Rapper DMX Violating Probation

DMX was arrested in Arizona on Tuesday, after violating his probation by regularly using illegal drugs during the last nine months. The artist whose real name is Earl Simmons, reportedly admitted to his probation officer that he had regularly used cocaine for almost a year. DMX has been in and out of jail for drug related offenses over the years, he had been ordered to comply with the terms of his treatment plan and was not, Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio told Reuters. He is being charged with five counts of violating the terms of his probation. Simmons has run into a lot of trouble in Arizona especially, he was serving probation for throwing a food tray at a detention officer inside a Phoenix jail last year; he also had to serve 90 days in jail on drug, theft, and animal abuse charges.

"We would hope that he is finally sent to prison," Arpaio said. "We've arrested him five times already. How many times do you have to violate the law"? Simmons is no stranger to jails and institutions and it seems clear that locking him up for drug possession is not the right answer - he clearly needs treatment. DMX has sought out the help of Dr. Drew Pinsky to help the rapper clean up his life by helping get into treatment. Gary Jenkins, DMX's lawyer, thinks that the he would be better off in a drug rehab than behind bars, he believes the solution to his client's addiction problems is Celebrity Rehab host, Dr. Drew Pinsky.

Simmons was booked into a Phoenix jail late Tuesday afternoon and was isolated from other inmates, sheriff's officials said. Jenkins said to TMZ, "He's been battling addiction for some time and he's in need of treatment. We're hoping that maybe Dr. Drew might be able to help him." We have seen time and time again that drug addicts need treatment help, not punishment.

Teens Huffed Inhalants Before Other Drugs

A study shows that twelve year-olds are more likely to have tried huffing than any other drug. The National Inhalant Prevention Coalition published startling results, finding that more 12-year-olds have huffed dangerous inhalants than have used marijuana, cocaine and hallucinogens combined. Teenagers have been known to huff, will breathe in the fumes of just about any chemical solvents or condensed gases to achieve the desired euphoria and disorientation. Getting one's hands on solvents like Dust Off are as easy for teenagers to acquire as it is for the chemicals to kill them. In many cases parents never expect that their children would be consuming these household chemicals that it often goes undetected, inevitably ending with the death of a child.

There is no way to drug test your kids to find out if they have been huffing. "Parents can't see the signs," said Rachelle Gardner, Fairbanks' director of adolescence. "It's not a long-lasting affect like with marijuana or alcohol. You can't see them drunk and you can't see them stoned". You have to be 18 to buy keyboard cleaners and other inhalants like them, which does have some effect and prevents some kids from getting their hands on the potentially dangerous chemicals. Kids still find a way and keyboard cleaner around the house should be locked up or at least out of sight.

Here are some signs that your child might be huffing:

• chronic sore throat
• runny nose
• moody
• exhausted

Huffing is extremely dangerous and every parent should be aware of the dangers. Teenagers are curious people, it would be a shame if their curiosity brought them harm. Legal household substances including: aerosol sprays, nail polish, gasoline and air conditioner refrigerant should be closely monitored according to 6News. Huffing is the most popular in the Mid West but it happens all over the country by countless teens who are not aware of the inherent dangers.

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The Final Words Have Been Said About the Death of Brittany Murphy

AP

Well, it seems like the final words have been said regarding the death of actor Brittany Murphy. The Los Angeles Coroner found that Murphy's weight was in the normal range for her height despite the rumors of an eating disorder. The coroner confirmed Brittany's husband, Simon Monjack's, repeated claims that she did not abuse drugs or alcohol; even though there were high levels of pain medication in her system, as well as over-the-counter cold medicine. In the beginning of this month the coroner stated that Murphy died from pneumonia, with multiple drug intoxication and a low-blood count as contributing factors - the death was believed to be accidental but preventable. Preventable?

It is true that people die from pneumonia every day, actually it can be quite common for elderly people to succumb to it. Brittany was a successful young actor who was reportedly healthy and had no substance abuse or mental disorders. It seems like her death was more than avoidable! If drugs were not an issue, then why did Murphy fill a prescription for 120 Vicodin pills 11 days before her death, and only 11 were left when she was found collapsed in her home. No one seems to know why she was prescribed the medication and the prescribing doctor surprisingly cannot be located. No more than four Vicodins are to be taken daily because of the acetaminophen levels, making the max she should have taken in eleven days would be 44 pills instead of 109. Apparently, to no avail, the coroner's officials have tried to find out from Murphy's husband, Simon Monjack, if he knows anything about the whereabouts of the missing doctor.

It all seems strange that her death is being ruled an accident when it clearly seems like there is more than meets the eye. It saddening that people would try and cover up the truth about the tragic and needless death of a beautiful star; to say that Brittany was struggling with prescription pain medication would be an understatement and Vicodin certainly played a part in her death. We do not honor Murphy's memory by trying to hide the truth about her life.

Parents Have Started To Crack Down On Universities

Drinking on college campuses takes place every day, in the dorms or at house parties alcohol can be a regular part of collegiate life. Millions of young adults are unleashed upon the world and most parents are aware that their children will probably par take in some illicit activities at some point during their college years. The reality is that some students while partying will get caught, resulting in the campus administrators having to punish the students by making them attend a class or two about the dangers of drugs and alcohol. Punishment is not very harsh and there is probably no need for it to be. In the past, parents were rarely informed about their children's extracurricular activities.

Due to privacy laws, when speaking with parents, universities are really only allowed to talk about tuition unless the student is underage and received an infraction. Interestingly enough, schools have had this authority for more than a decade and rarely exercised it unless there were multiple offenses or drugs were involved. It seems pretty clear that campus authorities worry a lot less about alcohol than they do drugs. College drinking is on the rise according to researchers at the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism most recent figures. Between 1998 and 2005, the report showed increased binge drinking, drunk driving, and alcohol-related deaths.

Parents have started to crack down on universities, demanding to know when their child has been drinking so that signs can be spotted before things get out of hand. "This semester, Virginia Tech joined a growing list of colleges that notify parents every time a student younger than 21 is caught drinking, drunk or in possession of alcohol. George Washington University also tightened its notification policy last year after a student died of alcohol poisoning", according to the Washington Post. A college campus can be the perfect environment for unknown addictions to spread their wings if they go unchecked, the need for universities to communicate with parents is crucial. Campuses work hard to curb drinking but their programs are relatively ineffective.

The vice president for student affairs at Virginia Tech, Edward Spencer made a valid point: "Students are more concerned about their parents being notified than they are of the legal consequences". Parents are concerned and they have a right to be, students may be adults, but, it's usually parents paying the tuition. Parents can help colleges with their anti-drinking campaigns; parents can have a huge effect on the habits of their children.

U.S. Army Soldiers With Alcohol Problems

High stress jobs have always been a contributing factor to the amount of alcohol consumed by employees. The military has always struggled with how to handle alcoholism both at home and in war zones. In 2009, over 9,000 soldiers got treatment for alcohol abuse, this treatment consisted of regular trips to a counselor; the number of soldiers needing assistance with their alcohol problems is up from 6,000 in 2003. Multiple tours in Iraqi combat zones have had a direct effect on the number of U.S. Army soldiers with alcohol problems; combat stress has caused the number of diagnosed alcohol problems to double since 2003.

The military offers soldiers the opportunity to seek help for their addictions, similar to Alcoholics Anonymous. Soldiers who seek help will not have that information put into their permanent records which will keep their career intact. This is a pretty amazing thing, no longer will alcoholism be a cause for promotion denial; having notes of alcoholism in one's record use to keep soldiers from ever advancing career wise. Lots of soldiers discover they have an alcohol problem in the worst of environments; swift action to help these individuals is extremely necessary.

In the 1990's the Army banned the use of alcohol in combat zones; which resulted in fewer alcohol related disciplinary problems with soldiers overall. Unfortunately, those military units that were charged with going back into combat a second or third time found the stress too much to handle, alcohol was an easy solution. Drugs, for the most part, are easy to detect making them an unlikely choice amongst soldiers for stress relief. When soldiers get back from combat, they end up hitting the booze twice as hard as they did before being deployed.

It is great that the military offers some support for those struggling with alcohol. However, it does appear that they would rather sweep alcoholics under the rug than have their records and the military's record smeared. Just seeing a counselor once a week will hardly have any long term effect towards recovery.

A South Dakota Woman Who had a Blood-Alcohol Level Almost Nine Times the Legal Limit - BAC .708

There are many reasons for people to seek out drug and alcohol addiction treatment. The hope is that every addict that enters recovery never forgets how bad it was out there - that they remember where they came from and the despair they lived in. It would be great if every person joining the recovery community ended up there on their own accord but that is simply not the case; there is a larger percentage who are ordered to attend twelve-step meetings by courts dealing with drug and alcohol related offenders. There is nothing that says that cannot be the beginning of your journey on the road to recovery, people with over 5 DUI's have been ordered to Alcoholics Anonymous and it changed their life forever. Clearly, if a judge is making decisions for you, your life has become unmanageable.

Two weeks ago we posted about a Mainer receiving seven years in jail after receiving his tenth DUI. In similar news, a South Dakota woman had a blood-alcohol level almost nine times the legal driving limit, after blowing a .708 blood alcohol level. The legal limit in South Dakota is the "normal" .08; you might be wondering how Marguerite Engle (45) could still be alive? The answer is that Engle suffers from the disease of alcoholism; what would send the normal human body into toxic shock, keeps an alcoholic from the DT's (delirium tremens). Authorities said on Dec.1 Engle was found passed out behind the wheel of a stolen delivery van along Interstate 90 and was arrested. Officials have said Engle's blood alcohol level likely is a record for the state. Engle, not surprisingly was arrested again in late December, with a BAC 3 1/2 times higher than the legal limit.

Engle has pleaded guilty to two drunken driving charges and faces up to two years in jail when she is sentenced on Feb. 23. "In exchange for her guilty pleas, prosecutors have agreed not to pursue other charges, including receiving stolen property and drug possession", reports the AP. Just like Stephen Faulcon, Engle while serving her time would do herself a great favor by attending a 12-step meeting. Recovery is available to all who desire a change for the better in their life. It's never too late to enter a program of recovery whether it is at a drug treatment facility or in prison, the fellowship transcends prison bars. The message can be heard just about anywhere!

"Substance Abuser" or "Substance Use Disorder"

The labels society place on people or groups could directly affect one's life. At times, the perception peers place upon people greatly impacts one's decision making process, sometimes dissuading them from seeking help. The words we use to name and help us describe everything in life can bring negative connotations along with them, changing how we perceive and react. When I say that someone is clever it is one thing, but, to say someone is a con is completely another. The same idea applies to labeling someone an alcoholic as opposed to labeling them a drunk, naturally the latter has a more negative stigma attached to it. How we choose to describe those suffering from addiction can have an effect on one's willingness to enter treatment. John F. Kelly of Massachusetts General Hospital, the leader of a new study, noticed that health professionals' answers to survey questions about a hypothetical patient varied depending on the patient being described as a "substance abuser" or as "having a substance use disorder". The UPI reported, "only 10 percent of those who misuse alcohol and other drugs seek treatment. The stigma against addiction problems is often cited as a major reason for not seeking treatment".

"We found that referring to someone with the 'abuser' terminology evokes more punitive attitudes than does describing that person's situation in exactly the same words except for using 'disorder' terminology. Reducing the use of such stigmatizing terms could help diminish the shame, guilt and embarrassment that act as barriers, keeping people from seeking help", stated Kelly. This study is making public that which many in recovery and the treatment industry have known for a long time; how addicts are described or termed changes societies' view of them, thus keeping them trapped in a class of people that are less-than.

The study which is scheduled to be published in the International Journal of Drug Policy, distributed surveys to more than 700 mental health professionals who were at two mental health conferences last year. The study participants that were given the paragraph that labeled the individual as a "substance abuser" were, as you might have guessed, much more likely to agree that the individual should be punished for not following their treatment plan. "Our results imply that these punitive attitudes may be evoked by use of the 'abuser' term, whether individuals are conscious of it or not", said Kelly.

How society views alcoholics has come a long way with the advancements in mental health and our understanding that addiction is a disease that needs to be treated - not punished. Kelly's new study has shown us that we still have a long way to go, people still have very negative views of addicts and in a lot of ways view them as criminals. That modality has to be smashed!

Bolivia Coca Leaf Soft Drink "Coca Colla"

There was a time when Coca Cola contained the drug cocaine as one of the two main ingredients. Invented in the late 19th century by John Pemberton it was sold as a medicine before it was a soft drink. When launched, Coca-Cola's two key ingredients were cocaine (benzoylmethyl ecgonine) and caffeine. The cocaine was derived from the coca leaf and the caffeine from kola nut, leading to the name Coca-Cola (the "K" in Kola was replaced with a "C" for marketing purposes). Pemberton made the claim that his creation cured many diseases, including morphine addiction, dyspepsia, neurasthenia, headache, and impotence; the original recipe called for five ounces of coca leaf per gallon of syrup. In 1903 coca leaves containing cocaine were removed from the ingredients, but, interestingly enough in order to retain the flavor cocaine-free coca leaves are used.

The days of soft drinks with cocaine in them are not gone yet, in Bolivia plans to release a coca leaf soft drink called "Coca Colla" is under way and will have a can that resembles the classic Coca Cola logo. With the first indigenous president in office, Evo Morales (known for chewing coca leaves at UN meetings), coca growers from the Morales stronghold of Chapare in central Bolivia submitted a plan to the government last week to boost coca production with the soft drink. La Paz wants to expand Cocaine production, a market which rose 6% in 2008 and no doubt climbed even higher last year; achieving this goal will not be hard considering the strong support of high officials. The Independent reports that Bolivia, "the world's third largest producer after Colombia and Peru, yielded a coca crop of some 30,500 hectares (75,370 acres) in 2008, an increase of six percent over the previous year, according to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime".

Right now, Bolivian law permits the use of up to 12,000 hectares (29,650 acres) to grow coca in the Yungas stretch of forest in the Andes Mountains "only" for traditional uses such as tea, chewing and religious rituals by the Aymara ethnic group. No matter what, a large portion of what is being grown is trafficked and sold, never seeing the inside of a toothpaste tube or a tea bag. If the drugs are not being grown for the international drug market, then why would the The Morales government kick out DEA agents in 2008? Cocaine is extremely addictive, it has the power to destroy lives; 10 million people in the Andes chew raw coca leaves daily to get through the abusively long work days. In this country and around the world the same leaves that people are chewing are also being used to produce cocaine.

Buju Banton Arrested Trying to Distribute Five Kilograms of Cocaine

Another famous musician has got themselves caught up in the drug business. The world renowned reggae artist, Buju Banton, was arrested with two other people allegedly trying to distribute five kilograms of cocaine. Buju Banton (real name is Mark Anthony Myrie), has been in U.S. federal custody in Miami since Thursday. The Associated Press reports, "Drug Enforcement Administration spokesman David Melenkevitz said Sunday that Banton was arrested on a charge of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine. The charge stems from a DEA case in Tampa". One has to wonder why a reggae star, like Buju Banton, would get caught up in the distribution of cocaine of any amount.

On April 5, 2004, Banton was fined $9000 for drug possession and cultivation of cannabis; two mature marijuana plants were found in his studio. Banton's defense was that he had just got back from a tour and the plants were there. It is clear that Banton had a history with drugs, but, two marijuana plants is a far cry from 5 kilos of cocaine. "Gargamel Music Incorporated (Banton's label) has announced loyal support for Banton, real name Mark Anthony Myrie, who was arrested December 10 on federal drug conspiracy charges", according to BET. Buju Banton will have help from one of the top law firms in the country, the legal aid will come in the form of David Oscar Markus. Markus defended the former Panama military dictator Manuel Noriega, so it is fair to say that Marcus is known for high-profile drug cases.

It is not clear yet which direction this case will head, there still are many facts that will need to be considered. It appears that Banton has a long trial ahead of him and there are many people who are against Banton and what he stands for. We will keep you updated as to the progress of this trial.

Measure To Legalize Pot May Be On California's November Ballot

California residents may find that they are casting their vote in November regarding the legalization of marijuana. The original consensus was that marijuana advocates would wait until 2012 to put it on the ballot, but, 680,000 people signed a petition in favor of legalization causing the timeline to speed up. Marijuana buzz is sweeping the country, as more and more states tarry with the idea of medical marijuana programs; it seems like with every passing month the snowball increases it size and moves faster towards all out legalization. These are big times in the United States, nothing like this has happened since Roosevelt's New Deal; when a country hits hard financial times then it is time to legalize something in order to bring in revenue. Or at least that has been the American way in the past, to make money on the addiction and suffering of others. On the surface it seems like California and America are heading in the right direction: smaller prison populations, less crime, generates tax revenue, pharmaceuticals, hemp, oil, paper, etc... The pros listed are certainly worth agreeing with, it is clear that marijuana does have benefits and could be utilized in number of ways. However, California may be heading down a slippery slope and could possibly bring the whole country with it.

Richard Lee, the measure's main proponent, said to the LA Times, "It was so easy to get them, People were so eager to sign". Richard Lee has already invested over a million into the campaign, he owns a dispensary and a marijuana college called Oaksterdam in Oakland, California. "The initiative would allow cities and counties to adopt laws to allow marijuana to be grown and sold, and to impose taxes on marijuana production and sales. It would make it legal for anyone who is at least 21 to possess an ounce of marijuana and grow plants in an area of no more than 25 square feet for personal use", according to the LA Times. Medical marijuana has completely shifted how we look at marijuana in the United States, opening the door to all out legalization talks such as this; it appears at this point that the pro-marijuana campaign is having more success than those against it.

We are still a year out from the polls and naturally a lot will take place between now and then. It is still anyone's guess! What we can be certain of is that money will end having the final say in this debate. As with most political battles, those who spend the most have the best chance of passing something - even if it is the worst possible thing. In many people's eyes marijuana is already legal because it is so easy to get a recommendation to use cannabis. If this trend keeps up, marijuana and alcohol will be in the same class. My only hope is that addiction is considered in the debates and the public is made aware of the implications of legalizing an illicit drug.

Cannabis Could Help Combat Substance Abuse

A new study at the University of California, Berkeley showed interesting results regarding marijuana and what it could be used for. The study showed that many people are using marijuana to keep themselves from drinking alcohol or doing other illicit drugs. It seems counter intuitive to use a drug to stay off other drugs, but, in these studies researchers have found that cannabis could help combat substance abuse. The study consisted of a 350 cannabis users at a cannabis dispensary the Berkeley Patient's Group. Out of the 350 patients, 40 percent claimed that marijuana helped control their alcohol. 66 percent of the group used cannabis as an alternative to prescription drugs and 26 percent used it to replace hard drugs like heroin and cocaine. These findings are rather alarming but not surprising, addicts have been substituting one drug for another for a long time; marijuana may be less harmful than other drugs but the disease is still present and thriving.

There is no question that marijuana is a better alternative than a lot of different chemicals out there, but, the disease of addiction is being fed by smoking weed and a person's problems are far from being dealt with. Amanda Reiman heads up this study and feels that marijuana could be an effective treatment for other addictions; she may be right, as far as the detoxification process goes. However, this proposed treatment method will not show the addict a better way of life, just another way to blanket one's problems. Marijuana may be an effective medication for certain ailments, I'm not sure that the disease of addiction is one of them.

We can be sure that all the new studies that are taking place will generate the need for more research into the medical benefits of cannabis. The times are changing with regard to marijuana and its new found acceptance, according to Reiman, The Independent reports: "The economic hardship of the Great Depression helped bring about the end of alcohol prohibition. Now, as we are again faced with economic struggles, the US is looking to marijuana as a potential revenue generator. Public support is rising for the legalization of recreational use and remains high for the use of marijuana as a medicine".

Ecstasy Users are at Higher Risk of Sleep Apnea

On any given night in Los Angeles throughout the club scene people are using various illicit drugs. Drugs, known as "club drugs," include MDMA/Ecstasy (methylenedioxymethamphetamine), Rohypnol (flunitrazepam), GHB (gamma hydroxybutyrate), and ketamine (ketamine hydrochloride). There are several other designer drugs out there as well, 5-MeO-MiPT or Foxy Methoxy is one of them, what makes these drugs so dangerous is that they are very difficult to dose. Perhaps the most popular of these drugs, MDMA(3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine or Ecstasy); characteristically found in the night club and rave scenes, is a psychoactive amphetamine that has been known to do severe damage to the brain. Scientists who have been researching the effects of Ecstasy have discovered that Ecstasy users are at higher risk of sleep apnea. US News reports, "People who use ecstasy need to know that this drug damages the brain and can cause immediate and dangerous problems such as sleep apnea", study author Dr. Una McCann, of the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in Baltimore, said in a news release".

How long a person used Ecstasy directly affected how severe their sleep apnea is, according to the study. The study comprised of 71 ecstasy users (or had used) and 62 people, normal non-users. What was determined was the people who had used Ecstasy had an eight-fold increased risk of sleep apnea. Obviously, non-users do experience apnea, at least mildly; mild sleep apnea rates were similar in both groups, 27 % of non-users experienced mild sleep apnea. However, the study showed that 13% of ecstasy users experienced moderate apnea and 1% showed severe sleep apnea. "They also found that ecstasy use was a greater risk factor for sleep apnea than obesity", according to US News.

What is clear is that MDMA or Ecstasy does damage to the brain that may not be reversible. MDMA is not widely understood by scientists, let alone your typical addict; everyday we are seeing what these drugs do to the brain and it is not a pretty sight. "Our findings may be explained by how ecstasy damages neurons related to serotonin, a chemical in the brain that is involved in sleep regulation and breathing, among other important functions", McCann said. "Sleep apnea in itself is dangerous, but it can also contribute to thinking problems in people who use ecstasy because chronic sleep disruption is known to have a negative effect on how a person functions during the daytime". People going out at night for a good time are doing damage to their brain that cannot be repaired.

Fentanyl The Strongest Opiate Medication On The Market

Fentanyl, the strongest opiate medication on the market is being found on the streets today. Fentanyl is generally only prescribed to people with the severest of pain, patients with cancer, burn victims, and those who have had intensive surgery. Naturally, like all other opiate drugs, Fentanyl is being abused either by itself or it is being mixed with drugs like heroin to increase potency. The drug can be found in several different forms; from trans-dermal patches to lollipops there are multiple ways to consume Fentanyl. Every medical center in the country is at risk of having the medication stolen by patients or employees; drugs like Fentanyl need to be closely monitored to limit the amount that makes it to the streets. The drugs highly addictive properties has some people asking whether or not the drug should be restricted, which could make it very difficult for people who legitimately need the drug to acquire it.

Thaindian News reports, "some people have already started to distribute Fentanyl lollipops illegally. These illegal drugs uses the nickname, "perc-a-pop" and has become popular among a large number of people for its sweet taste. Though the price of the illegal drugs is double than the original drugs, number of people getting addicted to this drug is increasing. Not only people are using "perc-a-pop" but also some people who have been addicted to this drug have stolen them from medical centers, stated sources". Opiates have been known to be highly addictive and continued use will guarantee dependency. Drugs, like Fentanyl, have their place in society because the are highly effective for pain relief; however, if we continue to distribute these drugs we need to track them closely. Overdoses are common with strong opiates and many people do not understand how easy it is to take too much.

It will be interesting to see if drugs like Fentanyl will be heavily restricted in the near future.

Is Marijuana an Illegal Drug or a Medicine?

Iowans have been turning to marijuana for their medical ailments despite their Iowa Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley's opinion. Grassley, who recently is working to prohibit all discussion regarding medical marijuana in a bill to amend drug policy. However, the citizens of Iowa have a different opinion and many are pulling to have medical marijuana legalized. According to the Iowa AP, "opponents claim marijuana is already the state's most abused drug and the problem will only worsen if it's allowed for medical use". A lot of people still hold on to and are not willing to let go of the idea that marijuana is the gateway drug that leads to the abuse of all other drugs. However, that idea has come under serious debate in the last few years and doctors are professing the medical benefits of marijuana; alcohol is generally considered more damaging then marijuana these days.

"The Iowa Board of Pharmacy has held four hearings in recent months to seek scientific evidence and testimony on the topic. That review could lead to a recommendation to state lawmakers whether to change Iowa laws", stated the Iowa AP. More people in Iowa are speaking out for legalization than there are against it; very few people have expressed their opposition which is kind of surprising to many people. Thirteen states are now allowing the use of medical marijuana, very few states have set up dispensaries as of this point but more are expected to pop up in the near future.

The fact still remains that marijuana is addictive and affects the brain and lungs in a negative way. Will legalizing medical marijuana send out the wrong message to young people? Medical marijuana use could very possibly spike addiction rates in the coming months and that data will give people a better idea of the societal effects of medical marijuana. Before any kind of decision in Iowa is made, Dr. Ron Herman the director of the University of Iowa's Drug Information Network said, more research is needed.

2008 Zogby Poll - Three Out of Four Americans said the War on Drugs is Failing

Is it time to reform our criminal justice system and how we fight the war on drugs? Let's face it, our criminal justice system has a fatal flaw and as a result people are imprisoned needlessly all in the name of America's "War on Drugs". It is unacceptable that the United States has 5 percent of the world's population, but houses 25 percent of the world's prisoners. The majority of those prisoners are low level offenders generally incarcerated because of drugs; half of federal prisoners and 21 percent of state prisoners are locked up because of something drug related. Perhaps it is time for rational debate on drug policy, that's what the Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP) seek. In a 2008 Zogby poll, three out of four Americans said the war on drugs is failing.


Overall, Congress is afraid to address the drug war subject because it can be political suicide; the lack of involvement has allowed this problem to fester and now we have a criminal justice nightmare. "Sen. Jim Webb, a Virginia Democrat, and 35 other senators are sponsoring the National Criminal Justice Commission Act (NCJCA) to establish a blue ribbon commission to review our criminal justice system", reports the Desmoines Register. Sen. Chuck Grassley wants, regarding the bill, to prohibit any discussion or examination of the possibility that drugs, including medical marijuana, should be decriminalized or legalized despite there being evidence that removing prohibition could help out the criminal justice system and help fight the cartels.


More and more people are arguing that if any real change is going to happen with the criminal justice system in America it will start with changing how we fight the war on drugs. We have to ask ourselves what the cost of this war is, and why people who belong in drug treatment are ending up in prison. Prison is no place for a low level drug offender, and those are the people the war on drugs is targeting. If we spent as much time on going after the cartel as we did individual drug addicts perhaps we would see some positive developments. It does not seem like we can afford to ignore any suggestions, even if they involve some form of legalization, as long as it can help.

Senator Webb Introduces Bill to Overhaul America's Criminal Justice System Video. While this video is almost 10 minutes long, Senator Webb eloquently addresses the issues discussed above.

Safin Thinks that Agassi should "Give his Titles, his Money and his Grand Slam Titles" Back

The Andre Agassi public trial continues as he faces a barrage of scrutiny regarding what he revealed in his autobiography "Open". Just yesterday, Former No. 1 ranked Marat Safin thinks that Agassi should "give his titles, his money and his Grand Slam titles" back. Safin, like many other pro tennis players, has become outraged and cannot believe that Agassi would come out with this information. Why would Agassi do this, he doesn't need the money? Agassi had to believe that in one way or another the ATP will take action regarding what has happened. The ATP has still not commented on Agassi's confession, but, the tennis community is certainly speaking up.

"The ATP allowed him to win a lot of tournaments, a lot of money. It kept his secret. Why does he need to be so cruel with it? If he is as fair play as he says he is, he has to go to the end. You know, the ATP has a bank account and he can give the money back if he wants", Safin said to ESPN. What the ATP will make Agassi do is yet to be seen, although, it seems like Agassi is completely prepared to deal with the possible repercussions. Agassi couldn't live with the shame of having lied to the ATP, so he came clean regardless of the penalties. Agassi had a very interesting and stressful life and at one point he broke down and used methamphetamine to escape. Agassi broke free from the drugs and went on to win more championships sober.

In no way is Agassi's behavior back in 1997 excusable, maybe no action should be taken by the ATP. Agassi had an amazing career and it wouldn't have been so successful if he were high on Meth during all of those 20 years. Nobody is perfect, people make poor decisions from time to time; Agassi is one of those people, but, he had the courage to come clean even if it was years later. Maybe Agassi's courage will give other tennis players the strength to come forward or better yet, not mess with drugs at all.

See here: Part 2 Andre Agassi tells Katie Couric how he picked up his life and revived his career. He went from number 141 to the very top in the rankings, perhaps one of the greatest comebacks in sports history.


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Nursing Home Residents Who Need Pain Drugs

The war on drugs has totally disrupted the health care system in America. Patients and seniors in long-term-care facilities are having trouble getting pain medication; serious delays are causing needless suffering. A number of staff members working in nursing homes steal the patients pain medication to sell or use; the DEA in response now requires doctor's signatures along with a sleuth of other approvals when pain medication is ordered. The Washington Post reports that lawmakers have become concerned and, "wrote to Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. this month, urging that the Obama administration issue new directives to the DEA and support a possible legislative fix for the problem, which has bothered nursing home administrators and geriatric experts for years". There doesn't seem to be an easy solution to this problem; on the one hand there are not enough doctors to be around every nursing home at all times, on the other a serious number of prescription pain medications such as: morphine, Oxycontin, Percocet, and Vicodin are being stolen. How to secure the distribution of opiates and provide nursing home residents who need pain drugs in a timely matter is the question?

Pharmacies that provide pain medication to nurses without all the approvals in order face tens of thousands of dollars in fines. "The system is broken. It isn't working, and patients are suffering," said Claudia Schlosberg, director of policy and advocacy for the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists. "While we need to ensure there are proper controls on the medications, the overall law enforcement concern has to be compatible with meeting patients' needs, and right now it's not", according to the Washington Post. Scholsberg has a good point, patients' rights need to prevail over all else, there obviously needs to be some restrictions but they can't get in the way of a patients' well being. Nobody would want their loved ones to suffer while in the care of someone else, it just is not acceptable.

It does not seem right that the war on pain has to suffer from the war on drugs; I guess that is war though, they are usually not fair. Nurses and doctors cannot effectively manage their patients' pain as a result of the Drug Enforcement Agencies strict policies. Hopefully, a compromise can be found that will stop all the delays and still monitor the drugs in order to keep them off the streets.

The Policy in Mexico is to Stop the Flow of Illegal Drugs into the United States

The mass murders that happened at two rehab centers in Juarez may have been drug fronts. "Juarez is about to open its first city-operated drug treatment center in hopes of lowering the demand for drugs", according to Juarez Mayor Jose Reyes. Which, coupled with proper education in the schools could help to curb some of the drug problems in the city. Although, Reyes believes that it is time for the United States to step up and take charge with this growing epidemic. "Now it is the United States' turn to battle the drug cartels that have paralyzed Mexico for 20 months", Reyes said Monday at a War on Drugs conference. He claims that the archaic policies of the past 40 years in the U.S. had done nothing to lessen the demand for marijuana, cocaine and heroin. Good and innocent people all over Mexico are losing their lives trying to stem the drug flow into the U.S., it makes sense that America would put more effort into a war that is being fought to protect our soil. According to the El Paso Times, "the policy in Mexico is to stop the flow of illegal drugs into the United States, and that has caused a lot of people to be killed, Reyes said of the 3,200 homicides in Juarez since January 2008. From politicians to innocent people to police officers, they have all died trying to stop the flow of drugs into the United States".

Reyes brought up a very interesting point about the American view point on drugs, the contradictions that exist throughout our system raise some red flags. "On the same day a policeman in Mexico died in the line of fire, U.S. law officers declined to prosecute champion swimmer Michael Phelps for marijuana use", stated Reyes. "What is the message being sent?" Reyes asked. "That drug flow is not OK, but drug use is OK?" I cannot help but share Reyes sentiments on this subject, this is not to say that Phelps deserved punishment; however, if we have a no tolerance drug policy and loopholes exist in our system, how can we expect it to work? It can't! Many people believe that if we were to legalize some drugs like marijuana that it would enable our resources to be used more effectively towards the real criminals. Although, I understand Reyes, what do we tell the families of the victims of the war on drugs about their loss, when, we don't punish the people buying and using the drugs. The cop in Mexico died fighting to keep drugs out of the U.S., and we let people who use drugs off on the same day. The mixed messages are overwhelming, to say the least; the time for real policy change has arrived and we all need to do our part.

"We've had 40 years of failure with our policies, said Terry Nelson, a retired federal agent, now of a group called Law Enforcement Against Prohibition. Drug use does not cause crime. It is the prohibition of drugs that causes the crimes", reports the El Paso Times. U.S. law officers stop only 16 percent of the 2.1 million pounds of drugs that are shipped into the country each year, it is quite clear just who is winning the war on drugs. Nelson believes that when the killing stops in Juarez it means that there is a new cartel in charge, it is not a sign that law enforcement tactics are working - a stark realization. Both Reyes and Nelson have very good arguments and I cannot help but agree that America needs to reevaluate their role in this war and legalization of certain drugs needs to be considered if we are to have a fighting chance. If America is not going to make the investment towards education, then, it needs to lend its hand to all of Mexico; otherwise we will be fighting this battle forever.

Two Dozen Teenage Girls Have Gone Missing In Juarez

On top of the all the drug related violence throughout Mexico's border cities there is a new problem rising up. Two dozen teenage girls and young women have gone missing in the turbulent border city Ciudad Juarez in the last year and a half. Nobody seems to have an answer to this mystery, according to the Chicago Tribune "Monica Alanis, an 18-year-old college freshman, never came home from her exams. That was nearly six months ago. Across town, 17-year-old Brenda Ponce didn't return from a job-hunting trip downtown. That was a year ago." The families of the missing girls do not believe that they would just pack up and leave Mexico without telling anyone. This problem has families with young daughters left scared, "There is no theory. There is no hypothesis," said Ricardo Alanis, Monica's father.

There are many possibilities but no certainties when comes to this situation. The girls could be caught up in the ramped sex trade that has become an international problem; girls are kidnapped, forced into sexual slavery, and forced to use drugs in order to get hooked. That way once they are addicted they can't run away even if they wanted to, it's a vicious cycle. This problem seems to be something new; it does not resemble what happened in the 80's when more than 350 women were killed during a 15-year period. The 350 who were killed back then were from all over the country and their bodies were eventually found, usually with evidence of sexual abuse and even signs of torture.

In this case though, none of the young women have been found which leads people to believe that they are still alive and being used in the sex trade. Some of the families believe that the same cartels responsible for all the violence have stolen their children and brought them into the United States to be used in prostitution rings. That seems like a very plausible scenario for the fact that this kind of activity goes on all over the world with very little out there to stop it. The families continue to search for answers, but, unfortunately most of the time girls caught up in the sex trade are never found or heard from again.

If you follow our blog on a regular basis, you may wonder why we chose to discuss this story today. Our goal is to bring you topical information about addiction and recovery and while today's post may appear to be about kidnapping and prostitution, the bottom line is addiction and drugs more than likely plays a role in controlling these young women. We welcome your thoughts...

Whole Family has become Addicted to Opium

In war torn Afghanistan Opium is about the only drug that people can get their hands on. Opium is used for medicine in Afghanistan, after decades of struggle between the Russians in the 80's and the United States beginning in 2001 the country is left in the dark when it comes to medical aid. What was once used for medicine has now become an epidemic much like China in the 18th and 19th centuries, where whole villages have become hooked to Opium. National Geographic just interviewed the Beg family in the village of Sarab which has a population of fewer than 2,000, and half are already addicts. "I started taking a smoke until I got addicted to this (opium). I lost my property, I lost my strength, my bravery and now I am laying here with an empty stomach", says Islam Beg age 65. His whole family has become addicted to Opium and his one-year old grandson has already started taking the drug, the family's argument is that there is no other medicine - all they have is Opium.

Islam Beg once was the owner of much of the land in his village along with many animals, but now, he has nothing other than the pipe, as he and his family sold everything in order to keep it filled. Islam Beg is ashamed of the person that he has become and there is not much help out there for people in his position. The country of Afghanistan has few drug treatment facilities available, with less than 200 beds for drug rehab nationwide it is not surprising there is such a staggering number of addicts. Afghanistan's chief export happens to be Opium which is sold to pharmaceutical companies around the world for pain medication; and the opium that is not exported legally to pharmaceutical companies is exported illegally as the raw ingredient for heroin. Millions of dollars pour into Afghanistan, purchasing the drug for use in nations around the world. The United States in 2004 gave 4.4 billion dollars in aid for infrastructure, which I highly doubt much or any of that money went to heath care in a nation that has an estimated 150,000 opium addicts and a further 50,000 heroin addicts. Without support directed towards the addiction problem, many people will have little choice but to die an addict.

Islam Beg is "hopeful that his grandchildren will escape his fate, he believes they're not yet addicted", but, when you start using Opium at the age of one it is hard to see any other path. People will give up anything for the drug and without drug education and medical alternatives it is not surprising. Corporations make billions of dollars at the hands of a country in the grips of addiction. Villages in Afghanistan are in desperate need of relief in the way of drug treatment facilities; without foreign aid I do not see how children have any other fate away from the Opium pipe. "Decades of war and poverty have instilled a sense of hopelessness in many people here, making narcotics an easy destructive way to deal with an often grim reality."

Your thoughts?

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Mexico's Drug War is Worsening

The Mexican government is sending out 45,000 troop to conflict areas throughout the country, more troops than the United States has in Afghanistan, as a result of the 11,000 dead in just under three years. Mexico's drug war is worsening and it does not seem like much can be done to curb the cartels and their bloody war over smuggling routes and government control according to the San Francisco Chronicle, "attacking offices, killing investigators, and threatening citizens who speak out".

The hot spots where most of, but not all, the action is taking place are in border cities where the drugs come one way and American guns and money go back the other way. In the U.S. guns are sold to private citizens that are often more high-powered than most government officials have throughout Mexico. Again, according to the San Francisco Chronicle: "This month, Mexican President Felipe Calderon ordered more soldiers into Ciudad Juarez, a major border town and drug entry point opposite El Paso, to quell the violence. Closer to Mexico City, he faces trouble from an upstart gang in his native state of Michoacan, where the bodies of 12 federal agents were dumped on a back road, all of them tortured and shot in the head. In response, he sent 5,500 troops to the region".

The cartels are certainly a major factor in this war, but, Americas never ending thirst for drugs is the driving force. This is a war over money, and not just any money - American money. The cartels in Mexico control all the drugs coming out of South and Central-America and it appears that Mexico has become the new Columbia. Back in March, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton stated our nation's responsibility. The violence is caused by "our insatiable demand for illegal drugs."

Next month, President Obama is due at a North American summit in Guadalajara, Mexico. Obama needs to make this war one of his top priorities otherwise it will only get worse. Better attempts at drug education here in America need to take place because as long as we demand the drugs Mexico will continue to fight to supply them. Furthermore, better gun policies need to be enacted; Mexicans killing with our guns makes us partly liable. Mexican drugs are the gasoline that fuel America's engine of addiction.

If Marijuana Is Legal, Will Addiction Rise?

Marijuana legalization has been a hot button topic for many years and is one that has serious implications. America's prohibition on "Weed" has many people wondering if legalization would do more good than the current laws have done. If Marijuana is legal, will addiction rise? I have found many great arguments on both sides of the table, this topic is one that should be discussed in depth for the fact that the question at hand is an American problem; more Marijuana is consumed in the US per capita than any other country. I can see positives and negatives for the legalization of Marijuana, I am attempting to get the conversation started on this delicate subject.

I do believe the question at hand is one that most adults have asked themselves at one point or another, whether or not legalization would do more good than criminalization has? The argument that "Pot" is just like every other illegal drug does not hold as much water as it used to. That is the danger with putting all illegal drugs in the same category for the fact that it is simply illegal raises social stigmas with the uninformed; which, in turn, has impacted how the government treats people who have dealings with Marijuana. The writing is on the wall and whether or not we choose to read it greatly affects us as a nation. In many cases trying Marijuana in America has been a right of passage since the 60's, the amount of people who continue to smoke marijuana is very low. A very small percentage of all that have tried "weed" continue smoking it on a regular basis; most people become social smokers, meaning they can take it or leave it. The small group of people that smoke daily are more than likely people with addictive personalities and perhaps the disease of addiction. Norm Stamper, who was Seattle's police chief from 1994 to 2000 said in a New York Times Article, "Any law disobeyed by more than 100 million Americans, the number who've tried marijuana at least once, is bad public policy. As a 34-year police veteran, I've seen how marijuana prohibition breeds disrespect for the law, and contempt for those who enforce it... Let's make policy that helps, not handcuffs, those who suffer ill effects of marijuana or other drugs, a policy that crushes the illegal market - the cause of so much violence and harm to users and non-users alike."

With the economy spiraling out of control and doctors stating that Marijuana is no more harmful or addictive than alcohol, many people argue that legalization could be one of the answers to boosting the economy. People have been growing, selling, and smoking Marijuana despite strict laws right here in the United States; legalizing it and putting government control over the substance would allow it to be taxed, thus decreasing the black market activity exponentially. Is it a coincidence that the many of the banks in America with liquid money are in Northern California? A professor at the University of Washington, Roger Roffman, believes this could be done one of two ways. "Surveys indicate increasingly positive attitudes in the U.S. for liberalizing marijuana policies. Two ways of doing this are: (1) legalization, which would involve lawful cultivation and sale of marijuana, and (2) decriminalization, which would retain criminal penalties for cultivation and sale while removing them for possession of small amounts."

Many who have experimented with Marijuana have suffered greatly, but not necessarily regarding their health. Legal policies have, in some cases, done more damage to a person's life than the side-effects of the drug. "I support finding alternatives to criminal penalties for marijuana possession. Those penalties have costs (being jailed, having a criminal record, barriers to employment, loss of scholarships, to name a few) and may accomplish little in deterring use."(Roger Roffman) Justification for this level of punishment has yet to be seen, nor has any good argument been clearly stated for why Marijuana is illegal and not Alcohol or Cigarettes. Why?

In this post I have tried to present a non-biased view of a subject that is at the forefront of social politics. I am not sure what the right answer to this problem is, if any at all; what I do know is that change needs to be considered regarding Marijuana policy in America. If legalization does come to fruition, policy makers need to be careful in the way it is done; there would need to be stringent rules in the way it is marketed and the way it is distributed. I do believe Americans can find a way to meet in the middle on this subject but it will take people on both sides being honest and realistic in the way we proceed. The idea is to lower drug related crimes and keep our children educated and informed of the possibility of addiction with Marijuana and all drugs for that matter. What we don't want is people getting rich off "pushing" the disease of addiction, that is promoting a product that can be addictive, as the cigarette marketers did for so many years. "Telling marketers they can get rich by creating disease is dangerous." - Mark A.R. Kleiman, Professor of Public Policy at U.C.L.A.

Our Whiteside Manor Blog seeks to be topical in the areas of addiction and recovery. As California considers new law, let us know your thoughts on this important subject...

In the meantime, I invite you to watch Dr. Nancy Snyderman of NBC News, as she discusses with a panel "Should Marijuana be Legal?"

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US FDA Determined a Suicide Warning on Anti-Smoking Drugs

On Wednesday smoking cessation manufacturers were required to warn against the mental health dangers, including suicidal thoughts, for two popular anti-smoking drugs. The US FDA determined a suicide warning on anti-smoking drugs is a very important thing for those considering quitting smoking. When attempting to quit any addictive substance there is a lot of stress that can occur. If a person is already stressed out, irritable, and discontent from withdrawals it cannot be good to take a medication that could possibly make them suicidal.

Many people who make the decision to go to drug and alcohol treatment think and can be encouraged to quit all addictive substances, including cigarettes and coffee. Which, naturally, is a very good thing to consider trying to do, as cigarettes and coffee are not good for you; however, if an individual is quitting drugs and alcohol they are mentally unstable in most cases and suicidal tendencies can occur. If prescribed a smoking cessation drug like Chantix or Zyban while already potentially suicidal it can be like throwing fuel on the fire. Furthermore, relapse potential could be exponentially increased by taking a drug that may cause suicidal thoughts while withdrawing from drugs or alcohol.

Quitting smoking is a great thing for every one to consider and smoking cessation drugs could be effective with the task. Anti-smoking drugs should be prescribed when there is no clear and present danger at hand; like quitting heroin or alcohol for example, when a person is under a lot of mental stress. "The risk of serious adverse events while taking these products must be weighed against the significant health benefits of quitting smoking," said Janet Woodcock, director of the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. Although, Woodcock stated that the products "are effective aids in helping people quit". Tell me your thoughts on anti-smoking drugs and whether newly recovering addicts should take these drugs...

Jackson's Family Attempted Drug Interventions

Sources say that Jackson's family attempted drug interventions over the last four years. We are being told that on at least two separate occasions interventions were attempted by Michael Jackson's friends and family, but every time Jackson would go ballistic and refuse to get help. According to an ABC news report of July 10, 2009: "Police have confirmed a laundry list of drugs were found inside the Los Angeles rental home where Jackson died June 25, revealing to the public what his family has known for years -- Michael Jackson was a drug addict."

ABC News reports that "The Web site TMZ is reporting that the 2003 police raid on Jackson's home, Neverland Ranch, revealed painkillers, sedatives, vials and syringes." So it is pretty clear, despite having the coroner's report yet, what was going on with Jackson. Ultimately, Jackson's death was directly related to his serious addiction to pain medicine and sedatives. There was nothing that anybody could do about his problem, he had to be the one who wanted help with his substance abuse problem. It has been reported that virtually everybody who tried to get in between Jackson and his drugs was "pushed away" or simply fired.

In 1993 Jackson said that he would be entering treatment to deal with his addiction to pain killers that he had become dependent on after sustaining burns to his scalp which he had extensive surgery on. Jackson's doctors have cooperated by releasing the performer's medical records, according to the Los Angeles coroner's office; this should help them determine the cause of death and whether or not there was any contributory negligence.

It may be many more weeks before we know the whole story of Michael Jackson's death; however, you may want to watch this ABC news report and an interview with an interventionist to learn more about the disease of addiction.

My hope is that Jackson's untimely death will strike a chord with people all over the world about the dangers of prescription medications. Maybe this will cause people to want to seek out help for their own addictions. The help is always available when one is ready to accept that they have a problem and can't beat it on their own. If you have a problem or you know someone that does please contact us at Whiteside Manor.