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Drugs

Colorado Doctor Sounds Alarm on Marijuana Legalization

High hopes dashed


Colorado's experiment with marijuana legalization has been an epic disaster, according to one doctor seeing its effects on the front lines. Dr. Karen Randall, an emergency room physician certified in "cannabis science and medicine," said the legalization of marijuana has damaged, rather than helped her home state.

‘Deaths of Despair’ Might Not Be About Despair After All

New report captures a century of 'deaths of despair'


Delving into more than 100 years of data, a report released Thursday casts new light on America's ongoing battle with "deaths of despair." The issue has risen to prominence since economists Anne Case and Angus Deaton's groundbreaking work revealed that American middle-aged mortality rates had been rising since the year 2000.

DOJ Busts 35 in Drug Conspiracy

Virginia crew allegedly had enough fentanyl to kill 14 million people


The Department of Justice indicted 35 drug traffickers who collectively participated in a conspiracy to sell tons of highly potent drugs in eastern Virginia.

IG: Medicare Paid Twice for Up to $420 Million Worth of Drugs

Medicare maintains existing measures sufficient to curb duplicate payment

prescription drugs


In the final year of the Obama administration, Medicare paid twice for between $160 million and $420 million worth of drugs for terminally ill patients because it failed to address a redundancy government watchdogs had identified years earlier, according to a new government report.

Fentanyl Trade Is Spreading, Feds Warn

Feds warn private industry about changing market for deadly opioid


The market for fentanyl, the deadly synthetic opioid, is growing in rapid and disturbing ways, a series of advisories released Wednesday by the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) indicate.

Illegal Drugs Are a $150-Billion-a-Year Business

New report offers insight into drug market


Americans spent on the order of $150 billion on cocaine, marijuana, heroin, and methamphetamine in 2016 alone, according to a report. Researchers at the non-partisan RAND corporation found that illegal narcotics generated as much business as the amusement and gambling industry in 2016 after conducting an exhaustive analysis of drug use and spending data.

Dem State Rep Trying to Obtain Cocaine Impersonates, Threatens Cops

‘I’m a legit officer doing a drug bust,’ Forestal told a couple, asking where to get drugs


Indiana state representative Dan Forestal (D.) impersonated an officer to ask where he could find cocaine, and upon his arrest threatened to use his family connections to "have" the badges of those detaining him, according to a police report.

CBD Might Be More Popular Than Weed

Survey shows how little-regulated drug has taken off in past year


More Americans use products infused with cannabidiol (CBD) than use marijuana or other illegal drugs, according to a Gallup poll. CBD, one of marijuana's active ingredients, has risen swiftly in prominence despite a lack of scientific understanding or careful regulation of the substance.

The Drug Crisis Is Now Urban, CDC Says

Urban counties surpass rural counties for rates of drug overdose death


Although popular coverage tends to identify the drug crisis with rural America, a report released Friday by the Centers for Disease Control indicates that urban areas now have higher rates of overdose deaths.