October 31st, 2013
Staying Safe This Halloween
October is the fourth-booziest month of the year, following the libation-heavy holidays of July, November, and December. Of course, the vast majority of October’s alcohol consumption falls on Halloween and its surrounding weekend nights, when many teens and adults venture out for tricks ...
October 23rd, 2013
The Shocking Origins of Red Ribbon Week
Today kicks off Red Ribbon Week, the largest drug prevention campaign in the United States. Celebrated as an opportunity for widespread education and for communities across the country to participate in anti-drug activism, the annual tradition has its roots in violent tragedy. Enrique (Kiki) ...
October 22nd, 2013
Uruguay to Sell Legal Marijuana at Dollar Menu Price
According to Uruguay’s local newspaper, El Pais, the country plans to sell legal marijuana at $1 a gram as part of President Jose Mujica’s efforts in finding alternatives to the war on drugs. That’s $12-16 cheaper than the expected price of a gram at legal dispensaries here in Washington. The ...
October 21st, 2013
Meth-like Compound Found in Sport Supplements
In the world of supplements, skeptics have always questioned the safety and quality of certain products. What some companies market as an all-natural component may actually be more synthetic than one would assume. Recently, scientists detected a methamphetamine-like compound in two fitness ...
October 16th, 2013
Fail: The “War On Drugs”
The war on drugs is failing, suggests the latest data from seven international government-funded drug surveillance systems. Research indicates that over the past 20 years, not only have street prices fallen but the purity and potency of illegal drugs has actually increased. A new study funded ...
October 15th, 2013
Liquid Meth Discovered in Texas Middle School
Crystal, speed, and now — liquid? A perplexing form of methamphetamine was discovered in the hands of six middle schoolers last week in Texas City, Texas. Officials found small pieces of paper soaked with the substance that were reportedly meant to be dissolved in the user’s mouth, ...
October 14th, 2013
Craig Robinson Busted in the Bahamas
Craig Robinson, an actor well known for his appearances as Darryl on the hit TV show “The Office,” made news headlines for something other than his acting this past week. Robinson was arrested while vacationing in the Bahamas. While he attempted to board a flight, authorities found 18 capsules ...
October 9th, 2013
No More Menthol Cigarettes, Says European Union
As part of the European Union’s most recent attempt to decrease smoking among women and young adults, the European Parliament has approved larger health warnings on cigarette packs and a ban on menthol cigarettes. The legislators also put a ban on selling cigarettes in packets of ten and agreed ...
October 8th, 2013
Silk Road: The Unraveling of an Illicit Online Market
Over the past two and a half years, the underground online market “Silk Road” has been described as the eBay of illicit goods and services, serving as an anonymous electronic black market where one could find and easily purchase everything from black tar heroin and cocaine to illegal firearms ...
October 7th, 2013
Switzerland Decriminalizes Marijuana Possession
Last week, Switzerland joined the dozens of countries and states that have made small amounts of marijuana possession a non-crime. While anyone over the age of 18 who is caught with 10 grams or less will have to pay a fine of 100 Swiss Francs (about $110), the offense will not be written in ...
October 3rd, 2013
NORML Throws a Hail Mary (Jane) to Land Super Bowl Commercial
Marijuana policy reform group, NORML, may be doing their own victory celebration come this year’s Super Bowl as they attempt to launch marijuana legalization to the masses. When Intuit, the colossal software company behind Quicken and Quickbooks, decided to create a small business contest for a ...
October 2nd, 2013
Flesh-Rotting Drug, Krokodil, Has Made Its Way to the US (Warning: Graphic Images)
Hailing from Russia, a frightening, homemade drug has made its way to the US: Krokodil. The heroin-like substance is an extremely destructive mixture of over-the-counter codeine medication, alcohol, paint thinner, oil, and even gasoline. This toxic concoction has the power to physically rot the ...
October 1st, 2013
Nasal Spray a New Weapon for NYC Cops Tackling Prescription Drug Abuse
Law enforcement officers in Staten Island’s 120th Precinct — one of the most overdose-prone regions in New York City — will soon be carrying a new weapon in their pockets. Doses of naloxone, a drug that combats opioid overdose, will be provided as part of a new pilot program ...
September 26th, 2013
Dancing With Molly: Is MDMA Destroying EDM?
After two Electric Zoo Festival attendees died and three others were hospitalized, the Electronic Dance Music (EDM) community discusses the impact of its prevailing drug use (in particular MDMA- short for 3, 4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine). Four hours prior to tweeting her excitement about the ...
September 23rd, 2013
Lake Michigan’s On Drugs
Recent research published on Sciencedirect reveals a high concentration of prescription drugs in Lake Michigan. According to the findings by four University of Wisconsin researchers, the amount of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) pose a “significant threat to the health of the ...
September 11th, 2013
Russian Chimp Sent to Rehab for Alcohol and Cigarette Addiction
A chimpanzee named John has been successfully treated for alcohol and nicotine dependency , reports the The Daily Mail. After observing and replicating the habits of gamblers while working as a mascot at Space, one of the biggest casinos in Russia, the chimp continued his high rollers taste at ...
