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Stumbo proposes moving prescription drug monitoring to attorney general's office
House Speaker Greg Stumbo hopes to crack down on doctors who overprescribe pain medications by moving the statewide prescription monitoring system to a law-enforcement agency. more>>

Gov. Steve Beshear says deep budget cuts coming, plugs expanded gambling
Gov. Steve Beshear said Wednesday night that the budget he will propose to lawmakers later this month will include deeper cuts than those in his first term — and he again pitched expanded gambling and tax reform as key elements to boost revenue over the long term. more>>

2012 Kentucky Legislative Preview | Pseudoephedrine bills may top Kentucky legislature's crime agenda
After passing legislation last year to overhaul the corrections system, the agenda for the 2012 General Assembly likely will be lighter on crime — with attempts to combat methamphetamine and review the state’s penal code high on the list. more>>

The Champion of Painkillers
The head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has declared the overdoses from opioid drugs like OxyContin an "epidemic." And a growing group of experts doubts that they work for long-term pain. more>>

New powerful painkiller has abuse experts worried
Drug companies are working to develop a pure, more powerful version of the nation’s second most-abused medicine, which has addiction experts worried that it could spur a new wave of abuse. more>>

Drug Overdoses Kill More Americans Than Car Accidents: CDC
In 2008, poisoning deaths became the number one cause of accidental deaths in the United States and the leading cause of injury death in 30 states, according to the report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Ninety percent of these poisonings were linked to drugs, with a surge in deaths from prescription painkiller overdoses reported. more>>

Prescription drug abuse hits home
Nearly a third of Kentuckians report that a relative or friend has had problems as a result of abusing prescription pain drugs, according to a survey released Monday. more>>

Marijuana Use Rises in Popularity Among Teens
Marijuana use is gaining in popularity among teens, according to Monitoring the Future, an annual survey of eighth, 10th, and 12th-graders, The New York Times reports. The survey found one of every 15 high school seniors smokes marijuana on an almost daily basis. more>>

Legalization of Marijuana and the Impact on Children
In many state legislatures around the country, or by ballot (direct voter) referendum, important decisions are or will be made as to legalization of marijuana in some form. Before voters cast their ballots, or their elected officials decide, think about what will happen to children if marijuana becomes accessible to adults, much like alcohol. more>>

Post-booze blackout, how people fill in the blanks
Getting hammered to the point of not remembering much, if anything, about it is a pretty common experience for some people on college campuses or during a long holiday weekend. Reconstructing what happened during a bout of booze-fueled amnesia can either make for a hilarious movie plot like "The Hangover" or an interesting research project. more>>

1 in 9 high school seniors using synthetic marijuana
Teenage drinking and cigarette smoking is at a historic low, but marijuana use and prescription drug abuse continue at high rates, according to a new report looking at trends among teens. And there's a new substance raising concerns. more>>

Drugs, alcohol fuel child abuse and neglect in Kentucky
A Lexington Herald-Leader review of files released this week on children killed or nearly killed because of abuse or neglect over a two year period found that more than half mentioned suspected or confirmed substance abuse by parents or caregivers. more>>

House Votes to Ban Fake Marijuana, Fake Cocaine
The House today voted to ban a variety of synthetic drugs, including "spice," and "bath salts," that had previously been sold legally in stores throughout the country. more>>

ARC and Operation UNITE holding prescription drug abuse summit
The Appalachian Regional Commission has signed on as a partner with Operation UNITE to hold a national summit on prescription drug abuse next year. more>>

Prescription drug addiction skyrocketed 430% over past decade; Drug rehab for painkiller abuse soars
Federal statistics released Thursday revealed that treatment for prescription painkiller abuse has skyrocketed 430% over the last decade. more>>

Appalachian states see increase in marijuana
Appalachian states have seen an increase in marijuana production, and a federal drug official said Thursday that a sour economy may have turned some people in need of cash to the clandestine crop. more>>

Alcohol Watchdogs Target Supersized Alcopops as Urgent Issue
Following the success of a coalition of public health organizations, government agencies and health experts in forcing the alcohol industry to remove caffeine from alcoholic beverages, a new public health threat is emerging: supersized alcopops. more>>

DEA Now Monitoring Krokodil, a Deadly Morphine Derivative
A new designer drug called krokodil -- a derivative of morphine that can turn an addict's skin greenish, scaly and cause it to rot away -- is being eyed by officials at the Drug Enforcement Administration, FoxNews.com has learned. more>>

Mom Overcomes Hard Times To Give Kids Happy Thanksgiving
CINCINNATI -- Just one year ago, Janie Fox said she cried herself to sleep. She couldn't afford water or electricity for her trailer home. more>>

Govs. Chafee, Gregoire lobby for reclassification of marijuana
Two governors on Wednesday filed a petition with the federal government to have marijuana reclassified to allow for medical use, expressing in a letter to Drug Enforcement Administration their concerns that "patients with serious medical conditions who could benefit from medical use of cannabis do not have a safe and consistent source of the drug" as a result of its current classification. more>>

Purdue students urge state alcohol amnesty law
Students at Purdue University and two other colleges want Indiana to enact a law that shields underage drinkers from disciplinary action if they report that someone is intoxicated and at serious health risk. more>>

Kentucky Rep. Yonts proposes different option to curb meth
A House member offeres a proposal to fight methamphetamine abuse in Kentucky, where lawmakers have been in a stalemate over whether to make cold and allergy medications containing pseudoephedrine available only by prescription. more>>

New liver for alcoholics? Study reopens debate
Some gravely ill alcoholics who need a liver transplant shouldn't have to prove they can stay sober for six months to get one, doctors say in a study that could intensify the debate over whether those who destroy their organs by drinking deserve new ones. more>>

Addicted to Exercise?
Brain scans suggest that everything from sugar to sex lights up the brain’s pleasure circuitry similar to the way cocaine does in an addict. And altruism does, too. more>>

Reader Letter | Restoring voting rights after felony convictions
Since 2007 a few Republicans in Senate leadership have single handedly blocked House Bill 70, the Restoration of Voting Rights Act. more>>

Deaths from painkiller overdose triple in decade
The number of overdose deaths from powerful painkillers more than tripled over a decade, the government reported Tuesday - a trend that a U.S. health official called an epidemic, but one that can be stopped. more>>

Western Kentucky official seeks ban on new forms of synthetic marijuana
Officials in McCracken County are planning to discuss a ban on chemicals being sold as synthetic marijuana. more>>

Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear names advisory panel for prescription drug monitoring
Gov. Steve Beshear appointed a new advisory council Friday that will set guidelines for using the state’s prescription monitoring program to investigate doctors who illegally hawk powerful pain medication more>>

Change in crack sentencing means early releases
Darryl Flood thought he would have to wait until 2013 to get out of prison, more than a decade after he pleaded guilty to being part of a conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine. more>>

Our Stories Have Power: Recovery Community Messaging Training
Tuesday, November 29, 2011, 9am-4pm
Owensboro Regional Recovery
Space is limited. Call to register at 270-689-0905 ext 2106 or
Email Joseph Johnson jtjohnson@audubon-area.com

Schools Warn Of Bracelets Used To Smoke Pot
ORLANDO, Fla. -- Orange County school administrators are worried about a new bracelet that students may be using to conceal drug paraphernalia used to smoke marijuana. more>>

Chicago may decriminalize marijuana
Several Windy City councilmen said Thursday they plan to introduce a local law that would decriminalize possession of small amounts of marijuana in order to cut costs and free up police to handle more serious crimes. more>>

Dr. Nora Volkow: Reaching the American Teenager During National Drug Facts Week
As the Director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), I interact with a variety of audiences, including scientists, prevention and treatment specialists, and the general public. But one particularly important audience (and often the most difficult to reach) is the American teenager. more>>

Policy Position on Discrimination
Faces & Voices' board of directors has released a policy position on discrimination. “People in or in need of recovery from addiction to alcohol and other drugs face myriad forms of discrimination. Discrimination creates barriers to our full participation in community life. Faces & Voices of Recovery strives to eliminate all policies and practices that discriminate against people and their impacted families based solely on their recovery status.” (PDF) more>>

Our Stories Have Power: Recovery Community Messaging Training
Tuesday, November 29, 2011, 9am-4pm
Owensboro Regional Recovery
Space is limited. Call to register at 270-689-0905 ext 2106 or
Email Joseph Johnson jtjohnson@audubon-area.com

Remembering Luke Cockey
Editor’s note: I recently saw a benefit for the Luke Cockey Memorial Fund on a friend’s Facebook page, and wanted to learn more about his story of struggling with addiction. I’ve found it’s something parents are often embarrassed about, and perhaps if it’s shared more openly, it can help parents cope and possibly prevent tragedies like Luke’s. more>>

Mother tries to keep daughter, other addicts alive
Bree Saghy of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., watched a friend die in her arms after injecting prescription drugs — but it never stopped her from shooting crushed painkillers into her own veins. Her mother, Joy Saghy, said she's gotten her daughter into rehabilitation several times, but it never lasted. Joy said there's little she can do to help her daughter if Bree doesn't commit to getting clean. In the meantime, she's working to help others avoid her family’s addiction. more>>

Price of that drinking binge? $2 more per shot
Health officials say the toll of excessive drinking works out to about $2 per drink, in terms of medical expenses and other costs to society. more>>

Dogs Poisoned During Medical Marijuana Theft
Several dogs were poisoned during a medical marijuana robbery at a Vacaville residence, authorities said. more>>

Restoration of Voting Rights — Kentuckians For The Commonwealth
In an attempt to share more of the stories from former felons across the Commonwealth, we’re presenting a series of short interviews every few weeks on our blog and in balancing the scales."First and foremost, I'm a mom," says April Browning, after mulling over my vague introductory question, asking..more>>

Fighting the scourge of "pill mills"
According to the Centers for Disease Control, one American dies of a drug overdose every 14 minutes ... with a rapidly increasing share of those deaths caused by prescription drugs. It's the sort of statistic law enforcement officials in one Florida county know about all too well. more>>

National Quit & Recovery Registry taps the insights and experiences of people who have been in recovery from an addiction
During a Sept. 30 press conference announcing the registry launch, Dr. Nora Volkow, director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse, said she hopes the registry will inspire more researchers to focus on recovery. "Most of the research that has been done up to now has focused on that immediate intervention that would allow a person to stop taking drugs," she said. "Much less is known about recovery." more>>

Kentucky Substance abuse treatment directory released
The University of Kentucky has put together a directory of facilities in the state that treat substance abuse and provide support services for families.
A statement from the school says there are over 2,500 such resources listed in the 2011 Kentucky Substance Abuse Treatment Provider Directory. The list includes at least one resource in each of Kentucky's 120 counties.
more>>

States Adding Drug Test as Hurdle for Welfare
As more Americans turn to government programs for refuge from a merciless economy, a growing number are encountering a new price of admission to the social safety net: a urine sample. more>>

U.S. Drug Policy Would Be Imposed Globally By New House Bill
The House Judiciary Committee passed a bill yesterday that would make it a federal crime for U.S. residents to discuss or plan activities on foreign soil that, if carried out in the U.S., would violate the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) more>>

Study Finds Young Adults With Addiction Want to Change But Need Help
Many young adults entering treatment for an addiction want to change, but don’t have the skills, confidence or commitment to do so without help, a new study suggests. more>>

Cold-medicine makers urge a block list for meth criminals in Kentucky
The manufacturers of drugs that contain pseudoephedrine are urging Kentucky legislators to ban people who have been convicted of meth-related crimes from buying the drugs instead of requiring all Kentucky residents to get a prescription for them. more>>

Beshear, Conway and Stumbo announce plans to battle prescription drug abuse
Three of Kentucky’s top official unveiled a trio of new initiatives Thursday to crack down on doctors who over-prescribe pain medications. more>>

IRS Hits Oakland Pot Shop With $2.4M Tax Bill
The federal government has found a new weapon in its war on marijuana — the tax man. more>>

Support Kentucky's Restoration of Voting Rights
Legislation that would allow Kentuckians to vote on changing Section 145 of the KY Constitution to require the automatic restoration of voting rights after a person completes their sentence. The approach avoids anyone claiming the arbitrary use of the discretionary power, and instead provides certainty and predictability. It encourages participation in the community, promotes democracy, and welcomes people back into society.

This year Kentucky’s Governor and its other executive constitutional officers will be up for re-election.
On November 8th Kentucky voters will choose who will administer our state government for the next 4 years. All registered Kentucky voters may vote for one candidate in each of the six statewide races. more>>

Voting Law Changes in 2012
Ahead of the 2012 elections, a wave of legislation tightening restrictions on voting has suddenly swept across the country. More than five million Americans could be affected by the new rules already put in place this year -- a number larger than the margin of victory in two of the last three presidential elections. more>>

Synopsis of The Jennifer Act Bill- Indiana & Florida
The Jennifer Act bill will provide Drug and alcohol abuse commitments. Provides procedures for the involuntary commitment of a person due to alcohol or drug abuse. Requires the division of mental health and addiction to maintain and operate or contract for alcohol and drug rehabilitation facilities, including faith based facilities. The Jennifer Act bill requires the law enforcement academy to provide training regarding persons with alcohol or drug addictions, including training for involuntary commitments for alcohol or drug use. The Jennifer Act bill requires the department of correction and county jails to provide alcohol and drug rehabilitation to all offenders with alcohol or drug addictions. more>>

IRS Hits Oakland Pot Shop With $2.4M Tax Bill
The federal government has found a new weapon in its war on marijuana — the tax man more>>

CDC: Self-reported drunken driving is down
Drunken driving incidents have fallen 30 percent in the last five years, and last year were at their lowest mark in nearly two decades, according to a new federal report. more>>

Report on Medicare Cites Prescription Drug Abuse
Medicare is subsidizing drug abuse by thousands of beneficiaries who shop around for doctors and fill prescriptions for huge quantities of painkillers and other narcotics far exceeding what any patient could safely use, Congressional investigators say in a new report. more>>

Drug deaths now outnumber traffic fatalities in U.S., data show
Fueling the surge are prescription pain and anxiety drugs that are potent, highly addictive and especially dangerous when combined with one another or with other drugs or alcohol. more>>

Addiction Is Not A Disease Of The Brain
Addiction has been moralized, medicalized, politicized, and criminalized. And, of course, many of us are addicts, have been addicts or have been close to addicts. Addiction runs very hot as a theme. more>>

Welcome to Corman Races for Chrysalis House!
The 2nd Annual R.J. Corman 5K & Duathlon to benefit the Chrysalis House returns on Saturday, October 1st, 2011, with thousands of dollars in prize money and cash give-aways. more>>

Abuse of Xanax Leads a Clinic to Halt Supply
Gayle Mink, a nurse practitioner at a community mental health center here, had tired of the constant stream of patients seeking Xanax, an anti-anxiety drug coveted for its swift calming effect. more>>

Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear announces prescription drug task force
Gov. Steve Beshear announced Wednesday that Kentucky is partnering with three border states to combat the region’s prescription drug problem, even as questions linger over how well the state has used its own electronic monitoring resources. more>>

Stumbo demands more action against pain-pill doctors in Kentucky
House Speaker Greg Stumbo demanded Tuesday that the Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure step up its oversight of doctors who prescribe questionable amounts of pain pills. more>>

Survey: Web Networking Increases Teen Substance Abuse
American teenagers who spend time on social networking websites are more likely to smoke, drink, and use drugs, according to an annual survey conducted by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University (CASA). more>>

School District Offering Drug Testing Kits To Parents
A Pittsburgh school district is offering take home drug tests to parents. more>>

Recovery Defined – Give Us Your Feedback
Over the past year, SAMHSA – as part of its Recovery Support Strategic Initiative – has worked with the behavioral health field to develop a working definition of recovery that captures the essential, common experiences of those recovering from mental and substance use disorders, along with 10 guiding principles that support recovery. more>>

The Grateful Life Foundation - Bill W. and Dr. Bob Play
Serenity, Recovery and Happiness. The Grateful Life Foundation is committed to encouraging people to life a healthy lifestyle. more>>

Addiction now defined as brain disorder, not behavior issue
The American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) just released this new definition of addiction after a four-year process involving more than 80 experts. more>>

Stumbo demands more action against pain-pill doctors in Kentucky
House Speaker Greg Stumbo demanded Tuesday that the Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure step up its oversight of doctors who prescribe questionable amounts of pain pills. more>>

Feds sue Raleigh insurance office for not hiring an ex-addict
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission today sued a Raleigh insurance office for not hiring a recovering drug addict who tested positive for methadone in his system. more>>

Today's heroin addict young, white, suburban
New drug of choice is cheap and accessible more>>

Never Heard of Kratom? Trust Us, You Will.
A plant from Thailand with opiate-like properties is the latest "designer drug" speeding its way through America. more>>

Our Stories Have Power Workshop Sponsored by Mountain PAR-People Advocating Recovery
Where: Allen, KY (Old Allen Baptist Church)
When: September 14, 2011
Time: 9am-4pm
Workshop Title & Description: Our Stories Have Power: Recovery Community Messaging
Click Here for Registration

Homeless youth on the increase
Count shows overall numbers remain constant more>>

KFTC Fancy Farm 2011 Report
KFTC members from the Jefferson County, Central Kentucky, and Northern Kentucky chapters met up in far western Kentucky this weekend to challenge "politics as usual" at the rowdy Fancy Farm picnic more>>

Ohio, Kentucky share prescription drug information
Doctors and law enforcement officers in Kentucky and Ohio can now access prescription drug records from both states. more>>

Gov. Jerry Brown vetoes homeless protection bill
Legislation aimed at discouraging attacks against the homeless, by expanding their right to compensation when they are targeted for assault, was vetoed Friday by Gov. Jerry Brown, who said the move was unnecessary. more>>

Antidepressants being prescribed needlessly, study suggests
More and more doctors are prescribing the drugs for patients who aren't suffering from depression or any other mental illness, according to a provocative new study. more>>

Our office has moved. Please update your mailing address.
PAR-People Advocating Recovery
1425 Story Ave.
Louisville, KY 40206

D.C. Adults Top Alcohol Abusers in Country
A new report says that adults in Washington D.C. abuse alcohol more than anyone else in the country. more>>

New Parent Helpline Provides Support, Resources For Teen Substance Abuse
When parents find out their teen is abusing drugs or alcohol, the family’s immediate focus is generally on getting help for the teen. more>>

Increased Risk of Parkinson's Disease in Methamphetamine Users, Study Finds
People who abused methamphetamine or other amphetamine-like stimulants were more likely to develop Parkinson's disease than those who did not more>>

Fewer underage alcohol sales in Indiana
Indiana's bars, restaurants, and liquor stores are doing a better job of keeping minors from buying alcohol. more>>

“Mad Hatter” Incense Being Abused in Ohio
Health care providers in Ohio are reporting cases of people abusing a type of incense sold under the brand name “Mad Hatter.” more>>

Gender Differences Emerge in Alcohol Use Disorder Treatment
A growing body of research is showing that when it comes to treatments for alcohol use disorders, women’s needs are different from men’s. more>>

Cocaine: The evolution of the once 'wonder' drug
Long before drug cartels, crack wars and TV shows about addiction, cocaine was promoted as a wonder drug, sold as a cure-all and praised by some of the greatest minds in medical history, including Sigmund Freud and the pioneering surgeon William Halsted. more>>

Some in eastern Ky. uneasy about drug law reform
A new law reducing prison time for low-risk, nonviolent drug criminals caught with small amounts of drugs is being met with uncertainty by the people who will have to enforce it. more>>

First Nationally Accredited Residency Programs for Addiction Medicine Show Change in Thinking about Addiction
The introduction of the first nationally accredited residency programs in addition medicine, which began on July 1, demonstrates a change in thinking about the roots of addiction more>>

Senate Bill Would Require Doctor Training to Fight Prescription Drug Abuse
A bill co-sponsored by Senator Chuck Schumer (NY) and Jay Rockefeller (WV) would require doctors to receive training for prescribing opiate-based narcotics more>>

2011 National Drug Control Strategy Released
Drug use affects every sector of society, straining our economy, our healthcare and criminal justice systems, and endangering the futures of our young people. more>>

Recovery Month Tool Kit
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's (SAMHSA's) Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT), within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is pleased to present the National Recovery Month: Prevention Works, Treatment is Effective, People Recover (Recovery Month) toolkit. more>>

Ohio Takes Point in the Fight Against Oxycontin Abuse
Last week, White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) Director Gil Kerlikowske came to Portsmouth, Ohio to address a capacity crowd since the Scioto County Prescription Drug Action Team has elevated the media attention on the prescription drug problem in Scioto County to the level that it has gained the attention of the White House. more>>

Donation boxes aimed at reducing panhandling
Louisville Downtown Management just installed 12 metal boxes to encourage people to put money in there instead of giving it to panhandlers. more>>

Federal judge in Virginia tosses death sentence
A federal judge on Tuesday threw out a drug dealer's murder-for-hire conviction and death sentence in the 2001 slaying of his marijuana supplier in a case that exposed a distribution ring in the wealthy northern Virginia suburbs. more>>

Meth Law To Track Cold Medicine Sales In Real Time
Indiana pharmacists and police officers are welcoming a new law that will require retailers to track sales of cold medicines in real time in an effort to curb methamphetamine use. more>>

Indiana first state to require drug tests for job training
A new Indiana rule requiring drug tests for unemployed people participating in state-funded job training programs reflects a hard stance that many states are taking regarding public assistance as they struggle with limited financial resources. more>>

Crack offenders eligible for early release
People already in prison will benefit from change in sentencing rules more>>

Doctors Drug-Testing Patients to Weed Out Abuse
Patients who visit Dr. Todd Williams' office in Cave City, KY seeking prescription medications are required to submit a urine test as a way to sort out those who abuse pills. more>>

Kentucky fights back on pills, gaining ground in prescription-drug abuse war
Awareness up, funding lags in medication-abuse battle more>>

1,000 celebrate sobriety at Healing Place block party
About 1,000 people celebrated sobriety Saturday afternoon at the Healing Place’s 12th annual alumni block party. more>>

Rick Scott Retreats On Worker Drug Tests
Florida Governor Rick Scott has suspended an order requiring all state workers undergo drug testing, pending resolution of a lawsuit that called the tests an illegal search of workers' bodies. more>>

Kentucky continues to target designer drug
Officials believe Kentucky is making progress in the fight against a new designer drug. Officials say fewer people are now overdosing on the ‘bath salts,' but it's a substance they expect to be battling for a while. more>>

PAR is pleased to be able to offer a professional development opportunity for professionals in the field by hosting the Michael E. Townsend Leadership Academy at the KY School of Alcohol and Other Drug Studies. Registration deadline is June 18, 2011 more>>

Kentucky continues to target designer drug
Officials believe Kentucky is making progress in the fight against a new designer drug. more>>

U.S. can't justify its drug war spending, reports say
Government reports say the Obama administration is unable to show that billions of dollars spent in the anti-drug efforts in Latin America have made a significant difference. more>>

Police make drug arrests before law takes effect
Police in Newport, KY rounded up some drug suspects this week one day before a new state law took effect, in an effort to charge them under stricter laws. more>>

New York Marijuana Bill May Stall; Connecticut To Decriminalize Pot Possession
More than 30 years ago, New York state decriminalized the possession of small amounts of marijuana. But one line in that 1977 law has led to the annual arrest of thousands of New Yorkers under the NYPD's controversial stop-and-frisk searches. more>>

Florida governor defends measure requiring drug tests for welfare
Florida Gov. Rick Scott on Sunday defended recent legislation that requires adults applying for welfare assistance to undergo drug screenings, saying the law provides "personal accountability." more>>

New Florida law could help Kentucky's drug problem
Florida's governor just made a move that may help Kentucky's illegal prescription drug problem. more>>

New law will reduce arrests for misdemeanors in Kentucky
Kentucky should begin seeing fewer people jailed for misdemeanor crimes like having a marijuana cigarette or a few pills. more>>

In Connecticut, Carrying A Small Amount of Marijuana Downgraded From Misdemeanor to Fine
The Connecticut Senate narrowly approved legislation on Saturday that decriminalizes the possession of small amounts of marijuana. more>>

Florida governor defends measure requiring drug tests for welfare
Florida Gov. Rick Scott on Sunday defended recent legislation that requires adults applying for welfare assistance to undergo drug screenings, saying the law provides "personal accountability." more>>

Police make drug arrests before law takes effect
Police in Newport, KY rounded up some drug suspects this week one day before a new state law took effect, in an effort to charge them under stricter laws. more>>

'Global war on drugs has failed,' key panel says
The global war on drugs has failed and governments should explore legalizing marijuana, according to a commission that includes former heads of state. more>>

Big spike recorded in older drug, alcohol addicts
They go around this room at the Hanley Center telling of their struggles with alcohol and drugs. They tell of low points and lapses, brushes with death and pain caused to...more>>

Florida governor signs welfare drug-screen measure
Saying it is "unfair for Florida taxpayers to subsidize drug addiction," Gov. Rick Scott on Tuesday signed legislation requiring adults applying for welfare assistance to undergo drug screening. more>>

Prescription drugs worth millions to dealers
Prescription drug abuse, now the fastest-growing drug problem in the country, has created a ballooning street market for highly-addictive pain relief, anxiety and depression drugs. more>>

Think the odd glass of wine at home helps teenagers learn to drink sensibly?
What nonsense, says leading psychologist
Drinking is something we enjoy and inevitably see as an integral part of adult life. Culturally, alcohol is in our blood — and, for many, literally so. Now, it’s increasingly making its way into our children’s blood, too, and at alarmingly younger ages. more>>

When Children’s Scribbles Hide a Prison Drug
Mike Barrett, a corrections officer, ripped open an envelope in the mail room at the Maine Correctional Center here and eyed something suspicious: a Father’s Day card, sent a month early. He carefully felt the card and slit it open, looking for a substance that has made mail call here a different experience of late. more>>

First Nationally Accredited Addiction Medicine Residency Programs to Start July
n July 1, the first group of medical residents will start training in 10 newly accredited addiction medicine residencies around the country. more>>

Georgia is latest state to pass law tracking prescription pain drugs
Lawmakers in Georgia have approved a system to track prescription drugs dispensed there, which could help put a dent in interstate pill trafficking that has fed drug abuse and overdose deaths in Kentucky. more>>

Governor Mitch Daniels signs HB1211 into law.
Second chance legislation restricts access to criminal records after 8 years for for non violent class D felons and misdemeanants more>>

Rob Lowe On Rehab: 'It Was Great. I Loved It.'
Rob Lowe has been sober for just about 21 years, and in promoting his new book, "Stories I Only Tell My Friends," he has been very open in discussing both his substance abuse problem and his rehabilitation. more>>

US aims at its deadliest drug problem: painkillers
The White House drug czar wants doctors, states and law enforcement working harder to stop America's deadliest drug-abuse problem: highly addictive prescription painkillers. more>>

New British Beer Is Laced With Viagra
Forget the little blue pill. A British company has brewed the first beer laced with Viagra. more>>

Addiction to food, drugs similar in the brain.
Ice cream and other tasty, high-calorie foods would seem to have little in common with cocaine, but in some people's brains they can elicit cravings and trigger responses similar to those caused by addictive drugs, a new study suggests. more>>

Maryland plans 50 percent alcohol tax hike.
Maryland is close to raising alcohol taxes by half and decriminalizing marijuana for medical reasons. more>>

Indiana House passes bill meant to stop meth labs.
The Indiana House passed legislation last week that is meant to discourage the production of meth by preventing individuals from purchasing some cold and allergy medicines beyond legal limits. more>>

Owensboro Regional Recovery Center Golf Scramble
Saturday, June 18 · 8:00am
Location: Ben Hawes Park
Owensboro, KY
Proceeds will go to support the Recovery Center. For more information visit their new website more>>

The Mountain PAR Chapter is Monday, April 18, 2011 @6:30pm at the Old Allen Baptist Church (On 23 S, go through the light at Allen and take the second left turn.  The church sits back off 23 with parking lot in the rear). 

Physician turns away drug-seekers-Morehead, KY
A patient on his way to the hospital asked the attending ambulance paramedic which doctor was on call in the emergency room. When the paramedic told him it was Dr. John Sanders, the patient said “Never mind. Just take me home.” more>>

Want pain pills? Be prepared to sign the dotted line
Some docs ask for 'pain contracts' to ensure that patients are taking powerful opiads safely more>>

Indiana House committee advances meth tracking bill
The House Health Committee passed legislation Tuesday that would implement the MethCheck system for real-time tracking of pseudoephedrine purchases in Indiana, despite testimony from police officials that they don’t want it. more>>

Ashley Judd reveals troubled childhood, sexual abuse
The actress shares details of dysfunctional family life in her memoir (Video included) more>>

New drug on the streets of Louisville
It's a drug that's meant to treat pain, but Louisville Metro Police say drug abusers are using it to get high. The drug is opana, or oxymorphone. Not only is it illegal to sell on the streets, but it can and has been deadly. more>>

City Council Votes To Ban ‘The Box’
Philadelphia City Council today gave final approval to new restrictions on the questions employers can ask of job applicants about possible prior criminal records. more>>

Conway urges Floridians to back drug-tracking law there
Kentucky's attorney general has written directly to Florida residents urging them to speak out for their state's yet-to-be-implemented prescription drug-tracking law, which he says would help crack down on so-called pill mills feeding addictions in Kentucky. more>>

Criminal Background Checks Upend Job Search For Some Unemployed
In fact, in the years since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, criminal background checks calibrated to detect everything from arrests on dismissed or expunged charges to misdemeanor and felony convictions have become an increasingly common part of the job application process. more>>

State law to ban 'bath salts' drugs now in effect
A new state law to ban synthetic drugs that are often falsely marketed as bath salts or plant food is on the books but police are not expected to make immediate raids on stores to find them. more>>

Kentucky meth busts setting records; enforcement money drying up
Methamphetamine lab busts are running at a record pace in Kentucky, but a crucial supply of federal money tapped by law enforcement to clean up the hazardous drug-making operations has run dry. more>>

Many Doctors Fail to Monitor Potential Opioid Abuse Appropriately
Study Finds Primary Care Physicians Do Not Use Strategies to Reduce Risk more>>

Bill Would Extend EHR Incentive Pay to Behavioral Health Care
Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) has introduced a bill (S 539) that would make health IT incentive payments available to mental health care, behavioral health care and substance misuse treatment professionals and facilities, Health Imaging reports. more>>

Alcohol Detectors Could Come Standard With a New Car
The American Beverage Institute claims the ROADS SAFE Act could mandate that all cars have a device that could determine if a driver had been drinking, a device which authors of the bill say doesn't exist today. more>>

Governor Signs Landmark Legislation
It's designed to decrease the state's prison populations, reduce costs and crime, all while increasing public safety. Governor Steve Beshear signed a landmark justice reform bill Thursday after years of study and hard work. more>>

DEA Ban on 'Synthetic Marijuana' Takes Effect
The federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has temporarily banned five chemicals whose effects mimic marijuana, following through on an announcement it made last November, NPR reported March 1. more>>

Sponsor of derailed meth bill challenges opponents to find another solution
A state senator expressed disappointment Monday over the demise of his bill to ban over-the-counter sales of cold medicines that contain pseudoephedrine and urged his colleagues to help him come up with a solution to stop deadly meth labs in the state. more>>

Neglected and Outdated State Beer Taxes
Want to know what the beer tax rate was in your state during the FDR Administration? If you're from Wyoming you won't have to look hard, since the tax rate has not changed there since 1935. While Wyoming may win the prize for having neglected its beer taxes the longest, most other states also have extremely low beer tax rates and have lost much of their beer tax rates' real value. more>>

Addiction and recovery: Families find solutions
This is the fifth article in the series about addiction and recovery in our community. Each Friday, The Morehead News shared families’ experiences as they encounter and overcome addiction and navigate through an array of public agencies. more>>

KY Gov. Beshear Signs Corrections Reform Bill Into Law
A bill hailed as a bi-partisan effort to control the soaring costs of Kentucky's corrections system while providing better treatment options for drug offenders was signed into law Thursday by Gov. Steve Beshear. more>>

Senate panel approves ban on ‘bath salts’ drugs
A Senate committee on Thursday approved a bill banning synthetic drugs commonly sold as “bath salts” while more horror stories emerged about their use. more>>

Money for meth lab clean up drying up.
Seth Brown says meth gave him the confidence he never had as a child growing up in Olive Hill, Ky. But it also made him intolerant, angry and turned him into "a monster." more>>

Pot can double psychosis risk, new study says
But researchers point out many with psychosis use marijuana to self-medicate more>>

Pill Mill Rage In Florida
Pressure is mounting on Florida to do something about the state's pill mill problem. The US Drug Czar along with law enforcement officers from other states are growing frustrated because people are flocking to Florida, loading up on painkillers and overdosing. more>>

Pictures and Quotes from the Voting Rights Lobby Day and Rally
We had 250-300 people throughout 6 1/2 hours of citizen lobbying and rallying for HB 70, our bill to restore voting rights to most former felons once they have served their debt to society more>>

In Loving Memory Tributes: Drugfree.org Memorials
The Partnership for a Drug-Free America created this site to give families and friends the chance to leave tributes in loving memory of those lost to substance abuse. more>>

First Pictures and Quotes from the Voting Rights Lobby Day and Rally
We had 250-300 people throughout 6 1/2 hours of citizen lobbying and rallying for HB 70 more>>

Drug czar: spend on prevention, treatment first
The nation's drug czar offered his solutions to curb Kentucky's drug problems during a visit to Louisville Tuesday. more>>

Senate plans to vote Monday on prison crowding bill
A sweeping overhaul of the state’s criminal code, and particularly its drug laws, sped through the Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday more>>

Addiction and Recovery: Families and faith
EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the third in a series of articles about addiction and recovery in our community. (Morehead) more>>

Supporters may compromise on prescriptions for cold medicines
Supporters of a bill that will require prescriptions for cold medicines containing pseudoephedrine hope that excluding some of those medicines will be enough to get the measure through the full Senate. more>>

HB 70 Passes House - Now we need to put pressure on the Senate!
The KY House of Representatives heard HB 70, the bill to restore voting rights to former felons who have served their debt to society, on the House floor. more>>

House committee approves reforms in drug laws
The House Judiciary Committee on Tuesday night approved the most sweeping changes to Kentucky’s penal code in a generation in an effort to reduce prison and jail crowding. more>>

Bill to make pseudoephedrine prescription-only fails
Cold and allergy sufferers have won a round in Frankfort. more>>

Sweeping bill filed to address prison crowding in Kentucky
Lawmakers on Friday filed a long-awaited bill to cut the state’s prison and jail populations and save an estimated $42 million a year, although much of that would be reinvested in addiction treatment and community supervision. more>>

Federal drug czar takes on pill issue in Ky.
President Barack Obama's chief adviser on drug issues said Monday that prescription pill abuse is taking a "heartbreaking" toll in Kentucky where scores of people are dying from overdoses each month. more>>

Mongiardo: Fla. governor's proposal would keep drugs flowing to Kentucky
Florida's new governor wants to eliminate a prescription-tracking system that Kentucky authorities believed would help cut the flood of pills coming into the state from Florida. more>>

The Kentucky House of Representatives heard HB 70 the bill to restore voting rights to former felons.
HB 70 proceeds to the Senate, where we expect it to be assigned to Senator Damon Thayer's State and Local Government Committee. more>>

Mongiardo: Fla. governor's proposal would keep drugs flowing to Kentucky.
Florida's new governor wants to eliminate a prescription-tracking more>>

Group speaks out against breathalyzer law aimed at DUI offenders
There is proposed legislation that would put breathalyzers in the cars of anyone convicted of a DUI. more>>

Much-discussed penal code reform bill still a no-show
Llegislators still aren’t ready to file a bill to address prison and jail crowding in Kentucky, despite a year’s work by a high-powered committee and consultants paid $200,000 more>>

Substance abuse center awarded $250,000 grant
The funding for the Recovery Kentucky center in Morehead was announced during a visit Wednesday from Kentucky First Lady Jane Beshear. more>>

House accepts shorter session as a goal but won’t immediately change calendar
The state House will try to finish its work March 16 but will not change the official legislative calendar that has this year’s session ending March 22. more>>

Kentucky House panel approves ban on bath salts
Lawmakers say the powdered substance is growing in popularity among drug users. The bill now heads to the full House. more>>

Prescription for Tragedy
Three part series from the Courier-Journal more>>

Several Eastern Kentucky counties act to keep out 'pill mills'
Several Eastern Kentucky counties have banned certain types of pain clinics, or are considering doing so, to try to keep out facilities that officials fear would pour more pills into an area where prescription-drug abuse already reaches crippling levels. more>>

Obama: Drug Legalization 'Worth A Serious Debate'
Drug legalization is an "entirely legitimate topic for debate," President Barack Obama said Thursday during his online YouTube more>>

Efforts to curb meth production raise questions
ome members of local law enforcement agencies are urging Kentucky lawmakers not to support a proposed bill aimed at curbing meth-making. more>>

Pot meets pop: Local entrepreneur plans to market line of smartly branded medical-marijuana soft drinks
Company is poised to move aggressively in a market that could one day be enormously popular by combining pot with soda pop more>>

Fewer drug offenders in prison backed as cost-cutting move
The state could save money by putting fewer non-violent drug offenders in prison and instead supervising them through probation, parole and substance abuse treatment programs more>>

Fewer drug offenders in prison backed as cost-cutting move
Kentucky could save money by putting fewer non-violent drug offenders in prison and instead supervising them through probation, parole and substance abuse treatment programs more>>

Drug Tests On Sale At Placer County High Schools
Parents of Placer County, California students can now buy discounted drug tests from high schools, a tactic that county officials hope will help cut down on what appears to be a rising drug use rate. more>>

Synthetic Cocaine Sold As 'Bath Salts'
DEA Warns Synthetic Drug Appearing In Gas Stations, Head Shops, Online more>>

Kentucky drug laws would change under new proposal
Many of Kentucky's drug criminals would be sentenced to probation and addiction treatment instead of prison under a broad reform bill proposed Tuesday by a high-powered committee created to find cheaper alternatives to incarceration. more>>

Kentucky lawmaker wants random drug testing for welfare recipients
Those who fail the test would lose their benefits under House Bill 208, filed by Rep. Lonnie Napier, R-Lancaster. more>>

Impact of new Oxycontin formula on abusers unclear
A decade after the pain reliever Oxycontin was linked to an increasing number of fatal overdoses, a new form of the pill — designed to keep addicts from snorting or injecting the drug — is making its way into Kentucky. more>>

Battle likely over bill to require prescription for cold medicine used in meth
Two states that require a prescription for cold medicines containing pseudoephedrine have seen dramatic declines in the number of methamphetamine labs, a state report released Thursday shows. more>>

Alcohol May Come With A New Kind Of High:Taxes
Alex DeMetrick reports supporters of a “Dime a Drink Tax” think they have a shot at making it happen in Maryland. more>>

Parents Ordered By School to Attend Drug, Alcohol Abuse Meeting
Some parents of Swampscott High School students in Massachusetts are objecting to a note from school officials ordering them to attend a "mandatory" meeting on drug and alcohol abuse. more>>

Merlene Davis: Fighting drug abuse is everyone's responsibility
When I was growing up, Miss McIntire, who lived across the street, told my mother everything she saw my siblings and me doing. more>>

Craving for alcohol linked to obesity
Family history of alcoholism may turn some to find comfort in food more>>

Dangerous drugs sold in Kentuckiana gas stations
Gas stations in Kentuckiana are selling dangerous drugs, and people are ending up in emergency rooms because of it, according to some sources. more>>

Legislation targets growing use of synthetic meth
A Western Kentucky lawmaker wants the state to outlaw a type of synthetic drug that mimics the effects of methamphetamine or cocaine. more>>

Officials urge lawmakers to spend more on drug treatment in abuse cases
Child advocates and the head of the state's child protection unit are urging lawmakers to spend more money on drug treatment for parents of children who are abused and neglected. more>>

Indiana drug, theft sentences would change under bill
Indiana would move from a virtual one-size-fits-all sentencing structure for theft and drug crimes to a multi-layered system based on the severity of the offense under legislation that will be introduced in the House and Senate in January. more>>

Alcoholics Anonymous as a spiritual experience
Only the first of the 12 steps of Alcoholics Anonymous mentions alcohol. The other 11 talk about redemption, restoring moral character, and devotion to God (or other higher power). more>>

Teen Marijuana Use Up, Alcohol Use Down
America's teens are using more marijuana and less alcohol, according to an annual government study of eighth-, 10th- and 12th-graders across the country. more>>

High School Plans to Open Drug Clinic
18/Nov/2010 8:28
Would be first-of-its-kind school for New York. more>>

A Flood of Opioids, a Rising Tide of Deaths
18/Nov/2010 5:20
Faced with an epidemic of drug abuse and overdose deaths involving prescription opioid pain relievers, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) plans to require opioid makers to provide training for physicians.....more>>

FDA Poised to Bar Caffeine in Alcoholic Drinks
17/Nov/2010 9:53
Four Loko, Joose and other caffeine-containing alcoholic drinks will effectively be banned soon by federal regulators amid concerns that the combination of alcohol and stimulants are a dangerous mix. more>>

Young Marijuana Users Risk Brain Damage
17/Nov/2010 9:54
Chronic pot smokers beware. A new study found that regularly smoking marijuana may lower cognitive function, especially if the person starts smoking before 16 years of age. more>>

NTSB urges Kentucky to do more to curb hard-core drunk drivers
17/Nov/2010 9:54
National Transportation Safety Board officials on Tuesday morning urged Kentucky lawmakers to strengthen efforts to curb drivers with high blood-alcohol content and those who are repeat drinking-and-driving offenders. more>>

Kentucky explores requiring prescription for pseudoephedrine to curb meth labs
17/Nov/2010 9:55
It's provided millions of allergy sufferers relief from itchy eyes and runny noses, but pseudoephedrine may become available only by prescription in Kentucky, if some law enforcement and legislators have their way. more>>

Mom's goal: Help for adult-children addicts | The Journal Gazette | Fort Wayne, IN
17/Nov/2010 9:55
In 2002, when Jennifer Reynolds was addicted to heroin, her mother, Sharon Blair, began writing the Jennifer Act, a bill that provides procedures for the involuntary commitment of a person due to alcohol or drug abuse. more>>

Washington state bans alcoholic energy drinks
17/Nov/2010 9:56
Retailers have a week to clear millions of dollars worth of alcoholic energy drinks from their shelves after state regulators banned them Wednesday, citing the hospitalization of nine dangerously drunk college students last month. more>>

Singing For Democracy Six, a Success
4/Nov/2010 7:53
The sixth Singing For Democracy Gospel Fest in less than a year. more>>

The Never-Ending War on Drugs
4/Nov/2010 7:53
U.S. shifting its goals as narcotraffickers move on to new frontiers. more>>

Study: Alcohol more lethal than heroin, cocaine
4/Nov/2010 7:53
Alcohol is more dangerous than illegal drugs like heroin and crack cocaine, according to a new study. more>>

Pot activists vow to push legalization in 2012
4/Nov/2010 7:53
It seemed an easy sell in California: The state that gave us medical marijuana would allow pot for recreation. more>>

Just say "yes!" legalizing drugs is good for society ... and the economy harvard prof. says...
7/Oct/2010 14:03
California residents will vote in November on whether or not to legalize marijuana. If they do vote "yes," says Harvard economics professor Jeffrey Miron, that should only be the beginning. more>>

The Alcohol Controversy: Is Drinking Good for You?
6/Oct/2010 6:54
While moderate alcohol consumption carries certain health benefits, it would be unwise to ignore the associated risk. more>>

1 in 4 Students, Young Adults Binge Drink
6/Oct/2010 6:23
One in four high school students and adults ages 18 to 34 engaged in binge drinking in the past month, putting themselves and those around them at risk, according to U.S. government researchers more>>

California Governor Signs Marijuana Decriminalization Bill
1/Oct/2010 13:47
Pot possession will be treated like a traffic ticket. more>>

Synthetic marijuana should be banned, Indiana legislators told
1/Oct/2010 10:45
Indiana Poison Center director Dr. Jim Mowry says it has received 117 reports of adverse reactions to synthetic marijuana. more>>

Louisville mayoral candidates comment on the Restoration of Voter Rights.
1/Oct/2010 10:46
The three major mayoral candidates turned their attention to Louisvilles west end Thursday night during a forum at Shawnee High School more>>

'Backpack Meth Labs' On The Rise
28/Sep/2010 6:12
It's a new trend when it comes to the war on drugs: Law enforcement officials are seeing more of what they call "backpack meth labs." more>>

Kentuckians have just one week to make sure they are registered to vote in the November 2nd election.
27/Sep/2010 15:55
The deadline to register is Monday, October 4th to turn in registration cards. Mail-in applications have to have a postmark of that day or earlier.
You can obtain registration cards by going to http://www.vote.ky.gov/register.

Stigma Unaffected by Acceptance of Disease Model, Study Finds
27/Sep/2010 13:52
Survey results show that although more Americans now believe that mental illness and alcohol dependency are medical or genetic in origin than did so in the mid-1990s, they are just as likely to reject those who suffer from them. more>>

Booze tax could make us all healthier
26/Sep/2010 8:29
Increasing the tax on alcohol could have a slew of public health benefits, according to a new study. more>>

Doctors endorse requiring Rx for pseudoephedrine
22/Sep/2010 16:57
The Kentucky Medical Association is endorsing a plan to require cold medicines containing pseudoephedrine to be dispensed only to people with a doctor's prescription. more>>

We're addicted to rehab. It doesn't even work.
20/Sep/2010 12:56
The therapies offered in most U.S. alcohol treatment centers are so divorced from state-of-the-art of medical knowledge that we might dismiss them as merely quaint -- if it weren't for the fact that alcoholism is a deadly and devastating disease. more>>

Doctor's assumptions ignore successes of an approach that has helped millions of alcoholics
20/Sep/2010 12:58
He, like many academicians, assumes Alcoholics Anonymous doesn't work because there are no long-term controlled studies on the efficacy of AA. more>>

Marijuana to Blame for Increased Drug Use in 2009, Government Report Says
16/Sep/2010 9:09
Peter Maer: Drug Czar Affirms Opposition to Pot Legalization in Interview, Says Young People Are Being Given `Mixed Messages` more>>

Pot Flavored Ice Cream Anyone?
16/Sep/2010 9:11
A new medical marijuana dispensary in Soquel is offering its customers a tasty alternative to smoking: enjoying a bowl of pot-infused ice cream. more>>

KFTC at the Roots and Heritage Festival
14/Sep/2010 6:14
Over twenty KFTC members and staff worked the crowds at this year's Roots and Heritage Festival in Lexington on Saturday, registering voters and talking to people about important issues like restoration of voting rights for former felons who have served their debt to society. more>>

Burp v. Breathalyzer: Kentucky Supreme Court to decide issue in DUI case
13/Sep/2010 9:13
It is considered crass in most cultures, and hardly a subject of polite conversation. But now the Kentucky Supreme Court must answer a profound legal question about the burp is one enough to invalidate an alcohol breath test? more>>

AG calls prescription drug abuse a scourge
13/Sep/2010 9:13
U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder says prescription drug abuse in America is at epidemic proportions and taming it will take more than law enforcement. more>>

Limit Consumer Access to Cough Medicine
13/Sep/2010 9:13
Five years ago when Congress was considering a requirement that nasal decongestants be placed behind the counter to combat their use in methamphetamine production, I was one of many policy analysts who argued against this restriction. more>>

Possible ban of K2 in New Albany
13/Sep/2010 9:14
But a city council member in New Albany wants it off the shelves. He says most of the council members plan to support a ban against the sale of K2 there. more>>

Moms Warn Teens Of Dangers Of Prescription Pills
13/Sep/2010 9:14
Two grieving mothers are reaching out to Kentucky teens in hopes of sparing other parents the pain of losing children to prescription drug abuse. more>>

Sheriffs want lists of patients using painkillers
9/Sep/2010 10:59
Sheriffs in North Carolina want access to state computer records identifying anyone with prescriptions for powerful painkillers and other controlled substances. more>>

Drug addiction pill Suboxone costly for Kentucky
7/Sep/2010 5:21
Kentucky's Medicaid program spent nearly $11 million last year for an expensive, brand-name prescription medication used to help deal with drug addiction even though the state does not pay for the treatment programs that experts say should accompany its use more>>

Heavy Drinkers Outlive Nondrinkers, Study Finds
31/Aug/2010 5:22
One of the most contentious issues in the vast literature about alcohol consumption has been the consistent finding that those who don't drink actually tend to die sooner than those who do more>>

Adults with ADHD benefit from cognitive behavioral therapy, study says
26/Aug/2010 7:49
Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder is getting a lot of attention in children, but it's widely recognized in adults too: about 4.4 percent of adults in the United States have ADHD. more>>

Is Alcoholism Genetic?
23/Aug/2010 5:38
A mutation found in a mouse gene may provide new insights into the genetic roots of alcoholism in humans. more>>

Shocking School Drug And Gang Survey
19/Aug/2010 7:59
A new survey claims that 27 percent of public school students aged 12 to 17 attend schools that are both gang and drug-infected. That means 5.7 million students attend schools which are both gang and drug dominated. more>>

Scientists suggest fresh look at psychedelic drugs
18/Aug/2010 14:37
Combined with therapy, such substances could treat depression, chronic pain more>>

States claim fake pot poses real threat
13/Aug/2010 8:58
A blend of herbs laced with synthetic marijuana known popularly as K2 is being sold openly in head shops and online more>>

Doctors concerned over possible link of K2, heart damage
13/Aug/2010 8:56
The chemically-enhanced marijuana substitute is currently sold legally more>>

Paul: Eastern Kentucky drug problem not 'a real pressing issue'
13/Aug/2010 5:58
Senate hopeful says fiscal, social concerns on voters' minds more>>

Georgetown Singing For Democracy Raises Spirits and Grassroots Power
2/Aug/2010 4:49
PAR and Scott County KFTC members had a tremendous Singing For Democracy Gospel Fest in Georgetown with about 150 people happily crammed into the Ed Davis Learning Center to listen to some great gospel music and to educate each other on how we can work to restore voting rights to former felons more>>

Enough with celebrity 'rehab-abuse'
22/Jul/2010 6:04
At some point, the "rush to rehab," reached the ridiculous. Rehab is getting a bad name from this more>>

Oakland Votes to Allow Large Marijuana Farms
21/Jul/2010 13:32
SAN FRANCISCO -- The Oakland City Council has approved a plan to license four production plants where marijuana would be grown, packaged and processed, moving Oakland closer to becoming the first city in the nation to authorize wholesale pot cultivation. more>>

Coming Down: Pot Hunt Moves South
21/Jul/2010 13:31
Northern California's so-called Emerald Triangle, famous for flourishing marijuana farms that supply the country with much of its pot, is facing formidable competition for that distinction from an area hundreds of miles to its south—Los Angeles County. more>>

The Jennifer Act: Grieving mother honors daughter's death with 'Jennifer Act'
16/Jul/2010 8:35
Mother gains lawmakers' support for The Jennifer Act, a bill proposing mandatory intervention for someone who needs help with addiction. more>>

Double Trouble in Recovery | Peer Support for People Recovering from Mental Disorders and Addiction
14/Jul/2010 6:05
Information about a self-help group for persons who are diagnosed with the dual conditions of mental health issues and chemical abuse. more>>

Results of 2010 Statewide Homeless Count Announced
13/Jul/2010 8:41
Today, June 30, at a regular meeting of the Kentucky Interagency Council on Homelessness (KICH) Executive Committee in Frankfort, the results of the 2010 Point-In-Time Count of the Homeless were released. more>>

Ohio River study finds drugs, chemicals that slip through waste treatment
12/Jul/2010 16:35
Dozens of chemicals and pharmaceuticals -- antidepressants, veterinary hormones, even cocaine -- have been detected in the Ohio River upstream and downstream from Louisville. more>>

Probe sought into alcohol-energy drinks promotion
11/Jul/2010 16:51
Urging the Federal Trade Commission to investigate the marketing of flavored alcoholic beverages with caffeine that appear to be explicitly designed to attract underage drinkers. more>>

Paul: Local governments should pay for fight against drugs
10/Jul/2010 7:36
Drug abuse and addiction is an issue that local communities should address — and pay for — themselves, Republican U.S. Senate nominee Rand Paul said this week. more>>

Kombucha Tea May Face Regulation as Alcoholic Beverage
7/Jul/2010 8:07
The U.S. Treasury Department says that the kombucha variety of tea -- which can ferment in the bottle -- may be classified as an alcoholic beverage for regulatory purposes. more>>

Pro-Voting Rights Demonstration Outside of Thayer's Golf Fundraiser
29/Jun/2010 9:01
About thirty people gathered in Georgetown this weekend to speak out in favor of restoring voting rights to former felons who have served their debt to society. more>>

Feds bust Louisville drug cartel
24/Jun/2010 14:54
Federal officials tell Fox 41 News that they've broken up the largest cocaine ring in Louisville history. more>>

Addicted docs put patients in peril
24/Jun/2010 14:09
Random drug screening urged for health care workers more>>

ER Visits for Abuse of Painkillers Double Over Five Years
22/Jun/2010 12:45
Prescription and Over-the-Counter Pills Implicated in Growing Number of Cases more>>

More than 1,000 celebrate their recovery from addiction at Healing Place event
22/Jun/2010 12:46
The Healing Place said the event celebrates not only those who have recovered, but also every member of that person’s family more>>

That's the spirit! State approves 192-proof Spirytus, allowing New Yorkers to get quite the buzz
22/Jun/2010 12:48
The approvals came several years after the state turned down the grain alcohol Everclear. more>>

Doctor, ex-deputy want new methadone clinic in Ky.
20/Jun/2010 11:27
A northern Kentucky doctor and retired sheriff's deputy are pushing to open a new methadone clinic in northern Kentucky. more>>

The Kentucky Supreme Court ruled Thursday that a woman who takes illegal drugs while pregnant can't be charged with endangering her child.
17/Jun/2010 15:21
In a 5-2 decision, the court ruled that such prosecutions are "expressly precluded" by the Maternal Health Act passed by the 1992 General Assembly. more>>

'Graying' of Drug Users at U.S. Treatment Centers
17/Jun/2010 9:31
Dramatic jump in aging Boomers seeking help for drug abuse, study finds more>>

More families are homeless and on the streets
16/Jun/2010 17:54
The Great Recession drove more families into homeless shelters in 2009, a new federal report has found. more>>

Ending the War on Drugs?
12/Jun/2010 6:08
John Stossel weighs in on campaign to legalize drugs (Video) more>>

Ice cream man busted in major drug roundup
4/Jun/2010 17:20
A man is busted for selling drugs out of an ice cream truck, and he is not the only one in jail. more>>

CDC: 1 in 5 high schoolers abuse legal drugs
4/Jun/2010 5:25
Twelfth-graders had the highest likelihood of prescription drug abuse, at 26 percent, and ninth-graders had the lowest, at 15 percent more>>

New drug on Louisville's streets
3/Jun/2010 6:47
"We had never heard of it before didn't know what it was," says Sergeant Joe O'Toole with the Louisville Metro Police Department's Sixth Division. more>>

CNN Opinion: I'm a criminal and so are you.
1/Jun/2010 11:25
Lately, I've been telling people that I'm a criminal. This shocks most people, since I don't "look like" one. more>>

Buying beer in Indiana? As of July 1 everyone will need to show an ID
1/Jun/2010 10:59
Anyone who fails to check for ID during a transaction can be cited with a criminal misdemeanor. more>>

The Kentucky State Police has awarded $365,000 in federal grant funds to help enforce underage drinking laws.
26/May/2010 13:18
State Police Commissioner Rodney Brewer says the funds from the U.S. Justice Department help educate young people and their parents more>>

Cheap, ultra-pure heroin kills instantly
24/May/2010 16:16
Spike in overdoses linked to drug popular with Mexican smugglers more>>

There is only one week left to get your application in to become an A&E Recovery Project Delegate! All information and applications can be found at www.recoveryproject.com/delegates through next Friday, May 28th. more>>

CEO of clinics chain is indicted in Eastern Kentucky drug case - Pill Pipeline
21/May/2010 5:54
The chief executive officer of a chain of urgent-care clinics was part of a conspiracy to sell pain pills in Eastern Kentucky, a federal grand jury has charged. more>>

'Drinking' neat vodka through your EYE for a quick buzz?
16/May/2010 8:17
A website clip of the 'vodka eyeballing' craze that started in the U.S. and has now spread to the university party scene in Britain more>>

Administration says drug policy will emphasize prevention and treatment
12/May/2010 16:13
The White House is putting more resources into drug prevention and treatment, part of President Obama's pledge to treat illegal drug use more as a public health issue and less as a criminal justice problem. more>>

Former Felon Voter Mobilization Phonebank
12/May/2010 14:26
KFTC leader Tayna Fogle organized a voter mobilization phone bank in Lexington staffed by an incredible 35 former felons who came from Lexington, Georgetown, and Nicholasville more>>

Beshear to propose budget compromise; sets May 24 session
12/May/2010 14:30
In an effort to break a House-Senate deadlock, Gov. Steve Beshear said Wednesday he is proposing a budget compromise more>>

Popular new drug just banned in Kentucky, easy to get in Indiana
3/May/2010 16:23
K2, also known as fake weed, has put over 100 people in the emergency room in Louisville so far this year. more>>

Courts must cut 100 jobs, abolish programs
29/Apr/2010 17:19
A projected budget shortfall will force the state’s court systems to further trim costs, eliminate more than 100 jobs and abolish some popular programs such as family and juvenile drug courts. more>>

AP-CNBC Poll: Most in US against legalizing pot
20/Apr/2010 8:03
Most Americans still oppose legalizing marijuana but larger majorities believe pot has medical benefits and the government should allow its use for that purpose, according to an Associated Press-CNBC poll released Tuesday. more>>

Treat, don't jail, addicted mothers
18/Apr/2010 18:20
Op-Ed by Susan Barron and Robert Walker more>>

McLellan Resigning as ONDCP Deputy Director
16/Apr/2010 16:37
Respected addiction researcher Tom McLellan has announced that he will resign as deputy director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) in May. more>>

Florida Pain Clinics: 'Pill Mills' for OxyContin Abuse
14/Apr/2010 11:31
A dramatic growth in the number of pain-management clinics has led to increased prescription-drug-overdose deaths in Florida more>>

Reformulated, 'Abuse Resistant' OxyContin Approved by FDA
14/Apr/2010 6:19
A new slow-release version of the powerful opiate painkiller OxyContin has been approved by the FDA. more>>

KY Lawmakers Seek To Ban Plant
13/Apr/2010 6:05
Senate Bill 107, which would make the salvia plant illegal and a Schedule 1 controlled narcotic more>>

Doctors ‘tune in’ to hallucinocens again
12/Apr/2010 5:57
Scientists study use of psychedelics to treat depression, anxiety, addiction more>>

Europe's Super-High Alcohol Beer Heads to the U.S.
10/Apr/2010 19:23
Two European breweries are waging a battle to try to get you drunker. Good business? Or an example of irresponsible behavior? more>>

Many Felony Pot Cases Getting Tossed Out of Court
8/Apr/2010 8:12
Police in a northern California town thought they had a couple dead to rights when they seized more than two pounds of marijuana from their home, even though doctors authorized the pair to use pot for medical purposes. more>>

Rats Starve Rather Than Eat Healthy Food
8/Apr/2010 8:11
Scientists Compare Junk Food to Cocaine as Study Shows Rats Fed Junk Food Go Hungry When Given Healthy Food more>>

General Assembly approves texting ban, tougher DUI law
6/Apr/2010 8:47
Anyone with detectable levels of more than a dozen types of unprescribed drugs in their blood would be presumed guilty of DUI more>>

House briefly toughens DUI law, changes mind
30/Mar/2010 5:50
Minutes later, a lawmaker who voted for the bill filed a motion for reconsideration, which undoes Monday’s votes and puts the bill back in the House for possible action in the future more>>

House toughens state’s DUI law
29/Mar/2010 16:19
FRANKFORT — The Kentucky House on Monday toughened the state’s drunken driving law in a move that surprised some lawmakers because they thought they were dealing with another subject. more>>

Pot legalization measure headed to California ballot, advocates say
25/Mar/2010 9:31
City and county governments would be allowed to imposed a sales tax under the proposed statute. more>>

Kentucky Bill restricting cold medicines moves ahead
25/Mar/2010 9:32
Meant to keep some cold or allergy medicines from being used in illegal methamphetamine labs more>>

New Report Highlights Alcohol Abstainers, Quitters as Well as Current Drinkers
25/Mar/2010 9:39
May not show how many Americans are in recovery from alcoholism, but it does provide interesting insights into the number of adults who have quit drinking or abstain for health and other reasons. more>>

Senate committee passes bill to curb meth
17/Mar/2010 6:12
Those who have been convicted of crimes related to the production of methamphetamine would be blocked from buying any medications with pseudoephedrine for five years under a proposal that passed a Senate committee on Tuesday. more>>

House committee approves bill to charge for DUI blood tests
10/Mar/2010 17:11
People convicted of drunken driving would have to pay for their blood tests under a bill approved Wednesday by the House Judiciary Committee. more>>

‘Drugged driving’ a growing threat
10/Mar/2010 6:41
Official calls for same attention given to drunken driving prevention more>>

KFTC Blog — Kentuckians For The Commonwealth
6/Mar/2010 7:45
Yesterday, KFTC members and allies filled the halls of Frankfort for our major lobby day to support HB 70, our proposed constitutional amendment to restore voting rights to former felons who have served their debt to society. more>>

Study Finds 65 Percent of Inmates Meet Criteria For Addiction But Only 11 Percent Receive Treatment.
5/Mar/2010 18:45
Of the 2.3 million inmates in prison or jail in the United States, 1.5 million meet the DSM IV medical criteria for substance abuse or addiction. An additional 458,000 had histories of substance abuse more>>

Released felons rally for return of voting rights
5/Mar/2010 6:14
Dozens of convicted felons descended upon the Capital rallying for the right to vote more>>

Anti-drinking ads boost boozing for some
3/Mar/2010 18:26
A new study finds anti-drinking ads can actually spur increased binge drinking for some audiences. more>>

Heroin cases triple in Louisville, increase attributed to higher prescription prices
2/Mar/2010 17:19
Some places in the country are seeing a spike in heroin cases including Louisville. more>>

America's drug laws-A fine too far
1/Mar/2010 5:13
State stamp laws for drugs make a mockery of the tax code more>>

Jeffersonville, IN middle school student suspended for touching pill
26/Feb/2010 8:46
According to Greater Clark County Schools district policy, even a touch equals drug possession and a one week suspension. more>>

Marijuana use by seniors goes up as boomers age
23/Feb/2010 9:42
Number of people aged 50 and older reporting marijuana use in the prior year went up from 1.9 percent to 2.9 percent from 2002 to 2008 more>>

Bill Seeks To Crack Down On Drunken Driving
19/Feb/2010 16:19
Measure Clears House Unopposed more>>

Convicted drunken drivers would have to pass a breath test before starting their vehicles under a bill the Kentucky House passed 95-0 on Thursday.
19/Feb/2010 7:42
House Bill 58, which now proceeds to the Senate, would require judges to order a breath-alcohol monitoring devices for defendants' vehicles for six months after a first conviction for driving under the influence. more>>

Louisville Metro Council member moves to limit cold drug used to make meth
16/Feb/2010 6:58
Calls on the state General Assembly to make Kentucky the only state besides Oregon and Mississippi to require prescriptions for pseudoephedrine more>>

Voting Rights Bill Passes House 83-16!
11/Feb/2010 5:51
HB 70, our bill to restore voting rights to former felons who have served their debt to society, just passed the House floor 83-16, with strong majorities of both Democrats and Republicans voting Yes! more>>

Kentucky Tonight-Voting Rights for Felons
10/Feb/2010 11:07
A discussion about voting rights for felons video more>>

DUI monitor in cars advances
10/Feb/2010 10:28
FRANKFORT — People convicted of drunk driving might have to pass a breathalyzer test each time they start their vehicle under a bill approved by a House committee more>>

Obama Proposes Increased Funding for Treatment and Prevention, but 'Balance' Proves Elusive Goal
8/Feb/2010 11:15
Adds new funding for addiction treatment and prevention, but does little to close the huge gap between spending on drug supply- and demand-reduction efforts more>>

Voting Rights Bill Passes House Committee Unanimously
3/Feb/2010 5:27
Many legislators took the opportunity to explain their vote, making strong statements of support. more>>

Landmark Case Could Restore Felon Voting Rights
2/Feb/2010 17:19
A historic ruling earlier this month on behalf of felons who lost the right to vote could call into question the disenfranchisement of felons and ex-felons in the State of Washington and indeed across the United States. more>>

IRS to auction homeless shelter in Jeffersonville, IN
2/Feb/2010 16:45
The Haven House homeless shelter in Jeffersonville is scheduled to be sold at auction March 9 by the Internal Revenue Service because of unpaid payroll and Social Security taxes for its employees. more>>

Obama Issues New Rules on Mental Health Coverage
29/Jan/2010 16:58
New consumer rules require same payments for mental health as for regular doctor visits more>>

Voting Rights Bill Hearing February 2nd- Call your Legislators
27/Jan/2010 5:37
HB 70, our bill to restore voting rights to former felons who have served their debt to society, will be heard in the House Elections and Constitutional Amendments Committee Tuesday, February 2nd more>>

$500,000 pledged for substance abuse treatment in Eastern Ky.
27/Jan/2010 5:27
The pledge from Kentucky River Properties LLC to Operation UNITE is the largest single private donation to the agency since it was formed in 2003 more>>

Words used to describe substance-use patients can alter attitudes, contribute to stigma
23/Jan/2010 12:53
Changing the words used to describe someone struggling with alcoholism or drug addiction may significantly alter the attitudes of health care professionals more>>

Study: Kentucky drug laws flooding prisons with non-violent, small-time criminals
17/Jan/2010 6:37
Kentucky’s 35-year war on drugs has produced “brutally harsh sentences,” flooded the prison system with non-violent and small-time offenders and helped push the state budget to the “outer edge of fiscal distress,” the author of the state’s penal code says. more>>

Diagnosing pill abuse problem
12/Jan/2010 9:03
Police, medical professionals swap information at Eastern Kentucky drug-abuse forum more>>

Research on cocaine reveals gene-altering roots of addiction
9/Jan/2010 7:41
The study helps explain how cocaine use changes the brain, said Dr. Nora Volkow, director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse. more>>

"Geezer" Drug Use to Have Ripple Effect
9/Jan/2010 7:06
Report Says the Need for Substance Abuse Treatment Among Americans Over Age 50 Is Projected to Double by 2020 more>>

Court spectator sues judge for drug-testing him ‘on a hunch’
8/Jan/2010 16:08
He was released when the drug test came back negative. more>>

Fed judges: Wash. felony inmates should get vote
8/Jan/2010 15:27
In a decision that could give momentum to other efforts to expand voting to inmates, a federal appeals court ruled that incarcerated felons should be allowed to vote in Washington state. more>>

Addicted pharmacist gets clean and tells the tale.
3/Jan/2010 6:15
For years, pharmacist Jared Combs got high from the pills he was supposed to dispense and made potentially deadly mistakes. more>>

Kentucky babies endangered-Lexington Herald-Leader Editorial
30/Dec/2009 9:54
As they gather in Frankfort next week to begin a three-month regular session, lawmakers should pay more attention to the health of newborns. more>>

Alcohol substitute that avoids drunkenness and hangovers in development
27/Dec/2009 5:58
An alcohol substitute that mimics its pleasant buzz without leading to drunkenness and hangovers is being developed by scientists. more>>

Eastern Ky. officials to host forums, discuss substance-abuse
22/Dec/2009 6:15
Police, healthcare providers and others plan a series of community forums on the state's substance-abuse problem, including how to keep doctors safe in the wake of a fatal shooting at a Perry County clinic. more>>

Bill would allow prosecution of mothers with addicted newborns
21/Dec/2009 5:35
Rep. Richard Henderson, D-Jeffersonville, pre-filed the bill at the urging of several prosecutors in his district more>>

Cocaine Laced With Cow-Worming Drug Sickens Americans
19/Dec/2009 6:17
Two-thirds of cocaine smuggled into the U.S. is laced with a cattle-worming drug linked to a rare immune disorder in a rash of cases, a report says. more>>

Pot Use Edges Up Among Teens, Survey Shows
15/Dec/2009 5:59
Teenagers Cutting Down on Cigarettes, Methamphetamines, Binge Drinking; Alcohol Most Widely-Used Illicit Substance more>>

Should pregnant women who abuse drugs face criminal charges?
10/Dec/2009 14:19
Thursday's Supreme Court hearing more>>

Court will reconsider fetuses, drug use
10/Dec/2009 6:03
Some maintain that it's a form of child abuse more>>

Arresting pregnant women is bad for babies
9/Dec/2009 8:30
Courier-Journal Op-Ed. Supreme Court hearing Thursday more>>

Scientist at Work: A. Thomas McLellan
10/Dec/2009 7:22
Addiction on 2 Fronts: Work and Home more>>

Singing For Democracy a Hit!
5/Dec/2009 6:44
On Wednesday, an incredible 400-500 people from across the state gathered at Imani Baptist Church on the north end of Lexington. more>>

Non-violent felons seek the right to vote again
2/Dec/2009 13:06
Rene Riley will take part in a gospel concert at Imani Baptist Church on Dec. 2 more>>

Kentucky Launches New Tactic In Fight Against Meth
20/Nov/2009 17:23
NPLEX Tracks Pseudoephedrine Sales more>>

New York toughens drunken driving law
19/Nov/2009 6:05
It is now a felony in New York to drive drunk or under the influence of drugs with a child in the vehicle more>>

'Tough on crime' drains state funds
17/Nov/2009 16:47
Inmates charged with these kinds of non-violent offenses make up about 46 percent of this state's prison population. more>>

DUI Diversion Program appears to be working
17/Nov/2009 11:41
Each year the Jefferson County Attorney's office prosecutes over 3,000 driving under the influence crimes. more>>

Groups discuss homeless in Phoenix Park-Lexington, KY
17/Nov/2009 7:37
A place for homeless people to spend the day instead of congregating in Phoenix Park was identified Monday as a need for downtown. more>>