentence disease. Of course, 95% of it is stuff you would rather not know, but that other 5% is downright interesting. For example, "America's Next Top Model" is much more fun to watch when you've lost 15 pounds without trying. During chemotherapy, vanilla smells good, but vanilla wafers taste disgusting. And eyelashes really do have a purpose; without them, my eyes are a dust magnet. But the most compelling fact I learned was about my friends. Not just what you would expect: how they cooked for my family and... The Los Angeles Times http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1945328/posts#comment Fri, 28 Dec 2007 21:53:33 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1942945/posts AP Medical Writer WASHINGTON --Improper use of patches that emit the painkiller fentanyl is still killing people, the government said Friday - its second warning in two years about the powerful narcotic. Some of the deaths came after doctors prescribed the patches to the wrong patients, the Food and Drug Administration said. The drug is only for chronic pain in people used to narcotics, such as cancer patients, and can cause trouble breathing in people new to this family of "opioid" painkillers. Yet the FDA found cases where doctors prescribed it for headaches or post-surgical pain. The FDA said patients... San Luis Obispo Tribune http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1942945/posts#comment Fri, 21 Dec 2007 21:23:43 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1939033/posts Download entire report including names of players implicated here. Major League Baseball http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1939033/posts#comment Thu, 13 Dec 2007 19:17:17 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1912057/posts Sociologists Discover Religion by: Heyecan Veziroglu, October 16, 2007 Religious belief and practice helps people prevent conflict by showing them a mutual sacred purpose and vision, leading sociologists said recently in a conference session hosted by the Heritage Foundation. Associate Professor Dr. Jeffrey Ulmer from Pennsylvania State University examines the degree to which religiosity increases self-control. He points out that religious observance builds self-control and substance use is lower in stronger moral communities. Dr. Ulmer argues that self-control is a cognitive resource and that it is a product of social learning. Psychologists have developed a ‘muscle’ or a ‘strength’ model... Campus Report http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1912057/posts#comment Tue, 16 Oct 2007 19:25:35 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1873408/posts They tell us he was steaming, but San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom shouldn't have been too surprised when The Chronicle reported that Golden Gate Park was littered with used drug syringes. After all, his own Public Health Department spent $800,000 last year to help hand out some 2 million syringes to drug users under the city's needle exchange program -- sometimes 20 at a time. Although Health Department officials say 2 million needles were returned, the fact is they don't count them and can only estimate how many are coming back. And from the looks of things, a lot of... The San Francisco Chronicle http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1873408/posts#comment Sun, 29 Jul 2007 21:35:55 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1870620/posts New York would become the first state requiring all addiction treatment programs to help their clients quit smoking under a proposed rule to be announced today. Pointing to the high number of tobacco-related deaths among former addicts, the state’s Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Service said that by July 24 of next year, all facilities treating drug or alcohol addiction would have to have programs in place to encourage clients to stop smoking. Under the plan, all treatment centers would have to be smoke-free, and staff members would also have to abide by the ban. Treatment for nicotine addiction,... NY Times http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1870620/posts#comment Tue, 24 Jul 2007 06:41:45 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1860457/posts On April 14, 2005, the day Dr. William E. Hurwitz was sentenced to 25 years in prison, Karen Tandy called a news conference to celebrate the sentence and reassure other doctors. Ms. Tandy, head of the Drug Enforcement Administration, held up a plastic bag containing 1,600 opioid pills. “Dr. Hurwitz prescribed 1,600 pills to one person to take in a single day,” she announced. This bag showed that he was “no different from a cocaine or heroin dealer peddling poison on the street corner,” she said, and made it “immediately apparent” that he was not a legitimate doctor. “To the... NY Times http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1860457/posts#comment Tue, 3 Jul 2007 22:49:54 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1853696/posts Ronald McIver is a prisoner in a medium-security federal compound in Butner, N.C. He is 63 years old, of medium height and overweight, with a white Santa Claus beard, white hair and a calm, direct and intelligent manner. He is serving 30 years for drug trafficking, and so will likely live there the rest of his life. McIver (pronounced mi-KEE-ver) has not been convicted of drug trafficking in the classic sense. He is a doctor who for years treated patients suffering from chronic pain. At the Pain Therapy Center, his small storefront office not far from Main Street in Greenwood,... NY Times http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1853696/posts#comment Thu, 21 Jun 2007 00:40:59 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1822415/posts ALEXANDRIA, Va. —William E. Hurwitz, the prominent doctor on trial here for drug trafficking, spent more than two days on the witness stand last week telling a jury why he had prescribed painkillers to patients who turned out to be drug dealers and addicts. But the clearest explanation of his actions — and of the problem facing patients who are in pain — came earlier in the trial. It occurred, oddly enough, during the appearance of a hostile witness, Dr. Robin Hamill-Ruth, one of the experts who was paid by the federal prosecutors to analyze Dr. Hurwitz’s prescriptions for OxyContin... NY Times http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1822415/posts#comment Tue, 24 Apr 2007 03:20:23 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1794026/posts The young father told police that he was alone with his newborn son when he inhaled the spray from a can of electronics cleaner, an increasingly popular choice for those seeking a cheap high Moments later, he went on to tell investigators, he awoke from a brief blackout to find his 15-day-old son bruised and disfigured. Kenneth George Ryan said he does not remember how the baby was hurt, but yesterday police announced that the 20-year-old Baltimore County man had been charged with murder. Young people call the practice "dusting," a name taken from the "Dust-Off" brand product that uses... Baltimore SUn http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1794026/posts#comment Fri, 2 Mar 2007 16:12:03 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1771413/posts A Huff Equals a Puff By Rhitu ChatterjeeScienceNOW Daily News10 January 2007 Sniffing, or huffing, glue, paint, cleaning fluids, and nail polish remover may appear relatively harmless, but it is physiologically no different from other forms of drug abuse. That's the conclusion of a new study that shows that toluene, the solvent in many of these inhaled substances, has the same effect on our brains as notorious drugs like cocaine and methamphetamine. The findings explain a long-standing mystery about the impact of this addictive substance on the brain and suggest ways of developing treatments for addiction. Solvent abuse increases a... ScienceNOW Daily News http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1771413/posts#comment Mon, 22 Jan 2007 04:52:59 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1712274/posts ST. PAUL, Minn. -- Eric Clapton is playing "Cocaine" in concert again. The recovering drug addict and alcoholic, who founded the Crossroads Centre addiction recovery center on the Caribbean island of Antigua, stopped performing the song written by J.J. Cale when he first got sober. "I thought that it might be giving the wrong message to people who were in the same boat as me," Clapton recently told The Associated Press. "But further investigation proved ... the song, if anything, if it's not even ambivalent, it's an anti-drug song. And so I thought that might be a better way to... The Indy Channel http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1712274/posts#comment Mon, 2 Oct 2006 19:45:21 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1684453/posts Commentary Mel Gibson is the latest reminder of the perils of drunken driving. But in his case it was talking while intoxicated that attracted so much attention. Typically, of course, it is not what someone says under the influence that concerns the public, but what he does. Safety is our main worry. And the goal is to keep the person from driving while intoxicated. That was the aim of the judge who in June handled the case of another high-profile arrestee, Representative Patrick J. Kennedy of Rhode Island. Mr. Kennedy pleaded guilty to driving under the influence after crashing his... NY Times http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1684453/posts#comment Wed, 16 Aug 2006 03:34:43 GMT