In the News

Marijuana Use on the Rise Among Teens

Drug-deal-at-school-5-2-12 Nearly one in 10 teenagers are smoking marijuana at least 20 or more times a month, a new survey finds. The Associated Press reports that the survey, released Wednesday by The Partnership at Drugfree.org, found past-month use of marijuana rose from 19 percent in 2008, to 27 percent last year.

The Partnership Attitude Tracking Study found past-year use of marijuana rose from 31 percent in 2008, to 39 percent (six million teens) in 2011. The survey found lifetime use increased from 39 percent in 2008, to 47 percent (eight million teens) in 2011. The last time marijuana use was this widespread among teens was in 1998, when past month use of marijuana was at 27 percent.

Baby Born Every Hour With Symptoms of Opioid Withdrawal

Baby-foot-hospital Every hour, a baby is born in the United States with symptoms of opioid withdrawal, according to a study in Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).The study found the number of pregnant women who are addicted to opioids, and the number of infants born with opioid withdrawal symptoms, has jumped in the past decade.

An estimated 13,500 babies are born with withdrawal symptoms each year in the United States, The New York Times reports. Many babies who experience these symptoms must be hospitalized for weeks, the article notes. Babies going through opioid withdrawal can have seizures, dehydration, breathing problems, tremors, difficulty feeding and irritability.

New 21st Century Drug Policy Strategy Released

Drug Policy A new strategy for a new direction. That's the way the 2012 National Drug Control Strategy is being touted.

Recently, Gil Kerlikowske, Director of National Drug Control Policy, released the 2012 National Drug Control Strategy, the primary blueprint for drug policy in the United States.

A Troubling Trend in Teens Drinking Hand Sanitizer

After six teenagers suffered alcohol poisoning from drinking hand sanitizer in California, public health officials are warning parents to look out for signs of abuse.

The teens showed up in two emergency rooms in the last few months, the Los Angeles Times reports. Some of them used salt to separate the alcohol from the hand sanitizer. This makes it a drink that is similar in potency to a shot of hard liquor, the article notes.

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Too Many Teen Drinkers Get Alcohol From Family

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At a recent news conference, the nonprofit Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) shared a report from the U.S. Public Health Service's Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) that shows how underage drinkers obtain alcohol.

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