The Inquisitr » drugs

35 Pounds Worth Of Cocaine Accidentally Shipped To United Nations In New York City

James Johnson — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 00:31:00 +0000

Officials at the United Nations offices in New York City were shocked recently when 35.5 pounds of cocaine was accidentally shipped to their office by Mexican drug traffickers who failed to properly fill out shipping labels for their counterfeit UN bag packages.

With a street value of nearly $2 million the cocaine was concealed inside fake UN bags which were sent to the organizations New York headquarters after the carrier DHL saw the UN logo at their Cincinnati, Ohio center while the packages contained no actual shipping address or return to sender information.

Deputy Commissioner Paul Browne of the New York Police Department told Yahoo News:

“It is my understanding that because there was no addressee, the DHL just thought well that’s the UN symbol so we should ship it on to UN headquarters and let them figure out who it was supposed to go to.”

The moment the bags arrived at the UN security staff recognize them as “obvious fakes” and inspected them on January 16. Inside the bags contained 14 hard cover books which had been hollowed out to make space for the cocaine.

In the meantime officials said the bags looked nothing like official UN carrier bags but instead were made out of flour sacks or something of that nature.

The drugs have been confiscated but with no return address it’s likely the culprits will get away with their crime, although I would suspect that someone within the cartel has been killed given their inability to place a simple shipping label on an illegal $2 million package.

35 Pounds Worth Of Cocaine Accidentally Shipped To United Nations In New York City is a post from: The Inquisitr

Demi Moore Passed Out After Taking “Whip-It” Hits Of Nitrous Oxide [Rumor]

James Johnson — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 06:11:05 +0000

Demi Moore’s visit to the hospital following a seizure is now believed to have been caused after the 49-year-old actress inhaled an overdose amount of nitrous oxide from “whip-it” shots, a popular high among teens and college students.

According to inside sources one of Demi Moore’s friends grew concerned when she began “shaking” and “acting like she was suffering from a seizure, that friend tells E! News that she called 911 after realizing the situation was growing worse.

Whip-it’s are often taken from whipped cream cannisters although it’s still not clear if that is how Demi Moore inhaled the nitrous oxide.

People points out that Moore’s recent history with substance abuse has been pointed to as one of the reasons her marriage to Ashton Kutcher may have fallen apart, a source speaking to the magazine notes:

“He wanted her to take care of herself and get a hold of things, and she wouldn’t.”

That same source goes on to point out that her family and friends have called her a “mess” and have begged her to get the help she needs.

Just take a look at the photo posted on this page and it shouldn’t surprise anyone that Demi Moore and her stick figure of a left over body has been engaging pretty heavily in substance abuse.

The Demi Moore PR machine has offered very few details at this time.

Are you surprised to learn that Demi Moore’s actions may have been a large contributing factor to her divorce from Ashton Kutcher?

Demi Moore Passed Out After Taking “Whip-It” Hits Of Nitrous Oxide [Rumor] is a post from: The Inquisitr

Cincinnati Bengals Wide Receiver Jerome Simpson Indicted On Drug Trafficking Charges

James Johnson — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 02:05:28 +0000

The NFL has had a problem with wide receivers and drugs over the last year, first Sam Hurd of the Chicago Bears was arrested on intent to distribute charges and now Jerome Simpson of the Cincinnati Bengals has been indicted on trafficking charges of his own.

Simpson was indicted on drug charges in Covington, KY on Thursday after federal officials nearly four months ago confiscated a package containing 2.5 pounds of marijuana that was being shipped to the wide receivers Kentucky home from California. Investigators say they also found six pounds of marijuana inside the home of Jerome Simpson along with various drug paraphernalia including smoking devices, scales and packaging materials.

While Simpson made one of the most talked above highlight plays of the season, a touchdown flip several yards from the goal line into the end zone, his season was also marred with dropped passes and issues with route-running. Cincinatti was already expected to drop Simpson in place of a new wide receiver in the No. 2 wide receiver spot.

For the Bengals player arrests have been a huge problem in the past, from April 2006 through June 2007 the team had 10 player arrests while Receiver Chris Henry was a repeat offender for the team. The Bengals and their repeat issues were one of the various reasons NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell pushed for a stronger crack down on player misconduct.

If convicted Simpson could face one to five years in prison.

Do you think players arrested on such charges should be immediately banned from NFL play or is 8 pounds of Marijuana nothing to get upset about?

Cincinnati Bengals Wide Receiver Jerome Simpson Indicted On Drug Trafficking Charges is a post from: The Inquisitr

Smoking Marijuana Is Good For Your Lungs [Recent Study]

James Johnson — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 06:44:22 +0000

Another big victory for marijuana supporters this week after a study was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association which found that smoking a moderate amount of pot can actually help your lung capacity.

Researchers at University of California-San Francisco and University of Alabama at Birmingham examined 5,000 people ages 18 to 30 over a 20 year period and then collected information about each persons tobacco and marijuana smoking habits. Researchers then took measurements of a users lung capacity, specifically forced expiratory volume (FEV) which measures how much volume of air the lungs can hold along with forced vital capacity (FVC), or the speed at which a person can blow air out) at several key points during the studies entire period.

Researchers as expected found that tobacco smoking reduced lung capacity while marijuana smoking in moderate marijuana smokers improved lung capacity for both FVC and FEV levels. However the authors note that very heavy marijuana smoking still appears to decrease lung capacity.

The study’s authors state that too few of their participants were heavy smokers or heavy marijuana users to actually draw a direct connection, however moderate use of marijuana is the database showed that people who smoke a few joints per week reaped positive benefits.

The research project also found that most marijuana smokers tend to taper off their use of marijuana as they grow older while cigarette smokers tend to smoke a steady regime of cigarettes throughout their life.

In investigating why marijuana smokers increase their lung capacity the researchers believe that the way marijuana is smoked players a part. Pot smokers tend to draw smoke deep into their lungs while expanding their chest walls to accommodate for their “deep smoking” which in turn might actually strengthen lungs.

[Image via ShutterStock.com]

Smoking Marijuana Is Good For Your Lungs [Recent Study] is a post from: The Inquisitr

New Avastin Data Unlikely to ‘Support Approval’ For Ovarian Cancer Treatment

Kim LaCapria — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 19:49:29 +0000

Proponents of the cancer drug Avastin were dealt a blow this week when new data regarding the drug’s effectiveness in battling ovarian cancer fell short of expectations.

Back in November, the Food and Drug Administration made the controversial decision to pull Avastin for breast cancer treatment, and Commissioner Margaret Hamburg indicated at the time that “there [was] no benefit to breast cancer patients that would justify [Avastin's] risks.” The decision was not without controversy, and one advisory panel member, Dr. Mikkael Sekeres, told NPR that he’d “struggled with [the FDA's] decision on whether to recommend removing the breast cancer label from Avastin,” but that the panel eventually came to the conclusion that “the significant risks associated with the drug far outweighed the lack of benefit.”

Those significant risks include increased possibility of blood clots as well as “heart attack, heart failure and severe bleeding.” The initial reason did not mandate doctors not prescribe Avastin for breast cancer, merely that the use of Avastin for breast cancer would be considered “off label”- which is similar to when doctors prescribe birth control pills to treat facial acne. While the decision allows patients access to the drug, it often means insurance refuses to cover the medication for treatment of breast cancer- making treatment with Avastin (which can top $100,000 a year) unaffordable to many patients who wish to use the drug to prolong their lives.

The two most recent studies found that while Avastin can add a few months to survival rates, the drug’s side effects did not justify its use. Ultimately, while Avastin won approval for treatment of advanced ovarian cancer in Europe last week, a spokeswoman for maker Genentech says that after talking with the FDA, the company does not believe ”data will support approval” in the US.

New Avastin Data Unlikely to ‘Support Approval’ For Ovarian Cancer Treatment is a post from: The Inquisitr

Zeta Cartel Uses National Radio Network To Coordinate Illegal Business

James Johnson — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 21:29:42 +0000

Mexico’s Zeta cartel is a multi-billion dollar high tech operation and that fact has recently been revealed more openly with the realization that hidden on rooftops and in bushes the cartel has managed to create their own national public radio station where orders are given and plans carried out.

A former US Army colonel told the Associated Press this week:

“They’re doing what any sensible military unit would do, They’re branching out into as many forms of communications as possible.”

Confirmation of that communication was revealed when Jose Luis del Toro Estrada, nickname “Tecnico”, testified that he used legally-available parts to build the system which he says now spans across most of Mexico’s states.

In fact the network has become so robust that the cartel has allegedly hired communications specialists to run that part of their operations.

How technological is the network? Apparently it runs off a computer network that can direct signals to various radios with pinpoint accuracy, ensuring that messages are only received by the parties involved in the cartel’s various crimes.

In the meantime the Mexican government is disputing U.S. claims of a national network, saying the Zeta’s are only running a series of local systems that are not connected to a single base of operations in the country.

Regardless of the radio networks size one official sums it up best, “By going after command and communications you disrupt control.”

Do you think the Mexican government has allowed drug cartels in the country to extend further then they should be allowed?

[Image via ShutterStock.com]

Zeta Cartel Uses National Radio Network To Coordinate Illegal Business is a post from: The Inquisitr

EU Restricts Sale of Lethal Injection Drugs to the US

H. Scott English — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 18:03:04 +0000

The European Union announced on Wednesday that they were going to put new restrictions on all short and long acting anesthetics to country’s that have not abolished the death penalty.

The European Commission is strengthening export controls on Sodium Thipentol, and other drugs which are used as part of the lethal injection. The commission said to the Associated Press it wanted to “prevent their use for capital punishment, torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.”

This had been a policy prerogative of death penalty abolitionists for a very long time. Currently no state in the European Union executes prisoners.

Many US states have already announced the delay of some executions from a shortage of Sodium Thiopental that has been going on for years. Other states have had to switch to other barbiturates in order to compensate. It is unclear if the new restrictions would have much, if any effect on US executions.

The EU restrictions are the latest in a long string of international restrictions aimed at the US Lethal Injection process. In April, Great Britain announced that it would not sell any of the three drugs used to execute prisoners anymore to the US. Indian Pharmaceutical companies have also followed suit. The Danish manufacturer of Phenobarbital (one of the replacement drugs being used by Texas, Georgia and Oklahoma) said it would no longer sell the drugs to anyone who would not sign a waiver that the drug would not be used in executions.

If the EU restrictions do have an effect on supply and force death penalty states to find new drugs, they open up all executions to new legal challenges on 8th amendment grounds. The 8th amendment prevents the use of cruel and unusual punishment.

Should the European Union restrict the sale of drugs used in lethal injections?”

EU Restricts Sale of Lethal Injection Drugs to the US is a post from: The Inquisitr

DEA: Cars and Drugs Funding Terrorism at Oklahoma Car Dealership

H. Scott English — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 18:31:20 +0000

The terrorist group Hezbollah (Army of God) seems to have a new interest…The Used Car Business. Drug Enforcement Agents raided a used car dealership in Oklahoma where they says drugs and cars were sold to benefit the terrorist organization and fund attacks against the US. The agents said this was one of 30 such used car dealerships being used for such purposes.

The raid Friday had DEA agents carrying out boxes of documents, filing cabinets and employees were questioned about inventory.

“They’re making big time money and it’s going right into weapons acquisition, terrorist training, recruiting, corruption. Things needed to carry out terrorist attacks across the world,” said Rusty Payne of the DEA. “Some of that money is flowing back to the United States, back to these used car companies, to purchase more used cars to ship them to West Africa to sell those at a profit and then mix those used car proceeds in with the drug dollars.”

The government agents said the business received more than $30 Million dollars wired to various accounts in order to launder it into the lots and turn in legitimate. The money was apparently wired by the Lebanese government (which Hezbollah controls).

“The used cars being purchased in the United States are being shipped into West Africa and they are making 15, 20, 25 percent profit and the proceeds are all being sent back into Lebanon and Hezbollah is benefiting,” DEA Agent Maltz told ABC News.

DEA: Cars and Drugs Funding Terrorism at Oklahoma Car Dealership is a post from: The Inquisitr

Rod Blagojevich Wants To Enroll In Drug Treatment Program, Hopes To Shave Time Off Sentence

James Johnson — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 05:07:48 +0000

First former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich lied about and ultimately admitted that he tried to sell off the vacated senate seat of President Barack Obama and now it looks like he may quite possibly be lying his way into a prison-based substance abuse program at the Denver prison where he is expected to spend the next 14 years.

The former governor’s legal team attempted to downplay the request in court on Tuesday, instead using the programs acronym as part of their request, later refusing to comment on the program.

Blago’s lawyers were likely attempting to avoid publicity since the request is often known in legal circuits as nothing more than a maneuver to shave time off a jail sentence after successful completion of the program.

Convicted former Illinois Governor George Ryan said on Wednesday that it didn’t take much to get into the Residential Drug Abuse Treatment Program with some inmates consuming no more than five drinks a week before being incarcerated.

Scott Fawell,Ryan’s former chief of staff told the Chicago Tribune:

“Any defense lawyer in town that’s worth their salt all know about this and they all try to get their clients in,” while adding, “(A lot) of the people who go through the system now ask for it or attempt to get in. How many actually need it, I couldn’t tell you.”

If accepted Ryan could shave 8-months off his sentence. The move was approved by U.S. District Judge James Zagel but will need approval from the US. Bureau of Prisons.

In order to be approved Blagojevich must have proof of a substance-use disorder, the Littleton facility does not screen for admittance into the substance-abuse program until the prisoner is three to four years away from their release. Inmates must also have a substance abuse history within 12-months of being admitted to the facility.

With Blagojevich expected to serve under 12 years in prison at this time thanks to federal guidelines his sentence could be reduced to less than 11 years if successfully enrolled in the program. After release the former Illinois Governor would be required to spend his final six months in a selected halfway house.

As part of the program Rod Blagojevich would also be asked to participate in group therapy sessions during the morning hours, thus working only half a day while imprisoned.

Do you think the Bureau of Prisons should allow Blagojevich into the program or is this another sleazy attempt to game the system by one of Chicago’s biggest windbags?

Rod Blagojevich Wants To Enroll In Drug Treatment Program, Hopes To Shave Time Off Sentence is a post from: The Inquisitr

Study: ADHD Drugs Not A Heart Attack Risk

H. Scott English — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 20:51:16 +0000

Ritalin, Adderall and other stimulant drugs used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have been found to pose no significant risk to the hearts of adults. It was feared that because they can increase users blood pressure and heart rate, the opposite would be true but it seems as if those cries were a false alarm.

A similar study found the same results in the hearts of children and was released last month. Scientists reviewed of health records for more than 440,000 adults aged 25 to 64. The records indicated that those taking ADHD drugs had an equal incidence of heart attacks, strokes deaths as adults who were not medicated with these drugs at all.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder affects about 4 percent of the adult population in the United States or about 9 million people, while roughly 5 million kids have the disorder, according to governmental sources. 1.5 million U.S. adults were taking stimulants for ADHD in 2005, the time period the study examined records for.

Fox News Reports that “Overall, there were 1,357 heart attacks, 575 strokes and 296 sudden cardiac deaths. Roughly equal numbers occurred in ADHD drug users and nonusers. Study participants used the drugs for an average of less than a year, which is short, but the upper range of use was almost 14 years, and there was no sign of increasing risk with longer use, the authors said, led by Laurel Habel of the research division at Kaiser Permanente Northern California in Oakland.”

Study: ADHD Drugs Not A Heart Attack Risk is a post from: The Inquisitr

Ecstasy has lasting toxic effect on the brain

Steven Hodson — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 00:41:57 +0000

Ecstasy is a popular drug that has gotten most of its press due to its association with raves and is said to produce feelings of euphoria and emotional warmth; but as researchers at Vanderbilt University have discovered it is also associated with chronic changes in the human brain.

Reported in the Archives of General Psychiatry on December 5 by associate professor Ronald Cowan M.D., Ph.D. there is increasing evidence that ecstasy produces long-lasting serotonin neurotoxicity in the human brain.

This is important because serotonin is a neurotransmitter, a critical signaling molecule, that affects the regulating of our moods, appetite, sleep, learning, and our memory. Part of the reason for the importance of this study is that ecstasy can also have some major therapeutic uses.

Because of this and people’s tendencies to self-medicate doctor’s need to understand the different effects of the drug at different levels of usage and at what point the danger of toxicity begin.

The study that was conducted was restricted to females because previous work showed that there are some real differences gender-wise when it comes to serotonin receptor levels.

They found that Ecstasy users had increased levels of serotonin-2A receptors and that higher lifetime use of the drug (higher doses) correlated with higher serotonin receptor levels. The findings are consistent with some studies in animal models, with receptor levels increasing to compensate for the loss of serotonin, Cowan said.

Cowan and colleagues reported earlier this year that Ecstasy increased brain activation in three brain areas associated with visual processing, which suggested a loss in brain efficiency. Together, the two studies provide compelling evidence that Ecstasy causes lasting changes in brain serotonin function, Cowan said.

via MedicalXprress

The 2010 National Survey on Drug Use and Health estimated that 15.9 million people 12 years or older in the United States have used ecstasy in their lifetime.

Ecstasy has lasting toxic effect on the brain is a post from: The Inquisitr

Pfizer Announces Drastic Discount Program For Lipitor As Generic Brands Hit The Market

James Johnson — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 03:49:33 +0000

As our very own Michael Söze reported earlier today the Pfizer created pharmaceutical brand Lipitor watched it’s cholesterol lowering medication patent expire today and now in response to that expiration we have learned that they plan to greatly discount their brand name offering to continue their dominance over the market.

While Lipitor currently costs upwards of $120 per month to obtain the company plans to steadily decrease that cost through the use of discount programs and general cost lowering procedures.

According to Pfizer documentation the drug will now be offered at or below generic brand pricing for the next 180 days as the company determines how to maintain their control over the market.

Lipitor is an important drug for Pfizer with 2012 projections set at $63-63.5 billion compared to $67.8 billion in 2010.

With today’s patent now expired American pharma company Watson Pharmaceuticals immediately released their own “authorized” generic version of the drug known as atorvastatin calcium, that drug was released in partnership with Pfizer and the two company’s will share in the products sales for the next five years.

In the coming months India based Ranbaxy will also release a generic version of the drug, at this time they are still awaiting FDA approval.

In the meantime Pfizer will continue to look for new revenue streams as Lipitor made up 15% of the company’s revenue.

Pfizer currently has 9 million active Lipitor users.

Will you be switching your Lipitor medication to a generic form of the drug once the company’s 180 day discount program has come to an end?

Pfizer Announces Drastic Discount Program For Lipitor As Generic Brands Hit The Market is a post from: The Inquisitr

Miley Cyrus Claims She’s A Stoner

Chris Greenhough — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 09:06:54 +0000

Miley Cyrus has appeared on a leaked video in which she proclaims herself a “stoner.” The footage was shot at Cyrus’ 19th birthday party in Los Angeles last week, and ended up in the hands of The Daily.

In the video, Cyrus is presented a cake featuring Bob Marley by close friend Kelly Osbourne. Cyrus instantly quips:

“You know you’re a stoner when friends make you a Bob Marley cake. You know you smoke way too much f—— weed.”

Osbourne, 27, then responds with, “I thought salvia was your problem, Miley?” That was a reference to a 2010 sighting of Cyrus smoking what she claimed to be the semi-legal herb salvia out of a bong.

After the latest video emerged, Osbourne leapt on the good steed Twitter and began defending her friend. She ranted:

“Let me make something very clear. After Miley’s salvia incident we started calling her Bob Miley as a joke! The cake was also a joke! It makes me sick that Miley’s so-called ‘friends’ would sell her out and lead people to believe she is someone that she is not. You guys, if Miley is not recording/filming/touring she works everyday. How could she possibly do all that if she was a stoner! #think”

Anyway, the butter-wouldn’t-melt-poppet-turned-bad-girl narrative is one beloved by media outlets, but there seems to be nothing unusual about Cyrus’ behavior (if, say, she does smoke a bit of Mary Jane). Realistically, she’s following a path trodden by millions of teenagers heading to adulthood, as she pointed out earlier this year:

“Every 18-year-old explores sexuality and experiments and tries things.”

Exactly. Big deal this ain’t.

[Via The Daily]

Miley Cyrus Claims She’s A Stoner is a post from: The Inquisitr

Medical Marijuana in California Targeted by the Feds

Chris Greenhough — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 10:04:10 +0000

Federal and state laws on the medical use of marijuana vary greatly in California. While federal law states the possession and sale of marijuana is a serious crime, Californian voters approved medical use of the drug in 1996.

It’s a legal conundrum, in other words, but since 1996 federal agencies and authorities have long turned a blind eye to the practice of growing medical marijuana in the Golden State (while continuing to target those who make illegal profits in the name of medicine, or who smuggle marijuana across state lines). The growth of marijuana for medical purposes has become a billion-dollar industry, with Californian growers and dispensaries leading the way.

Recently however, more and more growers in the state are reporting raids by federal authorities – even those regarded by local officials as law-abiding. Threats to seize property have suddenly rocketed.

In turn, this has hurt the state-authorized industry, especially after the Internal Revenue Service introduced hefty (and widely disputed) tax charges against the state’s largest dispensary, which is now facing a fight for its future.

This follows an October 7 announcement from four United States attorneys of a new, tougher campaign against medical marijuana dispensaries. Kamala D. Harris, attorney general of California, describes the effect of the new campaign:

“It was a unilateral federal action, and it has only increased uncertainty about how Californians can legitimately comply with state law,” Ms. Harris said in an interview. Since federal authorities do not recognize that marijuana can serve medical ends, she said, “they are ill equipped to be the decision makers as to which providers are violating the law.”

Industry leaders warn the intensifying federal pressure on the industry could seriously affect the cooperatives that provide medical marijuana. In turn, that could mean greater suffering the 750,000 Californians who have obtained doctor “recommendations” to use marijuana for everything from cancer-related nausea to pain and anxiety.

Where do you stand on the use of marijuana for medical purposes?

Medical Marijuana in California Targeted by the Feds is a post from: The Inquisitr

Avastin Breast Cancer Drug Loses FDA Approval

James Johnson — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 18:10:46 +0000

The Food and Drug Administration ruled this week that the drug Avastin, often used in advanced breast cancer patients should not be used because there is no verifiable proof that it extends the lives of patients. The FDA also worries that the dangerous side effects of the drug outweigh the temporary benefit.

While the decision has been expected for a long time a large lobbying effort by some patients hoped to preserve Avastin as an insurer supported long-shot last measure for women with no other options.

In various studies it was shown that the drug only had a very small effect on tumor growth while rarely extending the lifespan of patients who used the drug compared to standard chemotherapy.

Among the drugs risks are high blood pressure, massive bleeding, heart attack or heart failure, along with perforations in the stomach and intestines.

Speaking about her decision to vote against the drugs use FDA commissioner, Dr. Margaret Hamburg told ABC News:

“I did not come to this decision lightly … Sometimes despite the hopes of investigators, patients, industry and even the FDA itself, the results of rigorous testing can be disappointing.”

Avastin has become the world’s best-selling cancer drug because of it’s reported ability to find colon, lung, brain cancers and kidney cancer.

While doctors can still prescribe Avastin it may no longer be approved by insurers. Avastin can cost up to $100,000 for a one year’s treatment without insurance. In some cases insurers dropped payment support for Avastin after the FDA twice said they would revoke their recommendation for the drug.

In the meantime Medicare patients will continue to receive support for Avastin but have they they “will monitor the issue and evaluate coverage options.”

Have you had any success with Avastin? Share your story in our comments section.

Avastin Breast Cancer Drug Loses FDA Approval is a post from: The Inquisitr

Nigerian Actor Baba Suwe Released From Prison After Pooping 25 Times

Minic Rivera — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 01:45:56 +0000

Nigerian comic actor Babatunde Omidina, known as Baba Suwe, is now a free man on $3,300 bail. He was initially arrested last October 12 at the Lagos international airport, accused of swallowing narcotics before boarding a flight to Paris.

Since he was suspected of ingesting the drugs, the only way for authorities to prove their claim was to closely watch his bowel movements. After 25 bowel movements over a period of 24 days and without finding any drugs, Omidina was ordered released.

High Court Judge Yetunde Idowu, in releasing Omidina, said:

“I wish you well. Take care of yourself. You are free to go home.”

His lawyer Bamidele Aturu argued:

“There have been several examinations carried out on him and no banned substances have so far been found He has excreted more than 25 times.”

The lawyer also revealed that the comedian may sue Nigeria’s National Drug Law Enforcement Agency over tests conducted without his consent.

Don’t you just pity the authorities who were tasked to observe the bowel movements?

Nigerian Actor Baba Suwe Released From Prison After Pooping 25 Times is a post from: The Inquisitr

New Psoriasis Drug Shows Promise [Study]

James Johnson — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 16:57:44 +0000

A new drug currently in the experimental stages is showing promise over older forms of treatment. According to researchers the new drug is so effective that in some cases it appears to be keeping psoriasis out of the picture for good.

Speaking of the drugs progress Dr. Kristian Reich, professor of dermatology at Georg-August-University in Gottingen, Germany says:

“This is unheard of … We in dermatology have never spoken about remission before. But with this drug, the word ‘remission’ is on the table.”

Published in the New England Journal of Medicine the study included more than 300 people with psoriasis who were given either the experimental treatment of briakinumab, or a commonly used drug, methotrexate. In cases where Briakinumab was used symptoms were reduced by 75 percent in more than 80 percent of patients, that number compares to just 40 percent for users who took methotrexate.

Researchers followed up with patients one year later and nearly 60 percent of briakinumad users had no skin lesions while only 20 percent of methotrexate users had no lesions.

The drug isn’t without it’s own problems including some severe side effects. Researchers found that briakinumad provides 9 percent of users with side effects compared with only 6 percent of methotrexate users. Among those side effects was an increased cancer risk which researchers are still trying to define.

In the meantime to help reduce psoriasis patients are asked to eat a healthy diet, avoid stress, watch out of allergies and avoid cuts and scrapes, all of which can trigger an outbreak.

Do you have any tips that you use to help fend off your own bouts of psoriasis?

New Psoriasis Drug Shows Promise [Study] is a post from: The Inquisitr

Judge Halts ‘Welfare Drug Testing’ In Florida

James Johnson — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 18:18:53 +0000

A federal judge in Florida on Wednesday ruled that the state can not test welfare recipients for drug use. According to the judge their ruling comes as “suspicionless drug testing” has raised questions of constitutionality while noting that “there is a substantial likelihood” that the drug testing law will be deemed unconstitutional.

The judges ruling is a result of an ACLU lawsuit brought forth by an unemployed ex-Marine who also happens to be a single dad and college student. The marine refused to take the test because it violated his Fourth Amendment protections against unreasonable search and seizure.

The same federal judge also denied the ACLU’s request to turn the case into a class-action suit while writing in her ruling:

“Perhaps no greater public interest exists than protecting a citizen’s rights under the Constitution.”

Florida isn’t the first state that has attempted mandatory drug testing for welfare recipients, Michigan saw the same law struckt down by a federal appeals court in 2003.

In the meantime the office of Florida Governor Rick Scott says he “obviously disagrees with the decision” and that further examination of the law along with a possible appeal are being investigated.

Do you believe the state of Florida or any state for that matter should have the right to drug test their residents before handing out welfare checks?

Judge Halts ‘Welfare Drug Testing’ In Florida is a post from: The Inquisitr

New York State Investigates Missing Prescription Pads

Minic Rivera — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 17:34:04 +0000

New York state health officials estimated in July that more than 1.4 million blank prescription forms could have been stolen. This estimated is according to an internal memorandum obtained by Newsday.

The State Health Department, however, said that about 100 prescription forms have only been confirmed as stolen. Given the disparity in figures, officials believe that a few thousand blank forms have only been stolen.

State officials are now planning to review policies regarding physically safeguarding the forms.

The memorandum said:

“It appears that the facilities are not adequately safeguarding the prescription forms and this is contributing to their theft.”

The memorandum estimated that the stolen prescription forms have a street value of $100 to $300 each. Stolen forms are usually used to obtain prescription painkiller oxycodone.

Oxycodone has become popular that the number of prescriptions filled in New York City alone doubled between 2007 and 2010 to more than one million.

New York State Investigates Missing Prescription Pads is a post from: The Inquisitr

CDC Reveals: 1 In 10 Americans Now Consuming Antidepressants

James Johnson — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 22:06:02 +0000

A recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study has revealed some scary data about Americans consumption of antidepressant drugs.

According to the agency one in 10 American’s (11%) now consume antidepressants when over the age of 12. The study also reveals that most of those people take the drugs to fend off depression, making the drugs the most used prescription among people aged 18 to 44.

The study also reveals that current numbers are a 400% increase over a similar study conducted by the agency in 1988.

CDC officials also reveal that of those patients using antidepressants more than one-third of them have not visited a health professional in the last 12 months, although they continue to use the drugs.

The study also revealed that women are more likely to take the drugs, especially between the ages of 40 to 59 when 23% of females consume antidepressants. Research also revealed that 14% of whites takes the drugs while only 4% of blacks and 3% of Mexican-Americans use antidepressants.

In terms of overall use 60% of patients have been on antidepressants for more than two years.

Given how easily accessible some doctors have made depression and anxiety drugs I can’t say this study surprises me although current prescription numbers are troubling. Does it surprise you to learn that 1 in 10 Americans are now taking antidepressants?

CDC Reveals: 1 In 10 Americans Now Consuming Antidepressants is a post from: The Inquisitr