Online Drug Poisoning

Nowadays one can find just about anything they want on the Internet. Although, when it comes to buying illegal drugs online you may get more than you bargained for as was the case of two Oregonian men. The two men purchased what they thought was a recreational drug and were poisoned by it, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports.

After taking what they believed was the designer amphetamine derivative 2C-E, the Oregon men were poisoned and turned blue from a lack of oxygen and one of them lost consciousness. Aniline is what the men actually consumed, a highly toxic industrial chemical, HealthDay reports. One of them stated that they bought the drug from the Internet site of a Chinese chemical company.

“This case highlights the danger to the public and the challenges facing public health agencies in an era in which virtually any chemical produced in any country is available through Internet sales,” the CDC noted in its Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. “Purchase of chemicals from unregulated Internet sources poses a serious risk to purchasers from product contamination and substitution.”

Fortunately, health officials were able to quickly determine what chemical they had ingested and were able to provide treatment. This case shows how dangerous buying illicit drugs online can be, the potential for poisoning is a real thing.

Call the Food and Drug Administration at its 24-hour, toll-free number (1-888-INFO-FDA) in case of an emergency.

New Alcohol Control Laws

Its seems that in order to have new legislation on alcohol there needs to be bad news. Recent news coverage of violent crimes and fatal accidents linked to alcohol use could encourage public support of stricter alcohol-control laws, HealthDay reports.

789 adults were surveyed in a new study that was conducted in which researchers found that they were more likely to support alcohol-control laws after exposure to stories in the media about violent crimes, car accidents, and other types of accidents involving alcohol.

One-third of deaths from accidents and violent crimes in some way involved the use of alcohol. Although, most news reports of these incidents fail to mention alcohol’s role in the cases, according to the authors of the study.

“People have some awareness of the social cost that alcohol can have,” said study author Michael D. Slater, of Ohio State University. “But only a small fraction of news stories on violent crime and non-motor vehicle accidents acknowledge the contributing role of alcohol.”

The study was published in the March issue of the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs.

Movies Influence Teen Drinking

Movies are the most popular medium of art amongst teenagers; it makes sense to think that what they see in movies will influence their actions in many cases, which isn’t necessarily a good thing. Alcohol use is often featured in movies and according to a new report may double the likelihood that teens will start drinking alcohol.

The study was over the course of two-years and more than 6,500 American kids, ages 10 to 14 were involved. Researchers found that teens who saw movies with heavy alcohol consumption were more likely to engage in binge drinking (five or more drinks in a row) HealthDay reports.

Teens who started drinking alcohol more than doubled from 11 percent to 25 percent, and those who started binge drinking tripled from 4 percent to 13 percent.

Among teens who were exposed to movies that feature alcohol use led to:

• 28 percent of kids drinking alcohol
• Of those, 20 percent started binge drinking

“Product placement in movies is forbidden for cigarettes in the U.S.A., but is legal and commonplace for the alcohol industry, with half of Hollywood films containing at least one alcohol-brand appearance, regardless of film rating,” James Sargent, of Norris Cotton Cancer Center, Dartmouth Medical School and colleagues wrote in the report.

The study was published in the journal BMJ Open

Naloxone Saves Lives

Everyday people across the country overdose on opiates in one form or another; in the past there would not be a whole lot anyone, short of a doctor, could do to reverse the situation. With the rise in prescription pain killer use overdoses have become much more common among people from all walks of life. Fortunately, there is a medication available that can accomplish an overdose reversal and with very little training could save countless lives across the world, suggests a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report.

The drug Naloxone has successfully reversed more than 10,000 drug overdoses since 1996, according to the CDC report. But, the drug is only effective with opiates; it will not help any other type of overdose. There are programs in 17 states and the District of Columbia that provide naloxone to communities and train individuals on how to use it.

The CDC survey of 48 programs that distributed naloxone found the medication was given to about 53,000 people, who were trained in recognizing and treating an overdose. The programs received reports of 10,171 overdose reversals.

“To address the substantial increases in opioid-related drug overdose deaths, public health agencies could consider comprehensive measures that include teaching laypersons how to respond to overdoses and administer naloxone to those in need,” the researchers wrote.

Whitney Houston and Prescription Drugs

There is no argument, the world lost someone special this week and as more light is shed on the death of singer/songwriter Whitney Houston we can’t help but think why? Prescription drug abuse is ravaging this nation and it is clear that all walks of life are being affected by it.

At this point we cannot say for sure what caused Whitney Houston’s death, there are strong sources that lead everyone to believe that prescription drugs played a part in her death on February 11th, 2012.

“Her death is absolutely tragic and this brings attention to the problem that she had talked about in the past and that certainly is prescription drugs,” R. Gil Kerlikowske, Director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy told CBS News. “It affects a huge number of people in this country and has driven deaths to very, very high numbers—well over 15,000.”

He added, “I think it is what we might call a teachable moment when someone passes—particularly as someone as highly thought of and such an incredible performer as Whitney Houston. We can use this as a moment to help people understand. There are millions of Americans that are suffering from this problem…so we can use this as a chance to move forward.”

Prescription Drug Take-Backs Not Effective

Every year countless amounts of prescription drugs end up in the wrong hands due to improper disposal of medications. Typically, when people no longer require their medication, they rarely dispose of the drugs. The potential for the drugs getting to the hands of children or people addicted to pain killers is great which is why prescription drug take back days have been implemented across the country. Unfortunately, new research has shown that such programs may not be as effective as hoped, let alone have had any effect on prescription drug abuse in this country.

Carnevale Associates surveyed 148 programs in order to understand how they operate and their effectiveness. Their research has not found any evidence that such programs affect prescription drug abuse.

More research will need to be conducted according to the report, more data is needed to figure out if “take-backs” reduce the size or scope of the prescription drug epidemic. Studies need to determine what percentages of drugs taken and what percentage is returned.

“Until research can properly assess the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of take-backs, scarce prevention resources should fund proven policies, programs, and practices,” notes the report. These include prescription drug monitoring programs, and initiatives to modify doctors’ prescribing behaviors.

Assisted Living Residents Drinking

As we get older the potential for needing assistance becomes much greater. Assisted living is sometimes unavoidable due to a number of factors. It turns out that most people who require assisted living drink alcohol according to a new report. Researchers asked more than 800 nursing aides in facilities about behaviors they had observed with their residents. Their responses suggest nearly 70 percent of assisted living residents drank alcohol, according to The New York Times.

Every facility has different rules regarding alcohol, according to the newspaper. Some facilities have bans on drinking alcohol, others allow it and even have happy hours.

In the past three months:

• More than one-third of residents drank daily
  
• 12 percent had abused alcohol—defined as drinking enough to cause physical or psychosocial harm
• Almost 20 percent of residents had experienced an apparent influence on their health from drinking

As we get older drinking can have much more serious effects on our health; drinking can lead to more falls, high blood pressure, depression, and other illnesses and accidents. Residents of such facilities require multiple medications, which can interact with alcohol, said lead researcher Nicholas G. Castle of the University of Pittsburgh. Despite all the potential for harm, he said he is not recommending a ban on alcohol in assisted living facilities. “Taking away things elders enjoy is the last thing we want to do.” Although, he added that in small amounts, alcohol can stimulate appetites, which could benefit some patients. The results are published in Research on Aging.

New Drug Detecting Device

It is fair to say that many drugs have a similar look and smell, especially when it comes to powders and liquids. When police find drugs on someone it often takes time for them to identify what the suspect is in possession of exactly. A new laser device allows authorities to identify drugs on site. Police across the country have been testing the device and it seems to help save time and money across the board.

The device is called the Thermo Scientific TruNarc and it looks like a game console, using a low power laser to identify different drugs. The device can scan small bags of drugs and gives police almost instant identification, according to the Associated Press.

Traditionally police have used chemical test kits to identify drugs. The drugs are placed in a plastic pouch that contains vials of chemicals. The officer breaks the vials in the pouch and shakes it, and checks to see what color the substance turns. Different drugs come up with their own specific color. Each substance has its own testing kit meaning police officers may have to use several test kits before they identify the substance they are testing. The officers must handle the drugs, and potentially could be exposed to them. Once an officer identifies a substance, it must then be sent to a state lab to confirm the findings, which could take weeks or even months causing delays in prosecuting cases, the article notes.

TruNarc employs the same scientific techniques used in the lab, the company says. The officer holds the sample bag against the device and presses a scan button. The device does a quick analysis and provides a result.

Each TruNarc device will sell for just under $20,000.

Prescription Drug Education for Doctors

It is clearly evident that there has been a huge lack of understanding regarding physicians and how they prescribe prescription narcotics. The prescription drug epidemic has grown out of control, there are a number of organizations fighting the problem but there has been little progress in the grand scheme of things. Much of the problem stems from doctors not being aware of how addictive prescription opiates can be, as well as how much a patient’s history can dictate what they can and cannot be prescribed to dispense for themselves.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that the sale of prescription pain drugs has increased by 300% since 1999 and the most recent National Survey on Drug Use and Health (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration) reports that nearly 1 in 6 non-medical users of prescription pain killers got the drugs through a prescription from a doctor.

"Prescription drug diversion and the health consequences of prescription drug misuse and abuse should be of primary concern to all physicians," states American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) Acting President, Stuart Gitlow, MD. "Tens of thousands of Americans are overdosing on prescription pain medication and many of these prescriptions are coming from doctors' offices."

There are no requirements that prescribers need to have to prove they are qualified to prescribe scheduled narcotics like prescription opiates and sedatives. This is why ASAM is calling for mandatory prescriber education for all classes, all schedules of controlled substances. The more informed doctors are regarding this ever growing problem, the better they will be in making sound choices for whom they write prescriptions.

Source:
Bradenton Herald