Alcohol poisoning deaths are soaring in Massachusetts, and state health officials are pointing to a number of potential causes — from binge drinking to the sales tax exemption given to alcohol sold in stores. The number of deaths attributed to drinking fatal levels of alcohol jumped from just 18 in 2000 to 228 in 2008, a 12-fold increase that has pushed alcohol into the second spot ahead of cocaine overdoses, according to a report by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. » More

Dr. Howard Samuels; Psychotherapist
As families come together during the holidays it's as good a time as any to talk to our kids about alcohol and drug abuse. We as parents have a responsibility to educate our children that there is no such thing as recreational drug use and that getting drunk and loaded is not the appropriate reward for turning 18 or 21. » More

By Charles Ashby
Two margaritas at lunch with a couple of friends turned into a yearlong nightmare for one Grand Junction woman. As a result of her first and only conviction for driving under the influence of alcohol, the 53-year-old woman, whom we’ll call Patricia, found herself picking up trash along the highway with other jail inmates, making blankets as part of her community service, taking numerous alcohol-education and therapy classes, and paying lots and lots of fines, fees and other costs. » More

By Paige L. Jinbo
As heart disease continues to be the No. 1 cause of death in Hawaii, it’s critical that the state’s hospitals are staffed enough trained cardiologists — 109 to be exact. However, research provided by the John A. Burns School of Medicine has shown that Hawaii only has 62 trained cardiologists, 47 short of what’s deemed sufficient. » More

By Penn Points Staff
Earlier this year the freshman, sophomore and senior class had an assembly about the dangers of abusing drugs, including prescription drugs.  The presentation was given by the SAP (Student Assistance Program) coordinator, Darrin Donmoyer.  The presentation included facts and statistics about the dangers of abusing prescription drugs,  second place only to the most common drug of choice among teens, marijuana. » More

By Amy Crawford; TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Teenage marijuana use has risen for the third year in a row, according to results of a nationwide survey released Tuesday. For the first time in the annual survey, titled "Monitoring the Future," more high schoolers reported smoking marijuana than tobacco — a twist that points to changing attitudes toward the country's most popular illegal drug. » More