More of this story Aug 28, 2008
The meth problem has just skyrocketed, and at this point we see a major rise in opiates: Sedatives and painkillers. Estimates are that 11 percent of White Countians have substance abuse problems, which comes to about 8,000 people. (Searcy Daily Citizen, AR)
Keeping The Internet Drug-Free Aug 27, 2008
As every Web surfer knows, rogue Web sites are proliferating, along with their offerings of opiates, stimulants, downers, uppers and performance enhancers carefully crafted to appeal to the youngest and most vulnerable ... If you didn't get an e-mail, a Google search for "opiates but no prescription" produces over a million hits for sites, many of them offshore, offering controlled substances delivered to your door in a plain wrapper. (Forbes -- Technology)
No Prescription? Have Some of Mine Aug 26, 2008
The best outcomes I ve seen with these meds is in a tight collaboration with a multi-disciplinary team, such as having a special pain clinic prescribe opiates with an anesthesiologist, therapist, nurse and pharmacist all working together in one place with both the patient and any family they may have. While some people may object that this takes away their freedom, I would argue from experience that drug addiction takes away their freedom more then they could ever imagine. (New York Times)
Investigation reveals troubled Wyo. soldier Aug 21, 2008
The CID report states that, based on toxicology test results included in an autopsy report, Lopez tested positive for opiates and another drug commonly prescribed for conditions ranging from insomnia to anxiety. An autopsy report by Dr. Thomas Bennett of Billings dated Nov. 8 lists alcohol ingestion as a "significant condition" for Lopez at the time of death. (Rapid City Journal, SD)
Methadone Clinic Helps Addicts Get Lives Back Aug 17, 2008
All are addicted to opiates ... She has suffered setbacks with drugs other than opiates, specifically marijuana, which she said she has also been addicted to. (The Pilot Newspaper)
Parents explain truancy Aug 16, 2008
Tests turned up marijuana, cocaine, methamphetamine and opiates in many of the parents, nearly all of whom are raising children in elementary school. Pleading guilty to contributing to the delinquency of a minor - the formal criminal charge levied against the parents for truancy - usually drew a 30-day jail sentence from Naman, which he suspended but said he would carry out if the truancy problem persisted. (AL.com)
Gold medal for exercise: Key to long, healthy life Aug 15, 2008
That concept, heretical during an era that still regarded "body" and "mind" as distinct, was transformed to conventional wisdom after medical researchers discovered endorphins -- natural pain-killers closely akin to opiates that the body makes during exertion. Since then, we've heard that exercise can reduce certain types of cancer, prevent disabilities, ease depression, control weight, boost the immune system, fight osteoporosis, even help with multiple sclerosis. (Why Files)
DIY drug test kits help identify problems Aug 15, 2008
The urine test provides preliminary screening for five drugs: amphetamine, methamphetamine, opiates, cocaine and marijuana ... The test, which is similar to those being sold by law enforcement, tests for marijuana, cocaine, opiates, methamphetamine and phencyclidine, or PCP. It does not require a doctor's referral and, like the kits offered by police agencies, the results are available quickly ... The four-drug test, which costs about 20, detects marijuana, opiates, methamphetamine and cocaine. (Sioux City Journal, IO)
Parents failing to safeguard teens from drugs, alcohol, survey finds Aug 15, 2008
Health experts not involved in the survey agree that teenagers raiding the family medicine cabinet are a growing problem - many youths quickly become hooked on such powerful opiates as Vicodin and OxyContin. Studies show that opiates trail only marijuana as the most commonly abused class of illegal drugs among adolescents ... "More and more, they are coming in strung out on prescription pill opiates," said Kornfeld, an assistant clinical professor at the UCSF School of Medicine who for 20 years... (San Francisco Chronicle)
Nature Or Nurture: Are You Who Your Brain Chemistry Says You Are? Aug 14, 2008
In a study to identify biochemical correlates of personality traits in healthy humans, researchers focused their investigation for the first time on the role of the brain s opioidergic (or endorphine) system specifically, the connection between an individual s level of reward expectancy and the brain s ability to transmit naturally occurring opiates ... The participants who skewed toward a high need to feel rewarded by approval were also those with the highest uptake of opiates, or endorphins,... (Science Daily)
* Turning poppies into pomegranates Aug 12, 2008
A UN survey found that Afghanistan cultivated 193,000 hectares of opium last year and now supplies 93 percent of the worlds opiates. The illegal trade is worth around US$2. (Taipei Times, Taiwan -- World)
Converting drug money to terror ... Helpful countries ... More Aug 9, 2008
Over the past five months alone, the British navy has seized 30 tons of cocaine, opiates and other drugs as they were being transported in the Persian Gulf. The suspicion is the shipments were tied to Taliban insurgents in Afghanistan. (Scripps Howard News Wire)
Medicinal Marijuana Effective For Neuropathic Pain In HIV, Study Finds Aug 8, 2008
D., associate professor of neurosciences at UCSD School of Medicine, the study looked at 28 HIV patients with neuropathic pain not adequately controlled by other pain-relievers, including opiates. They took part in the controlled study as outpatients at the UCSD Medical Center. (Science Daily)
Judge does not accept ex-hedge fund manager's plea Aug 7, 2008
In the latest twist in a sensational case involving a $450 million investor scam, U.S. District Judge Kenneth Karas said he was concerned that the methadone treatment Israel was taking to be weaned off opiates could be clouding his judgment ... He said he has been taking the methadone while in custody to wean him off opiates he administered to reduce pain from a series of spinal surgeries. (USA Today -- Money)
Nurses' Notes - Relieve pain by closing gates to brain Aug 6, 2008
We also produce natural opiates that decrease pain signals. These opiates increase when we re doing something we enjoy and with regular exercise. (Missoulian, MT)
Medicinal Marijuana Eases Neuropathic Pain in HIV Aug 6, 2008
It included 28 HIV patients with neuropathic pain that wasn't adequately controlled by opiates or other pain relievers. The researchers found that 46 percent of patients who smoked medicinal marijuana reported clinically meaningful pain relief, compared with 18 percent of those who smoked a placebo. (Health-Finder)
Call for public warning on doctors Aug 2, 2008
Some doctors and surgeons have only limited registration, meaning that they could, for example, not be allowed to prescribe opiates or work throughout the state. Other doctors registration is limited because they may have mental or physical health problems. (Adelaide Independent Weekly)
As the price of heroin drops, the drug is attracting younger users Aug 2, 2008
Hensley, who was hooked on heroin for three years and crack cocaine and opiates for 20, has heard that heroin goes for as low as $4 per bag. Hensley, speculated that the high price of Oxycontin - which she estimated to be $40 per pill - may have contributed to the relatively low cost of heroin. (Framingham TAB, MA)
LETTERS: NCT, July 31, 2008 Aug 1, 2008
And part of the solution to our addiction to opiates is expanding our own operations to grow domestic poppies, and our addiction to pot that we should be planting more of those funny little plants. Just say no. (North County Times)
Town ranks high in opiate use Aug 1, 2008
Greg Nickolas, director of the Youth and Recreation Department, said the frequency of Saugus residents experiencing difficulties with opiates didn t come as a surprise. As the department s point person for spearheading drug interventions, Nickolas told the Advertiser it is troubling to see how tight a grip addiction has on the community. (Saugus Advertiser, MA)
Booze, caffeine liquid contraceptives Jul 29, 2008
OPIATES bought off supermarket shelves, drug gangs recruiting pensioners at the pokies and GPs left in the dark. See our special report. (NEWS.com.au)
Mix ofpills, alcohol fuelsdeadly trend Jul 29, 2008
There is a serious question as to how much of this is being driven by opiates, he said. Danger is you'll stop breathingThose highly addictive drugs have been a growing worry for years. (MSNBC -- Health)
Just short of the abyss, a small voice gets through (18) Jul 26, 2008
I can t help wondering whether my story might have been even more difficult if I d been young when Amy was, with crack cocaine, meth and opiates everywhere. Would I have done drugs if someone had shoved them at me during my teens. (Helena Independent Record, MT)
WEX Announces Presentation at Scientific Conference Jul 26, 2008
At present, the management of severe cancer pain generally includes the use of morphine and other opiates. This can often result in undesirable side effects, and treatment with this type of medication is not always effective. (CCNMatthews Press Releases)
Drug Test Cheaters Turning to Web Jul 26, 2008
"The general population is unconcerned, because they're clean and don't need to worry about that. But, if you're addicted to opiates or painkillers, your job is dependent on clean urine, and these people go to great lengths to try to pass that test.". "These [Internet] companies prey on that mentality with products that enable them to cheat, and laboratories, on the other hand, employ countermeasures to try to detect that practice," Wu added. (Health-Finder)
Woman who gave teen deadly pill dose sentenced Jul 26, 2008
Methadone is commonly prescribed for relief of severe pain and is also used to ease withdrawal symptoms for those addicted to opiates such as heroin. Angelica Martinez: (619) 293-1317. (San Diego Union-Tribune)
Ex-Hornet Andersen inks pact to return to Nuggets Jul 25, 2008
The drugs on the "drugs of abuse" list are amphetamines and its analogs, which include methamphetamine; cocaine; LSD; opiates, including heroin, codeine and morphine; and PCP.. Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. (ESPN -- Golf News)
Nuggets sign'Birdman' Andersen Jul 25, 2008
The drugs on the "drugs of abuse'' list are amphetamines and its analogs, which include methamphetamine; cocaine; LSD; opiates, including heroin, codeine and morphine; and PCP. 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. On NewsvineRate Story:LowHighTop NBCSports.com storiesNBC Sports videos Sponsored links Sports Features About Us ? 2008 NBC Universal 00000000. (MSNBC -- Sports)
Political notes Jul 24, 2008
The pilot s emphasis on long term treatment and follow up care reflects what it is known about the neurobiological changes that occur in the brain as a result of prolonged abuse of opiates. Hecht hires Herron as campaign manager. (Watertown TAB & Press, MA)
GPISD board unanimously OKs random drug testing Jul 24, 2008
Opiates (pain killer; Oxycodone, Darvocet, Vicodin). Cannabinoid (depressant; Marijuana). (North Channel Sun, TX)
Doctors speak on prescription drug abuse Jul 24, 2008
Williams' whopping statistics that "70 percent of opiates used in the world are used by Americans, and 98 percent of hydrocodone [the active ingredient in Vicodin] used in the world is used by Americans," makes it easy to see why addiction is such a prevalent concern in the United States. When asked of the precautions one can take to help prevent addiction to prescription drugs, Baron recommended that all patients notify their doctors about their concerns before they start taking the drug. (Malibu Times, CA)
Missoula man details depths of addiction Jul 23, 2008
Police reviewing the surveillance footage recognized Bagley from a previous run-in with the law he was convicted of misdemeanor partner assault and witness tampering in July 2005, when he shoved a female friend while high on opiates ... A chemical dependency counselor who had evaluated him also spoke at the hearing, and said Bagley reported using multiple opiates on a daily basis, listing morphine, oxycodone, heroin, fentanyl and methadone his drugs of choice ... As far as opiates go, I ve... (Helena Independent Record, MT)
Watertown's Victory Field vandalized (Crime Watch) Jul 23, 2008
A. Heroin and other opiates such as morphine; some designer drugs such as GHB and ketamine (special K). B. Cocaine; prescription opiates such as OxyContin/Oxycodone; LSD; ecstasy; amphetamine; and methamphetamine. (Watertown TAB & Press, MA)
Prescription for addiction: Man's struggle with opiates led him on a path to destruction Jul 23, 2008
Missoulian: Prescription for addiction: Man's struggle with opiates led him on a path to destruction ... Prescription for addiction: Man's struggle with opiates led him on a path to destructionBy TRISTAN SCOTT of the Missoulian ... Police reviewing the surveillance footage recognized Bagley from a previous run-in with the law he was convicted of misdemeanor partner assault and witness tampering in July 2005, when he shoved a female friend while high on opiates. (Missoulian, MT)
Prescription for addiction: Officials work on creation of drug database Jul 23, 2008
Right now, Long said, doctors and pharmacists in Montana have no idea if a patient complaining of pain is getting prescriptions all over town and then selling those pills to other addicts, a lucrative business that is rapidly growing as people realize the addictive potential of narcotic opiates ... But critics say the database could have unintended consequences, creating an adverse chilling effect on patients whose legitimate chronic pain issues and excruciating terminal illnesses require... (Missoulian, MT)
Prescription for addiction: A family broken by opiate use Jul 22, 2008
Opiates gave her something to look forward to, something she could count on in a world filled with people who had repeatedly let her down ... She was high on opiates, but was doing her best to sit up straight while nodding off into an opiate-induced trance ... Like Johnson, her brother was addicted to opiates and the two occasionally used oxy together. (Missoulian, MT)
State budget includes new jail diversion program for OxyContin and heroin abuse Jul 22, 2008
The pilot s emphasis on long-term treatment and follow up care reflects what we now know about the neurobiological changes that occur in the brain as a result of prolonged abuse of opiates. According to the Dept. of Public Health, poisonings, the majority of which are drug overdoses, eclipsed motor vehicle fatalities as the leading cause of injury death in Massachusetts. (Belmont Citizen Herald, MA)
Prescription for disaster Jul 21, 2008
He developed a tolerance to the opiates and started using more and more, at first for pain relief, and then because he needed the high ... It might have worked, but as his drug use escalated, and Havelka was snorting pills faster than he could refill his prescriptions, he began to experience the painful effects of opiate withdrawal, which mimicked the stomach pain the opiates were supposed to relieve ... The difference is that Naltrexone contains no opiates. (Helena Independent Record, MT)
Prescription for Addiction: Painkillers for stomach condition spiraled out of control, almost ending man's life Jul 21, 2008
He developed a tolerance to the opiates and started using more and more, at first for pain relief, and then because he needed the high ... It might have worked, but as his drug use escalated, and Havelka was snorting pills faster than he could refill his prescriptions, he began to experience the painful effects of opiate withdrawal, which mimicked the stomach pain the opiates were supposed to relieve ... With opiates, he sustained his high throughout the day, hiding his drug use from friends and... (Missoulian, MT)
Doctors debate strategies to control pain Jul 20, 2008
D., discuss how to better manage the risks associated with prescription opiates during a weekly meeting ... At the same time, Sechrest and his colleagues are hyper-aware of the growing addiction problems associated with opiates, and frequently see their own patients' pain-treatment therapies spiral out of control ... The moment a doctor suspects a patient is taking opiates excessively, the patient is re-evaluated. (Missoulian, MT)
Prescription for addiction: Abuse of painkillers fastest-growing drug problem in Montana (36) Jul 20, 2008
In Missoula County, fatal overdoses of prescription painkillers have increased by 65 percent since 2001, and abuse of opiates often initially obtained legally for very real medical conditions has become one of the deadliest blights on the community ... A few years back, Mark Long, chief of the narcotics bureau in the state's Division of Criminal Investigation, detected a rampant number of drug cases involving several kinds of prescription opiates ... In the first half of 2008 in Missoula County,... (Missoulian, MT)
Coalition Troops Snatch 30 Tons Of Drugs Jul 17, 2008
Narcotics Including Hashish, Opiates, Cocaine And Amphetamines Could Have Helped Fund Taliban ... Drugs seized over five months included hashish, opiates, cocaine and amphetamines, the statement said. (CBS News -- World)
Where Iraq and Iran Meet, Uneasily Jul 17, 2008
Most of the drugs, Basra military officials say, are opiates and cannabis, believed to originate in Afghanistan, that pass through Iran and Iraq for sale in the richer Gulf states. The formal extent of Iran's role remains murky. (Time.com)
U.S. Navy: 30 tons of drugs seized in gulf Jul 16, 2008
Drugs seized included hashish, opiates, cocaine and amphetamines, the statement said, without giving a specific breakdown. Commodore Keith Winstanley, the British navy's commander in the Middle East, said illegal drugs are "one of the gravest threats to the long-term security of Afghanistan and a vital source of funding for the Taliban warlords.". (MSNBC -- International)
New booster seat law takes effect today Jul 13, 2008
The tracking program adopted unanimously by the state Public Health Council requires that anyone holding a prescription for Schedule II drugs, such as opiates, must present identification to the pharmacist, so the information can be entered into a state database. Romney to chair Republican convention Mitt Romney will serve as chairman of the state delegation to the Republican National Convention in Minneapolis Sept. 1 to 4, the state GOP announced yesterday. (Boston Globe)
How to keep your kids pain-free Jul 13, 2008
Don't be afraid of opiates. Opiates can help a child in severe pain, and the risks are small, pediatric pain experts say. (CNN -- Health)
Abuses Are Found in Online Sales of Medication Jul 13, 2008
Drugs offered online include generic versions of opiates like OxyContin, methadone and Vicodin, which are legitimately prescribed as painkillers; benzodiazepines like Xanax and Valium, which are prescribed for anxiety; and stimulants like Ritalin. Federal and state efforts to crack down on Internet sales appear to have reduced the number of sites offering such drugs, from 581 last year, said Joseph A. Califano Jr., director of the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia... (Atlanta Journal-Constitution -- Health)
* FEATURE: Iraq emerging as a vital route in drug trafficking Jul 8, 2008
The Iraqi authorities say that since the 2003 US-led invasion the trade in illegal opiates, cannabis and synthetic pharmaceuticals has risen steadily, and that many drugs originating in Afghanistan enter Iraq via Iran ... About 65km south of Amara, the long reeds of the al-Ezeir marshes that extend well inside Iran make ideal cover for smugglers, who are thought to transport thousands of kilos of opiates a year in the area. (Taipei Times, Taiwan -- World)
Drug testing OK'd at CGUHSSchool board approves program to affect students participating in sports, band and other activities Jul 8, 2008
The grant requires the district to randomly drug test 25 percent of them - about 53 students a month for 10 months - for alcohol, marijuana, cocaine, methamphetamine, PCP and opiates. Testing positive results in suspension from extracurricular activities. (Casa Grande Valley Newspapers, AZ)
Free kits available to parents to drug-test kids Jul 2, 2008
The tests rely on urine samples to provide readings for 12 drugs, including marijuana, cocaine, methamphetamine, opiates and oxycodone. The New Albany-Floyd County school system in April approved the program that begins in the fall. (Rensselaer Republican, IN)
Caphosol favorably impacts both the rate and severity of oral mucositis in cancer patients Jun 28, 2008
No pain medication was required in 54 percent of patients, while opiates were used by 25 percent and other non-opioid medications (including NSAIDS) by 21 percent of patients. Patient satisfaction was high, with 52 percent very satisfied, 29 percent satisfied, 13 percent only slightly satisfied and 3 percent not satisfied. (EurekAlert!)
Daily chart: Down pipes Jun 27, 2008
Opiates remain the main problem drug in terms of treatment. But while there is cause for concern, comfort may be had in knowing things are not nearly as bad as they used to be. (The Economist)
Thriving opium trade next door bad news for India Jun 27, 2008
The export value of opiates to neighbouring countries was a staggering $3. 1 billion in 2006 and touched $4 billion in 2007. (Times of India)
* Sports Briefs Jun 26, 2008
Opiates cost Tolossa title. Ambesse Tolossa of Ethiopia was stripped of his 2007 Honolulu Marathon title and suspended from international competition after testing positive for a banned substance, race officials said on Tuesday. (Taipei Times, Taiwan -- World)
Opioids And Cannabinoids Influence Mobility Of Spermatozoids Jun 25, 2008
It is known that the consumption of external opiates (heroin, methadone) reduces the mobility of spermatozoids and that external cannabinoids (hachis) causes changes in the reproductive process. Also, the body itself generates internal opioids and cannabinoids, secreted to enable us withstand pain or stress situations, and it is also known that this phenomenon affects the reproduction process. (Science Daily)
Rock bottom: Heroin use is on the rise Jun 23, 2008
With other opiates difficult to get and more expensive, heroin use is growing ... No matter what leads them to try opiates, they get hooked ... She used other opiates, but heroin was always just a call away. (Anchorage Daily News)
Grant, rampant drug use may sway CGUHSD board Jun 22, 2008
The grant requires the district to drug test 25 percent - about 53 students a month for 10 months - for alcohol, marijuana, cocaine, methamphetamine, PCP and opiates. Sonja Hoppe, vice president of Southwest Laboratories, said each student in the pool would have a number. (Casa Grande Valley Newspapers, AZ)
Common Bowel Problem Linked To Chili Pepper Pain Receptor Jun 12, 2008
People with severe pain from IBS are currently treated with opiates, which can have serious side-effects. Painkillers such as paracetamol and ibuprofen tend to offer little relief. (Science Daily)
Woman pleas guilty to giving drugs that overdosed teen Jun 12, 2008
Wion gave the teenager a bottle of methadone, a painkiller also used to ease withdrawal symptoms for those addicted to opiates such as heroin. Wion had been prescribed methadone for pain. (Fresno Bee -- State)
Guilty plea entered in overdose of 17-year-old Jun 12, 2008
Laura S. Wion is to be sentenced to between four and six years in prison under the terms of a plea agreement for causing the Aug. 2006 death of Kelsea Lyn Phelps by giving her methadone a painkiller also used to ease withdrawal symptoms for those addicted to opiates such as heroin. Wion, 45, pleaded guilty to charges of involuntary manslaughter and felony child abuse. (San Diego Union-Tribune)
Remote Tajik outpost on front line of drugs war Jun 11, 2008
With an increase in illicit poppy cultivation of 17 percent in 2007, Afghanistan accounts for 93 percent of the total illegal global market in opiates, the United Nations International Narcotics Control Board said in its annual report in March. Tajikistan says it seizes 60 percent of drugs passing through its territory. (Scientific American)
Teacher no longer facing drug charges Jun 7, 2008
Hair follicle drug testing screens are for cocaine, marijuana, opiates, amphetamines and PCP. The standard testing detects drug use within the last 90 days but can detect further back depending on the length of the hair tested. A 90-day test requires at least 40 mg of hair at least 1 1/ 2 inches long and cut close to the scalp. (Columbus Telegram, NE)
Secret deal by Patriot knocked Jun 5, 2008
Both said tests using blood, urine, hair, or fingernails can readily detect the presence of opiates such as OxyContin in a way broadly similar way to blood-alcohol tests. Shelley Murphy can be reached at. (Boston Globe)
Breaking Addiction Jun 5, 2008
Opiates are powerful pain-killers marketed under names such as vicodin or oxycontin. But, substance abuse researcher Dr. Gene Somoza said, a recent survey found prescription opiate abuse is now more prevalent partly due to internet orders. (WOKR13 Rochester)
REGION: Drug use down among arrested teens, report shows Jun 3, 2008
In addition to marijuana and meth testing, researchers screened samples for cocaine, opiates and the psychotropic drug known as PCP.. Forty percent of kids tested positive for marijuana, which was the most commonly used drug, the study said. (North County Times)
