D.C. Moves Quickly to Allow Medical Marijuana

The District of Columbia will soon implement the medical-marijuana program approved by voters a decade ago but long blocked by Congress.

Family sues Fort Lauderdale doctor over man's suicide

A Fort Lauderdale doctor who advertises as both a pain and addiction specialist is facing a wrongful death lawsuit from the family of a former patient who allegedly became addicted to drugs while under the doctor's care before committing suicide.

Waterpipe Smoking More Dangerous Than Cigarettes

Smoking from a hookah, or waterpipe has become trendy among college-age Americans, in part because of the belief that hookahs are a safer alternative to smoking. In fact, the opposite is true, as a new study demonstrates.

New SAMHSA Website Provides Tools to Address Co-Occurring Disorders and Homelessness

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) announces the availability of a new website to help SAMHSA grantees, health professionals and the public address problems of homelessness and co-occurring substance abuse and mental health disorders.

Obama's First Budget Supports Drug Courts, Eliminates Drug-Free Schools

The first budget plan submitted to Congress by President Barack Obama includes an overall increase in funding for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) but calls for elimination of the Department of Education's Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities (SDFS) state grants program as part of $17 billion in cuts to programs deemed wasteful or ineffective.

States Serving Up Alcohol Taxes to Patch Budgets, Pay for Treatment

For decades alcohol industry lobbyists have succeeded in derailing most attempts to raise state alcohol taxes, but the lousy economy has many cash-hungry states now considering alcohol-tax increases -- in some cases, to help pay for addiction treatment services as well as address budget deficits.

Prevention Charge to Teachers and Parents

We ask schools to do a lot of things in addition to preparing our kids to compete in the global economy. Schools have traditionally been thought of as the primary providers of comprehensive drug and alcohol prevention education. For example, teaching about the dangers of drugs and alcohol is included in the state education requirements of 37 states.

Nicorette Ads Offer Sympathy to Quitters

Nicorette Ads Offer Sympathy to Quitters

Study Tears Down Stereotypes of Runaways

"Our finding goes against the grain of what most people envision a homeless teenager's life to be -- a life filled with maltreatment, substance abuse, disorganization, conflict and violence," said Milburn. "While that is certainly true of chronic runaways, in fact, more than two-thirds of newly homeless youth leave the streets, resolve their family differences and go home.

"Further, the key appears to be that a family intervention, no matter how brief, can improve the chances that new runaways will go home and stay home," Milburn said.

Same Genes at Play in Marijuana Use, Alcohol Dependence

The environmental factors that contribute to marijuana use and alcohol dependence differ significantly, but similar genes are involved in influencing people to drink and use marijuana, according to researchers.

WebMD reported Dec. 18 that a study of identical and fraternal twins ages 24-36 concluded that more than half of the variance in alcohol and marijuana use and dependence could be traced to genetic factors.

Police: Chiropractor may have been using drugs before shooting

A South Florida chiropractor and pain clinic operator may have been paranoid or delusional from using drugs or alcohol when he opened fire at police outside the Lighthouse Point station, police said Monday.

"It Cannot Happen to My Child" by Howard Spector

It would seem most all of us are related to, or know someone whose life has been adversely affected by the Disease of Drug or Alcohol Addiction. This known in the professional circles as Chemical Dependency. How many of us, unless it has affected a true loved one in our life has paid much attention to the damage this has done to our society? What really happens to those who become addicted?
What causes young people to start to use drugs? Is it peer pressure, is it a desire to experiment, is it a place for them to hide from the pressures of adolescence or perceived self inadequacies, or is it a combination of all of these issues?
The problem is that we as parents and they as children do not fully understand. Once the usage crosses over from using to feel good, to using to prevent the awful pain of withdrawal, you are then an Addict (Chemically Dependent).Your life then becomes a living hell. Every waking hour is dictated by your drug. It is as though your brain is a prisoner to the drug. It is the only thing that occupies your mind and physical being.
My source of insight to this disease is my life experience with and the loss of my son David to a drug overdose at the age of Thirty Three.
I wrote a previous article of David’s accomplishments during an almost seven your period that he did not use and how he improved his life and advocated for others living with the disease. In the end, he lost the battle. I will never forget one of my last conversations with him after he relapsed the last time. His exact words were “my addiction has reared its ugly head”.
I tell this story, not for sympathy, but to try to make parents understand how compelling addiction is with a child that starts using at an early age and uses over a long period of time. These urges became so deeply ingrained that I truly believe they are even more susceptible to relapse.
I write this because I hope to make parents and children understand that this can and does happen to thousands of others and this can happen to you. You and your child need to understand the consequences. I do not have the opportunity to change things I wish I would have done differently as a parent during my son’s formative years, but you can.
If you have well founded suspicions, such as drop in grades, isolation, (a big indicator), change in attitude towards you and avoidance of other family members, do not allow your child’s denials and justification deter you, as you need to know lying and justifying are by products of using drugs. Their quest for drugs is only equaled by their effort to prevent being detained in their pursuit to get high. If they tell you they are only a “social user” as a method to minimize your concerns, I will tell you that every addict was once a “social user”. If this pattern of behavior does not change, do not expect their proposed compromises. If they then remain unwilling to be drug tested and if necessary, seek help in the form of one and one, group therapy, and if need be, inpatient care. Intervention should be used if all else fails. The bottom line is unless they realize and acknowledge that they need help, the chances of success are not good, however, you must try.

The important things to do before all of these measures are needed, is to stay involved in their lives during these formative years, which means finding time to do so in an appropriate way. Try to create an atmosphere in which they enjoy interacting with you in shared activates such as ballgames, movies, etc. Talk to your local school board about including a drug education course to the school curriculum. Most importantly, make a point to tell your child you love them every day.

Stay Well
Howard Spector

I want to thank my good friend Ray Ferrero III for his great help in organizing the David Spector Memorial Award at Nova Southeastern University. The University acknowledges a Medical Student each year that stands out in the interest and participation in the area of addiction medicine.

Another Celebrity Overdose - Brittany Murphy

(CBS/AP) Authorities said Monday it appeared actress Brittany Murphy died of natural causes after becoming ill with flulike symptoms in the days before she collapsed in the bathroom of her Hollywood Hills home.

But at least one leading pathologist tells "The Early Show" he'd bet a lethal combination of prescription drugs was involved.

Colleges Need to Target High-Risk Binge Drinkers, Study Says

Environmental prevention programs need to be coupled with interventions targeting individual high-risk to effectively combat campus binge drinking, according to researchers from the University of Wisconsin at Madison.

ANSWER to POLL: In US Dollars - Florida loses

21 billon annually

Smoking Oxycontin + Aggravated Assult + Calling the Judge a C*ck Sucker = Trouble

Aggravated assault suspect Brian Noval learned an important lesson Wednesday: Never talk back to a judge.

Noval's bond court hearing Wednesday in front of Judge John Hurley in Broward Circuit Court began like most hearings do - Noval's name was called, the charges read and a bond set. SEE VIDEO

2000 Visitor!

Addiction Recovery Legal Services, LLC wants to thank everyone who regularly visits this Blog to keep up-to-date with the most current drug and addiction news, funding opportunities and research.

Texas D.A. Eases Penalties on Drug Paraphernalia

The Harris County (Texas) District Attorney's Office will no longer file felony charges against suspects found with crack pipes or other drug paraphernalia containing trace amounts of drug residue, the Houston Chronicle reported Dec. 8.

Oddity of the Day: Drunk 4-Year-Old Steals Christmas Presents

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WTVC-TV) - A 4-year-old boy, beer in hand, is accused of stealing Christmas presents from his neighbors. It's a strange story, but also a sad one.

Death Warnings May Actually Encourage Smokers

Warning smokers that cigarettes can kill them could backfire as a prevention strategy, according to researchers who said that other types of warning messages could be more effective for somesmokers.

More Drones to Combat Drug Smuggling

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is increasing its use of unmanned aerial drones to help track drug smugglers along the Mexican and Canadian borders, as well as in the Caribbean and other regions, the New York Times reported Dec. 8.

Turn in used pills to BSO and get $5 - Operation Medicine Cabinet

The Broward Sheriff's Office wants you to turn in your unused prescriptions in exchange for a $5 gift card.

"Operation Medicine Cabinet" will be from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Friday in Oakland Park and from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday in Cooper City.

Smoke Signals: Marijuana Use Rises Among H.S. Students as Cigarette Use Declines, Study Finds

Proponents of a new approach to drug policy need look no further than the results of the annual Monitoring the Future (MTF) study, which reports increased youth use of marijuana and a flattening out of many other types of illicit drug use after a prolonged decline.

Legal Blood-Alcohol Limit to be Lowered in Quebec

Quebec will be joining the rest of Canada by lowering its legal blood-alcohol level for motorists from 0.08 percent to 0.05 percent. This is a very strong stance against drinking and driving. In essence, Canada is saying if you drink at all...don't drive.

Drug Seeking Patients - ER Humor

This was actually very funny but very true when dealing with a drug seeking patient

FDA Wants Detailed Industry Plans on Preventing Abuse of Opioids

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is holding a series of meetings with pharmaceutical companies as the industry crafts a plan to help prevent misuse of opioid-based medications. 12/09/2009

Tiger Woods battling drug addiction?

THE growing list of Tiger Woods' mistresses could be overshadowed by an even sadder scandal - one of the world's great athletes may have been battling a fascination with drugs for years.

FDA Wants Detailed Industry Plans on Preventing Abuse of Opioids

FDA Wants Detailed Industry Plans on Preventing Abuse of Opioids

Four middle school students OD on cough medicine

The kids call this Triple C - (SEE VIDEO)

Potent Marijuana Tied to Psychosis Risk

Marijuana bred to contain high levels of THC could raise the risk of developing psychosis, according to researchers from the U.K.

Reuters reported Nov. 30 that researchers Marta di Forti and colleagues from King's College London compared users of potent "skunk" marijuana to users who smoked cannabis resin ("hash") and found that the incidence of psychotic illnesses like schizophrenia was almost seven times higher among the skunk users.

Research Shows Parenting Can Prevent Drug Use, Aid Brain Development, NIDA Chief Says

From the founding of National Families in Action during the height of the War on Drugs to Joseph A. Califano's book, How to Raise a Drug-Free Kid, parents and communities have been touted as the keys to preventing alcohol and other drug problems among youth, and research now shows that environmental and genetic risk factors can be trumped by parental engagement during the critical adolescent years, according to Nora D. Volkow, M.D., director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA).

ARLS Response to Anonymous

The following post was left on the Blog from "Anonymous" re: my December 3, 2009 post "This Has Gone Too Far: Some Calif. Doctors Prescribe Medical Marijuana to Kids."

Anonymous writes:
"Doctors give far more dangerous meds to young kids all the time! If the doctor doesn't think it will help they won't recommend it. NO ONE, OF ANY AGE, ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD, IN ALL OF RECORDED HISTORY, HAS EVER DIED FROM THE INGREDIENTS IN MARIJUANA! LEARN THE FACTS ABOUT DRUGS AND DRUG LAWS! BE SURE TO READ "WHY IS MARIJUANA ILLEGAL" and "MARIJUANA FACTS THE GOVERNMENT DOES NOT WANT YOU TO KNOW" END THE MADNESS, CHANGE THE DRUG LAWS!"

Let me respond by thanking "Anonymous" for the post. I will start out by agreeing with him re: one very important point in his post. The U.S. needs to re-examine and restructure its current drug policy. The Florida State Prison System, as an example, is busting at the seams with NON-VIOLENT DRUG OFFENDERS. It is estimated that over 70% of its prison population are incarcerated for the use, possession or sale of some illegal drug; including, marijuana. Furthermore, a great deal of that population suffer from addiction and/or a combination of a drug addiction and a mental health issue, without being provided any treatment whatsoever for these problems; and, despite the fact that Florida legislators are aware that every dollar spent on treatment saves fifteen dollars for our state. Yet, nothing is done. So, "Anonymous, on this point we agree.

However, I totally disagree with "Anonymous" concerning the remainder of the argument put forth. He/She writes:

"Doctors give far more dangerous meds to young kids all the time! If the doctor doesn't think it will help they won't recommend it.".

First of all that statement is simply overly broad, vague and naive. Florida, for example, is in a state of emergency due to disreputable doctors flooding our streets with "legal" opiates with no legitimate medical condition present from patients. Sadly, some doctors do prescribe medication without any concern for the safety of the patient; their only concern - making a profit. Furthermore, marijuana has been proven to have an ill effect upon the developing adolescent brain. It is an intoxicant, a hallucinogen and far more powerful a drug than it ever has been in history due to advances in horticulture. Children simply do not need to be introduced to intoxicants before their brains fully develop (actually, estimated to conclude at the age of 20-21). Children do not need to be introduced to intoxicants before they are of a legal age to make such decisions for themselves re: the pros and cons of drug use. Or, before their personalities have a chance to develop. I find the prescription of such substances to kids to be criminal having seen first hand in my law practice what marijuana can do to children; specifically, when that child has an underlying mental health issue. Stephen Hinshaw, the chairman of the psychology department at the University of California, Berkeley put it best when he said:

“How many ways can one say ‘one of the worst ideas of all time?”

Hinshaw, cited studies showing that tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, the active ingredient in cannabis, disrupts attention, memory and concentration — functions already compromised in people with the attention-deficit disorder. I would urge Anynomous to read these studies and not confuse and mix his anger with drug laws with the realities of the effect of drugs upon the minds of children and adults.

Finally, "Anonymous" wrote:

"NO ONE, OF ANY AGE, ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD, IN ALL OF RECORDED HISTORY, HAS EVER DIED FROM THE INGREDIENTS IN MARIJUANA!"

Again, vague and an overly broad statement. However, for argument sake, let's take this statement as true. Can "Anonymous" deny that a staggering number of lives are lost annually as a direct result of adolescents and adults operating automobiles, or, being involved in accidents, while "someone" was under the influence of drugs and alcohol; including marijuana...I think not. Thanks again for posting. Your thoughts?

Some MRI centers help addicts, dealers get pain pills

It's a midnight scene detectives have watched many times in the past year:

Patrons of a Palm Beach County strip club walk outside and climb into a semi trailer parked in back. Cars pull into the lot beside the trailer, where the drivers take their turn inside and then drive away.

Each gets an MRI.

Most of the truck's customers were pain-pill dealers or abusers who needed magnetic resonance imaging scans to get a supply of narcotic drugs from one of South Florida's pill mills, detectives said.

Good Parenting Creates Drug-Free Kids, Conference Experts Say

Of all the answers offered at a recent conference on "How to Raise a Drug-Free Kid: The Straight Dope," perhaps the one from Joseph A. Califano, Chairman and Founder of the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA*) at Columbia University, best summed up the advice to parents.

Boca police, DEA, announce arrests after undercover operation

Boca Raton - Police arrested a dozen people suspected of participating in a drug-trafficking enterprise that mostly dealt in crack cocaine and was entrenched in the Pearl City neighborhood, authorities said on Thursday (SEE VIDEO COVERAGE)

The arrests came after a yearlong undercover operation by Boca Raton police and the federal Drug Enforcement Administration, which included 40 crack cocaine buys.

Arrested Wednesday and Thursday were: Courtney Hughes, 27, of Delray Beach; Tobias Seays, 30, Iman Albury, 22 and Patrick Johnson, 22, all of Boca Raton; Detavious Wring, 20, of Deerfield Beach; and Jay Eaford, 38, of Pompano Beach...(READ ARTICLE)

Oddity of the Day: Obama Ecstasy

PALMVIEW, Texas - President Barack Obama's approval rating may be hovering in the 50 percent range, but that doesn't mean America's Commander-in-Chief isn't catching on with new constituents.

There is now a line of Ecstasy pills made in the image of the 44th president of the United States, according to Texas police who have snatched a batch off the streets.

Oddity of the Day: New Video - Marilyn Monroe Smoking Pot?

Newly uncovered home video creates buzz

This newly released video of Marilyn Monroe is causing quite a stir. Believed to have been filmed almost 50 years ago, this silent film was allegedly recorded in a New Jersey apartment belonging to Monroe's friend. A collector purchased the film for $275,000 and plans to auction it off on eBay later this week.

This Has Gone Too Far: Some Calif. Doctors Recommend Medical Marijuana for Kids

Some teenagers with psychiatric conditions like attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have become medical-marijuana users in California, the

New York Times reported Nov. 22.

Some Bay Area physicians have recommended marijuana to their adolescent patients, and the operator of Oakland's MediCann clinic network estimates that staffers have provided medical marijuana to around 50 users ages 14 to 18. Another patients collective, the Wo/Men's Alliance for Medical Marijuana in Santa Cruz, has 24 minors among its clients.

“How many ways can one say ‘one of the worst ideas of all time?’ ” asked Stephen Hinshaw, the chairman of the psychology department at the University of California, Berkeley. He cited studies showing that tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, the active ingredient in cannabis, disrupts attention, memory and concentration — functions already compromised in people with the attention-deficit disorder.

Hair Tests Yield More Positive Results for Drug Use than Urine Tests

Drug tests that use hair samples turn up positive for cocaine and methamphet far more frequently than urine-based drug tests. (CLICH FOR ARTICLE)

Philip Morris Ordered to Pay $300 Million to Ex-Smoker

Philip Morris Ordered to Pay $300 Million to Ex-Smoker

Utopias - Extreme Beer

BOSTON (AP) - It's Sam Adams with quite a punch -- and a price to match.

The new brew from Samuel Adams has the highest alcohol content of any beer on the market, 27 percent. It's also banned in 13 states because of the alcohol.

Stricter Sobriety Standards for Calif. Health Professionals

Nurses, doctors, dentists and other health professionals in California who are in treatment for alcohol and other drug problems will now be subject to stricter oversight and could be immediately removed from practice should they relapse, the Los Angeles Times reported Nov. 20.