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27 Dec 2011 15:53

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U.S.: Zohydro, a super-powered (and addictive) painkiller?

  • High-strength painkiller sparks addiction concerns: A new prescription painkiller currently in development has stoked fears among addiction experts, due to its high concentration of a substance already known to be hyper-addictive. Zohydro, a new medication for which pharmaceutical company Zogenix plans to apply for FDA approval to sell sometime early next year, contains ten times the amount of hydrocodone as Vicodin does — one of the most abused drugs in the United States. Said April Rovero, of the National Coalition Against Prescription Drug Abuse: “I have a big concern that this could be the next OxyContin. We just don’t need this on the market.” (photo by The Javorac on Flickr) source

29 Sep 2011 22:13

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U.S.: Flyin’ no more: Boeing plant targeted in prescription drug bust

  • 23 people were arrested for selling painkillers such as Oxycontin, or anti-anxiety drugs, at the plant
  • 14 people were arrested for attempting to buy said drugs at the plant in Ridley Park, Pennsylvania source
  • » More serious due to nature of the job: With the 6,000-strong plant producing such military aircraft as the V-22 Osprey vertical take-off aircraft and the H-47 Chinook helicopter, officials took extra care with this drug ring. “This investigation and prosecution focused not only on the sellers, but also on the users because of the critical role that these employees play in manufacturing military aircraft,” noted U.S. Attorney Zane David Memeger. Officials say that the quality of the aircraft was not affected by the drug ring, and that current and former employees were arrested.

28 Apr 2011 12:47

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U.S.: The DEA will take those prescription drugs off your hands

  • problem Painkiller addiction is a big problem in America. The CDC says in 2007, around 12,000 people died of opioid overdose. There’s an environmental cost as well; unused drugs are often flushed down the toilet into water systems.
  • solution? Police departments and the DEA are trying to combat this with “National Take Back Day” this April 30th, wherein you can safely, cleanly unload unwanted prescription drugs at a number of sites, searchable here. source

18 Jun 2010 11:37

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U.S.: People are abusing painkillers more than ever before

  • 145k number of emergency visits caused by the nonmedical abuse of painkillers of 2004
  • 305k number of emergency visits caused by the nonmedical abuse of painkillers in 2008
  • 111% the size of the increase; the CDC says urgent action is needed to limit further abuse source

27 Jun 2009 10:55

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Culture: Michael Jackson’s autopsy: Inconclusive. Wait for toxicology.

  • Another 4-to-6 weeks (at least) of lack of clarity. The autopsy of Michael Jackson, who was reported to have been injected with narcotic painkillers shortly before his death, has proven inconclusive. That means, yes, weeks of speculation of 24-hour news channels await us until we possibly learn the truth about what happened. Unless, you know, the toxicology reports also come up inconclusive. In which case, we’re screwed. source