It’s always possible to crack a good cocaine joke — I’m as guilty as the next person — and there were more than a few of them in a recent syndicated column from the Washington Post about the Supreme Court’s somewhat bumbling …
Drugs
Outlawing ‘Legal Highs:’ Can Emergency Bans Hinder Drug Development?
As states race to outlaw synthetic drugs sold as “bath salts” or “fake marijuana,” there would seem to be little downside to banning these untested and possibly dangerous chemicals. But prohibiting “legal” intoxicants — many of …
Ecstasy as Therapy: Have Some of its Negative Effects Been Overblown?
Although ecstasy (MDMA) — a drug best known for enhancing feelings of empathy and love — has been demonized by parents and politicians, researchers have been quietly studying its potentially therapeutic effects, and they’ve …
Marijuana Linked with Earlier Onset of Schizophrenia in Research Review
Many studies have linked marijuana use with early onset of psychosis. The question is, does smoking marijuana cause earlier psychosis? A new review of 83 studies involving more than 22,000 participants seeks an answer.
Man Claims Parkinson’s Drug Turned Him Into a Gay Sex Addict
Didier Jambart, 51, of Nantes, France, began taking GlaxoSmithKline’s drug Requip (ropinirole) in 2003 to treat symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. Soon after, the married father of two began exhibiting strange, uncharacteristic …
Drug Legalization Is a ‘Legitimate Topic for Debate,’ Obama Says
It’s been 40 years since President Nixon’s “War on Drugs.” Is it possible that peace talks are now at hand? On Thursday, President Obama said the question of drug legalization and regulation is an “entirely legitimate topic for …
Bud in a Bottle: New Marijuana Soda to Launch in Feb.
How about a refreshing Canna Cola? A company based in Soquel, Calif., has created a new line of soda pot — or, marijuana soda — that it plans to launch in Colorado in February.
Drug Policy Backfires: Controlling Meth Ingredients Fails to Cut Drug Supply
The history of drug policy is one of unintended—though often predictable—negative consequences. The AP reports on the latest example of this phenomenon, as it relates to recent attempts to eliminate methamphetamine misuse.
Can You Get High on Gingerbread? The Truth About Nutmeg
Holiday memories are often laced with the scent of spices: for me, a whiff of baking gingerbread can bring back the comforts of childhood in an instant. But a rash of recent media reports suggests that the allure of gingerbread …
What Does Meth Research Have to Do With Addiction and Autism Treatments? (It’s Oxytocin.)
The hormone oxytocin — known as the “love drug” or “cuddle chemical” — plays an important role in pair-bonding, child-rearing and social behavior. Now researchers are discovering that it could also help explain the effects of …
Adderall May Not Make You Smarter, But It Makes You Think You Are
Adderall, Ritalin and other “smart drugs” have become popular among college students and young professionals, who use them to enhance performance.
Drug Surprise: Meth Makes You Feel Almost As Cuddly as Ecstasy
Ecstasy (MDMA) is known as the “love drug,” because it prompts cuddles, hugs and, often, a sense of deep understanding between people.
Federal Study Finds Teen Marijuana Use Up; Binge Drinking, Smoking Rates Down
More high school seniors are current marijuana smokers than cigarette smokers, according to the national Monitoring the Future survey released Tuesday, which finds that marijuana use rose slightly while cigarette smoking fell …