Author Archives: Join Together Staff

Heroin Addiction Takes Toll in Suburban New Jersey

New Jersey officials report a rise in heroin addiction, drug-related crime and deaths among young people in suburbs. Many became addicted to prescription painkillers, and switched to heroin because it is cheaper, potent and widely available. …

Update: Stop Urban Outfitters From Selling Products that Promote Prescription Drug Abuse

Thanks to you, we are gaining momentum to put a stop to Urban Outfitters selling products made to look like prescription pill bottles! …

Programs Can Lower Substance Abuse Rates in Young Adults with Mental Health Issues

Older teens and young adults with mental health issues who participate in community-based treatment programs report lower levels of substance use disorders, a new government report finds. …

Chest Physicians Recommend Yearly CT Scans for Older Heavy Smokers

The American College of Chest Physicians this week recommended that older, heavy smokers receive annual low-dose CT scans to detect lung cancer, according to Reuters. …

Colorado Passes First Laws Regulating Recreational Marijuana Market

Legislators in Colorado on Wednesday passed the first laws regulating the state’s recreational marijuana market, which will take effect in January 2014. Governor John Hickenlooper is expected to sign them by early June, The Wall Street Journal reports. …

KY Congressman to Urban Outfitters: Stop Selling Products Promoting Rx Drug Abuse

The Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, Hal Rogers, on Monday called on Urban Outfitters to stop selling products designed to look like prescription pill bottles, the Associated Press reports. …

Synthetic Marijuana Use Leads to Dangerous Symptoms in Pregnant Woman

Synthetic marijuana use during pregnancy can lead to symptoms similar to those caused by dangerous conditions known as preeclampsia and eclampsia, California doctors report. …

Require Random Drug and Alcohol Tests for Doctors, Experts Advise

Patient safety experts are urging hospitals to require physicians to have random drug and alcohol tests. The tests should also be conducted if a patient dies suddenly or is injured unexpectedly during surgery, they write in the Journal of the American Medical Association. …

“Recovery Courts” to Combat Substance Abuse and Mental Health Issues in Tennessee

Nine “recovery courts” will be created in Tennessee to combat substance abuse and mental health issues, state officials announced this week. They will combine services currently found in drug courts, mental health courts and veterans courts. …