Melissa Andrews of Great Britain died last October 11 of complications resulting from a drug overdose. Authorities and the girl's family believe her boyfriend may have helped administer the drugs.

"Portuguese national Mr. Coelho, then aged 27, was arrested on suspicion of administering a noxious substance... Investigating officer Det. Con. Heather Mullins told the inquest: 'My opinion is yes - he was a party to the drugs being injected.'"

Melissa's parents hope that telling her story will prevent other young girls from getting into relationships with known drug users. Source: Dorset Echo

Labels: death, overdose, relationships

A report commissioned by the Maryland General Assembly revealed that available services for substance abusers don't adequately meet the needs of the state's residents.

"The report says Maryland would have to admit 14,423 people to treatment programs each year to meet the need. In Prince George's County, the report says 4,606 more people each year require treatment than receive it."

The report also states that Prince George's County admits the fewest people for treatment per 100,000 residents than does any other county in Maryland.Source: WBFF News (Baltimore)

Labels: state_services, treatment

Maureen McCormick is best known for her childhood role at Marcia Brady on the classic sitcom The Brady Bunch. In her new memoir, titled Here's the Story: Surviving Marcia Brady and Finding My True Voice, McCormick tells the story of the battle she fought between the picture perfect character she played on TV and the real-life turmoil she endured off-camera.

"When the series had its final bow, she took up a hard-partying lifestyle in Hollywood, using drugs including cocaine and Quaaludes. She struggled to regain her earlier success, landing some TV and movie roles, but developed a reputation for unreliability due to her addiction, even botching an interview with Steven Spielberg for a role in 'Raiders of the Lost Ark' because she was high."

Now 52, McCormick is still surprised by how much Marcia Brady was and is part of people's lives. She admits it took her most of her life to separate Marcia from Maureen, but says she's finally reached a point of "equanimity and acceptance." Source: The Associated Press

Labels: awareness, celebrities, influences

A concerned mom wrote to Dr. Michael Levy of the Eagle-Tribune (North Andover, Massachusetts), seeking advice regarding her son who has struggled with substance abuse for several years. Now that he's almost 18, and nothing has worked, mom is wondering what else she can do. Dr. Levy responds:

"First, you can petition the court to commit him to inpatient treatment for his alcohol and drug use... If the judge believes that your son's use of drugs and alcohol is so severe that it is endangering his life, the judge can order a commitment not to exceed 30 days so he can get treatment."

Dr. Levy acknowledged that while programs like Alcoholics Anonymous are excellent, they don't work for everyone. He also stressed the importance of getting whatever help is available for the woman's son. Source: Eagle-Tribune (MA)

Labels: courts, treatment, young_adults

The Lewisville (Texas) School District launched a random drug testing program last fall. The program's first year yielded good news, officials said.

"Schools there drug tested nearly 1,700 students over the course of six weeks last year. Only one percent, or about 17, students tested positive drugs, including marijuana and prescription sedatives."

The pilot program cost about $370,000 last year, and will be continued this school year. Source: NBC5i - Dallas/Ft. Worth

Labels: drug_testing, schools

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency has created a traveling exhibit titled "Target America: Opening Eyes to the Damage Drugs Cause." The exhibit will be at the California Science Center in Los Angeles from October 2, 2008, to May 3, 2009.

"Target America began its national tour in 2002 and comes to Los Angeles with a new expanded section specific to Southern California. The 'Southern California Story' section looks at prevention, treatment and law enforcement issues related to drugs in Southern California..."

Drug use costs society an estimated $180 billion a year in increased health costs, criminal justice costs, lost work productivity and other areas. Source: PR Newswire

Labels: prevention, treatment

Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich announced a new program last week that will enable children who have mental health and substance abuse issues to get better help. Called Illinois DocAssist, the consultation program helps primary care providers offer better treatment.

"Due to a shortage of child psychiatrists, many children who have special mental healthcare needs or who are battling substance abuse problems receive treatment not from psychiatrists but from pediatricians and family doctors. Through Illinois DocAssist, those providers will have access to consultations, the latest in educational tools, trainings and other resources..."

By making these resources available, the program will improve the screening, diagnosis, and treatment of psychiatric and substance abuse disorders by primary care physicians and pediatricians. Source: EMaxHealth

Labels: abuse, mental_health, treatment

Some college officials are advocating a lowering of the national drinking age 21 to 18. The debate is drawing considerable amounts of criticism.

"...in 1984, President Ronald Regan signed into law the National Uniform Drinking Age 21 Act. The change helped to decrease fatal crashes by 59 percent between 1982 and 1998, saving thousands of lives in the process. In addition, a 1998 study showed 10 years after the age was raised to 21 in New York, 58 percent of people 18, 19, and 20 reported reduced drinking, while impaired driving rates decreased."

Studies have also shown that the brain continues to develop until a person reaches about 25 years of age, meaning young drinkers risk impeding the development process. The liver is also not fully developed, which means that alcohol has a stronger adverse affect on teenagers than it does on adults. Source: The Buffalo News

Read the Pros and Cons of Lowering the Legal Drinking Age

Labels: college_students, drinking_age

Tammy East has a son in junior high, and she thinks the random drug testing that he and other students will be subjected to throughout the year is good. She only has one objection:

"I think they should have drug testing for everyone, not just those in sports or other extracurricular activities..."

The drug testing policy, which has been in place at the high school level since the 1997-98 school year, has previously applied only to athletes. This year, however, testing will be expanded to include all students involved in all extracurricular activities in both junior and senior high. Source: Peoria (IL) Journal Star

Labels: drug_screening, drug_testing, students

Their ages, levels of education and family histories may vary, but one thing South Dakota's Drug Court participants have in common is an on-going issue with substance abuse. Participants are referred to Drug Court by state attorneys, social workers and other.

"Once in the program, their lives are intensively scrutinized, strictly monitored and highly directed. If participants progress, they can earn rewards, which may include reduced scrutiny, more individual choices and, ultimately, graduation from the program..."

Participants also have to submit to weekly drug testing, and many have to appear before the court at least once a week. The program is strict, but gets results, experts say. Source: Rapid City (SD) Journal

Labels: courts, juvenile_deliquents

Partnership for a Drug-Free America has teamed up with Major League Baseball to launch a new online resource about performance enhancing drugs. The program, which can be found at www.drugfree.org/playhealthy, focuses on educating teens about the dangers of steroids.

"Many teens use the Internet to search for information about steroids before deciding to use them. In an effort to communicate the dangers of steroids to teens searching online, the Partnership and MLB have launched the site with a keyword engine buy that works to actively interrupt the search and redirect teens..."

The site also provides information for parents, caregivers, and coaches, as well as tools to help guide conversations with teenagers. Source: PR Newswire

Labels: influences, prevention, role_models

The Solano County teen drug prevention program got a boost this week in the form of a $625,000 grant from the federal Drug Free Communities. An initial $125,000 will be provided to further the work of Solano County's Reducing Rates Coalition.

"To qualify for the matching grants of the program, the Reducing Rates Coalition had to demonstrate the effectiveness of its long-term plan and how it works with a variety of community partners on substance abuse reduction initiatives, including having representation from 12 specific sectors of the community."

Since 2001, teen drug use in Solano County has dropped 24 percent, due in large part to the Reducing Rates Coalition and its unique strategy of developing city-based teams as opposed to a centralized county effort. Source: The Reporter (CA)

Labels: community_programs, prevention

Parents of toddlers lock up medicines so their children do not have access to dangerous drugs. Now experts are advising parents of teens to do the same thing.

A new study from the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse found that teens say it is easier to obtain prescription drugs than cigarettes, beer, or marijuana. One-third of the teens in the study who abuse such drugs obtain them from their own homes. Parents are often unaware teens are raiding family medicine cabinets because teens often steal just a few pills at a time.

Researchers in this latest government study interviewed 1,000 students ages 12 to 17 and 300 parents between April and June. Nearly half of the older teens reported knowing at least one friend who was abusing prescription drugs.

Illegal drug use among teenagers has declined 25 percent since 2001, but teen prescription drug abuse is increasing, according to the Office of National Drug Control Policy. Opiates such as Vicodin and OxyContin, which are chemical cousins of heroin and morphine, are particularly popular with teens. Teens are prone to addiction because the human brain does not fully mature until age 24.

"This has quietly and insidiously grown into a big problem," said spokesperson for the agency, Tom Riley. "It's not the creepy guy in an overcoat pushing drugs - this is about medications that are in your home. ... Teens are getting drugs from their parents' or grandparents' medicine cabinets."

Teens can also buy almost any drug they want from Internet pharmacies without doctors' prescriptions.

New legislation sponsored by California Senator Dianne Feinstein would require any business selling controlled substances on the Internet to register with the Drug Enforcement Agency. This measure passed in the House of Representatives and is now pending in the Senate.

Labels: abuse, parental_involvement, prescription_drugs

A new study of animal brains shows that subtle differences in brain circuitry can explain why some animals become addicted to nicotine and others do not. Scientists at the University of Western Ontario have also been able to reverse this process and make nicotine unpleasant to rats formerly addicted to it.

Studies published last year found that some teenagers could become smokers after just one experimental cigarette while others find the experience unpleasant. The Canadian animal studies indicate that the key to understanding why this happens may have to do with "nucleus accumbens" or areas in the reward circuitry of the brain.

Dr. Steven Laviolette, writing in the journal Neuroscience, said, "If we can develop pharmacological treatments to target those regions, we can basically affect the development of nicotine addiction by controlling the brain's perception of nicotine's rewarding effects."

Labels: addiction, medications, prevention