200 Million People Worldwide Use Illegal Drugs, Study Says
An estimated 200 million people worldwide use illegal drugs, according to a new study. The health consequences of this use are wide-ranging.
Category results for "Prescription Drugs"
Drug Companies Developing More Powerful Version of Hydrocodone
Four drug companies are developing a more powerful version of the painkiller hydrocodone. One group dedicated to fighting prescription drug abuse is concerned this new drug has a large potential for abuse.
U.S. Government Takes Steps to Reduce Medicare-Related Prescription Drug Abuse
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced it will tell Medicare prescription drug plans to withhold payment when they detect signs of suspicious activity related to narcotics and painkillers. The move is aimed at reducing Medicare fraud, Reuters reports.
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.
New Government Program Aims to Protect Children From Accidental Drug Overdoses
A new government program aims to protect young children from accidental drug overdoses. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced the “Up and Away and Out of Sight” program, to teach parents how to keep medications out of the hands of young children.
New York Mayor Launches Prescription Drug Abuse Task Force
New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg is launching a task force to fight the growing prescription drug abuse epidemic in the city, after officials identified 21 pharmacies that account for about one-fourth of the city’s oxycodone Medicaid reimbursements.
Treatment Admissions for Prescription Drug Abuse Jumped 430 Percent in 10 Years
Treatment admissions for prescription drug abuse rose 430 percent from 1999 to 2009, according to a new government report.
Appalachian Group Takes Key Role in National Rx Drug Abuse Summit
The Appalachian Regional Commission, a regional economic development agency, is taking a key role in the National Rx Drug Abuse Summit in April. The summit will take place in Florida, which has been called the center of the nation’s prescription drug abuse epidemic.
Report Recommends Florida Share Prescription Drug Data With Other States
Florida’s Department of Health is recommending that the state share information from its new database that tracks prescription pain medicine with other states.
Foster Children Much More Likely to be Overly Medicated with Psychotropic Drugs
Foster children who are on Medicaid receive psychotropic drugs, including antidepressants and antipsychotics, at higher rates than children not in foster care who receive their health care through Medicaid, a new government study finds.
