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Tag: Drugs

  • Russia Bans Wikipedia Over Drug Article, Promptly Reverses Course After Edits

    Russia Bans Wikipedia Over Drug Article, Promptly Reverses Course After Edits

    Roskomnadzor, Russia’s Federal Service for Supervision of Communications, Information Technology and Mass Media (basically its internet watchdog) has been in the news quite a bit lately. The regulatory body seems to be scouring the web, looking to block certain sites of content it deems harmful – which as of late has all related to drugs.

    Now, over the past couple of days, the Russian agency directed Internet Service Providers to block a certain Wikipedia page, ISPs responded by doing what they could do (which was block all of Wikipedia for a brief time), and Roskomnadzor then lifted the ban after significant editing to the specific article.

    Roskomnadzor was upset over a Wikipedia article about hashish. On Monday, it sent out a decree instructing ISPs to block access to the article. To comply with the order, ISPs were forced to block the entirety of Wikipedia because its “secure communication protocol doesn’t allow the blocking of individual articles,” according to Roskomnadzor.

    But after edits to the article of which Roskomnadzor found satisfactory, the ban was lifted.

    “Unexpectedly, confirmation has arrived from Roskomnadzor that the entry on Charas has been excluded from the register of banned sites,” Wikimedia Russia executive director Stas Kozlovsky said.

    This isn’t the first time in recent memory the Russian watchdog has blocked access to major sites over drug content.

    Roskomnadzor sent out the order to block reddit on August 12th. The government was upset over a post about the “cultivation of narcotic plants” – more specifically mushrooms. Officials said they had been trying to get in touch with reddit about removing the offending thread – but didn’t hear back. So they blocked reddit.

    But reddit soon complied with the request to block the “offending” post and Russia authorities unblocked the site. This led to the revelation that reddit will, in practice, block content in certain countries to “preserve the existence of reddit in those regions.”

  • Russia Unblocks Reddit After Dustup over Shroom Post

    Russia Unblocks Reddit After Dustup over Shroom Post

    On Wednesday afternoon, Russia added reddit to its registry of blocked sites.

    And as of early Thursday morning, reddit has been removed from the blocked sites list.

    After warning that it was considering it, Roskomnadzor, Russia’s Federal Service for Supervision of Communications, Information Technology and Mass Media, sent out the order to block reddit on August 12th. The government was upset over a post about the “cultivation of narcotic plants” – more specifically mushrooms. Officials said they had been trying to get in touch with reddit about removing the offending thread – but didn’t hear back. So they blocked reddit.

    Apparently, reddit complied with the request to block the “offending” post and Russia authorities have unblocked the site. Unless you’re in Russia, you can check out the specific post here. It’s two years old.

    Here’s what Roskomnadzor had to say on Russian social network VKontakte:

    We thank all who by their activity on the Web has prompted administrators to listen to reddit Roskomnadzor. Aug. 13 on the administration of the resource on the “hot line” of the Federal Service received a letter, which reported on the termination of access to the territory of Russia to the forbidden information. The requirement Roskomnadzor validated inspection. In connection with this page removed from the Register of illegal information. Given that this illegal article two years ago to notify Roskomnadzor has removed one of the pages on reddit, and then appeared on the other hand, we expect that the administration of resources will continue to listen to the demands of regulatory authorities Russia in the interests of large Russian audience.

    According to redditors on the r/russia subreddit, reddit it fully accessible in Russia – except for the page in question.

    The user responsible for the mushroom-tutorial recently posted in reddit’s popular r/TIFU (Today I Fucked Up) subreddit, saying TIFU by getting Reddit banned in Russia.

    “In Russia, there is a law which allow Roskomnadzor, Russian censorship agency, to block any website without court rulling. Two years ago I tested how RKN react to abuse on popular websites/crazy abuses. On of that websites was Reddit,” they say.

    “One thing I learned is that RKN doesn’t want to block popular websites. They respond me that this content is illegal and they blocked it, but they weren’t. It was on 05/21/2013. On 10st Aug 2015 they posted a call to help them contact Reddit administration to official VK page. Funny thing, but they called Psilocybe a plant. Several hours ago they reported that Reddit is blocked in Russia. Seems like things changed.”

  • Kim Kardashian Posted a Misleading Drug Ad on Instagram and Ran Afoul of the FDA

    Kim Kardashian Posted a Misleading Drug Ad on Instagram and Ran Afoul of the FDA

    Kim Kardashian has 42.6 million Instagram followers and nearly 26 million Facebook likes. So when she promotes a product, it’s a pretty big deal.

    Paid social media promotion is everywhere, as companies look to provide their products a lucrative endorsement from the rich and famous. Kim Kardashian is far from the only celebrity who rents out space on their social media profiles for advertisements.

    But a recent endorsement from the most famous of the Kardashian clan has run afoul of the US Food and Drug Administration.

    In now-deleted Instagram and Facebook posts, Kardashian recently touted the amazing benefits of a morning sickness drug called Diclegis, made by a drug company called Duchesnay.

    But according to the FDA, the post was “false and misleading.”

    “The Office of Prescription Drug Promotion of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has reviewed the Kim Kardashian Social Media Post for DICLEGIS (doxylamine succinate and pyridoxine hydrochloride) delayed-release tablets, for oral use submitted by Duchesnay, Inc. under cover of Form FDA 2253. The social media post was also submitted as a complaint to the OPDP Bad Ad Program. The social media post is false or misleading in that it presents efficacy claims for DICLEGIS, but fails to communicate any risk information associated with its use and it omits material facts,” says the FDA in a letter addressed to Eric Gervais, Executive Vice President of Duchesnay, Inc., dated August 7th.

    Basically, Kardashian’s social media posts failed to illuminate the limitations and potential side effects of the drug.

    The post is still up on Twitter:

    Here’s what it said:

    OMG. Have you heard about this? As you guys know my #morningsickness has been pretty bad. I tried changing things about my lifestyle, like my diet, but nothing helped, so I talked to my doctor. He prescribed me #Diclegis, and I felt a lot better and most importantly, it’s been studied and there was no increased risk to the baby. I’m so excited and happy with my results that I’m partnering with Duchesnay USA to raise awareness about treating morning sickness. If you have morning sickness, be safe and sure to ask your doctor about the pill with the pregnant woman on it and find out more www.diclegis.com; www.DiclegisImportantSafetyInfo.com.

    According to the FDA, directing people to the company’s website in order to “find out more” isn’t enough.

    When looking to celebrity endorsements for guidance on medication, it probably pays to be discerning. This goes double for social media, where brevity is king.

    Image via Toglenn, Wikimedia Commons

  • Russia Threatens to Block Reddit over Drug Post

    Russia Threatens to Block Reddit over Drug Post

    Russia, which has a history of threatening to block access to certain sites over seemingly ridiculous reasons, is now considering a ban on reddit.

    The news comes from Roskomnadzor, Russia’s Federal Service for Supervision of Communications, Information Technology and Mass Media, which posted an update on Russian social media site VKontakte.

    Apparently, the government is upset over a post about the “cultivation of narcotic plants.”

    Officials have apparently been trying to get in touch with reddit about removing the offending thread – but have yet to hear back.

    If we’re just talking about a thread on growing pot, it’s unlikely reddit will take any action to remove it.

    Here’s the post, translated by Google:

    At the request of Federal Drug Control Service is ready to make the registry page of the site reddit, which posted an article on the cultivation of narcotic plants. Notifications to the requirement to remove the information sent to multiple addresses resource, but no response is still not forthcoming, although earlier treatment from us in the administration treated full. We assume that during the August holidays someone is too relaxed, but this should not be a reason to venture readership. Those who have contacts with the administration – ask them to check your mail for letters from Roskomnadzor otherwise due the technical features of a number of operators may block the entire site.

    Last month, a Russian senator kicked off an investigation into Facebook and its allowance of “gay emoji.”

  • Adolf Hitler Was A Junkie, Used Painkillers 24 Times A Day According To New Documentary

    Hard evidences have been uncovered pointing to Adolf Hitler’s dependence and addiction to drugs.

    According to a new TV documentary Hitler the Junkie which premiered on Foxtel on Wednesday, the villainous leader had regularly consumed a cocktail of different drugs including tranquilizers, morphine and crystal meth.

    During his reign as the Third Reich, Hitler’s followers who worshiped him like a god believed him to possess superhuman strength. However, recent reports exposed that Hitler was a nervous wreck who required a constant dose of morphine.

    The documentary dissects Hitler’s declassified documents to examine if use of drugs had caused Hitler’s neurotic leadership. Records and letters obtained from Hitler’s personal physician, Dr. Theodore Morell, played a vital role in proving that the dictator was indeed a drug addict.

    Hitler was reportedly addicted to Eukodal, a morphine-based painkiller which he used 24 times a day. The documentary also uncovered Hitler’s excessive use of Pervitin, an early form of crystal meth.

    Dr. Morell started treating Hitler of his ailments in 1936. His assignment had been quite peculiar given that the physician did not seem committed to the Nazi cause.

    According to Professor Sir Richard Evans of Cambridge University, Dr, Morell “showed no genuine interest in politics and was not a suitable person to be in the entourage of Hitler because he was simply not ideological.”

    “Eva Braun, Hitler’s partner, complained to Hitler about Morell’s body odor and Hitler said, ‘I don’t employ Dr. Morell for his fragrance, I employ him to treat me medically.’”

    Hitler received a collection of over 70 addictive narcotics, homemade drugs and uncanny alternative medication from Morell throughout the Second World War. Morell even used leeches to treat the leader of stress. When the leeches fail, Morell started giving Hitler shots of animal tranquilizers to put him to sleep.

    In a journal entry, Morell wrote, “20th of August 1941: Hitler was jittery, his hands were shaking and he was dazed. I gave him dessert spoon of Brom-Nervacit and after that he slept fine.”

    The documentary will replay on Tuesday 7 April 2015 at 1:00PM on National Geographic Channel.

  • The Cops Have Your Lost Cocaine, Please Facebook Message Them to Get It Back

    If you happened to drop your bag of cocaine inside the Super Dollar on West Virginia Avenue in Crewe, Virginia on Tuesday, then you’re in luck!

    The cops have it. Just shoot them a message on Facebook and the whole thing will get straightened out.* It’s not a trap.

    Post by Crewe Police Department.

    According to Detective Ella Turner, who made the now-viral post, she’s not trivializing the crime. Instead, she just wanted the people of Crewe to see the police as human – someone they can talk to a trust.

    Again, it’s not a trap. There have yet to be any serious inquiries regarding the lost coke.

    * By straightened out, I mean arrested. Here’s what the Crewe Police Department had to say in a reply:

    “We have been asked “would you really give it back?” Let us clarify… NO! We will not give you back your illegal narcotics. The narcotics are weighed, photographed and placed into a evidence locker to be destroyed upon the approval of the courts. We distribute lots of things, such as lollipops to our favorite kids, and tickets to lead footed friends, but we do not re-distribute your drugs. We hope this clarifies our post a bit more.”

    Image via Crewe Police Department, Facebook

  • Florida Man Has Drugs, in Case You Were Wondering – the Police Sure Were

    I’ve never tried to give someone a bag of meth in a Kmart, so I’m no expert on the matter. I have to imagine, however, that if I did decide to make that life decision – I’d wear the most literal T-shirt imaginable for the occasion.

    50-year-old John Balmer sure did.

    According to the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office, Balmer was arrested in a Hudson Kmart on Monday after he attempted to hang “a bag of green leafy substance” to the person behind him in line. When the person refused to take the bag, Balmer reportedly laid it down on the ground as he approached the cash register. It was then when deputies approached Balmer, after store employees notified them of the strange activity.

    Police found meth and marijuana in the bag.

    Why is this news? I mean, it is Florida after all.

    Well, here ya go:

    Post by Pasco Sheriff's Office.

    Seriously, he had drugs.

  • BBC Reporter Gets High From Second Hand Smoke

    “Burning behind me is eight and half tons of heroin, opium, hashish and other narcotics… huehuehehe” elegantly guffawed BBC Reporter Quentin Sommerville.

    Like a dumpy Disney character, the journalist then told the cameraman in a slur to record another take, saying: “Come on… hehehe, let’s go.”

    It only got worse.

    The BBC’s Middle East correspondent then tried another take, only managing to squeeze off “Burning behind me” before erupting in giggles, retracting inwards like a roly-poly, squinting his eyes, and lighting up the camera with a bigger smile than the flames of intoxication behind him.

    Shushing like he’s done something wrong, Sommerville then says to the cameraman: “Quick, quick, quick, quick, we just need one more” in the third attempt of a retake. Attempting to maintain his composure in all serious news fashion, he realizes he just can’t do it.

    Sommerville uploaded the video yesterday, titled “Don’t inhale”, on his YouTube page as a “Christmas present” to his 24,000 Twitter followers, according to Daily Mail.

    Sommerville who is based in Jerusalem, reports on an array of Middle Eastern affairs, including the Islamic State crisis. As a gift for his viewers, he wanted to shed some light on news unrelated to the despairs of war.

    The journalist wrote to his fans: ‘Dear tweeps, it’s been a year of bullets & bloodshed. You’ve earned a xmas laugh, at my expense.” Unfortunately, Sommerville had to remove the video shortly after due to copyright related issues.

    According to Inquisitr, a BBC spokesman told reporters, “The video of Quentin corpsing, which has now been deleted, was posted in the spirit of a blooper. It was filmed four years ago – it hasn’t been seen before and was never broadcast.” “Corpsing” is a term used in the world of media as collapsing into a fit of laughter.

    Merry Christmas Mr. Sommerville.

  • Bipolar Symptoms May Soon Be Treated With New Drugs

    According to Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance, bipolar disorder affects 5.7 million adults in America. While there is no cure for bipolar disorder, new research may provide new drug therapies that could lessen the severity of bipolar symptoms.

    Per Mayo Clinic’s definition of bipolar disorder (also known as manic-depressive disorder), the disorder is “associated with mood swings that range from the lows of depression to the highs of mania.” While bipolar disorder onset usually occurs when someone is in their mid 20s, it can also occur in children and older adults.

    Some celebrities that have been diagnosed with bipolar disorder include Catherine Zeta-Jones, Demi Lovato, Kurt Cobain, and Britney Spears.

    Bipolar symptoms are typically treated with a combination of medications and psychotherapy. There is no cure for bipolar disorder, unfortunately, but Northwestern Medicine scientists have recently made a discovery using super-resolution imaging on the brain that could lead to more effective treatment options in the future.

    “We knew that ankyrin-G played an important role in bipolar disease, but we didn’t know how,” said Northwestern Medicine scientist Peter Penzes. “Through this imaging method we found the gene formed in nanodomain structures in the synapses, and we determined that these structures control or regulate the behavior of synapses.”

    So what does this mean for treating bipolar symptoms in the future?

    “There is important information about genes and diseases that can only been seen at this level of resolution,” Penzes said. “We provide a neurobiological explanation of the function of the leading risk gene, and this might provide insight into the abnormalities in bipolar disorder.” Put simply, with this new insight on brain functioning, improved treatment options are a real possibility.

    Do you suspect that you or someone you know may have bipolar disorder? Mayo Clinic says that bipolar symptoms can include the following:

    Manic Phase:

    Euphoria
    Inflated self-esteem
    Poor judgment
    Rapid speech
    Racing thoughts
    Aggressive behavior
    Agitation or irritation
    Increased physical activity
    Risky behavior
    Spending sprees or unwise financial choices
    Decreased need for sleep
    Careless or dangerous use of drugs or alcohol
    Frequent absences from work or school

    Depressive Phase:

    Sadness
    Hopelessness
    Suicidal thoughts or behavior
    Anxiety
    Guilt
    Sleep problems
    Low appetite or increased appetite
    Fatigue
    Loss of interest in activities once considered enjoyable
    Problems concentrating
    Irritability

  • Cloud 9 Designer Drug: How Dangerous IS It?

    Cloud 9 Designer Drug: How Dangerous IS It?

    There seems to be conflict brewing in Macomb County, Mich. over a designer drug known as “Cloud 9”.

    On the one side are teens indulging in the substance, which is reported to be perfectly legal. On the other are Michigan authority figures who claim that designer drug is dangerous, if not lethal.

    “It has the same [effects] as cocaine, meth and ecstasy,” said Fraser Public Safety Director George Rouhib.

    Rouhib added that a person who abuses Cloud 9, also known as “Hookah Relax”, “can basically have a heart attack”.

    That is a very scary claim, but where is the evidence?

    Michigan officials point to the six high school students who have been hospitalized after ingesting the designer drug. A total of 20 hospital visits are said to have resulted from taking Cloud 9.

    Concerned Michigan authorities moved to issue emergency orders meant to reinforce the 2012 ban on synthetic drugs.

    Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel, Macomb County Health Officer Bill Ridella and McLaren Macomb Chairman of Emergency Medicine James Larkin also intend to hold a press conference on Wednesday to issue a health order against the Cloud 9 drug.

    The challenge now will be to convince the public that a substance that hasn’t killed anyone yet is dangerous.

    Unfortunately a number of individuals will die this year because of cigarettes and alcohol, two perfectly legal substances.

    How does Cloud 9 stand up against these proven health threats?

    Westland Deputy Police Chief Todd Adams said that the designer drug “causes crazy hallucinations and violent outbursts”.

    Law enforcement officials in Michigan say they will work hard to pressure vendors to remove the drug from their stores or the ingredients needed to make it.

    One interesting tidbit is that one of the primary methods of ingesting Cloud 9 is the use of e-cigarettes.

    E-cigarettes have come under heavy fire in recent years as anti-smoking proponents believe they are anything BUT a safe alternative to traditional cigarettes.

    This seemingly unrelated drug campaign may draw even more negative attention to the product.

    Do you think “Cloud 9” is as deadly as law enforcement officials say or is this entire matter the result of an overreaction?

  • Google Commits $250 Million To Battle Drug Abuse (And Of Course Settle A Lawsuit)

    Late on Friday, news came out that Google committed $250 million at $50 million per year over the next five years, to develop an internal program that will help the search engine spread awareness about drug abuse, and combat rogue online pharmacies.

    The commitment is part of a settlement with shareholders over a suit related to Google’s former allowance of ads from such pharmacies from outside of the U.S. The company has also agreed to pay $9.9 million in legal expenses for plaintiff lawyers.

    Reuters first reported on the settlement after coming across documents filed in a California court, and shares this statement from a Google spokesperson:

    “We’ve been investing very significantly to fight rogue online pharmacies, and have stopped millions of ads from appearing. This settlement will continue and expand these ongoing efforts to keep users safe online.”

    In 2011, Google was forced to forfeit $500 million for allowing Canadian pharmacies to place ads through AdWords. The money was dispersed to various law enforcement agencies the following year.

    Last summer, Google posted a big update about its continued efforts to combat rogue online pharmacies, following comments from Mississippi AG Jim Hood accusing the company of “profiting handsomely from illegal behavior” by not doing enough to keep illegal drug content out of its search results.

    Google said its efforts would involve keeping ads safe, keeping search results free of illegal content, as deemed so by the court, updating its autocomplete predictions, enforcing YouTube guidelines, and working with regulators and the industry. More about the specifics here.

    The shareholder suit was filed in 2011 after Google’s government settlement.

    It’s unclear exactly how Google will be making anti-drug abuse content more visible, but the company said its new settlement will enhance efforts it was already taking.

    Image via Google

  • Paulina Gretzky’s Wedding to Dustin Johnson Reportedly on Thin Ice

    One year ago, Dustin Johnson became perhaps the luckiest man in golf as he became engaged to Paulina Gretzky, the daughter of “The Great One,” Wayne Gretzky. Throughout the course of their relationship, however, Johnson’s personal and professional lives have been filled with drama. According to reports, Johnson has failed three drug tests since 2009 – one for marijuana and two for cocaine. In 2012, Johnson allegedly served a suspension from the PGA due to testing positive for cocaine, although the suspension was unannounced.

    Last week, things only got worse at drug speculation once again surrounded Johnson as he announced a decision to go on an indefinite leave of absence from the PGA:

    I am taking a leave of absence from professional golf, effective immediately. I will use this time to seek professional help for personal challenges I have faced. By committing the time and resources necessary to improve my mental health, physical well-being and emotional foundation, I am confident that I will be better equipped to fulfill my potential and become a consistent champion. I respectfully ask my fans, well-wishers and the media for privacy as I embark upon this mission of self-improvement.

    The PGA did its best to stop the drug rumors from getting out of hand by releasing a statement absolving Johnson of any wrongs: “With regard to media reports that Dustin Johnson has been suspended by the PGA Tour, this is to clarify that Mr. Johnson has taken a voluntary leave of absence and is not under a suspension from the PGA Tour.”

    While Johnson may not be in any trouble with the PGA, he has apparently found himself on thin ice with “The Great One”, Wayne Gretzky, however.

    A source has reported to Fox 411 that Gretzky has informed Johnson that if he doesn’t clean-up his act, the wedding to his daughter is officially off.

    The pair was originally scheduled to get married in the fall of this year but decided to postpone the wedding due to Johnson’s busy schedule. Perhaps this leave of absence is a chance for Johnson to fix his relationship with Paulina and Wayne?

    If so, it’s off to a great start. Reports on Wednesday located Johnson in Northern Idaho at a golf resort with Paulina and her family: “Most thought [the announcement] was a hint that he was going to a treatment center. Instead, he’s been up in Northern Idaho at Gozzer Ranch [Golf and Lake Club], hanging out with the Gretzky family, caddying for Paulina in the club’s ladies’ member-guest, and playing a lot of golf, playing almost every day,” reported Golf Channel Insider Tim Rosaforte.

    It’s nice to see that Johnson has his priorities in order.

    Image via Instagram

  • Medicare Drug Premiums Set to Rise Yet Again

    In a sign of what may become the new normal over the next few decades, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services this week announced that the price of Medicare premiums for prescription drugs will be rising again this year. This would mark the second year in a row that the average monthly Medicare prescription drug plan premium has risen.

    According to an Associated Press report, the average monthly Medicare drug plan premium will hit $32 next year. This represents a one-dollar increase over this year’s average monthly premiums.

    The rise in drug costs for Medicare comes as seniors are living longer and prices for some drugs are increasing significantly in the U.S. As more of the baby boomer generation begins to retire and take up Medicare for their medical costs, the expenses incurred by the government program are expected to rise accordingly. Medicare is currently in its 49th year of operation.

    To counter the news of higher Medicare drug premiums, the Department of Health and Human Services this week released statistics claiming that millions of seniors have saved money since the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA, colloquially known as Obamacare) was signed into law in 2010. The department claims that 8.2 million seniors on Medicare currently have prescription drug plans due to the ACA. The department also claims that the ACA has saved those seniors a combined $11.5 billion over the past four years, an average of around $1,407 per patient.

    This savings amount refers to out-of-pocket drug costs saved by patients via the “donut hole” (drug plans coverage gap) rebates and discounts that began in 2010. Average savings due to donut hole discounts and rebates has risen over $340 since last year.

    “Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, seniors and people with disabilities are saving on needed medications,” said Sylvia Burwell, secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. “By making prescription drugs more affordable, we are improving and promoting the best care for people with Medicare.”

    Image via ThinkStock

  • Angelina Jolie’s Past Rehashed: Drug Video Released

    When Angelina Jolie first made it big in 1999 with the film Girl: Interrupted, no one dreamed she would go on to be who she is today – An extremely successful and versatile actress married to Brad Pitt with six kids (three adopted), and who also serves as a humanitarian ambassador for the United Nations for issues surrounding rape and women’s rights – because of her sordid past and edgy lifestyle. Jolie has publicly admitted to her use of drugs in the past, but now a video has been released allegedly showing the Maleficent star while high on either heroin or cocaine.

    The video, released by 68-year-old convicted drug dealer Franklin Meyer, shows Jolie looking somewhat strung-out, pacing around her barren apartment having an almost incoherent conversation with what sounds like her father, Jon Voigt.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XqnSBIDF_0o

    Along with the video, Meyer released several comments to give insights as to what actually occurred around the time of the video.

    Angie was a client of mine for several years. I sold her heroin and cocaine. One day she called me up and wanted me to drop by her place. That was her way of telling me she wanted me to bring her drugs. At the time, I had just bought a video camera and decided to bring it along. When I arrived, I gave her the drugs and then she gave me some money. Her face looked gaunt and she had needle marks all over her arms!

    Jolie’s past drug use is no secret, however. In 2011, Jolie discussed her former addiction with 60 Minutes, stating, “I went through heavier, darker times and I survived them. I didn’t die young, so I’m very lucky. There are other artists and people who didn’t survive certain things. I think people can imagine that I did the most dangerous and I did the worst. For many reasons I shouldn’t be here. You think of those too many times where you came close to too many dangerous things, too many chances taken too far.”

    The video comes on the heels of multiple sources of pride for Jolie. She was recently named one of six “role models for a better world” by Glamour magazine due to her work as an UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador to help women oppressed through rape or other forms of violence.

    Jolie is also set to release her second film as director, Unbroken.The movie, which tells the story of Louis Zamperini, an Olympic runner who becomes a POW of Japanese forces during WWII, is set to release this Christmas.

    Image via YouTube

  • ‘Snapchat’ Drug Is Sending People to the Hospital

    Police in Darwin, Northern Territory Australia have had to issue an official drug warning over a new amphetamine pill that bears the Snapchat logo and is sending people to the hospital.

    The drug, street named Snapchat due to the Snapchat ghost logo imprinted on the pill, has sent a number of people to local hospitals in consecutive weekends.

    According to officials, the ecstasy-like pill contains elements of bath salts, and is causing “wild aggression and hysteria” in those who ingest it.

    “These people appeared to become aggressive and disoriented after ingesting the drug and were taken to Royal Darwin Hospital,” said Superintendent Clint Sims.

    “The drug is described to be in pill form and has been sold in two colours. One is pink and the other blue with green speckles. With the upcoming long weekend and a number of public events planned, our primary concern is that these contaminated pills will be distributed into the wider community.

    Of course, colorful ecstasy pills are nothing new to the party scene in any country, but what’s interesting is the fact that its makers have decided to go with a Snapchat logo and police have had to issue a specific drug warning. Snapchat, named after the ephemeral messaging app, it apparently causing people to behave in an “erratic and irrational manner.”

    You know, kind of like Snapchat itself.

    “Taking any illicit drug is dangerous and potentially deadly. These drugs are not produced under pharmaceutical conditions and the reality is people have no idea what they are taking or worse, what affect it will have on them,” said Sims.

    Yeah, that’s pretty solid advice when it comes to any of those designer pills, whether or not they feature a cute little Snapchat ghost or not. You never know what’s in those things – it’s rarely, if ever, majority MDMA.

    Images via Northern Territory Police

  • Depression Signs Could be Treated With Alzheimer’s Drug

    Millions of Americans with depression function perfectly well using common treatments, but there are those whose disease shows resistance to most drugs. Researchers this week announced some hope for those people in new research that could eventually lead to a treatment for treatment-resistant depression – and that hope is coming from an unlikely place.

    Researchers at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center this week announced new research into a drug that could form the basis of a new rapid-acting antidepressant. The drug, memantine, acts on the brain’s NMDA receptors – those known to play a role in treating depression. The researchers believe that their findings could eventually lead to a treatment that blocks NMDA receptors and better controls depression with fewer side effects. Memantine is currently approved by the FDA for use in treating Alzheimer’s disease.

    Memantine is chemically similar to ketamine, a drug best known for its recreational uses. Ketamine is known to produce a fast-acting antidepressant effect in patients. However, ketamine’s other effects and recreational use make it unsuitable for the treatment of depression. Memantine reacts with the same brain receptors as ketamine, though researchers have found that it doesn’t produce the same antidepressant effect. The UT researchers are hoping that their studies will lead to a fast-acting antidepressant that doesn’t have the side effects of ketamine.

    “Although, both ketamine and memantine have similar actions when nerve cells are active, under resting conditions, memantine is less effective in blocking nerve cell communication compared to ketamine,” said Lisa Monteggia, one of the researchers and a professor of Neuroscience at UT. “This fundamental difference in their action could explain why memantine has not been effective as a rapid antidepressant.”

    Monteggia and her colleagues are currently examining the molecular basis of how nerve cells communicate, to determine why ketamine and memantine produce different effects. The team is also researching antidepressant efficacy, and what bodily systems contribute to different drugs’ effects.

    Image via Thinkstock

  • Sasha Shulgin, Known as ‘Godfather Of Ecstasy,’ Dead At 88

    Sasha Shulgin is known by many as the “Godfather of Ecstasy” due to his role in inventing the popular party drug. It wasn’t the only chemist’s only achievement, however, and it’s proper to remember a brilliant scientist upon his death.

    NPR reports that Alexander “Sasha” Shulgin died at his home at the age of 88. While he is credited, and simultaneously loved and hated, for the creation of ecstasy, it wasn’t only his only achievement. In fact, he is credited with discovering and personally testing over 230 psychoactive compounds.

    Shulgin got his start in the U.S. Navy where he became fascinated with the mind after discovering a placebo knocked him out. From there, he earned a Ph.D. in biochemistry at the University of California, Berkeley. It wasn’t until he started working at Dow Chemical Company that he became interested in hallucinogens. It was there that he first ingested mescaline and came to believe that psychedelic drugs offered a glimpse into the universe that dwells in the human mind.

    Following his revelation, Shulgin set up his own research facility where he synthesized MDMA, otherwise known as ecstasy. He also began to work on other hallucinogens that he tested on himself and those close to him. In fact, his wife, Ann Shulgin, helped with his research greatly and co-authored books on the drugs they created.

    Unfortunately, Shulgin’s health took a turn for the worse last week after suffering from dementia since 2010.

    Post by Sasha Shulgin.

    On June 2, Shulgin’s wife updated his Facebook fan page to let admirers know that he had died surrounded by family:

    Post by Sasha Shulgin.

    While the merits of Shulgin’s research will be debated for years to come, one can’t deny that the man was a genius. His work greatly expanded our understanding of chemical compounds and their effect on the body and mind.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • $650 Million Settlement Reached in Pradaxa Lawsuit

    Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals this week agreed to a settlement in the multi-district litigation over the drug Pradaxa. The company has agreed to pay $650 million to settle the lawsuits. Much of that money will be used to compensate patients who claim they were injured by Pradaxa.

    Around 1,600 people had filed individual lawsuits against Boehringer Ingelheim over Pradaxa as of 2012. In August of that year a federal court consolidated the claims into a multi-district litigation, a type of proceeding that is typically quicker than a class action lawsuit and in which one judge is able to decide on many similar claims together. In addition, four state proceedings had been filed over the drug in California, Missouri, Delaware, and Connecticut. In total, around 4,000 Americans filed lawsuits against Boehringer Ingelheim claiming to have been harmed by Pradaxa.

    “We are pleased that today’s settlement will bring justice and financial assistance to those hurt while taking Pradaxa,” said Mikal Watts, a lawyer appointed co-lead counsel for all plaintiffs by the judge in the case. “We are proud of the settlement we have achieved, congratulate the company on doing the right thing, and look forward to distributing these funds to our clients as expeditiously as possible.”

    Pradaxa was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2010 as an anticoagulant. Like other anticoagulants, Pradaxa was used as a blood thinner for patients at risk for stroke. Also like other anticoagulants, Pradaxa’s most common side effect is bleeding – particularly gastrointestinal bleeding. Elderly patients taking the drug were found by the FDA to die more often due to the drug’s side effects.

    The lawsuits claimed that Boehringer Ingelheim knew the drug was more dangerous than previously realized. Court documents showed that the company failed to inform the FDA that Pradaxa is more dangerous than pre-approval studies indicated and that company executives tried to silence an internal study that could have hurt sales of the drug.

    Image via the National Institutes of Health

  • $650 Million Settlement: Pradaxa Maker Wants To Avoid Litigation

    A $650 million settlement is a hefty chunk of change, but it was a better outcome than the alternative for one drug maker.

    Boehringer Ingelheim, a German pharmaceutical company, was facing multiple lawsuits after families claimed Pradaxa, a blood thinner, caused severe and often fatal bleeding in those who took it. The drug is said to reduce the risk of stroke in those suffering from non-valvular atrial fibrillation. While internal bleeding is a side effect of this particular class of blood thinners, Boehringer Ingelheim claims that Pradaxa is safer than its closest contemporary – warfarin.

    Despite their claims, Boehringer Ingelheim chose to settle to avoid any lengthy litigation:

    “Time and again, the benefits and safety of Pradaxa have been confirmed,” said Desiree Ralls-Morrison, senior vice president and general counsel, Boehringer Ingelheim USA Corporation. “BI stands resolutely behind Pradaxa and believed from the outset that the plaintiffs’ claims lacked merit. Notwithstanding our strong belief that we would prevail in these lawsuits, this settlement allows BI to avoid the distraction and uncertainty of lengthy litigation and focus on our mission of improving patients’ lives.”

    While Boehringer Ingelheim believes the settlement will satisfy most, it says that it’s ready to combat any plaintiffs that don’t take their offer:

    There are approximately 4,000 claims that the company seeks to resolve with this settlement. BI expects most, if not all, of the plaintiffs to accept the terms of the settlement and BI will vigorously defend against those who do not.

    It doesn’t seem that Boehringer Ingelheim is trying to sweep this issue under the rug, but it does seem to be moving the blame away from its drug. The company claims that its product is safe when taken properly. It also implores those taking the drug to consult a doctor before making any major changes to their intake:

    As with any anticoagulant, there needs to be a balanced consideration of stroke risk reduction and bleeding risk. Patients should not stop taking their anticoagulant medication without first talking to their health care providers. Discontinuing anticoagulation therapy puts a patient at increased risk of stroke.

    Here’s more information on Pradaxa and its effects:

    Image via SauceSpotz/YouTube

  • NYPD Will Carry Lifesaving Heroin Overdose Reversal Kits

    From 2006 to 2010, deaths attributed to heroin overdose rose a staggering 45 percent, and the total heroin users in the country have more than doubled in the last six years. Many, including those at the highest levels of state and national government, are calling it an epidemic.

    To combat the so-called epidemic, America’s biggest city has just announced funding to implement a no-brainer of a program–one that other cities should mimic without hesitation. Soon, nearly 20,000 New York City police officers will begin carrying a little kit that can save the lives of those in the throes of a heroin overdose.

    Not only can it save lives, but it has–at a success rate of 95%–where it’s already been implemented.

    Thanks to $1.1 million in funding from NYC Attorney General Eric Schneiderman’s Community Overdose Prevention (COP) program, officers citywide will soon carry naloxone kits. Naloxone, which is often known by its trademarked names of Narcan or Nalone, is a pure opioid antagonist. When used, naloxone can counteract the most life-threatening effects of a heroin overdose, such as depression of the central nervous system and respiratory system.

    Each kit will cost about $60, and will include two syringes of naloxone, two atomizers for nasal administration, sterile gloves, and a book on how to properly administer the drug.

    “The COP Program is an essential part of our effort to combat the spike in heroin overdoses that is plaguing communities and families here in New York City and across the state,” said Attorney General Schneiderman. “By providing NYPD police officers with naloxone, we are making this stunningly effective overdose antidote available in every corner of the five boroughs. This program will literally save lives.”

    Schneiderman first announced the COP program a couple of months ago, and some police have already been trained for the naloxone administration–but today’s announcement of more funding means that it will truly become a citywide initiative.

    Funding for the COP program comes from seizures–both drug-related and otherwise.

    New York City is the first city of its size to take such a measure to prevent deaths from heroin and other opioid overdoses, but the growing epidemic has been on the White House’s mind for some time.

    “Opioid drug abuse in America…is an urgent public health issue,” White House Drug Policy Director R. Gil Kerlikowske recently said. “The Obama Administration is committed to dramatically reducing the rate of overdose deaths by helping equip first responders with the lifesaving overdose reversal drug, naloxone. But it is not enough to reverse overdoses. Science has shown us that drug addiction is a disease of the brain – a disease that can be prevented, treated, and from which one can recover. Substance use disorders, including those driven by opioid use, are a progressive disease. This demands that we address the issue by emphasizing prevention, treatment, and smart-on-crime approaches that seek to break the cycle of drug use, crime, and addiction”

    Attorney General Eric Holder recently called the rise in heroin overdoses an “urgent public health crisis,” and said that the Justice Department would employ a mix of “enforcement and treatment efforts” to battle the problem.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Florida Man Facebooks Cop-Adjacent Drug Deal Photos

    Florida Man, the world’s worst superhero, is staying busy, as always.

    A Port St. Lucie man has been arrested after–well, after doing a lot of dumb things. According to the Martin County Sheriff’s office, 21–year-old Taylor Harrison has been arrested and held on $55,000 bond after selling drugs to undercover narcotics agents.

    Oh, and right before that, he apparently took some drug-dealing selfies right next to a Sheriff’s vehicle and posted them to Facebook.

    “These are photos of 21-year old Taylor Harrison of Port St. Lucie bragging on his Facebook page about his life as a drug dealer and how easy it is for him to sell drugs in front of our deputies,”said the Martin County Sheriff’s Office in a Facebook post. “Since Taylor was kind of enough to share photos of us on his Facebook page, we thought we would share these photos of Taylor on our page.”

    This pic-stitch tells a story–a story as old as time itself: Shit ends poorly for braggarts and fools.

    Post by Martin County Sheriff's Office.

    From the Sheriff’s office:

    The first photo Taylor took himself as he pulled alongside one of our deputies. The second photo is a selfie of Taylor with stacks of drug cash and drugs that he says he sells. Notice next to his car, is a patrol car.

    The third shot is a MCSO undercover camera capturing Taylor selling drugs to one of us. He tells us, he is the best around!

    The photo to the right is Taylor’s booking photo at Martin County Jail after being arrested for…you guessed it, selling drugs to our undercover narcotics detectives.

    Schadenflorida.

    Image via Martin County Sheriff’s Office, Facebook