The truth about drugs: Teens Lie, but so do their parents!

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSlq4rz_0ZLqvvc33YpEo2B50EOQ2mPDZngA2kC35vC6gbaWy4uFTtm2UWZrjFJ6rA0_7GymAiDMGi1dseiBz-Ave18bUsm7xeEvAxOXJC5JcTl6h67DIFlkC1JcUihdAJ7anJr7TfYx5v/s1600/3_22-Drug-Abuse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" nba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSlq4rz_0ZLqvvc33YpEo2B50EOQ2mPDZngA2kC35vC6gbaWy4uFTtm2UWZrjFJ6rA0_7GymAiDMGi1dseiBz-Ave18bUsm7xeEvAxOXJC5JcTl6h67DIFlkC1JcUihdAJ7anJr7TfYx5v/s200/3_22-Drug-Abuse.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Teenagers' confidential reports about illicit drug use are used by doctors and public health experts to measure the extent of the problem, and to help teens in trouble. But it turns out that teens fib big time in those anonymous surveys—and their parents do, too.<br /><br /><div></div>A study conducted by researchers asked 432 African-American teenagers and their parents to participate in an anonymous survey about their use of cocaine, opiates, and marijuana, and said they would also be drug-tested. Of the 211 teenagers whose hair was tested for cocaine, 2 said they used it—while 69, or 34 percent, tested positive, according to a new study in Pediatrics. Of the 244 parents tested, 15 said they had used cocaine, while 69, or 28 percent, tested positive.<br /><br /><div></div>The parents surveyed were pretty bad at guessing if their child was using alcohol or drugs. For instance, 9.6 percent of the parents said their teenager drank alcohol, while 25 percent of the teenagers said they did. With marijuana, 9.5 percent of parents said their teenager smoked dope, while 17 percent of the teens said they did.<br /><br /><div></div>This is not the first time that a study to found parents are clueless about teens' drug and alcohol use. That may be because parents tend to shrug off drug and alcohol use as standard teen behavior, according to a survey published last January in Pediatrics. But that cluelessness comes at a price. Early drug and alcohol abuse increases a child's risk of addiction and health problems in adulthood, and also of teenage suicide.<br /><br /><div></div>But the key take-home here is not so much that teens are using drugs, but that they are not likely to admit it. That's not a huge surprise, given that we're talking about illegal behaviors that can have big consequences. The self-reported drug use in the study was typical of the amount reported in national anonymous surveys of drug use for urban neighborhoods. The researchers, at Wayne State University in Detroit, say that relying on anonymous surveys could lead researchers, parents, and pediatricians seriously astray in estimating the health risks teenagers face.<br /><br /><div></div>Parents can increase the likelihood that their children will come to them with questions and concerns about drugs and alcohol if they:<br /><br /><div></div><ul><li>Start talking about the risks of drugs and alcohol when children are still young. Children who learn about drugs and alcohol from their parents are half as likely to use as are children who learn from peers, according to the <a href="http://www.drugfree.org/prevent">Partnership for a Drug-Free America.</a></li><li>Help children rehearse what they will say to peers who want them to drink or use drugs with them; studies have found that practicing responses makes it much more likely that teenagers will successfully fend off peer pressure. </li><li>Use brain science. Researchers now think that teenage brains are more vulnerable to tobacco, drugs, and alcohol because they are still forming vital connections. Drug-prevention efforts increasingly include information on how to keep a teen brain healthy and powerful.</li></ul><br /><div></div>There are a lot of reasons for teenagers (and parents) to say "I don't" when asked about drug use. But by making the perils and lure of illicit substances part of ordinary family discussion, parents may be doing their children a big favor—and may get a clearer sense of the realities of teenage life.<br /><br /><div></div>

The truth about drugs: Teens Lie, but so do their parents!

Teenagers' confidential reports about illicit drug use are used by doctors and public health experts to measure the extent of the proble...

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Misuse of Pain Medication is Pathway to High-Risk Behaviors

<div>A recent research study released at Drexel University School of Public Health found a link between those that abuse prescription pain mediation may be an gateway to the use of injected drugs such as heroin. This study was published in the International Journal of Drug Policy, and it explored factors surrounding young injection drug users initiation into the misuse of opioid drugs. The study discovered common factors which included family history of drug misuse and receiving prescriptions for opiod drugs in the past. The result of the study support a need for efforts to prevent misuse of prescription drugs, particularly adolescence.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikfWMSiu6Cgt7HJHYBz-s1nOJiVISA4jZWOIXoiLhJxVqM1dtsy4W0G1i90aL6YsEFTfVw1shnDIA-O0Sr_M5y6Qq-aQOLhHpaqTpkYJ9HdsMG6CKilt8-D9AXdWCNYQDObvHJAOXaV7Rb/s1600/prescription_drugs_and_bottles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikfWMSiu6Cgt7HJHYBz-s1nOJiVISA4jZWOIXoiLhJxVqM1dtsy4W0G1i90aL6YsEFTfVw1shnDIA-O0Sr_M5y6Qq-aQOLhHpaqTpkYJ9HdsMG6CKilt8-D9AXdWCNYQDObvHJAOXaV7Rb/s200/prescription_drugs_and_bottles.jpg" /></a></div><div> Dr. Stephen Lankenau stated the study showed, “Participants were commonly raised in household where misuse of prescription drugs, illegal drugs, or alcohol, was normalized.” As well as “Access to prescription medications – either from a participant’s own source, a family member, or a friend – was a key feature of initiation into prescription drug misuse.”</div><br />In numerous cases, the desire to experiment with a prescription opioid drug (the common class of drugs that includes codeine and oxycodone), combined with financial incentives or pressures from friends to sell available quantities, resulted in escalated patterns of opioid misuse, according to the study.<br /><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Lankenau and fellow researchers detailed two key findings as evidence of an emerging dynamic among misuse of opioid drugs and the use of injection drugs. First, four of five IDUs misused an opioid before injecting heroin, in contrast to more conventional patterns of using opioids as a substitute drug after initiating heroin use. </div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh18o7kYNq_WwlJfiJL4X63J0BJ2Ppl1nmEBL8Rv-T4WwJ1U_qTkn61R8LUUdn84Ss_2Kep3J8o3MFfitBg7Rg6cMeMF74-GsdVvznbjbxFBpaJxZV3Yu6UNyiCYp_KZ4vM9bE2pPo8_mmh/s1600/opiate-abuse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh18o7kYNq_WwlJfiJL4X63J0BJ2Ppl1nmEBL8Rv-T4WwJ1U_qTkn61R8LUUdn84Ss_2Kep3J8o3MFfitBg7Rg6cMeMF74-GsdVvznbjbxFBpaJxZV3Yu6UNyiCYp_KZ4vM9bE2pPo8_mmh/s200/opiate-abuse.jpg" /></a>Second, in nearly one out of four young IDUs in this study, a prescription opioid was the first type of drug they injected. Prescription opioids are rarely reported at initiation into injection drug use amongst young IDUs. All but two of these participants later transitioned into injecting heroin.</div><br /><div>Opioid misuse is an important public health concern due to the increasing association of opioids with drug dependence and fatal overdose, and much research has focused on the factors affecting how and when people initially misuse opioids. However, descriptive data about initiation into prescription opioid misuse among young injection drug users are scarce.</div><br /><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSlq4rz_0ZLqvvc33YpEo2B50EOQ2mPDZngA2kC35vC6gbaWy4uFTtm2UWZrjFJ6rA0_7GymAiDMGi1dseiBz-Ave18bUsm7xeEvAxOXJC5JcTl6h67DIFlkC1JcUihdAJ7anJr7TfYx5v/s1600/3_22-Drug-Abuse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSlq4rz_0ZLqvvc33YpEo2B50EOQ2mPDZngA2kC35vC6gbaWy4uFTtm2UWZrjFJ6rA0_7GymAiDMGi1dseiBz-Ave18bUsm7xeEvAxOXJC5JcTl6h67DIFlkC1JcUihdAJ7anJr7TfYx5v/s200/3_22-Drug-Abuse.jpg" /></a>To fill this gap, in this study researchers interviewed 50 young IDUs aged 16 and 25 years old in New York and Los Angeles, who had misused a prescription drug at least three times in the past three months, to study contextual factors leading to their use of opioid drugs. Participants were recruited in natural settings, such as parks, streets, and college campuses, during 2008 and 2009. A mixed-methods research design was utilized that collected both quantitative and qualitative data.</div><br /><div> Additional findings and descriptors of the study population include:</div><ul><li>Most were white, heterosexual males in their early 20s </li><li>Many did not complete high school, were expelled from school, or held back a grade </li><li>Nearly all were homeless at some point, most were currently homeless, and most regarded themselves as “travelers,” (i.e., moving from city to city in search of work, housing, or adventure)</li><li>Most had received a psychological diagnosis, such as depression, anxiety, or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), and many had a history of drug treatment</li><li>Most generally regarded prescription opioids as readily accessible, valued commodities that could be traded or sold</li><li>Nearly three-quarters had been prescribed an opioid in their lifetime, which occurred on average at 14.6 years old, often for common ailments such as dental procedures or sports injuries</li><li>Most witnessed family members misuse one or more substances during childhood and adolescence, ranging from alcoholism to injecting heroin</li><li>The authors conclude that prevention efforts, especially during adolescence, are needed, and that parents and guardians need to carefully monitor and safeguard all prescription medications, particularly opioids, within the household. Although households where drug use is normalized or where broader social or psychological problems exist are more difficult to remedy with prevention efforts or policy changes, future research examining prescription opioid misuse among a range of adolescents and young adults to better understand the contextual and environmental factors of drug use may yield additional solutions.</li></ul>The article was co-authored by Karol Silva (Drexel University); Michelle Teti (University of Missouri); Alex Harocopos (National Development and Research Institutes); and Jennifer Jackson Bloom and Meghan Treese (Children’s Hospital Los Angeles).<br /><br />Lankenau is also principal investigator of two studies evaluating the effectives of overdose prevention programs in Los Angeles and Philadelphia.<br /><br /><div>Lankenau is an associate professor in the Department of Community Health & Prevention at the Drexel University School of Public Health. He received his PhD and MA degrees in Sociology from the University of Maryland. He earned his BA in Sociology at the University of Vermont.</div><br /><div> <strong><span style="font-size: x-small;">Source: newswise.com</span></strong></div><br /><div></div>

Misuse of Pain Medication is Pathway to High-Risk Behaviors

A recent research study released at Drexel University School of Public Health found a link between those that abuse prescription pain mediat...

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Overdoses of Popular Painkiller Send Thousands to ER Each Year

<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw4KqVV634oWyZqm-fvvKYfNMNwa9fwRONGoxcf9WAgV75NXHQqUnefQJhToDl6fFlsTLLI0LJGIa-1ifWDYbRoH09PTjQz933RCMXLOSLSDpkgwPNSaJ91NZL4jUsrhdZQ_0rVmH8JwR1/s1600/teen+drug+addict2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw4KqVV634oWyZqm-fvvKYfNMNwa9fwRONGoxcf9WAgV75NXHQqUnefQJhToDl6fFlsTLLI0LJGIa-1ifWDYbRoH09PTjQz933RCMXLOSLSDpkgwPNSaJ91NZL4jUsrhdZQ_0rVmH8JwR1/s1600/teen+drug+addict2.jpg" /></a>Newswise — Overdose of the common household drug acetaminophen leads to more than 78,000 emergency department (ED) visits a year, and the majority of the overdoses are intentional, according to a new study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.</div><br /><br />It’s a big problem and the study found three main causes among ED patients.<br /><br /><br /><br />“About 70 percent are for self-harm attempts, and 13 percent to 14 percent are kids getting into products,” said lead study author Daniel Budnitz, M.D. “The other 16 percent are the adolescents and adults that generally fall into two groups: the younger adults that are misusing over-the-counter products because they are trying to get better pain control and don’t understand the risks, and the older adults that are making some errors using the opioid combination products.” <br /><br /><br /><br />Consumers take acetaminophen — the active ingredient in Tylenol — to reduce pain or fever, as a single drug in tablets, capsules or liquid. Acetaminophen combines with other drugs in a variety of over-the-counter cold, flu and sinus medicines including Theraflu, Triaminic and Sudafed. Acetaminophen also appears in combination with an opioid — a narcotic— in prescription medicines like Vicodin (with hydrocodone) or in Percocet (with oxycodone). <br /><br /><br /><br />ED visits related to abuse of acetaminophen products were not included in the study, which <br /><br />appears online and in the June issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.<br /><br /><br /><br />Young people ages 15 to 24 are at highest risk for suicide attempts or acts of self-harm involving acetaminophen, the researchers found. “Because these data are based on ED records, it is often difficult to determine exactly what motivated the patient — if they had a premeditated plan to end their life with an overdose or if the overdose was an impulsive act,” said Budnitz, medical officer at the Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion.<br /><br /><br /><br />Among the others in this age group, 75 percent of ED visits occurred because they went above the recommended acetaminophen dosage in search of quicker or stronger relief. <br /><br /><br /><br />Overdoses by people who think more medicine is better points to a deep knowledge gap and need for better consumer education about a familiar drug, said Henry Spiller, director of the Kentucky Regional Poison Center. He has no affiliation with the study.<br /><br /><br /><br />“We frequently see that with abdominal pain or tooth pain. They can’t get to the dentist for a day or two so just try to manage the pain themselves. Some actually come in with frank liver failure,” Spiller said. “I think they’re unaware that they’re risking something as bad as liver failure—especially with tooth pain.”<br /><br /><br /><br />Taken correctly, acetaminophen is safe and effective, but the margin between a therapeutic and a dangerous dose is smaller than many people might realize.<br /><br /><br /><br />“The toxic dose depends on the age of the person, how much they weigh and their liver function, but in general, 10 to 15 grams can cause what’s called hepatic necrosis, which is basically the liver cells dying,” Budnitz said. “So 10 grams — an extra-strength tablet is 500 milligrams of acetaminophen — that’s about 20 tablets.”<br /><br /><br /><br />The poison center might recommend to people who take acetaminophen continually that they should instead alternate with another pain medicine, like ibuprofen, Spiller said.<br /><br /><br /><br />“If you double or triple the dose of acetaminophen, and you take it for several days, you will cause significant liver problems,” Budnitz said. Rather than a sudden, dramatic reaction, overdose symptoms often occur later, he said. “If untreated, the acetaminophen toxicity can take days, maybe weeks, to manifest itself.<br /><br /><br /><br />“Depending on the person, and how much they took and what treatments they get, the outcomes range from full recovery to possible death without a liver transplant,” Budnitz said. “If you or someone you know did take an overdose of acetaminophen, the first thing to do is to call the poison center (1-800-222-1222), follow their advice, and, if directed, go immediately to the emergency department for an evaluation.”<br /><br /><br /><br />The good news: “With prompt treatment most patients fully recover, especially children, because acetaminophen does have an antidote. If given promptly, that can protect the liver, ” Budnitz said.<br /><br /><br /><br />Overdoses caused by extra doses for symptom relief or other mistakes were more likely to involve over-the-counter products in people ages 15 to 24, and opioid-containing acetaminophen products in people older than 39. <br /><br /><br /><br />For those who require the antidote, it is not as simple as taking a pill. “NAC comes in oral and intravenous form,” Spiller said. “NAC is sulfur-based and it smells like rotten eggs. It’s tough to get kids to drink it.” Others who overdose might undergo “gastric decontamination” with an unpleasant charcoal mixture or by having their stomach pumped.<br /><br /><br /><br />The study analyzed two years of data from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System to estimate the number of annual ED visits nationwide. The actual sample included 63 U.S. hospitals and findings relied on 2,717 cases.<br /><br /><br /><br />SOURCE: <a href="http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/576328/?sc=dwhn">http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/576328/?sc=dwhn</a><br /><br /><br /><br />Budnitz DS, Lovegrove MC, Crosby AE. Emergency department visits for overdoses of acetaminophen-containing products. Am J Prev Med 40(6), 2011.

Overdoses of Popular Painkiller Send Thousands to ER Each Year

Newswise — Overdose of the common household drug acetaminophen leads to more than 78,000 emergency department (ED) visits a year, and the ma...

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Drug Induced Deaths Overtake Alcohol and Firearms!

<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjiL3RPMV_Jd9PATvbtbSgIPczBkOvl64YRG_sUwqqxMdz2Tc0aGRKzCop3QcxzhKbWfwdrgslt_CB8DRFgqR8ghwu57qrBFn90L2Lixreyl852jkqGXZU0dRKldi4FcaWf2GU-pZCTqfo/s1600/prescripabuse2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjiL3RPMV_Jd9PATvbtbSgIPczBkOvl64YRG_sUwqqxMdz2Tc0aGRKzCop3QcxzhKbWfwdrgslt_CB8DRFgqR8ghwu57qrBFn90L2Lixreyl852jkqGXZU0dRKldi4FcaWf2GU-pZCTqfo/s200/prescripabuse2.jpg" width="200" /></a>A study released in late January by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention states that "In 2007, drug induced deaths were more common than alcohol induced or firearm-related deaths in the United States." The study reported that in 2007, which is the most recent year for mortality data from the National Vital Statistics System, "a total of 38,371 drug-induced deaths occurred in the United States."</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">The increase in drug abuse can be attributed to "prescription drugs, especially opioid painkillers and psychotherapeutic drugs," the study indicated. The study also found that "the medication was more widely prescribed by physicians."  According to Leonard J. Paulozzi who wrote the study findings starting in 2002, when these changes began appearing, prescription drugs "supplanted illicit drugs as the leading cause of drug-related overdose deaths."</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGaa4YcobIv8f5buZYVdyZY1agz8OxnrUakQdRYTlbbDAQGhRvA9p4mF_Yykg_muVSs4CjLDRYvufI5nUqRDpUM5JBzgidY1pi1qRyxAuFARy6Zckb_QEKfMxIMjPXxnc-F8Hn-c2wUu6-/s1600/prescripabuse1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGaa4YcobIv8f5buZYVdyZY1agz8OxnrUakQdRYTlbbDAQGhRvA9p4mF_Yykg_muVSs4CjLDRYvufI5nUqRDpUM5JBzgidY1pi1qRyxAuFARy6Zckb_QEKfMxIMjPXxnc-F8Hn-c2wUu6-/s200/prescripabuse1.jpg" width="150" /></a>The study identified that the majority of deaths are unintentional drug poisoning deaths, with suicidal drug poisoning and drug poisoning, "of undetermined intent comprising the majority of the remainder,"  The study specifically excluded deaths as a result of adverse affects for drugs taken as directed, including infections. </div><br /><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">According to the CDC report, “Drug-induced deaths include all deaths for which drugs are the underlying cause … including deaths attributable to acute poisoning by drugs (drug overdoses) and deaths from medical conditions resulting from chronic drug use.”</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">According to the drug report, “mortality rates increased during 2003--2006 and declined slightly in 2007,” although drug death rates for men exceeding those for women every year. In addition, the report discusses racial discrepancies with drug-induced deaths, explaining that “in 2002, rates for whites surpassed those for blacks.”</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Furthermore, the report explains that “Studies of primarily white populations report that drug-related overdose death rates are highest among low-income persons; however, the reasons are unclear.” The study then does go on to report that certain limitations in the data do exist.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">First, the report explains that “because of the stigma associated with drug abuse, drug-induced death rates are likely to be underestimates.” In addition, the CDC report concedes that “because death certificate data are not timely, the differences noted in this report might have changed in subsequent years given the marked changes that occurred during 2003—2007.”</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Nevertheless, the study cautions physicians to “follow existing guidelines for cautious use of prescription drugs that tend to be misused by patients.” Paulozzi maintains that “Regulations designed to prevent illicit use of prescription drugs need to be strengthened and enforced,” while those who “misuse prescription drugs should be identified and receive a referral for substance abuse treatment.”</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOoUbFaJqsnVLie_pWaSh58HKInZLDugUpnsv-YgcUfBO7tvozknDT5DZVGXjqf0NaiBcP3EIOfc3HddGEyJ8hrGZjdSro6W7Onz-eVY0MewADWrpwm-BHTUsSJ080ScwbtwfLnEnwu5Xk/s1600/prescriptiondrugabuse1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOoUbFaJqsnVLie_pWaSh58HKInZLDugUpnsv-YgcUfBO7tvozknDT5DZVGXjqf0NaiBcP3EIOfc3HddGEyJ8hrGZjdSro6W7Onz-eVY0MewADWrpwm-BHTUsSJ080ScwbtwfLnEnwu5Xk/s320/prescriptiondrugabuse1.jpg" width="320" /></a>References:</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Paulozzi, Leonard J. (January 14, 2011) “Drug-Induced Deaths --- United States, 2003—2007.” Retrieved January 20, 2011 from the CDC.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div>

Drug Induced Deaths Overtake Alcohol and Firearms!

A study released in late January by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention states that "In 2007, drug induced deaths were more c...

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