Category Archives: Drug Dependency

Rangers' administration Rangers Football Club has appointed an administrator after a court petition was lodged by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) to… Spiralling car insurance Action will be taken to reduce the £2 billion-a-year cost of insurance claims for whiplash to help deal with the UK's "compe… UK in Jordan over Qatada The Home Office minister James Brokenshire is in Jordan discussing the potential deportation of the radical cleric Abu… Syria's Zabadani battle Middle East Correspondent John Ray has just returned from Syria where he found rebels trapped under an assault from governme… Tevez returns The Manchester City striker Carlos Tevez flew back from his three months unauthorised leave with his family in Argentina.Fro… Bombings alarm Israel A bungled bombing in the Thai capital Bangkok that maimed the terrorist but killed no one has nevertheless alarmed Israel.It… Religion "marginalised"? In amongst the domes and spires of the Vatican, a British government minister has warned of the dangers of religion being… Lawrence witness review ITV News has learnt that the police are considering launching an investigation into alleged perjury by witnesses during the… Chainsaw attacker jailed CCTV footage has been released that shows the moment a man entered a Hull pub … Continue reading →

CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV) - Former drug addicts in the Charlotte area are using the death of Whitney Houston to serve as their reminder.  Mustafaa Mack says he has been clean for 18 years.  He was stunned to hear Houston passed away.  The former drug addict claims he will use this loss as a wake up call to stay drug free. "Many of days I wanted to go back," Mack said. "But I think of some of our fallen comrades and now another famous individual.  This gives me a little more strength to say Hey, I am not willing to use again." It is still a mystery as to why Houston died.  Autopsy reports have not been released. Police have said Houston was found in a bathtub unconscious and prescription drugs were found in her room - Xanax was one the medications. Mack believes no type of drug should have been found.  Houston has gone to rehab three times. "The only thing that works with this disease," Mack said. "Is total abstinence - just total - no pills, no alcohol, no weed, no pain killers - nothing to subside your feelings." Long time drug counselor Charles Odell from Dilworth Center for Chemical Dependency agrees.  He says … Continue reading →

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The California Treatment Advocacy Foundation (CalTAF) today voiced support for pending legislation concerning the treatment and diagnosis of mental illnesses and called on state legislators to add an amendment to protect those in need of alcohol and drug rehabilitation. AB 154, authored by Assemblyman Jim Beall (D-San Jose), recently passed the California State Assembly and is currently under review by the State Senate. That bill broadens the mental health services covered by private insurance plans. The amendment proposed by CalTAF would specifically expand the measure to protect those individuals who have been prescribed substance abuse treatment by their physicians but who have been denied care by their health insurance carrier. “The passage of this bill is critically important as it will help people get access to the care they need as prescribed by their physician,” said Phillip Greer, executive director of CalTAF. “For far too long health insurance companies have imposed barriers that reduce access to much-needed chemical dependency treatment. When this happens, the health and wellness of whole families are jeopardized and the unnecessary costs to society ripple across California's communities, schools, businesses and healthcare delivery system.” The amendment proposed by CalTAF would be modeled after … Continue reading →

The world was stunned when on Saturday, February 11, 2012 an announcement was made that legendary singer Whitney Houston passed away at 3:55 p.m. Currently, the cause of her death is unknown. She's had a long-standing battle with drugs and alcohol and in May 2011, she entered rehab to receive treatment for alcohol and drug dependency. The music talent was discovered by Clive Davis in the 1980s and she went on to become a star in the film and music world. Whitney sold an incredible 200 million albums worldwide and received numerous awards and nominations including winning 30 Billboard Music Awards. The beauty was also one of the first women of color to be on the cover of Seventeen magazine. When one thinks of the star, the 1992 movie "The Bodyguard" and the song "I Will Always Love You" likely come to mind. There's no doubt her supreme talent won't be forgotten. At only 48-years-old, she's only the latest of a long line of incredible talents who we lost too soon. Amy Winehouse The singer was one of those talents who seemingly came out of nowhere and knocked listeners off their feet with her soulful vintage-sounding voice that hasn't been … Continue reading →

Catalyst Pharmaceutical Partners announced that the European Commission, EC, has granted orphan medicinal product designation for the company's investigational drug, CPP-115, a novel GABA aminotransferase inhibitor, for the treatment of West Syndrome (infantile spasms). The EC designation is based on the recommendation by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) Committee on Orphan Medicinal Products (COMP) after their review of all relevant preclinical data for CPP-115, which showed that it may have a longer duration of action, improved benefits and fewer retinal side effects than the existing first-line treatment. "We have hit another major milestone in our efforts to advance this clinically important treatment for patients around the world," said Patrick J. McEnany, Chief Executive Officer of Catalyst. "Obtaining an orphan designation for CPP-115 in the European Union (EU) is an important step that builds upon our recent progress with CPP-115, including the grant of Fast Track development program designation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for cocaine dependency and commencement of a first-in-man Phase I(a) safety study." See the original post: Catalyst Pharm updates EC stance on CPP-115 … Continue reading →

(RTTNews.com) - Catalyst Pharmaceuticals Partners Inc. (CPRX) Monday reported that its West Syndrome, or infantile spasms, therapy CPP-115 was given orphan medicinal product designation by the European Commission upon the recommendation of the European Medicines Agency, or EMA, Committee on Orphan Medicinal Products, or COMP. The decision was based on preclinical data which showed CPP-115 as being active for a longer time, and resulting in fewer retinal side effects. Patrick McEnany, Catalyst's chief executive officer, said "We have hit another major milestone in our efforts to advance this clinically important treatment for patients around the world. Obtaining an orphan designation for CPP-115 in the European Union (EU) is an important step that builds upon our recent progress with CPP-115, including the grant of Fast Track development program designation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for cocaine dependency and commencement of a first-in-man Phase I(a) safety study." For comments and feedback: contact editorial@rttnews.com http://www.rttnews.com More here: Catalyst Pharma's Infantile Spasms Therapy CPP-115 Gets EC Orphan Drug Status … Continue reading →

CORAL GABLES, Fla., Feb. 13, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Catalyst Pharmaceutical Partners, Inc. (Nasdaq:CPRX - News) today announced that the European Commission (EC) has granted orphan medicinal product designation for the company's investigational drug, CPP-115, a novel GABA aminotransferase inhibitor, for the treatment of West Syndrome (infantile spasms). The EC designation is based on the recommendation by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) Committee on Orphan Medicinal Products (COMP) after their review of all relevant preclinical data for CPP-115, which showed that it may have a longer duration of action, improved benefits and fewer retinal side effects than the existing first-line treatment. "We have hit another major milestone in our efforts to advance this clinically important treatment for patients around the world," said Patrick J. McEnany, Chief Executive Officer of Catalyst. "Obtaining an orphan designation for CPP-115 in the European Union (EU) is an important step that builds upon our recent progress with CPP-115, including the grant of Fast Track development program designation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for cocaine dependency and commencement of a first-in-man Phase I(a) safety study." "Our orphan designations in the EU and U.S. support our global development strategy for CPP-115 and our goal … Continue reading →

9 February 2012 Last updated at 14:58 ET The Mexican army says it has seized 15 tonnes of methamphetamine in the western state of Jalisco. Soldiers found the synthetic drug, thought to be the largest amount ever seized in Mexico, at a ranch after a tip-off by a local. The production of methamphetamine is on the rise in Mexico, with the powerful Sinaloa cartel smuggling huge amounts into the United States. Methamphetamine creates a powerful psychological dependency. Soldiers discovered the cache at a ranch in Tlajomulco de Zuniga, south of the state capital, Guadalajara. 'Historic seizure' Gen Gilberto Hernandez Andreu said the ranch had been used as a lab to manufacture the drug, which can be swallowed, sniffed, smoked or injected. "It's an historic seizure: more than 15 tonnes of methamphetamine, five kilos of crystal, and around seven tonnes of precursor chemicals," General Hernandez Andreu said. Soldiers also seized equipment used to produce the drug, but no arrests were made. The Mexican Defence Ministry said the security forces had discovered seven drug laboratories in Jalisco so far this year. Over the past few months, the authorities have also seized a record amount of precursor chemicals used to produce the drug. … Continue reading →

Whitney Houston will star in a posthumous movie she finished working on before her death, poignantly about a singing group dealing with the troubles caused by fame and drugs. "Sparkle," due out in August, is a remake of a 1976 film loosely based on the story of the Supremes, following three sisters as they battle with difficulties that a singing career brings. The 48-year-old singer and actress had finished working on the film, in which she plays the sibling trio's mother Emma, according to CNN. The IMDb movie industry website described the film about "three sisters (who) form a successful singing group and must deal with the fallout of fame and drugs." Sony Pictures, the studio which made the movie, said: "Like all those who knew and loved her, we are shocked and saddened and the world has lost an incomparable talent. "Right now our thoughts are with her daughter, her family and her friends," it added in a statement to CNN. The film's producer, Bishop T.D. Jakes, asked Houston fans "to join us in lifting up Whitney's family in prayer and ask God for their strength and comfort during this devastatingly difficult time." "At the apex of her career, … Continue reading →

Carrie Jeffers meditates at the Thamkrabok Monastery and rehab center in Thailand. By Ploy Bunluesilp , NBC News   BANGKOK – Carrie Jeffers feared she would never kick her heroin addiction after relapsing repeatedly in her native Michigan. Then she flew to Thailand, and her life changed. Jeffers, a 37-year-old yoga teacher, says she broke her dependency thanks to treatment at a remote Buddhist temple. The rigorous regime includes meditation and the daily ingestion of a foul-tasting herbal drink that induces projectile vomiting to cleanse the body of toxins. “I got my strength back slowly but surely after the treatment,” Jeffers said after spending months at Thailand’s Thamkrabok Monastery, a drug rehabilitation center in Saraburi province about 90 miles north of Bangkok. The center, in the heart of a sunlit forest surrounded by limestone crags, has won a worldwide reputation as a place with harsh but effective addiction treatment and has attracted thousands of foreigners from Europe and the U.S. Harsh, but effective Jeffers said she had been addicted to heroin since the age of 14 and underwent rehab treatment twice in the United States. The fees were $1,000 a day, which, fortunately, were covered by insurance. "A lot of drug … Continue reading →