April 27, 2016

Some Areas With High Drug Overdose Death Rates Don’t Have Much Drug Trafficking

A new study finds some of the nation’s areas with high rates of drug overdose deaths do not have a corresponding high rate of drug trafficking. This suggests drugs are passing through counties with high rates of drug trafficking without affecting the death rates of people in those regions, the researchers said. Instead, those drugs are causing overdose deaths in other parts of the country, CBS News reports.

April 12, 2016

Some Cities Use Medicaid Funds to Provide Addiction Treatment for Drug Offenders

Some cities are using Medicaid funds to provide addiction treatment for repeat low-level drug offenders, the Associated Press reports. Many are mentally ill or homeless and have never had coverage for addiction treatment before.

April 7, 2016

Europeans Spend Over $27 Billion Annually on Illicit Drugs: Report

Europeans spend more than $27 billion annually on illicit drugs, according to a new report by the European Union. Marijuana accounts $10.6 billion, while heroin accounts for $7.7 billion, Reuters reports.

March 31, 2016

President Commutes Sentences of 61 Federal Prisoners Incarcerated for Drug Offenses

President Obama on Wednesday commuted the sentences of 61 federal prisoners incarcerated for drug offenses. He has now commuted the sentences of 248 prisoners, more than the total commuted by the last six presidents combined.

March 30, 2016

Obama: Race Plays Role in Shifting Perception of Addiction

President Obama said Tuesday more attention is being paid to addiction as a health issue now that it is seen as an increasing threat to white communities, The Washington Post reports.

March 24, 2016

Most Juveniles in Chicago Detention Center Have Had Drug or Alcohol Problems

Most teens who have gone through the juvenile detention center in Chicago have been diagnosed with drug or alcohol abuse or dependency at some point in their lives, a new study finds.

March 16, 2016

Fewer Drug Offenders Face Mandatory Minimum Sentences

The number of people convicted of a drug offense carrying a mandatory minimum sentence fell last year, according to a new report by the U.S. Sentencing Commission.

March 8, 2016

Senate Committee Requests Help for Elderly American Tricked into Drug Smuggling

Members of the Senate Special Committee on Aging are seeking help for a retired pastor from Maine who is imprisoned in Spain for smuggling drugs. The New York Times reports the pastor was tricked into carrying contraband.

February 17, 2016

Drug Treatment Centers Less Likely Than Liquor Stores to Attract Violent Crime: Study

Areas surrounding outpatient drug treatment centers are less likely to experience violent crimes than areas near liquor and corner stores, according to new research.

February 11, 2016

Dozens of Older U.S. Citizens Unknowingly Acted as International Drug Smugglers

A drug-smuggling scam has ensnared dozens of older American citizens, according to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials.

February 10, 2016

Police Try New Approach to Heroin Crisis

A growing number of police departments are trying new approaches to battling the heroin epidemic, the Associated Press reports. Instead of simply arresting people, they are helping steer people into treatment.

January 28, 2016

Drug Traffickers Moving to Colorado to Grow Marijuana and Ship It Out of State

Drug traffickers are moving to Colorado to grow marijuana and ship it to other states, the Associated Press reports. Their findings come from interviews with law enforcement officials and a review of court records.

January 21, 2016

Vermont Program Offers Vivitrol to Departing Inmates to Fight Heroin Addiction

Vermont is starting a pilot program this month that will offer the opioid addiction treatment Vivitrol to departing inmates at one correctional facility. If it is successful, the state plans to expand it to all seven of the state’s prisons, CBS News reports.

December 10, 2015

Some Jails and Prisons Provide Vivitrol for Departing Inmates to Reduce Opioid Use

About 100 jails and prisons nationwide are providing departing inmates with Vivitrol, a drug that treats opioid addiction, to reduce rates of addiction and reincarceration, The Boston Globe reports.

December 8, 2015

News Coverage of Opioid Abuse Focuses on Criminal Justice More Than Health: Study

An analysis of news coverage of opioid abuse finds the media is more likely to focus on criminal justice than on health issues. The study found 64 percent of news stories about opioids mentioned law enforcement, compared with 41 percent that mentioned prevention, and 3 percent that mentioned expanding treatment.

November 4, 2015

Some Prosecutors Oppose Changes to Mandatory Minimum Sentences for Drug Charges

Some prosecutors and law enforcement officials oppose changes to mandatory minimum sentences for some drug charges, according to The Washington Post. They say the changes will make it more difficult for them to go after criminal organizations or uncover other crimes.

October 7, 2015

Justice Department Will Release 6,000 Nonviolent Drug Offenders From Federal Prisons

The Justice Department has announced it will release about 6,000 nonviolent drug offenders from federal prisons starting at the end of October. The government hopes to ease prison overcrowding and roll back stiff penalties given to nonviolent drug offenders in the 1980s and 1990s, The New York Times reports.

September 30, 2015

Some States Lift Ban on Benefits for People Convicted of Drug Crimes

A growing number of states are allowing people convicted of drug crimes to qualify for welfare and food stamps, according to The Wall Street Journal. Alabama and Texas lifted restrictions on food stamps for ex-offenders this year. California and Missouri eliminated their bans last year.

Medicine Bottle with Hydrocodone Label and Tablets

August 6, 2015

Some Chronic Pain Patients Say They Have Trouble Obtaining Painkillers

Some patients with chronic pain say they are having increasing trouble obtaining prescription painkillers. This trend may be an unintended consequence of the government’s attempts to reduce illicit use of prescription drugs, PBS NewsHour reports.

August 5, 2015

Drones Being Used to Smuggle Drugs and Other Contraband Into Prisons

Drones are being used to smuggle drugs and other contraband into prisons, according to The Christian Science Monitor. Last week, inmates started fighting at a correctional facility in Ohio after a drone dropped more than seven ounces of heroin, marijuana and tobacco into the prison yard.

July 29, 2015

Legislators, Officials Look for Ways to Stem Mounting Heroin Crisis

Federal legislators and officials say there is an alarming increase in the amount of heroin being brought into the United States, The Washington Times reports. At a hearing of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security and Investigations, legislators called for solutions to this public health crisis.

July 22, 2015

Department of Justice Wants More Inmates in Prison Drug Abuse Treatment Program

The Bureau of Prisons, part of the U.S. Department of Justice, is proposing revisions to residential drug abuse treatment program regulations to allow greater inmate participation in the program, The Hill reports.

July 14, 2015

White House Announces 46 Drug Offenders Will Have Sentences Commuted

President Obama is commuting the sentences of 46 non-violent drug offenders, the White House announced Monday. Most of the offenders had been sentenced to at least 20 years, and 14 were given life sentences for nonviolent drug offenses.

June 4, 2015

Keeping Inmates on Methadone in Prison Increases Odds They Will Continue Treatment

Inmates who are addicted to opioid drugs who continue to receive methadone maintenance treatment in prison are more likely to continue treatment once they are released, according to a new study.

Handcuffs, Medicine Bottle and Pills Under Spot Light Abstract.

May 21, 2015

DEA Arrests 280 in Four-State Crackdown on Prescription Pill Distribution

The Drug Enforcement Administration has arrested 280 people in a four-state crackdown of illegal distribution of prescription pills, named “Operation Pilluted,” Reuters reports. The arrests took place in Louisiana, Arkansas, Alabama and Mississippi.

Where Families Find Answers on Substance Use | Partnership for Drug-Free Kids

Latest Drug & Alcohol News: Drug-Related Offenses

Some Areas With High Drug Overdose Death Rates Don’t Have Much Drug Trafficking

Some Cities Use Medicaid Funds to Provide Addiction Treatment for Drug Offenders

Europeans Spend Over $27 Billion Annually on Illicit Drugs: Report

President Commutes Sentences of 61 Federal Prisoners Incarcerated for Drug Offenses

Obama: Race Plays Role in Shifting Perception of Addiction

Most Juveniles in Chicago Detention Center Have Had Drug or Alcohol Problems

Fewer Drug Offenders Face Mandatory Minimum Sentences

Senate Committee Requests Help for Elderly American Tricked into Drug Smuggling

Drug Treatment Centers Less Likely Than Liquor Stores to Attract Violent Crime: Study

Dozens of Older U.S. Citizens Unknowingly Acted as International Drug Smugglers

Police Try New Approach to Heroin Crisis

Drug Traffickers Moving to Colorado to Grow Marijuana and Ship It Out of State

Vermont Program Offers Vivitrol to Departing Inmates to Fight Heroin Addiction

Some Jails and Prisons Provide Vivitrol for Departing Inmates to Reduce Opioid Use

News Coverage of Opioid Abuse Focuses on Criminal Justice More Than Health: Study

Some Prosecutors Oppose Changes to Mandatory Minimum Sentences for Drug Charges

Justice Department Will Release 6,000 Nonviolent Drug Offenders From Federal Prisons

Some States Lift Ban on Benefits for People Convicted of Drug Crimes

Some Chronic Pain Patients Say They Have Trouble Obtaining Painkillers

Drones Being Used to Smuggle Drugs and Other Contraband Into Prisons

Legislators, Officials Look for Ways to Stem Mounting Heroin Crisis

Department of Justice Wants More Inmates in Prison Drug Abuse Treatment Program

White House Announces 46 Drug Offenders Will Have Sentences Commuted

Keeping Inmates on Methadone in Prison Increases Odds They Will Continue Treatment

DEA Arrests 280 in Four-State Crackdown on Prescription Pill Distribution

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Latest Drug & Alcohol News: Drug-Related Offenses