“NOOOO! Not my Skittles!” One Howard County middle school student lamented. “I can’t believe the companies would allow this,” another replied. “But I like Nerds…” another concerned student chimed in. These are just a few examples of the reactions we received when Howard County students in HC DrugFree’s Life Skills Class were shown photos of…
THC-infused candy and sport drinks, some disguised as popular and recognizable brands like Gatorade and Nerds, are being marketed to children. Since many of these products are being distributed in familiar packaging, unsuspecting kids and adults, may unwittingly consume THC. THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) is the chemical that causes most of marijuana’s psychological effects. Authorities are reporting…
On January 31, Howard County Executive Calvin Ball signed an Executive Order creating an Opioid Collaborative Community Council to assist in determining priorities for how the County should use funds received through a National Settlement Agreement with opioid manufacturers and any future settlements. The Council is charged with making recommendations to the Fiscal Year 2024…
Last week, three ballot initiatives were defeated that would have commercialized recreational marijuana in Arkansas, North Dakota, and South Dakota. Alternatively, voters in Missouri and Maryland voted to commercialize recreational marijuana. 21 U.S. states and District of Columbia now allow for the recreational use of marijuana.Learn more
On October 29, people from across the country helped reduce the risk of prescription medication misuse by bringing unwanted and expired medications to National Take Back Day events. The DEA recently announced that more than 647,000 pounds of medications were collected at 4,902 collection sites. This total includes the 1,294 pounds of medication collected in…
Many older adults take medications that could interact with alcohol. Some interactions could be dangerous or even deadly. Learn more in a recent blog post from NIAAA Director, George F. Koob, Ph.D. The older adult population is increasing rapidly. Alcohol use among older adults is also increasing. As we focus on the quality of life…
CVS, Walgreens, and Walmart have agreed to an approximate $13.8 billion payout to settle thousands of lawsuits claiming that the pharmacy chains mishandled opioid pain medications. The lawsuits have accused these organizations of putting profit over safety and fueling the opioid crisis. CVS and Walgreens made statements declaring their commitment to be a part of…
The Legal Action Center has created a new guide Be Empow(ER)ed!: Know Your Rights to Addiction Care for Drug & Alcohol-Related ER Visits to inform people who use drugs about their right to receive certain evidence-based services for substance use-related conditions in hospital emergency departments.
Press Release from the DEA on October 13, 2022: WASHINGTON – Yesterday, DEA and the Office of the Special Narcotics Prosecutor for the City of New York announced a significant seizure of fentanyl. Two individuals in New York have been charged following the seizure of approximately 300,000 rainbow fentanyl pills, 20 pounds of fentanyl in white and…
Inhalants are everyday household products that are abused to produce mind-altering effects. Canned air contains compressed gas in an aerosol-type can that is sprayed onto keyboards and into electronic devices to clear out debris and dust. Dust-Off, a popular brand name of canned air, is a gaseous refrigerant-based propellant cleaner used to remove dust and…
