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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An middle school student in Iowa collapsed outside his classroom on Tuesday after overdosing on Coricidin, an over-the-counter cold medicine called.

Coricidin contains dextromethorphan, a substance that, if taken in high doses, can cause hallucinogenic effects similar to PCP, according to the University of Maryland Center for Substance Abuse Research. Excess amounts of the drug can also cause liver damage, a heart attack, stroke or death, according to the center.

An assistant police chief who was familiar with the case wouldn't comment on how much medication the student had taken, but confirmed that an investigation is underway to determine how the student obtained the pills.

Source: The Telegraph-Herald (Dubuque, Iowa)

Labels: over-the-counter-drugs, overdose, cold_medicine

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Sergio and Maria Aviles never expected to bury one of their children. But at age 17, their daughter Sarah died of a drug overdose. She was addicted to a concoction called "cheese," which is a deadly combination of heroin and Tylenol.

"A pretty girl with a heart-shaped face and a 'thug life' tattoo, she died after two years of addiction, two stints in drug treatment, and fights with parents who tried to save her..."

Sarah's trouble started when her parents divorced. She took it hard, and drugs became her coping mechanism. Her parents hope that by sharing their story, they'll spare other parents from experiencing the same heartache. Source: The Dallas Morning News

Labels: addiction, parental_involvement, overdose

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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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A West Vancouver (Canada) teenager who left her home after telling her mother that she was going to the movies was found dead later that night at the Edmonds SkyTrain station. The cause of death appeared to be a drug overdose.

"Jenni was the second teenager to die suddenly within the past month in circumstances that suggest illegal drugs might have been involved."

Though autopsy reports haven't returned yet, police suspect Ecstasy is to blame for the teen's death. Authorities hope the tragedy will serve to remind adolescents about the dangers of drug use. Source: The Province (Canada)

Labels: ecstasy, teens, overdose

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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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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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A 12-year-old girl in New York died of a methadone overdose after taking pills she got from a 15-year-old friend. The friend took the pills from his dad's drawer and he, the girl, and another friend all took some together.

"[Investigator Charles] Lopez said the boy told him he and a male friend each took two pills, and [the girl] downed about four. The boy told Lopez he soon felt sick and went home, leaving [the girl] with his friend..."

The boy is facing several criminal charges. Methadone overdoses have increased dramatically in the United States, a trend that is mostly blamed on the drug's increased use as a painkiller. Source: A.M. New York

Labels: over-the-counter-drugs, overdose, criminal_charges

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The Center for Disease Control, after reviewing death certificates from 1999 to 2004, has determined that accidental overdose is now the nation's leading cause of accidental death. They attribute the rise, in part, to an increase in prescriptions for drugs like oxycontin and vicodin.

"'The broadest newest development in substance abuse in America is the intentional abuse of medicine,' said Stephen Pasierb of the Partnership for a Drub Free America. 'It's gone from subset to a whole tier of abuse.'"

This new tier of substance abuse is more common than the use of heroin, cocaine and ecstasy, and is believed to have contributed to a 113% rise in teenage fatal drug overdoses. Read more at WSAW.com.

Labels: prescription drugs, overdose

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