World
70 articles
For Under 25's in England, Demand for Addiction Treatment Rises by 12%
Young English men and women are using a lot more cocaine, ecstasy and alcohol but less heroin and crack cocaine – in all, treatment admissions rose by 12% over the past 2 years.
In the UK, Cheap Cider Leads to Teen Drunkenness Problems
Researchers studying underage drinking patterns in England say that teens that drink cider in public are most likely to suffer alcohol related consequences, while teens whose parents supply them with alcohol are less likely to get into trouble.
Oral Cancer up 25% in UK; Experts Blame Heavier Drinking
Heavier drinking is causing a dramatic increase in oral cancers in those over 40.
Big Glasses - Too Much Wine; British Health Ministry Goes on an Advertising Offensive. Women 30-50 Targeted
Citing increasing liver disease, breast cancer and obesity, the British Health Ministry revealed plans for an advertising campaign - warning against big glasses of wine.
UK Teachers May Soon Be Allowed to Search Students for Drugs or Alcohol
Schools Secretary Ed Balls is considering a proposal that would allow teachers the explicit right to search students suspected of possessing drugs or alcohol.
Morning After Drunks Face A.M. Traffic Checks
Australian police are cracking down on drunk driving...but they're not staying up all night to do it.
Russian Police Ask Priests to Carry Guns in a Bid to Foil Addicted Thieves Targeting Churches
Rising crime and alcoholic desperation have put Church Iconography at risk. Russian police admit that they can't help, and ask priests to start carrying guns.
English Police Worry about the Abuse of Mephedrone – A Legal Ecstasy-Like Drug
You can buy the legal drug mephedrone for a few pounds over the internet and get a stimulant that produces an ecstasy-like high shipped to your door. It’s caused at least 2 deaths and police in the UK are worried about an increase in use.
Australian Police Limit Racing Fans to a Scant 24 Cans of Beer per Day
Australian racing fans are up in arms about tough new police restrictions that limit the amount of alcohol permitted around the racetrack of this weekend’s Bathurst 1000 to only 24 cans of beer per person…per day!
Cambodian Govt. Accused of Forcing Drug Addicts to Test Experimental Medication
Human rights groups in Cambodia say health authorities are forcing drug addicts to participate in trials for an experimental Vietnamese detox drug.
British Chancelor of the Exchequer, Alistar Darling, Banned From UK Pubs.
Angry about tax increases on alcohol, pub owners across Britain are joining together to ban entry to the man they hold responsible.
Drunken "Booze Ban" Party in London Subway Causes 50 Assaults and 17 Arrests
Saturday's "booze ban" party on the London subway is described as chaotic and violent. Transport officials report 50 staff assaulted.
Thailand Gets Set to Bring Back The War on Drugs.
The newly elected Thai govt. has said they will restart the efforts of 2003's controversial war on drugs.
Alcohol Abuse Pulls Russian Male Life Expectancy Down to 60 Years of Age
Russians drink, on average, 50 bottles of vodka per year per person, a figure that President Medvedev calls, “monstrous.”
Scotland Considers Mandatory Minimum Price Per Drink to Curb Alcohol Abuse
Sheffield University researchers say that in Scotland, legislating a mandatory minimum price per drink of 40p (63 US cents) would save up to 370 lives per year and save the government hundreds of millions of pounds.
36 Imaginary Dependent Children Earns Scottish Heroin Addict 80 000 Pounds in Tax Credits
For 3 years, no one noticed that 30 year old Irven Foster produced an average of 12 children per year - for tax purposes.
German Doctors Say "Spice Gold" (A Legal Herbal Marijuana Substitute) Is Addictive
Spice Gold is a herbal mix sold as a legal alternative to marijuana that induces a cannabis like high. Laboratory investigations have revealed the presence of some synthetic substances not shown on the package ingredients list and a group of German doctors say that they've treated a patient with a physical dependence to the herbal mixture.
"Top Gear" Rapped for Filming Drinking and Driving During Episode
TV host Jeremy Clarkson of "Top Gear" is criticized for drinking and driving on camera.
Chinese Government Holds Half Million Drug Users in Slave Labor Camps
New York based Human Rights Watch has released a report condemning Chinese govt. practices of involuntary detention of drug users, forced unpaid labor, beatings and a denial of medical care.
50% of Jailed Scots Were Drunk While Committing Their Crime
Half of Scots in the country’s prison system were drunk when they committed their crime – survey shows that alcohol use by prisoners is up substantially from only 4 years ago.
Afghani Town Banishes Drug Users – Burns Homes of Dealers
Village elders in Ghazni Province Afghanistan have enacted edicts that demand the banishment from town of drug users, and called for villagers to burn down the homes of drug dealers who don’t heed warnings to stop plying their wares.
Survey Reveals That Boredom Drives British Teens to Drink
A British charity survey reveals that teenagers with nothing to do are likely to take advantage of low cost alcohol to get drunk over the summer holidays.
Half of Australian Parents Think It’s OK for 15 Year Olds to Drink
About half of Australians think that it’s OK for 15-17 year olds to drink at home, so long as they are supervised by parents – an attitude that’s causing frustration to health workers who are striving to spread the word about the dangers of early exposure to alcohol.
32% of Australian Women Plan on Drinking While Pregnant
34% percent of polled Australian women drank alcohol during their last pregnancy - 32% plan on drinking during their next one.
Russian Brewers Accused of Sneaking Extra Alcohol into Canned Beers
Russian official accuses brewers of making ‘chemical weapons’ by adding alcohol to beer during the fermentation stage.
UK Teachers Asked to Watch for Hung-Over Students!
Teachers in England are going to be on the lookout for hung-over kids as public health officials struggle to reduce binge and underage drinking.
UK Police Warn Christmas Drinkers of Rape Threat
The alcohol fueled festive season has traditionally meant an increase in rape cases. Senior police officers in the UK have launched a public awareness campaign to teach women how to stay safe.
Anthrax Tainted Heroin Kills 3 in Scotland
Six heroin users in Glasgow have now contracted anthrax from a batch of deadly contaminated heroin floating through the city.
Bangkok Police Raid Treatment Centre to Extort Money from Drug Users
Thai police find easy prey by raiding treatment center and allegedly planting drugs on injection drug users.
Alcoholic Cirrhosis Kills 22 Year Old Londoner Who Was Denied a Liver Transplant
Britons are looking hard at the problems of teen drinking after the death of 22 year old Gary Reinbach from complications related to advanced cirrhosis of the liver.
Drunk Men in UK No Longer to Get Away with Forcing Sex on Wives and Girlfriends
Lady Stern, who will release a government commissioned report in February on the way police handle rape allegations, has said that drunk men who force sex on their partners are rapists – and they should be treated that way.
UK Justice Minister Recommends Giving Free Heroin to Problem Addicts
Jack Straw promotes prescription heroin as a harm reduction policy
China Considers Fining Passengers of Drunk Drivers
To reduce drunken driving, China’s Ministry of Public Security has proposed new tougher DUI regulations, including fining the passengers of intoxicated drivers for having failed to stop the criminal act.
UK Police Use Special Up-Nose Flashlights to Identify Cocaine Users
Revelers seeking entry into nightclubs in Scotland had better keep their noses clean – as police and club bouncers are now equipped with special flashlights that illuminate cocaine residue on nose hairs.
In Europe, 1 in 5 Has Smoked Marijuana
And 13 million smoked it last month - all from a report by The European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Addiction.
Mexican Cartel Leader Threatens Violence against Law Enforcement
American Drug Czar, Alan Bersin, warned Mexican cartel leaders against targeting either US or Mexican law enforcement, and warned of a significant response for those that do.
UK Public-Health Alcohol Guidelines Aren’t Safe, Say Experts
British alcohol experts have condemned public-health guidelines for alcohol use, saying they aren’t based on any empirical evidence and could convince alcohol users that it is OK to drink daily.
In Ireland - a Cure Worse Than the Disease? Methadone Kills More than Heroin Each Year
Heroin killed 28 in Dublin last year - Methadone 31. Is the cure worse than the disease?
52% of French Women Drink Alcohol During Pregnancy
52% of French women, as compared to only 12% of American women, admit to drinking during pregnancy.
UK Gov. Says Exercise Doesn’t Compensate for Binge Drinking
Brits are making up for binge drinking with gym visits the next day – a practice the government says may help to burn those extra calories, but that won’t protect from cancers or organ damage.
British Medical Association Calls for Alcohol Ad Ban
Seeking a way to reduce some of the nation’s huge problems with excessive alcohol consumption, the British Medical Association has released a report suggesting a total ban on alcohol marketing.
Stoned Opium Loving Wallabies a Big Problem at Australian Pharmaceutical Opium Farms
They come, they eat some opium and they wander around in the fields making stoned crop circles. It’s a problem.
Swedish Drug Troubled Billionaire On the Run from London Police
Hans Kristian Rausing is worth over 10 billion, he has long battled with addiction issues and he is now on the run after jumping out of an open window as police broke down his bedroom door.
German Doctors Say "Spice Gold" (Legal Herbal Marijuana Substitute) Is Addictive
Spice Gold is a herbal mix sold as a legal alternative to marijuana that induces a cannabis like high. Laboratory investigations have revealed the presence of some synthetic substances not listed on the package ingredients list and a group of German doctors say that they've treated a patient with a physical dependence to the herbal mixture.
In UK, Obesity to Become Leading Cause of Cirrhosis within 20 Years
Obesity soon to cause more liver cirrhosis than alcohol abuse in the UK
Britons on Holiday Like Sun, Fun and Booze - Downing More Than 20 Units of Alcohol Per Day While on Vacation!
A public health survey reveals that the average Briton consumes more than 20 units of alcohol a day while on summer holiday.
Fraudulent Australian Gamblers Anonymous Website Led to Sports Betting Page
Problem gamblers in Australia looking for help were tricked into visiting an online gambling site.
Brits Use Vending Machines to Distribute Methadone in Prisons
Inmates in 140 British prisons will eventually get their daily methadone dosage via a vending machine.
Irish Still Hardest Drinking Europeans - Spending 3x The European Average on Drink
The average Irish drinker spends 4.1% of their total income on drink.
Beatings No Longer Allowed at Chinese Internet Addiction Clinics
During August a 15 year old was beaten to death and a 14 year old was hospitalized after a beating, in 2 separate incidents at Chinese internet addiction treatment facilities.
UK – NHS Overwhelmed by Costs of Alcohol Abuse
With a staggering number of Britons drinking at unsafe levels, The Royal College of Surgeons warns of a treatment burden that could break the National Health Service (NHS).
Puerto Rico Tests Needle Exchange Vending Machines to Reduce the Spread of HIV
In San Juan, those in need of clean needles, condoms or cookers in the middle of the night can visit a local vending machine to get what they need.
UK Brewers Say Their New 18% Beer Can Help Solve Binge Drinking Problems. Activists Disagree.
While health advocacy groups have railed against the launch of a new super strength beer, the brewers say that their brew offers so much flavor and body – that imbibers won’t need more than a bit to feel sated.
An Average Scot Downs 46 Bottles of Liquor per Year
Scots drink 25% more than those in England or Wales – on average, every adult over the age of 18 consumes alcohol equivalent to 46 bottles of whiskey per year.
German National Team Goalkeeper Robert Enke Commits Suicide at 32
Robert Enke, 32, the man who was to defend Germany’s chances in net at next year’s World Cup, committed suicide last night; stepping in front of a speeding train to end a life plagued by severe depression.
Fraudulent Australian Gamblers Anonymous Website Promoted Sports Betting Page
Problem gamblers in Australia looking for help were tricked into visiting an online gambling site.
UK Thieves Can Now Use Addiction as an Excuse
Thieves in the UK may soon be serving community sentences, as long as they can prove that they were robbing out of "desperation".
19 Year Old Briton with Alcohol Destroyed Liver Doesn’t Meet Transplant Guidelines
Gareth Anderson destroyed his liver over a binge drinking weekend and now needs a transplant to survive; but NHS guidelines prohibit liver transplants to patients without 6 months of consecutive alcohol abstinence. Gareth’s father is fighting in the courts to save his son and Britons are again faced with the tragic consequences of a very big national binge drinking problem.
Spanish Grocery Chain Stocks Cocaine in Produce Section
Drug traffickers who misplaced 25 kilos of cocaine will be relieved to learn that their drugs have turned up…in boxes of bananas shipped to supermarkets around Spain!
In the UK - Sad News for Happy Hour?
A newly released report by watchdog agency "Alcohol Concern" may spark an end to the self regulation by pubs and bars of alcohol promotions, such as happy hours.
Party Drug Mephedrone Now Banned in UK
The popular and controversial party drug mephedrone (street names of meow meow, drone, etc.) will soon be an illegal substance in the UK.
Ex Lingerie Model Uses Gang of Beautiful Women to Smuggle Drugs
Angie Sanselmente Valencia, a 30 year old ex lingerie model is now a wanted fugitive after police uncovered her drug smuggling empire. Valencia, they say, used beautiful young women to travel the world delivering suitcases filled with cocaine.
Cambodian Govt. Accused of Forcing Drug Addicts to Test Experimental Medication
Human rights groups in Cambodia say health authorities are forcing drug addicts to participate in trials for an experimental Vietnamese detox drug.
Scientists Call on European Parliament to Impose across the Board Minimum Legal Drinking Age of 21
British scientists presented data to European Parliament officials on the dangers of youthful drinking, and called for policy makers to raise the legal minimum to 21, in every country.
Mexican Cartel Builds Homemade Drug Tank
Those in the drug trafficking business have long tried to elude detection on trips north to America through the use of drug-filled homemade submarines, now, taking things one step further, cartels in Mexico are borrowing another page from national military playbooks by constructing homemade narco-tanks.
Russia Considers Sending Drug Dealers to Forced Labor Camps
Russian politicians say they’re losing their domestic battle against drugs, so they’re ready to get tougher – with suggested measures such as mandatory drug testing in schools and forced labor camps for those convicted of dealing drugs.
Columbian Inmates Train Pigeons to Smuggle Drugs into Prison
Police in Columbia say they’ve ‘captured’ a pigeon outside of Bucaramanga prison that had 45 grams of marijuana and cocaine paste strapped to its back.
Man Bites Police Officer to Get Out of DUI Test
New tough laws in China mean jail time for those convicted of DUI offences. Not eager to face the music for his offense, and acting with some pretty questionable judgment, the first man to be charged in Shaxi province under the new law actually bit the arresting officer in a bid to avoid taking the Breathalyzer test.
Tourists No Longer Welcome in Holland’s Marijuana Cafes
In a move to promote health and reduce crime, Holland decides to ban tourists from using marijuana at any of their famous cannabis cafes. Dutch citizens who wish to continue to legally buy and smoke marijuana will now have to sign up for a year membership card.
Gunmen Execute 13 at Mexican Drug Rehab Center
Gunmen in Tijuana Mexico burst into a private drug rehab center called El Camino late Sunday night and executed 13 recovering drug users.