TOPEKA | In a landmark move, the Kansas House passed a statewide public smoking ban Thursday and sent it to Gov. Mark Parkinson.
Psychosis More Common Among Teen Marijuana Users: Study
March 3, 2010
Smoking marijuana as a teenager could raise the risk of developing schizophrenia and psychotic symptoms as a young adult, according to a new study that compared the prevalence of mental illness among marijuana users and non-users.
Colleges Step Up Parental Notification of Alcohol Incidents
February 26, 2010
A growing number of colleges are alerting parents whenever their children under age 21 are involved in alcohol-related incidents at school
DEA Raids Colo. Medical Marijuana Operation Shown on TV
February 17, 2010
A day after a Colorado resident appeared on local TV to talk about his medical-marijuana operation, his home was raided by federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agents, the Denver Post reported Feb. 13.
Ban on 'Synthetic Marijuana' Approved in Kansas
February 4, 2010
The Kansas state House and Senate have voted in favor of a measure that would criminalize possession of a product called K2 or Spice, which some have characterized as a form of synthetic marijuana.
Ecstasy Especially Deadly for Young Users, Study Finds
February 3, 2010
Ecstasy is a stimulant like various classes of amphetamines, but the popular club drug is more likely to kill young and otherwise healthy users, Reuters reported Jan. 29.
Smoking Laws Credited as NYC Life Expectancy Hits Historic High
February 3, 2010
New York City residents now live longer than ever, and experts say that the city's tough laws on smoking deserve some of the credit, the New York Daily News reported Jan. 26.
Teen Drinkers Suffer Nerve Damage in Brain, Study Finds
January 28, 2010
California researchers who compared the brains of teen drinkers to non-drinkers found that young alcohol users suffered damage to nerve tissues that could cause attention deficits among boys and faulty visual information processing among girls.
Parkinson Urges Tax Increase; 2 JoCo Republicans Propose Liquor Hike;
business unhappy with tax talk
January 26, 2010
Topeka — In the face of a wall of opposition from business interests, Gov. Mark Parkinson said that legislators should not fear voting for a tax increase to balance the budget.
Continuing to Smoke Quickens Progression of Lung Cancer
January 20, 2010
Lung-cancer tumors may grow larger and more quickly in patients who continue to smoke after being diagnosed with the disease, according to researchers who conducted animal studies at the University of California at San Diego's School of Medicine.
FDA Orders Tobacco Companies to Disclose Cigarette Ingredients
January 20, 2010
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has directed cigarette companies to provide detailed information on their products by June, when the agency for the first time will begin studying the composition of cigarettes in detail, the Associated Press reported Jan. 18.
E-Cigarettes Not Subject to FDA Regulation, Federal Judge Rules
January 15, 2010
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) cannot block the importation of electronic cigarettes into the U.S. because they are not tobacco products -- and thus not under the FDA's jurisdiction -- a federal judge has ruled.
Tobacco Firms Ordered to Pay Family of Calif. Smoking Victim
January 14, 2010
Philip Morris and R.J. Reynolds must pay $2.85 million in damages to the family of a California woman who died of lung cancer at age 40 after smoking for 26 years, the state's high court has ruled
Participate in the Super Bowl Survey 2010
January 14, 2010
The Super Bowl is known for its commercials almost as much as it is for the game itself. Yet the type of products being advertised and the audience viewing those advertisements are of great concern. Results from the Drug-Free Action Alliance Super Bowl Survey 2009 revealed that two of the top three "most memorable" commercials, according to middle and high school students, were beer commercials. This falls in line with the studies that suggest alcohol companies are targeting youth in their advertising. Through research, we know that the more youth are exposed to alcohol in advertising, the more likely they are to consume alcohol underage.
Research Grants to Study Relationship Between Drinking and Adolescent Thinking and Brain Development
January 7, 2010
The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) will award research grants under the R01 program to support studies on Alcohol, Decision-Making, and Adolescent Brain Development.
Daily Marijuana Use Could Cause Permanent Brain Damage, Researcher Says
January 7, 2010
Animal studies show that daily marijuana use could permanently alter serotonin and norepinephrine levels in the brain, raising the risk of depression and anxiety, according to researcher Gabriella Gobbi of McGill University.
Federal Judge Upholds Most of FDA Tobacco Law
January 6, 2010
In one of the first challenges to the tobacco-regulation law passed by Congress last year, a federal judge in Kentucky has upheld most of the legislation but said that banning tobacco companies from using color ads and graphics in ads was an infringement on free speech, Dow Jones reported Jan. 5.
Death Warnings May Actually Encourage Smokers
December 16, 2009
Warning smokers that cigarettes can kill them could backfire as a prevention strategy, according to researchers who said that other types of warning messages could be more effective for some smokers.
Smoke Signals: Marijuana Use Rises Among H.S. Students as Cigarette Use Declines, Study Finds
December 15, 2009
Proponents of a new approach to drug policy need look no further than the results of the annual Monitoring the Future (MTF) study, which reports increased youth use of marijuana and a flattening out of many other types of illicit drug use after a prolonged decline.
Welsh Smoking Ban Helped Lower Heart Attack Rates
December 14, 2009
The smoking ban in Wales that took effect in April 2007 has helped decrease the number of people having heart attacks, according to a recent report by the nation's chief medical officer, the BBC reported Dec. 9.
Drinking Coffee When Drunk Creates False Sense of Sobriety
December 10, 2009
Drinking coffee not only doesn't sober you up when you are drunk but can make you reckless by imparting a false sense of sobriety, according to animal researchers at Temple University.
Drinkers Can Track BAC with New iPhone App
December 10, 2009
A new iPhone application helps users keep track of their blood-alcohol content (BAC) and sends warning messages if data indicates the user is "buzzed" or legally intoxicated.
Annual Smoking Death Toll Tops 5 Million Worldwide
December 10, 2009
The World Health Organization (WHO) says that at least five million people die from smoking each year, along with another 600,000 who die from secondhand-smoke exposure, the Associated Press reported Dec. 9.
Two More Southern States Ban Smoking
December 4, 2009
Virginia and North Carolina are joining the growing list of states restricting smoking in restaurants, the Associated Press reported Nov. 30
Restaurants in Virginia that want to continue having a smoking section now have to seat smokers in rooms that use ventilation systems that are separate from those used in non-smoking areas.
Some Landlords Ban Smoking in Apartment Buildings
November 24, 2009
Related Companies, a national developer that owns 17 buildings in New York City, is banning smoking in some of its properties, saying the aim is to protect tenants from exposure to secondhand smoke, the New York Times reported Nov. 16.
