February 10th, 2014
Uruguay Becomes First Country to Legalize Marijuana Trade
In a striking first move, the Uruguayan government passed a bill fully legalizing the sale and distribution of marijuana, both medical and recreational. Coming off the tail end of this year’s leaked U.N. report, which revealed a changing attitude on global drug policy, Uruguay’s bold action is ...
February 6th, 2014
New Link Between Narcotics and Deforestation
The journal of Science published a recent survey and grant data led by Kendra McSweeney that draws a connection between narcotics and deforestation. Although this connection has been drawn before, McSweeney’s study, funded by a National Geographic grant, suggests far wider connections ...
February 5th, 2014
Adderall Abuse for Weight Loss
Facing the pressures to look thin, women struggle to keep up with the media’s projection of “beauty.” As technology becomes more advanced, editing pictures of models using Photoshop is a common occurrence. Most women find themselves consciously, or subconsciously, comparing themselves to ...
February 4th, 2014
Hippy Crack: The Dangers of Whippits
The term “whippits” is a commonly used name for small metal capsules or “chargers” of Nitrous Oxide, used to get an immediate high that only lasts between 1 – 2 minutes. The nickname was created in relation to the “old fashioned” whipped cream canister used to administer the chargers. To ...
January 28th, 2014
Vermont Governor Attempts to Tackle Drug Addiction
This year, Vermont Governor Shumlin addressed his year-opening House and Senate with a State of the State message about a single topic: drug addiction. Though a concern to the country at large as well, Vermont has a particularly nasty stint with heroin and opiate addiction, consistently ranking ...
January 23rd, 2014
Rise in Marijuana Poisoning in Pets
A few articles about the increasing number of pet poisonings by marijuana have been circulating the webosphere since its recreational legalization passed in Colorado and Washington. Specifically, since the opening of Colorado’s non-medical pot shops on New Years Day, many news sources speculate ...
January 22nd, 2014
How to Afford Treatment: Low-Cost Ways of Getting Clean
People have many reasons for procrastinating when it comes to obtaining treatment for drug or alcohol addiction. Of these, a lack of financial resources should never hold you back. If you are ready and willing to seek help for your addiction but feel constrained by your economic status, know ...
January 21st, 2014
The FDA Fights to Ban Painkillers
In 2009, the Federal Drug Administration advisory panel recommended banning hydrocodone and oxycodone products, like Vicodin and Percocet. The FDA’s goal in banning these highly used prescription drugs is in direct relation to the health concerns caused by acetaminophen. Karen Lee Richard, ...
January 16th, 2014
Instagram Provides an Illegal Market for “Lean”
Promethazine/codeine cough syrup, is a phenothiazine antihistamine and opioid medication used for pain. The cough syrup is usually prescribed to patients who are experiencing mild to moderate pain from continuous coughing or allergic reactions. Common side effect include constipation, ...
January 15th, 2014
Migraines: Placebos vs Prescription Drugs
A study published recently by the Science Translational Medicine periodical concluded that the information provided with migraine drugs is exceptionally likely to affect the drug’s effectiveness. This isn’t to say that a placebo is more effective than an actual prescription-quality ...
January 6th, 2014
Listen Up Smokers: Ear Acupuncture Could Help Kick Addictions
The beginning of a new year brings many different resolutions. Some may vouch to eat healthier and exercise more, others may hope for a new job or lover sometime in the next 12 months. Still, others deem 2014 to be the year when they finally quit smoking. Perhaps their addiction has begun ...
December 31st, 2013
Meth Lab Cleanup- A Flourishing Industry
According to an NBC article, there exists such a thing as certified cleanup contractors for meth labs and apparently, the job pays well. Unlike drugs produced from natural plants, such as heroin and cocaine, methamphetamine is synthesized from a chemical reaction, oftentimes cooked in DIY ...
December 30th, 2013
Meditate Out of Addiction: Study Further Proves Meditation Helps Recovery
A paper by computer scientist Dr. Yariv Levy and colleagues published in Frontiers in Psychiatry suggests that aggregating meditation to traditional therapies can significantly increase acquisition and maintenance of sobriety for those struggling with addiction. “Our higher-level conclusion is ...
December 18th, 2013
Drinking Water Contaminated with Drugs
Suffering from high blood pressure? Instead of spending money on a drug prescription, you might want to consider drinking more tap water. New results from an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) study on 50 major U.S. metropolitan water treatment plants indicates that our tap water is anything ...
December 16th, 2013
Over 200 Hospitalized in Colorado from Synthetic Marijuana
According to The Huffington Post, a joint investigation with state health officials began after observing an increase in synthetic cannabis-related emergency room visits in late August. In a federal report, 221 Colorado residents are believed to have been sickened by synthetic pot, also called ...
December 11th, 2013
Technology Addiction Gains Recognition in Australia
In Australia and Tasmania, doctors and mental health professionals are beginning to confront a new trend and serious concern. New technology- and delivery platforms for technology- is creating modern issues for today’s youth. Australia has a handful of clinical professionals examining the ...
