A report released last month has found an usually high number of Ecstasy-related deaths among young people. The report, generated by Professor Fabrizio Schifano at the University of Hertfordshire, appeared in the online version of Neuropsychobiology.

"Professor Schifano and his colleagues at St Georges, University of Londons International Centre for Drug Policy, which runs the National Programme [sic] on Substance Abuse Deaths (np-SAD), reviewed stimulant-related deaths from the np-SAD database and from the British Crime Survey2001-2007," the medical news site ScienceDaily reported.

Study of the database and crime survey found that there was almost as many Ecstasy-related deaths as there were amphetamine and methylamphetamine-related deaths combined. Of equal concern was the fact that most of the Ecstasy deaths were young, healthy people.

Labels: ecstasy, death

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When 20-year-old Benjamin Britt went out into the woods near Trenton, Maine, he was just joining some friends for a party. But as the group passed around bottles of vodka, an alcohol-induced disagreement broke out, and the group scattered. Britt died of hypothermia, a death that officials attributed to underage drinking.

In a Dec. 19 Bangor Daily News article, writer Abigail Curtis addressed Britt's death in the context of the area's ongoing struggles with underage drinking:

Underage drinking cost Maine $234 million in 2007, according to a research paper distributed by the Maine Office of Substance Abuse. The 2008 Maine Youth Drug and Alcohol Use Survey reported that more than a quarter of Maine high school students had used alcohol in the past month and that 12.5 percent had binged in the past two weeks.

Underlying those numbers are countless incidences of fights, car crashes, risky sexual behavior, property crime, poisoning, injury and even fetal alcohol syndrome.

While numbers of sixth- to 12th-grade students who drink seem to be declining, high-risk drinking among 18- to 25-year-olds is now on the agencys radar, said Guy Cousins, director of the Maine Office of Substance Abuse. Although it is legal to drink alcohol at age 21, younger legal drinkers are very vulnerable to problematic behaviors such as binge drinking, he said.

"Lowering the drinking age is not the answer," Cousins said. "People talk about there not being as many problems when the drinking age was lower. There were a whole lot more. They just werent reported the same way they are now."

Labels: death, underage drinking, maine

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On Tuesday, August 25, East Central University in Ada, Oklahoma will host a discussion on alcohol and substance abuse. This discussion will feature Reggie Whitten, a father who lost a son to drug addiction.

His multimedia presentation will be open to the public at no charge and will be geared toward substance abuse counselors as well as educating students. ...

When Whitten's son, Brandon, died in a motorcycle accident in 2002, Whitten was devastated. He has said he was 'a walking dead man' who was just trying to find a reason to live. -- Source: Ada (OK) Evening News

Whitten's son, who had been addicted to prescription drugs, died at the age of 25. Out of that tragedy, the Whitten-Newman Foundation was formed and now works to educate young people on the dangers of abusing drugs and alcohol.

Whittens presentation at ECU will begin at 9:30 a.m. in the Estep Multimedia Center in the University Center.

Labels: parents, addiction, death, fathers

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Nicholas Blocks grandmother doesnt think he would have wanted his friends to wear black to his funeral. So shes asked them not to. Nick died of a drug overdose earlier this month, and his friends are helping plan the funeral.

"Nicks grandparents gave their blessing for his friends to organize a Celebration of Life service at the North Jetty in Venice beach," The Charlotte Sun reported. "There, his friends will remember Nicholas."

The circumstances surrounding Block's death were described in a June 28 article on the HeraldTribune.com website:

On Friday [June 26], the Herald-Tribune reported that an autopsy showed the teen-ager had opiates, cocaine and tranquilizers in his system. Those findings are consistent with reports from witnesses and police that Block had snorted crushed oxycodone, a potent narcotic painkiller, prior to his death.

The circumstances surrounding Block's death indicate how accessible powerful prescription drugs have become. When police found Block's body, they also found supplies of oxycodone, evidence of illegal drugs and his mother, who was unconscious. Witnesses told police that, on the night of the death, Block asked his stepfather for oxycodone. ...

Last week, Block's mother and stepfather -- Linda and Billy Jack Courtright -- were charged with conspiring to sell oxycodone, in addition to previous charges of child neglect.

Block's friends are also helping pay for his funeral, which will cost about $3,000, and which his grandparents  who raised him  cannot afford.

Labels: prescription drugs, death, overdose

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Attempting to describe the many health and developmental dangers of drinking alcohol to a young person may be an exercise in futility, but a new Canadian study may help to put the risk in terms that are stark enough to capture a teen's attention: Every 15 seconds, someone dies because of alcohol.

This finding was described in a June 27 Examiner.com post by Carl Lowe:

A few sips of wine may be good for your heart, but alcohol-related disease and accidents take a life every 15 seconds according to research from the Canadian Centre for Addiction and Mental Health.

Researchers found that disorders linked to drinking wine, beer, whiskey, mixed drinks, etc are among the most disabling diseases in the world. The problems are especially problematic for men although women have been drinking more during the past decade.

Unlike other diseases, the risks linked to drinking frequently kill young people.

No one statistic will be enough to end the scourge of teen alcohol abuse, but information such as the data collected during the Canadian study may help bolster parents' efforts to keep their kids away from alcohol and other drugs.

Labels: health_problems, alcohol, death

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A 17-year-old high school senior was found dead Jan. 21 from what authorities have said was a drug overdose. The Stockton, California, teen had taken a fatal combination of Oxycodone, Valium and Xanax.

"In response to the girl's death, Lincoln High Principal Debbi Holmerud invited parents and students to the campus Thursday night for a meeting to talk about the perils of drugs, especially prescription drugs."

Stockton Police Officer Richard Fields encouraged parents to "be aware of what's in your medicine cabinet - and what's missing." Parents were also encouraged to take note of emotional and physical changes in their children, as they can be signs of drug abuse. Source: The Record (Stockton, CA)

Labels: death, prescription_drugs, overdose

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According to a study published on the British Medical Journal website, Scotland has a higher mortality rate than either England or Wales, and substance abuse accounts for approximately one-third of the deaths behind this statistic. Traditionally, the higher mortality rates in Scotland have been attributed to poorer living conditions and any unaccounted for deaths were assumed to be the result of conditions related to deprivation. But new research is showing that many previously unaccounted for deaths are actually drug-related deaths. (Source: sciencedaily.com)

Labels: deprivation, death, poverty

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The Substance Abuse Policy Research Program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation recently funded a study on the effects alcohol taxes have on alcohol-related deaths. The results have proved surprising.

"In the first study of its kind to directly measure the effect of state alcohol tax changes on deaths from alcohol-related diseases, researchers found that raising alcohol taxes had two to four times the impact of other common prevention efforts such as school programs or media campaigns."

Researchers studied tax increase impacts in the state of Alaska, which is the first state to impose significant increases. During the years in which tax increases were implemented - 1983 and 2002 - Alaska saw 29 percent and 11 percent drops (respectively) in alcohol-related deaths. Source: Science Daily

Labels: death, alcohol_sales, taxes

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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

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Pre-teens and teens often decorate their rooms with posters and pin-ups of the latest pop and rock stars. The clothing and life styles of these stars are cause to doubt whether they're the best role models for young people, and now there's one more reason - they are more likely to die young.

"A study of more than 1,000 mainly British and North American artists, spanning the era from Elvis Presley to rapper Eminem, found they were two or three times more likely to suffer a premature death than the general population."

Rock stars are at greatest risk of death in the first five years after they become famous, and their mortality rates don't decline to match that of the general population until about 25 years after their initial success.

Labels: death, influences, role_models

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A study conducted by the University of Pittsburgh has found that substance abuse disorders in teenagers are strong predictors that the teens will die at a younger age, possibly before the age of twenty-five.

"Previous studies have shown that many teens who engage in alcohol and drug use and other high-risk behavior believed they would die within two years. 'Unfortunately, this insight on the part of some teens apparently does not eliminate these problem behaviors,' said Dr. Clark."

Researchers followed 870 teens for eight years, to track behavior and mortality. Twenty-one of those teenagers, about 2 percent, died when or before they were twenty-five. Males accounted for 14 of these deaths, which translates to a 10-percent mortality rate for males with substance abuse disorders. Source: Medical News Today

Learn more about the long term effects of binge drinking and alcohol abuse at http://www.drugrehabtreatment.com/effects-of-binge-drinking.html.

Research drug rehab information

Labels: death, predictors, early_drinkers

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A Southern California woman who gave methadone to her 17-year-old daughter's friend was sentenced to six years in state prison as punishment for the girl's fatal overdose.

"Prosecutor Chris Lindberg told the judge that the victim was not to blame and said [the mother's] 'reckless behavior' to give a dangerous prescription drug to a minor caused [the teen's] death."

The victim's mother vowed to pass a law named after her daughter that would require warnings on prescription methadone bottles. Source: San Diego CW6 News

Labels: death, overdose, punishment

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The violent death of a teenager in Flagstaff, Arizona shocked the small city. That the death appears to be drug-related was not as surprising, at least not to area teens.

"Local teens contacted by the Daily Sun are well aware of the prevalence of drugs, saying it's easy to get their hands on their substance of choice, often from dealers who are their peers. Local authorities acknowledge that teens have a role in the drug trade..."

A few high school students admitted that they could probably get just about anything they wanted within an hour from someone at their school. The students said they rarely keep drugs on their persons, preferring instead to conduct their business from their cars. Source: Arizona Daily Sun

Labels: schools, awareness, death

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The Florida Medical Examiner's Commission has reported that the misuse of prescription drugs was responsible for more deaths in that state last year than was the abuse of illegal substances such as heroin and cocaine.

According to the NewsInferno website, the commission's analysis of nearly 170,000 autopsies revealed that prescription drugs caused three times as many deaths as did illegal drugs:

Cocaine, heroin and all methamphetamines caused 989 deaths, [the commission] found, while legal opioids like OxyContin caused 2,328 fatalities. The study also found that while the number of people whose deaths involved heroin increased 14 percent in 2007, to 110, deaths related to the opioid oxycodone increased 36 percent, to 1,253.

According to the Drug Enforcement Administration, around seven million Americans are abusing prescription drugs  an increase of 80 percent in just six years. The Drug Abuse Warning Network reports that since 1995, the number of drug abuse-related emergency room visits involving pain relievers increased nationwide by 153 percent.

Bill Janes, the director of Florida's Office of Drug Control, told the News Manatee website that the state is working to implement a statewide monitoring program in an effort to combat the abuse of prescription medication.

"The monitoring plan is our priority effort, but that is not enough," Janes said. "We are working to increase awareness among our families by focusing our efforts on communities, schools, businesses, churches, and the media. ... Only through a comprehensive, coordinated strategy will we be able to reverse this tragic, unacceptable trend."

Labels: death, prescription_drugs

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Three times as many Floridians died this year from prescription drug abuse than from the use illicit drugs, according to a report from the Florida Medical Examiners Commission. Florida is one of the few states that keep such records.

The new information supports the findings of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency, which estimates an 80 percent increase in the number of people abusing prescription drugs in the United States over the past six years. This increase means that an estimated seven million people are illegally using prescription medications, primarily painkillers and opiates like oxycodone and hydrocone.

The Florida report found that 989 individuals died from using cocaine, heroin or methamphetamines, while 2,328 deaths resulted from the use of painkillers. An additional 743 deaths were attributed to the misuse of benzodiazepines such as Valium and Xanax.

Florida legislators are considering joining the 38 states that already have laws to monitor prescription drug sales.

Labels: death, abuse, prescription_drugs

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The governor of the state of Oregon has named April "Alcohol Awareness Month." The designation comes, in part, in response to statistics from the Oregon Department of Human Services Addictions and Mental Health Division, which states that alcohol is the leading cause of death among the state's young people.

"As noted in the proclamation, alcohol contributes to adolescent motor vehicle crashes, traumatic injuries, poor school performance, and health and safety problems. Research shows that the younger individuals are when they start to drink, the more likely they are to become alcoholic."

DHS' Addictions and Mental Health Division prevention manager Rick Cady says April is just a "starting point" for raising awareness and getting people involved in finding solutions. Source: AA-UK.org.

NorthStar Center offers a rehab and recovery program for young adults who have completed full rehab and need a safe, sober environment to help them get back on track. Visit www.northstarcenter.com to learn more about their teen and young adult substance abuse recovery program.

Labels: alcohol, awareness, death

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Warning to emergency room doctors: Cocaine reactions look like heart attacks. If you treat a cocaine patient like a heart attack victim, you could kill him.

The American Medical Association reports that cocaine reactions cause the same symptoms as heart attacks: chest pain, shortness of breath, anxiety, palpitations, dizziness, nausea, and heavy sweating. However, if a doctor uses clot-busting drugs or beta-blockers, which are typically used to treat heart attacks, he could cause a lethal reaction in a cocaine user.

"Not knowing what you are dealing with and giving the wrong therapies could mean death rather a benefit," said Dr. James Reiffel, professor of clinical medicine at Columbia University Medical Center in New York.

Almost 200,000 people, many of them under 25 years old, go to ERs every year because of cocaine reactions. The number of cocaine-related ER visits rose 47 percent between 1995 and 2002.

Labels: cocaine, death, hospitals

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Results of a study released by the National Inhalant Prevention Coalition found that pre-teens are more likely to try inhalants than marijuana. This trend continued into the early teen years.

"In the past year, 3.4 percent of 12-year-olds report using an inhalant, while only 1.1 percent tried marijuana, and 2.7 percent took prescription painkillers. That trend continued with 13-year-olds, with 4.8 percent using inhalants, 4 percent trying marijuana, and 3.9 percent taking prescription painkillers."

Inhalants can cause severe neurological damage and sudden death. Nevertheless, more than 45 percent of 12- and 13-year-olds who tried drugs last year used inhalants. Read more at NLM.NIH.gov.

Labels: death, inhalents, risky_behaviors

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Hundreds are gathered at Chicago's Navy Pier on Monday, June 18th for a "Vigil for Lost Promise"; an event focused on honoring the potential of individuals who lost their lives to drugs.

"The highlight of Monday night's vigil ceremony [was] a special candlelight honor walk within the ballroom, featuring family members lighting candles and walking up to a special 'Wall of Remembrance' where they will post photographs of their loved ones."

The event began at 6:30pm in the Grand Ballroom and featured several guest speakers. Read more at NBC5.com.

Labels: death, families, surviors

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A recent study conducted by the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center has found that cocaine and amphetamine users are at an increased risk for strokes.

"Stimulants such as cocaine raise blood pressure and trigger spasms in blood vessels, causing vessel narrowing, according to the study. Amphetamine abuse is linked to a higher risk of death in hemorrhagic strokes..."

Cocaine and methamphetamine are the second- and fifth-most abused drugs in the nation, and methamphetamine use has been increasing recently in southwestern and Midwestern states. Read more online.

Labels: cocaine, death, stimulants

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Shawn Bridges, a former truck driver whose body was ravaged by years of methamphetamine use, passed away this week. But not before his long and painful journey was chronicled and made into a 29-minute documentary. His hope was that his story would keep others away from the highly addictive drug.

"He was extremely satisfied, wanting to do more in getting the word out and showing kids what meth harm does."

Shawn was bedridden most of his final year, fed through a feeding tube. During his last few months, his family says he often slurred his words, and sometimes wasn't able to speak at all. Chris Rossetti, who filmed the original documentary, plans to produce a sequel that will chronicle Shawn's final year, in hopes that this final message will keep kids from making the same mistake that eventually cost Shawn his life. Read more online.

Labels: death, meth, long_term_drug_use

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