Testing It Up

Twenty-three attorneys general addressed a letter to Urban Outfitters requesting the Philadelphia-headquartered chain to cease from selling novelty items that promote prescription drug abuse.

Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi told The Miami Herald that their move is in line with the country’s fight against prescription drug abuse. While they do not have plans to push for any legal action against Urban Outfitters, the group wants the company to remove “Prescription Line” of glasses, coasters, mugs and drink holders from shelves.

Bondi and colleagues believe these products undermine federal and state efforts in ending a rampant problem and should therefore be stopped the soonest possible time.

“We are actively engaged in a campaign of environmental change to educate the public that abuse of prescription drugs is not safe simply because the medication originated from a doctor. By putting these highly recognizable labels on your products you are undermining our efforts,” the letter said.

Urban Outfitters, which targets 18 to 30-year-old customers, is known for selling edgy products, including a drinking novelties that look like pill bottles, boxes and pads. One of its products is emblazoned with a text that reads “TAKE ONE CAN BY MOUTH, REPEAT UNTIL INTOXICATED.” Another item lookes like a mock prescription of “BOOZEMIN” and bears the name of “Dr. Koholic, Al.”

The use of Adderall and Ritalin by people without attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may be nothing new. But as a growing number of teens experiment with these drugs to gain academic advantage, many parents remain clueless of the emerging issue.

A survey conducted by C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital National Poll on Children’s Health revealed that only 1 percent of parents think their teens have used ADHD drugs to boost grades. That is despite findings of an earlier national poll which suggested 10 percent of high school sophomores and 12 percent of high school seniors use “study drugs.”

The survey also found that even though white parents are most likely to say they are “very concerned” about children and teens using “study drugs,” only 27 percent of them reported talking with their teens about the issue. Black parents were found to be more vigilant in discussing “study drugs” with their kids.

“What we found in this poll is a clear mismatch between what parents believe and what their kids are reporting. But even though parents may not be recognizing these behaviors in their own kids, this poll also showed that one-half of the parents say they are very concerned about this abuse in their communities,” Dr. Matthew M. Davis, director of the C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital National Poll on Children’s Health, said in a news release.

Davis explained that taking ADHD drugs for non-medical reasons could lead to some serious health problems, such as acute exhaustion, abnormal heart rhythms, and addiction. He recommends parents, educators and physicians to be more proactive in reminding teens of the dangerous outcomes when they use such drugs without a prescription.

Despite recent news of medical marijuana bills being approved into law in several states across the US, law enforcers are unsure about the implementation of these new laws.

Marijuana laws in Colorado and Washington specifically state that drivers are considered under the influence of marijuana if a test shows at least 5 nanograms of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) per milliliter of blood. But unlike DUI cases involving alcohol, breathalyzers cannot be used by the police to measure THC — the psychoactive component in marijuana — in the bloodstream of suspected drivers.

Psychiatry assistant professor R. Andrew Sewell of Yale School of Medicine said in a news release that the relationship between THC levels and driver impairment has not been scientifically ascertained. Some people have a high tolerance for THC, especially those who have been smoking pot regularly. The limits of the law could only result in two things: the assessor can either miss the impaired driver, or apprehend someone who can actually handle the THC limit.

Procedures for testing THC levels in the bloodstream are made available for assessing drivers. A step-by-step assessment process developed by the International Association of Chiefs of Police involves an eye exam, and motor skills evaluation for the suspected user, such as the one-foot balance and a walk-and-turn test. However, only a small portion of the whole police force — less than 1% to be exact — are trained for this procedure to detect pot impairment.

Technology is still catching up to accurately detect marijuana use. The system of identifying alcohol-DUI cases in Washington is already one step ahead, as arrested or convicted drivers are required to install a vehicle starter device that detects alcohol from the driver’s breath. Law enforcers and legislators are hopeful that a similar technology can be developed for pot-DUI cases in the future.

The state’s law enforcement and public health officials have expressed alarm over the increasing number of people using and dying from heroin in the last couple of years.

Government data showed that heroin-related deaths and admissions to treatment programs in New Hampshire had significantly rose from 2000 to 2012. In the mid-2000s, at least seven or eight people had died due to heroin use but that rate more than tripled in 2011 with 49 deaths.

Last year, heroin-related deaths identified by the state Medical Examiner’s Office was 38, the majority of which involved 19 to 24-year-olds and four were in their 40s. Twenty-one of those who died were residents of Hillsborough County, the rest lived in Rockingham, Cheshire, Grafton, Merrimack, Strafford or Sullivan counties, the Union Leader reports.

In terms of admissions to publicly funded treatment programs, the rate has increased from 454 admissions in 2001 to 1,091 in 2011. Officials agree that the sharp rise in both heroin admission and use has something to do with the prescription drug abuse problem in the state.

Typically, people begin with abusing prescription medicines but once they run out of pills they turn their attention to heroin, which is cheaper than prescription drugs. A spokesman of the Drug Enforcement Administration in New England said most of the heroin supplies sold in the state are coming from Colombia through Mexico.

llinois is inching its way into the list of states that legalize medical marijuana.

Only a month after House Bill 0001 cleared the House, Illinois state senators approved the measure to allow the use of marijuana for medical purposes. It is now up to Gov. Pat Quinn to ink the bill for implementation.

Sen. William Haine, sponsor of the medical marijuana bill, is already expectant of the positive impact of the bill. In a news report, Haine said that the marijuana bill will provide people with a better alternative to narcotics and drugs that are “highly physically addictive and have horrific side effects.”

Quinn has not yet declared his position on the legislation, but said that he will be open-minded and weigh the pros and cons. After having the opportunity to talk to a war veteran about the positive effects of medical marijuana on pain relief, Quinn said he will undergo a thorough review of the bill. Regardless of which way he decides to go, this controversial issue will definitely have a major impact on his bid for re-election in 2014.

According to Haine, the legislation includes strict provisions to prevent the mistakes of other states. The Illinois version of the marijuana bill will initially run under a four-year trial phase. Patients are prohibited from growing their own weed; instead, marijuana will be sold in centers approved and monitored by the Department of Agriculture. Doctors will prescribe a maximum of 2.5 ounces of marijuana per patient twice a month, and the patient must have a serious health condition that is included in the bill.

Some law enforcers and other concerned groups are still skeptical about the state’s ability to regulate marijuana use, saying that other long-pending state issues have not been given solutions yet.

In a move to increase the confidence of Arizonans who patronize “for hire” vehicles, Governor Jan Brewer approved a bill earlier this month that requires drug testing for taxi, livery, and limousine drivers.

Gov. Brewer signed into law SB 1087, a first-of-its-kind legislation in Arizona, which mandates taxi, livery, and limousine companies in the state to conduct pre-employment drug testing and annual, random drug testing on all drivers. The new law also requires these companies to maintain the drivers’ drug testing results and make them available at all times for inspection by the Department of Weights and Measures as part of the state licensing process.

“It is critical that Arizonans who patronize taxi and limousine services feel safe and assured the person behind the wheel is drug-free,” Gov. Brewer said in a news release. “This common sense but crucial measure will increase the safety of Arizona public transportation, and may ultimately save lives. I thank the Arizona Department of Weights and Measures for its work and persistence in bringing this bill forward. I am proud to sign it into law.”

Kevin Tyne, Director of the Department of Weights and Measures, is grateful that state officials have finally recognized the need to implement additional safety measures that would protect consumers, particularly senior citizens and people who rely on taxi and livery services.

Workplace drug testing has become common place across the U.S., as well as in other countries. Its benefits include a safer work environment; increased employee morale and productivity; and reduced health care costs, attrition rates, and absenteeism.

As more states are zooming in on the benefits of medical marijuana, another new study recommends the use of the controversial therapy drug for diabetics.

 The American Journal of Medicine published a clinical study yesterday on the effect of marijuana on regulating glucose and insulin among adults. Research proponents Elizabeth Penner, Hannah Buettner and Murray Mittleman were able to correlate the impact of marijuana on metabolic processes, specifically on fasting insulin, glucose, and insulin resistance, according to Medical Daily.

Based on the study conducted, it was found that use of medical marijuana was beneficial in decreasing the amount of fasting insulin and the chances of insulin resistance. Current marijuana users were able to receive such benefits, while the effect was weaker on those who were not taking marijuana anymore. Meanwhile, fasting insulin levels were lower by 16 percent in people who have never tried taking marijuana. In addition, people who regularly take marijuana had significantly smaller waistlines.

The study involved pre-selected adults from the database of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey between 2005 and 2010. About 12 percent of the respondents are current marijuana users, while close to half of the whole study group has never used marijuana.

Joseph Alpert, editor-in-chief of the American Journal of Medicine, supported the breakthrough study. He said that the results of the study were remarkable and are backed up by scientific fundamentals. He further recommends that a similar study be conducted for other clinical cases such as cancer and elderly health.

Vermont’s attempt to replace criminal penalties with a civil fine for possession of limited amounts of marijuana finally gained victory on Monday. All it takes now is for Gov. Peter Shumlin to sign it into law.

House Bill 200 was introduced by Rep. Christopher Pearson (P-Burlington) and co-sponsored by more than 35 other state lawmakers. Its main provision is to impose fine-only penalties for individuals 21 and older, who are caught possessing up to one ounce of cannabis. Those under the age of 21 who are caught with marijuana will be required to undergo substance abuse screening.

On May 13, Gov. Shumlin tweeted the following: “Decriminalizing small amounts of marijuana will allow courts and law enforcement to focus limited resources more effectively to fight highly addictive drugs that tear apart families and communities.”

Shumlin is expected to sign HB 200 in the coming weeks. The legislation will then take effect on July 1, 2013.

Marijuana supporters in the state are ecstatic of the lawmakers’ approval of the bill. Matt Simon, a legislative analyst for the Marijuana Policy Project said Vermont Legislature has just set an example for other states by adopting a kind of law that America really needs.

“The exceptionally broad support demonstrated for this measure reflects the progress our nation is making toward adopting a new and more sensible approach to marijuana policy,” Simon told The Daily Chronic.

The Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (TDMHSAS) announced last week its plans to create new recovery courts that will be instrumental in fighting the state’s mental health and substance abuse problems.

Recovery courts are specialized courts that make use of intensive judicial supervision, treatment services, sanctions, and incentives to address the needs of nonviolent drug offenders. The state has been approved with a budget of $1.56 million to establish nine new recovery courts that will target juvenile and adult offenders.

One of the biggest substance abuse problems in Tennessee is the non-medical use of prescription medicines. Effective April 1, health care providers are required to use the state’s controlled substance monitoring database in an effort to fight prescription drug abuse. This move is in addition to the pain management clinic registry created last year.

“We are facing a major prescription drug problem in our state,” TDMHSAS Commissioner Douglas Varney said in a news release. “We need to focus all of our resources in the most efficient, effective, and collaborative way to maximize our impact on this issue and drug abuse overall. And because so many people who are dealing with a substance abuse issue also have a mental health issue – a situation referred to as a co-occurring disorder – these recovery courts will be able to help them get all the help that they need at one time and in one location.”

The new recovery courts will combine the services currently found in mental health courts and veterans courts to address mental health, substance abuse and veterans affairs issues in one location, as well as to maximize the allotted funds. TDMHSAS officials are currently working with community leaders around the state to determine the best possible sites for the nine recovery courts.

Tobacco smoking has long been established as the primary risk factor of lung cancer. But it appears that the same danger cannot be said for those who smoke marijuana, whether occasionally or habitually.

In a study presented at the annual meeting of the American Association of Cancer Research, a group of researchers reported that regular cannabis smoking has no significant association with lung cancer risk.

Dr. Li Rita Zhang of the University of California, Los Angeles, and colleagues examined the role of cannabis smoking in lung cancer risk using data from six case-control studies in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and New Zealand. All of the studies were part of the International Lung Cancer Consortium (ILCCO), according to The Oncology Report.

The risk of lung cancer was assessed between the frequency, intensity, and duration of use, while adjusting for age, sex, sociodemographic factors and tobacco packyears. In the end, the researchers found that regular pot smokers had no significant increase in lung cancer risk when compared with marijuana smokers who also used tobacco.

“The conventional wisdom is that cannabis smoking is not as dangerous as cigarette smoking,” said pulmonologist Dr. Michael Alberts, chief medical officer of the Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, who wasn’t part of the study. Still, he cautioned that smoking anything can have some negative effects to the respiratory system.

Dr. Zhang, on the other hand, did not comment on the study but she noted that their findings “cannot preclude the possibility that cannabis may exhibit an association with lung cancer risk at extremely high dosage over long periods of continued exposure.”