Abused Drugs
- Injection Drug Users Have Higher Rate of Drug Dependence than Non-Injectors
A new study shows that drug users who inject their drugs are in greater need of treatment for abuse of these substances than those users who do not inject. The study was conducted by researchers at RTI, an International Research institute.
- New Drug is a Major Risk
A drug being called the "new ecstasy" poses major risks to long-term health, say scientists at Anglia Ruskin University. The drug, called Benzylpiperazine (BZP) was a popular choice as a legal drug before its reclassification in 2009 as a controlled substance. Read More…
- Adolescent Amphetamine Abuse May Permanently Change Brain Cells
New animal research shows that amphetamine abuse during adolescences permanently changes brain cells. This is especially worrisome because many children and teens abuse amphetamines that are often prescribed to people with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, such as Adderall. When healthy individuals between the ages of 12 to 17 abuse these drugs, they risk permanently altering their brain cells.
- 23-Year-Old Man Dies After Overdosing on Caffeine Powder
A 23-year-old British man reportedly died from overdosing on caffeine in Mansfield, England. Michael Lee Bradford bought caffeine powder online and downed spoonfuls of the powder at a party. The inquest into the incident ruled that the powder amounted to about 70 energy drinks.
- Aging Drug Users Face More Health, Lifestyle Problems
As many drug users are getting older, they are facing more health problems. A new study by researchers at the Evidence-based Practice Research Centre at Edge Hill University and the Centre for Public Health at Liverpool John Moores University looked at 11 people between the ages of 49 and 61 who were being treated for drug addiction, and found that most started taking drugs as adolescents or young adults.
- Wall Street Sees Rise in Marijuana Use Among Investment Bankers
New data finds that Wall Street employees are turning away from cocaine and are instead using marijuana. According to the Wall Street Journal, drug tests show that in 2009, 7 percent of positive tests were attributed to cocaine, down from 16 percent in 2007. Marijuana, on the other hand, increased from 64 percent to 80 percent between 2007 and 2009.
- Acetaminophen Taken at Dangerous Levels
Acetaminophen is a pain reliever commonly used both alone and in combination with other medications, such as flu or cold relief. It is a popular pain-relief medication widely used around the world. However, with the many combination drugs available with acetaminophen, it is easy for individuals taking it to exceed the four-grams-a-day mark established as the maximum daily amount that can be safely taken.
- Admissions for Teen Substance Abuse Treatment Decline
A report examining the nation’s battle with drug addictions released Wednesday shows marked changes over the last decade in which drugs are abused and who seeks treatment. Among the more surprising findings is that admissions for substance abuse treatment among youths ages 12 to 17 declined 10% between 2002 and 2008. This plunge came after a 13% increase from 1998 to 2002.
- College Students Abusing Adderall
Adderall is a prescription drug used to treat symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), but college students across the country are abusing it in the hopes of staying up late to study for exams. As a result, they run the risk of harmful side effects and addiction.
- National Drug Threat Assessment 2010 Released
The National Drug Intelligence Center (NDIC), a component of the Department of Justice and the nation’s principal center for strategic drug intelligence, has released the National Drug Threat Assessment 2010 (NDTA 2010), detailing drug trafficking and abuse trends within the United States.