By Kara Macek April 26, 2017 WASHINGTON, D.C.—With more states legalizing marijuana and record numbers of people dying from drug overdoses, concerns about drug-impaired driving are escalating. While we have made progress in combatting drunk driving in recent decades, drug use by drivers continues to rise. In fact, in 2015 (the most recent national data…
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New Bill to Put 7-Day Limit on Pain Med Prescriptions
by Megan Brooks April 19, 2017 In an effort to combat opioid addiction and abuse, US Senators John McCain (R-Ariz) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) have introduced bipartisan legislation that would limit the initial supply of opioids for acute pain to 7 days. This limit does not apply to the treatment of chronic pain; pain being…
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Cartels are growing marijuana illegally in California — and there’s a war brewing
By Julian Smith In the gray half-light of dawn, eight figures creep through the dry pine forest near Quincy, California. Seven of them wear camo uniforms bearing the logos of various government agencies: U.S. Forest Service, National Guard, California Fish & Wildlife, Plumas County Sheriff. Most have blackened faces and assault rifles at the ready.…
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In fight against opioids, prevention is crucial but often overlooked
By Eric Russell In York County, the Choose to Be Healthy Coalition at York Hospital has organized prescription drug takeback programs and helped present data on substance use to parents at regional high schools. In Brunswick, Mid Coast Hospital sponsored a training program for parents to effectively monitor their children for warning signs of substance…
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