tagged w/ Substance Abuse
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The latest pharmaceutical being sold on the street is a knock-you-out antipsychotic called Seroquel. Jeff Deeney talks to the dealers, users, and narcs in the “Suzie-Q” black market.The latest pharmaceutical being sold on the street is a knock-you-out antipsychotic... more
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Medical experts are hoping the investigation into the sudden death of pop superstar Michael Jackson will renew attention on prescription drug abuse, a scourge that has cut short the lives of celebrities and opened up a new front on the war on drugs.
“There isn’t as much awareness as there needs to be,” said Lois F. Parker, a senior attending pharmacist at Massachusetts General Hospital. “I think it’s much more widespread than we realize.”Medical experts are hoping the investigation into the sudden death of pop superstar... more
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June 28th, 2009 – Amid questions about the possible role of drugs in Michael Jackson’s demise, the US Drug Enforcement Administration Friday renewed concerns about rising deaths from misuse of prescription pills. Some people close to the 50-year-old pop icon revealed Friday they had been concerned for some time about his Picture 3use of drugs, a day after he collapsed and died apparently from cardiac arrest at his rented Los Angeles home.
In response to numerous calls triggered by the singer’s sudden death, the DEA put back up on its website a May report into prescription drugs that showed more than 8,500 people died from misusing them in 2005.June 28th, 2009 – Amid questions about the possible role of drugs in Michael... more
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Do no harm. This is an oath that medical professionals take as they set out on their journey of supposed healing. Somewhere along the way there practices and vision become clouded by the perks and misinformation of some very persuasive pharmaceutical companies and many doctors get willy nilly with the old prescription pad. The pharma-cartels push the street level doctor dealers to move these drugs for them on a massive scale. These are real and dangerous drugs. Not a plant based medicine, but a chemically concocted compound that has the ability to alter minds, destroy physical health, and kill. Yet these pushers never find themselves facing criminal charges for their actions that often end up in the tragic deaths of their unsuspecting users.Do no harm. This is an oath that medical professionals take as they set out on their... more
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To quote Leonard Cohen, “Everybody knows” – and according to media reports, everybody knows Michael Jackson abused prescription medications – legal medications that most likely brought about his death. Was Michael a troubled soul? It appears so. Were laws bent or broken in providing his access to these drugs? Possibly. Recent news reports suggest..To quote Leonard Cohen, “Everybody knows” – and according to media reports,... more
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Martha Rosenberg, AlterNet.
In February the Justice Department charged Forest Laboratories with illegally marketing antidepressants Celexa and Lexapro to younger patients and burying a study that showed suicidal side effects in children. But the very next month the FDA approved Lexapro for depression in adolescents 12 to 17.
In March the Justice Department charged AstraZeneca with knowing and hiding the diabetes side effects of Seroquel. But this month the FDA considers expanding the antipsychotic's approvals to depression and anxiety.
And in January, Eli Lilly pled guilty to promoting its antipsychotic Zyprexa for unapproved and dangerous uses in a $1.4 billion settlement. But in March the FDA approved Lilly's Zyprexa/Prozac combo, Symbyax, for treatment resistant depression (TRD). What do you get when you cross Zyprexa with Prozac? Someone who gains 100 pounds and feels great about it!
"TRD" is such a new pharma invention that Googling it brings up Toyota Racing Development and Teacher Recruitment Days. But it will soon move prescriptions like GAD (general anxiety disorder), MDD (major depressive disorder) ADD (attention deficit disorder) RLS (restless legs syndrome) GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease) and PMDD (Premenstrual dysphoric disorder) -- and for the same reasons.
How do dangerous drugs keep getting approved? Through the best articles and spokesmen money can buy.
Forest paid Massachusetts General Hospital researcher Jeffrey Bostic $750,000 to chat up Celexa and Lexapro, according to US District Court in Boston filings. AstraZeneca paid University of Minnesota researcher Charles Schulz $112,000 to push Seroquel, according to US District Court in Orlando filings. And a decade of pain "studies" conducted by Baystate Medical Center's Scott S. Reuben on Vioxx, Lyrica, Celebrex and Effexor were completely fabricated--including the patients say published reports.
And speaking of "made up," Coast IRB, an institutional review board which oversees some 300 clinical trials and 3,000 researchers, agreed last year to approve a human trial for "Adhesiabloc," a surgical gel that the Government Accountability Office completely made up in a sting operation. Oops.
Martha Rosenberg, AlterNet.
In February the Justice Department charged Forest... more
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"Marijuana smokers show greater responsibility in their choice of drugs than those of us who choose (and abuse) alcohol" -- Norm Stamper
Alcohol-related traffic accidents claim approximately 14,000 lives each year, down significantly from 20 or 30 years ago (attributed to improved education and enforcement). Figures for THC-related traffic fatalities are elusive, especially since alcohol is almost always present in the blood as well, and since the numbers of "marijuana-only" traffic fatalities are so small. But evidence from studies, including laboratory simulations, feeds the stereotype that those under the influence of canniboids tend to (1) be more aware of their impaired psychomotor skills, and (2) drive well below the speed limit. Those under the influence of alcohol are much more likely to be clueless or defiant about their condition, and to speed up and drive recklessly.
Hundreds of alcohol overdose deaths occur annually. There has never been a single recorded marijuana OD fatality. According to the American Public Health Association, excessive alcohol consumption is the third leading cause of death in this country. APHA pegs the negative economic impact of extreme drinking at $150 billion a year.
There have been no documented cases of lung cancer in a marijuana-only smoker, nor has pot been scientifically linked to any type of cancer. (Don't trust an advocate's take on this? Try the fair and balanced coverage over at Fox.) Alcohol abuse contributes to a multitude of long-term negative health consequences, notably cirrhosis of the liver and a variety of cancers.
While a small quantity, taken daily, is being touted for its salutary health effects, alcohol is one of the worst drugs one can take for pain management, marijuana one of the best.
Alcohol contributes to acts of violence; marijuana reduces aggression. In approximately three million cases of reported violent crimes last year, the offender had been drinking. This is particularly true in cases of domestic violence, sexual assault, and date rape. Marijuana use, in and of itself, is absent from both crime reports and the scientific literature. There is simply no link to be made.
Over the past four years I've asked police officers throughout the U.S. (and in Canada) two questions. When's the last time you had to fight someone under the influence of marijuana? (I'm talking marijuana only, not pot plus a six-pack or a fifth of tequila.) My colleagues pause, they reflect. Their eyes widen as they realize that in their five or fifteen or thirty years on the job they have never had to fight a marijuana user. I then ask: When's the last time you had to fight a drunk? They look at their watches.
>"Marijuana smokers show greater responsibility in their choice of drugs than those of... more
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Prohibition has failed; legalisation is the least bad solution
"The failure of the drug war has led a few of its braver generals, especially from Europe and Latin America, to suggest shifting the focus from locking up people to public health and “harm reduction” (such as encouraging addicts to use clean needles). This approach would put more emphasis on public education and the treatment of addicts, and less on the harassment of peasants who grow coca and the punishment of consumers of “soft” drugs for personal use. That would be a step in the right direction. But it is unlikely to be adequately funded, and it does nothing to take organised crime out of the picture."Prohibition has failed; legalisation is the least bad solution
"The failure of the... more
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Stuff you should know to avoid, and the signs of the bad habits/addiction nowadays.
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Nominated for 8 Grammy's, Hip-Hop superstar Lil Wayne talks about the inequalities of the War on Drugs in this clip from the track "Dontgetit" off of his latest album, Tha Carter III.
http://www.americandrugwar.com
Video produced by Ryan Kaye
ryan(at)sacredcow.comNominated for 8 Grammy's, Hip-Hop superstar Lil Wayne talks about the inequalities of... more
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Ending drug prohibition and focusing on addiction as a sickness, like alcohol and prescription drugs, could save the U.S. economy and millions of lives. Please pass this video on to as many people as you can. We need your help to end the Drug War.
http://www.americandrugwar.comEnding drug prohibition and focusing on addiction as a sickness, like alcohol and... more
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"It has become commonplace for people who are overweight to attribute their waistline to their DNA. Now, celebrities caught snorting cocaine might also be able to blame their parents.
Scientists reported yesterday the discovery of a gene that increases the chances of becoming hooked on the drug. Addicts were 25% more likely to carry the gene variant than people who did not use cocaine, a study found.
The discovery is unlikely to lead to a treatment for cocaine addicts, but scientists hope it could be used to screen for those most likely to have problems kicking the habit if they ever try the drug.
"If you are a carrier of this gene variant, the likelihood of getting addicted to cocaine is higher," said Rainer Spanagel, a professor of psychopharmacology at the Central Institute of Mental Health in Mannheim, Germany, who led the study. "You can certainly use this as a vulnerability marker for cocaine addiction."
He said people found to be susceptible to cocaine addiction could be given counselling or protected with experimental vaccines now being developed. The vaccines are designed to block the "high", or euphoria, associated with the drug.
Last week, an analysis by the European Union's drug agency put Britain at the top of its list of cocaine-abusing states, with its users outnumbering all those elsewhere on the continent.
Genetic factors, scientists believe, account for 70% of cocaine addiction, making it as heritable as schizophrenia and other mental health conditions. Studies of twins suggest alcoholism is about 50% genetic.""It has become commonplace for people who are overweight to attribute their waistline... more
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Prop 5: The Nonviolent Offender Rehabilitation Act
http://www.Prop5Yes.com
Proposition 5 will cut state costs. The nonpartisan Legislative Analyst estimates those savings at $2.5 billion or more. Prop. 5 safely eases prison overcrowding by investing in drug treatment - which costs much less than prison - for youth and nonviolent offenders. Prop. 5 provides treatment with strict accountability.
Prop. 5 is supported by the League of Women Voters of California, Consumer Federation of California, California Nurses Association, California Society of Addiction Medicine, California Federation of Teachers - and many others.
Prop. 5 is opposed by the state prison guards' union, which has contributed almost $2 million for deceptive TV ads. Prison guards benefit from prison overcrowding and new prison building, but California loses.Prop 5: The Nonviolent Offender Rehabilitation Act
http://www.Prop5Yes.com... more
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The period of alcohol prohibition in the 1920's saw the rise of Moonshine, a homemade brew that, while very dangerous, would give drinkers the buzz they were looking for. Nearly a century later, we in America are facing a national epidemic of methamphetamine use. Better known as crystal meth, speed, or tweek; it is a synthetic drugs that can be cooked up anywhere with items purchased at a grocery store. Has drug prohibition created a black market for cheaper, more dangerous, and easier to acquire substances?
This is a clip from American Drug War: http://www.americandrugwar.comThe period of alcohol prohibition in the 1920's saw the rise of Moonshine, a homemade... more
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The McCain/Palin campaign recently put out a commercial which took a quote from Barack Obama out of context to make him appear sexist towards Sarah Palin. After becoming an embarassment in the media, the spot has since been pulled from both the McCain website and YouTube. Enjoy this short spoof brought to you by the good people at Sacred Cow Productions.The McCain/Palin campaign recently put out a commercial which took a quote from Barack... more
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The real Rick Ross talks to filmmaker Kevin Booth about the difference between the effect of crack cocaine versus methamphetamine (speed) on the community. This clip is from a series of interviews conducted by telephone with Freeway Rick in Texarkana F.C.I. for the production of AMERICAN DRUG WAR: the last white hope.The real Rick Ross talks to filmmaker Kevin Booth about the difference between the... more
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A recent study about global substance abuse shows that while Europeans are more drinky that the US, our cousins across the pond prefer cocaine to Chablis.A recent study about global substance abuse shows that while Europeans are more drinky... more
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“28 Days” is a film about a young woman (played by Sandra Bullock), who by day is a very successful New York City writer. However, at the same time she's living in the fast lane in the bar and club scene of New York City's nightlife, where she also happens to be everyone's favorite party girl.
Clinging to her jaded belief that life has no more meaning than a state of perpetual debauchery, she finally ends up with a 28-day stay in a substance abuse rehab center. While there, she finally begins to rediscover a capacity for the intimacy of love.
Photographs and a video from this memorable and very timely movie are included.“28 Days” is a film about a young woman (played by Sandra Bullock), who by day is... more
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The War on Drugs. The War on Terror. Narco-Terrorism. Prior to 9/11, the poppy production levels in Afghanistan were at a low and many of the Taliban were against heroin and the poppies. However, since U.S. forces entered after 9/11, the poppy crop has skyrocketed. The UN released a report saying that the six-year boom has lead to the Afghan crop being responsible for 92% of the world's heroin trade. With Homeland Security and the War on Terror, it's amazing that the drug still gets into the USA, one of it's strongest marketplaces.The War on Drugs. The War on Terror. Narco-Terrorism. Prior to 9/11, the poppy... more
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A new short film about the recent DEA drug bust at San Diego State University that resulted in almost 100 arrests, including students majoring in criminal justice and Homeland Security. The ongoing sting operation that lead to the arrests was a direct response to the death of SDSU student Shirley 'Jenny' Poliakoff from an overdose last year.A new short film about the recent DEA drug bust at San Diego State University that... more
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