But Board Still Supports Drug Tests In Some Form A mandatory random drug-testing program for students in grades 7-12 who participate in extracurricular activities or have Harris County High School parking permits has been rejected by the Harris County School Board. Despite the vote against the mandatory program during its Thursday night meeting, the board members indicated unanimous support for some type of drug-testing policy and asked Superintendent Susan Andrews to research voluntary programs. Andrews said Friday she expects to bring information to the board in December or January about school districts with voluntary drug-testing policies. [continues 193 words]
Gun Found; Two Men Taken Into Custody Greenfield - One man is dead and another two men in critical condition were airlifted to an Ottawa Hospital in a drug-related triple shooting near Maxville Friday. Police found two adult males who had been shot and one man lying dead at a home on Kenyon Concession Road 5 in Greenfield after responding to a call that there had been a shooting at the residence. Police took two men into custody and located a firearm at the scene. [continues 242 words]
Remember that old Saturday Night Live spoof about puppy uppers and doggie downers? It turns out that memorable sketch was merely a case of art imitating life 30 years before its time. According to a recent front-page article in the Vancouver Province, a growing number of "cranked-up canines" are being rushed to Lower Mainland veterinary hospitals for treatment after consuming drugs left lying around by their owners. Vancouver vets say marijuana is the drug of choice for wayward pups who stray toward the dark side, although one animal doctor reported treating dogs that have ingested cocaine, ecstasy, hash brownies, prescription medications and even heroin. [continues 795 words]
PROVIDENCE, R.I. - Students might expect smoking marijuana to make them a little red-eyed or necessitate a late night excursion to Josiah's. What students might not know, however, is that lighting up a joint can also lead to something more ominous -- the loss of federal financial aid. Students for Sensible Drug Policy, a national organization with a Brown University chapter that was founded in 2003, has been working to promote awareness about the drug provision of the Higher Education Act. The act was passed in 1965 to provide federal financial aid to low-income students, and the provision was added when the act was renewed in 1998. The provision prevents students who have been convicted of drug charges from receiving any federal financial aid. [continues 466 words]
Re: Bums prefer ocean views (B.C. Views, Sept. 7) I have just returned from a two-week holiday visiting my family, most of whom emigrated to B.C. around 50 years ago. I now have two aunts, three cousins and their extended families living in Maple Ridge and I always receive a warm welcome. I congratulate you on your article, which I read on the internet. Here in Scotland we have the same problems with the so-called "homeless drug addicts" and we also have the same bleeding heart politicians and social workers with their schemes, projects and solutions to the problems of crime, illegal squatting on private property and vandalism caused by these people. [continues 151 words]
A FEW days after the terror arrests in London last month, a small commuter plane with three tourists was banking off the coast of Costa Rica when a sudden sound, like a muffled explosion, shattered the calm. The rear door of the plane, improperly shut, had blown open. There was a moment of panic for two of the passengers. But Roger Knox, a graphic designer making a connecting flight before boarding a jetliner home to San Francisco, was not worried. He had just doubled his usual preflight dose of Ativan, a prescription anti-anxiety drug, in anticipation of the ride on the small plane. [continues 1709 words]
SNIFFER dogs are to be sent into schools across Scotland to tackle spiralling drug abuse among pupils. Dealers and users have already been caught in a series of unannounced raids at schools in Dumfries and Galloway, the Borders and Highlands. Now, the police dogs will be used to carry out random checks at schools across Scotland amid mounting evidence that cannabis is replacing tobacco as the drug of choice behind the bike sheds. According to a recent survey, a third of 15-year-olds have used cannabis and almost one in eight has tried drugs such as cocaine, speed and ecstasy. Among 13-year-olds, more than one in 10 claims to have used drugs. Last year there were about 250 drug-related incidents involving pupils at primary and secondary schools. [continues 472 words]
Re: Bums Prefer Ocean Views (B.c. Views, Sept. 7). I have just returned from a two-week holiday visiting my family, most of whom emigrated to B.C. around 50 years ago. I now have two aunts, three cousins and their extended families living in Maple Ridge and I always receive a warm welcome. I congratulate you on your article, which I read on the Internet. Here in Scotland, we have the same problems with the so-called "homeless drug addicts," and we also have the same bleeding-heart politicians and social workers with their schemes, projects and solutions to the problems of crime, illegal squatting on private property and and vandalism caused by these people. [continues 149 words]
If not for the oversized sign hanging from an interior door that reads, "Harm reduction room in use; knock if you want to come in," anyone could walk past the safe-injection site inside the Dr. Peter Centre without realizing it's there. In the injection room, there are three small stalls set against a large mirror, and trays upon which each addict is given his or her own syringe, spoon and rubber strap. There is a cleaning station tucked into a corner, and pamphlets about vein care and overdosing. [continues 685 words]
Open Letter To Mayor And Council: It would seem that our elected leaders have decided that "drug desperation and drug addiction" in this city is an issue that can be addressed by closing their eyes and closing recovery houses and recovery treatment areas. Their actions seem to indicate that the problem of homelessness, drug addiction, drug crime and women working the streets will disappear if they remove, or make it extremely difficult if not impossible to have recovery homes and shelters for the homeless in this city. [continues 98 words]