USA Swimming has suspended Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps for three months after he acknowledged the authenticity of a photograph which showed him smoking marijuana. On that same day, Kellogg Co., said it would not renew its sponsorship agreement with Phelps.

"The U.S. Olympic Committee has sent a letter to Phelps, 'offering our assistance to make certain this doesn't happen again,' committee spokesman Darryl Seibel said in an email. The publicity over the photograph has led Phelps to consider whether to compete at the 2012 Games in London..."

Phelps has since apologized for his behavior and any disappointment it may have caused his fans. Source: Bloomberg News

Labels: consequences, cost_of_addiction

Posted By: Aspen Education Group 1 Comment

In response to a request from Florida Governor Charlie Crist for proposed budget cuts, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement suggested eliminating the over $300,000 that is currently spent on the state's DARE program. FDLE officials cited studies which have found the program to be ineffective.

"The office cited a 2003 U.S. Government Accountability Office analysis of several DARE studies, which concluded the program had 'no statistically significant long-term effect on preventing illicit drug use.' The U.S. Department of Education and surgeon general also have found DARE to be ineffective."

If Florida cuts its DARE program it will join states such as Illinois, California, Michigan, Washington and Wisconsin which have made similar cuts. Read more at HighTimes.com.

Wondering how you can help prevent teen drug addiction? Visit DrugRehabTreatment.com to learn more.

Labels: prevention, cost_of_addiction, criminal_justice

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Former Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare Joseph A. Califano has released a new book titled High Society. In it, he states that fundamental changes need to occur in the ways that we think about and deal with substance abuse and addiction.

"The problem can be addressed only by a revolution in the nation's criminal justice, medical, educational and social service systems, as well as foreign-policy priorities, Califano says."

He also believes that parents must realize how much influence they can really have over their children's decisions regarding drugs and alcohol. The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University estimates that alcohol use, abuse and addiction cost $313 million annually, and that doesn't include any illegal drugs. Read more at TheAdvertiser.com.

Labels: alcohol, legal drugs, cost_of_addiction

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