4 Year old found with Marijuana

Over the past year I've posted a few articles about children around illegal substances, but this is the youngest I've seen. For those of you apart of chemical dependency counseling you will definitely find this shocking, as a teacher did...

"New York - A four-year-old American boy who announced to his teacher at school snack time that he wanted to share pulled nine bags of marijuana out of his jacket pocket, police said on Wednesday.

Police in Meriden, Connecticut, were called to Hanover Elementary School on Tuesday afternoon after the young special needs student displayed the drugs, authorities said.

Meriden police said the nine individually wrapped bags of marijuana appeared prepared for sale.

Hanover Elementary School principal Miguel Cardona called it an “extremely unfortunate” and “isolated” incident that was not witnessed by any other students.

“What's so disheartening is this is really an adult issue and problem and adult behaviour put a student at risk,” Meriden schools superintendent Mark Benigni told Reuters.

“This student had no idea what he brought to school or what the substance was,” he added.

Authorities are not releasing the names of the student or parents and police said there is a possibility for arrests pending the outcome of the investigation.

The Department of Children and Families is also looking into the incident. - Reuters"

Source: http://www.iol.co.za/news/world/boy-s-marijuana-stash-shocks-teacher-1.1220426

If you are interested in getting your counselor degree extremely fast to become a chemical dependency counselor, then feel FREE to visit CentaurUniversity.com!

More Dispensaries Shut Down

Over the past two months the chemical dependency counseling community has seen many dispensaries shut down due to new laws. Denver has just been paid a visit by Feds as well, here's the story...

"DENVER (Reuters) - U.S. prosecutors in Colorado started a crackdown against nearly two dozen medical marijuana dispensaries located within 1,000 feet of schools, giving the proprietors 45 days to cease operations or face civil and criminal penalties.

U.S. Attorney John Walsh issued the ultimatum in letters to 23 dispensaries and landlords he said were in violation of federal and state law, a statement Thursday from the U.S. Justice Department said.

The move makes Colorado the latest battleground pitting federal prosecutors against storefront distributors of marijuana in states that have decriminalized marijuana for medical purposes.

"When the voters of Colorado passed the limited medical marijuana amendment in 2000, they could not have anticipated that their vote would be used to justify large marijuana stores located within blocks of our schools," Walsh said.

He cited a 2011 memo from U.S. Deputy Attorney General James Cole that allows individual federal prosecutors to "exercise their discretion to handle marijuana trafficking matters."

The Colorado move followed an announcement in October by federal prosecutors in California that they were cracking down on medical pot dispensaries they said were fronts for large-scale, for-profit drug trafficking.

Last March, federal agents also raided greenhouses and dispensaries in 13 cities in Montana cited by authorities as operating illegally under the guise of that state's medical marijuana law.

A month later, U.S. attorneys in Washington state issued a legal opinion threatening to prosecute not only dispensary owners and growers but state officials who would have enforced a proposed state licensing system for medical marijuana.

Washington Governor Christine Gregoire cited that warning in her decision to veto a bill to establish a new regulatory system for state-sanctioned suppliers of medicinal cannabis.

A total of 16 states and the District of Columbia have enacted some sort of legalized medical-marijuana statutes, according to the National Drug Policy Alliance. But cannabis remains classified as an illegal narcotic under federal law, a point Walsh underscored in his letter to Colorado dispensary operators.

"The dispensary is operating in violation of federal law, and the Department of Justice has the authority to enforce the federal law ... even when such activities may be permitted under state law," the letter said.

Walsh did not identify any of the letter's recipients, except to say the businesses were located throughout the state.

Denver lawyer Robert Corry, who represents clients charged with marijuana offenses, said in recent testimony before the Denver City Council that "there should be no arbitrary distance limits" for legal marijuana businesses.

"There is no documented case of any child ever purchasing or obtaining medical marijuana from a dispensary," he said.

Nevertheless, Walsh said law enforcement will be on the lookout for other violators, and offenders could be subject to asset seizure and property forfeitures.

"Those who do not comply will be subject to potential criminal prosecution and civil enforcement actions," Walsh said. "Because the stores are operating within 1,000 feet of a school, enhanced penalties apply under federal law.""

(Editing by Cynthia Johnston and Bill Trott)Keith Coffman

Reuters

12:34 a.m. MST, January 13, 2012

Source: http://www.kwgn.com/news/nationworld/sns-rt-us-usa-marijuana-coloradotre80c0f...

If you are interested in getting your counselor degree extremely fast to become a chemical dependency counselor, then feel FREE to visit CentaurUniversity.com!

 

 

Police Sieze "Legal High" Sales

The state and police have been warning stores and gas stations not to endorse the sale of any bath salts or similar items because they can be used for "Legal Highs". The Chemical dependency counseling community and those involved with addiction physiology have been very against them and will continue to speak out against any laws that will attempt to legalize them. If you've read any of my past articles in our chemical dependency counseling catagories then you know how dangerous these really are. 

"WESTFIELD —  Police have seized synthetic marijuana and drug paraphernalia from two variety stores in a sting operation. 

Police said Monday that teen volunteers tried to buy synthetic marijuana at city stores last week and were able to get it at Quick Mart and S&S Mart. 

Police told The Westfield News the owners of both stores face criminal complaints. 

They said they warned store owners last fall about selling the synthetic drugs and drug paraphernalia, after complaints from parents. 

The Quick Mart manager, Ashok Amin, told The Associated Press on Monday that he’s a good community man and didn’t know the synthetic drugs were illegal because their labels indicate they are legal. He said he repeatedly asked his distributor to take away some pipes that police seized. 

The S&S Mart owner declined comment. "

Source: http://www.telegram.com/article/20120116/NEWS/120119662/1116

 

If you are interested in getting your counselor degree extremely fast to become a chemical dependency counselor, then feel FREE to visit CentaurUniversity.com!

 

 

Legal Highs Linked to Awful Bacteria

This is taking "legal highs" to a whole new level and has also been creating small waves within the chemical dependency counsleing community. Take a look at the article on how "legal highs" are becoming the source for an awful bacteria. 

"Bath salts' street drug source of flesh eating bacteria
wwltv.com
Posted on January 12, 2012 at 1:28 PM

Chelsea Gaudin / Eyewitness News
NEW ORLEANS – An injection of the street drug known as “bath salts” is the newest source of a flesh eating infection, according to the LSU Health Sciences Center.
It is hard to diagnose because a majority of the damage rages below the surface of the skin.
“As ‘bath salts’ gain popularity, medical centers of all disciplines must be prepared to identify not only the signs of intoxication, but the potential side effects including deadly necrotizing fasciitis,” noted Dr. Russell R. Russo.
A woman, 34, came to the emergency room complaining of a pain in her forearm. Doctors did not realize it was due to a “bath salt” injection until rapidly progressing redness, skin sloughing, and drainage occurred. She immediately went under surgery, in which doctors said that the infection moved so fast, healthy tissue was dying before their eyes. They had to continuously remove tissue until they reached a clear margin, however, the patients arm, shoulder and collarbone had to be amputated.
“Despite the drug’s legal status, it must be treated as illicit, and one must be suspicious when examining a patient with this clinical history because the diagnosis of flesh-eating bacteria can masquerade as abscesses and cellulitis,” says Dr. Russo.
This particular bacteria has a rapid timeline to tissue destruction and lose of life, according to LSUHSC.
The best treatment comes in the form a a swift diagnosis and extensive surgery."

Source: http://www.wwltv.com/news/local/orle...137196798.html

 

If you are interested in getting certified extremely fast for Chemical Dependency Counseling and becoming a Counseling Graduate feel FREE to visit CentaurUniversity.com!

 

A Counselor To Teens

You don't have to be a certified chemical dependency counselor to help your teen with peer pressure. Teens these days have become a source for the Drug world and not only that, but pre-teens too! Here's an article from SoverLiving.com that goes over peer pressure with your teen and how you can help. 

"Surprisingly, disagreements - if they are brought about as a result of healthy dialogue - can be a good way to provide teens the tools they need to prevent peer pressure from getting them to use drugs.

Ask the parents of teenagers what bothers them most about their teen and the answer is likely to be the constant debates and arguments.  As painful as these disputes may be, they are a sign of healthy development.  Teens become more independent and separate from their parents by questioning their decisions and authority.

There are a lot of signs that addiction is taking its toll on the youth, like:

• the rise in teen drug abuse
  
• great films about teen addiction like Overtaken
• Campaigns designed to prevent teen prescription drug abuse

New research suggests that besides helping teens to become independent, healthy disagreements with their parents may bring additional benefits in terms of peer pressure.  Parents who remain calm and reasonable during arguments are setting an example that will help their children resist peer pressure.

The research, which was reported in Child Development, is based on interviews with more than 150 teens and parents.  Interview questions focused on substance abuse, family interactions and relationships with friends.  Researchers found that parents who avoid yelling and allow their teenagers to participate in discussions on hot topics like money, grades and friends are teaching their teens how to express themselves and politely disagree.  

Data from the study indicates that teens who have learned to argue calmly and persuasively are better equipped to say "no" when offered drugs or alcohol by their peers.  In fact, they are 40% more likely to avoid substance abuse altogether.  In addition, parents who yell and use threats and insults to win arguments are likely to have children who are passive and who lack confidence when it comes to standing up for their beliefs.  These children are also more passive with their peers and are more likely to say "yes" when pressured to use drugs and alcohol.

 

The findings of this new study support earlier studies that have found that parents who respect their child's input and opinions are more likely to raise children who are independent thinkers and resistant to  peer pressure.

If you are the parent of a teenager, it's important to remember to listen to your teen.  Even if you don't agree with what your teen is saying, you should acknowledge when he or she makes a good point.  This will help your child learn how to persuade other people to see their point of view.  As painful as arguing with your teen may be, if you set an example for effective disagreement you will be helping your teen avoid the problems with drugs and alcohol that are so common among this age group.  Being able to remain calm and persuasive while arguing will also help your teen with personal and professional relationships throughout his or her lifetime.  "

Source: http://www.soberliving.com/blog/2012/01/06/how-parents-can-help-teens-resist-...

If you are interested in getting your counselor degree extremely fast to become a chemical dependency counselor, then feel FREE to visit CentaurUniversity.com!

Cartel Infiltration

This is another good bust for America and the chemical dependency counseling community! The U.S has been trying to find ways to infiltrate Mexico's cartel system for some time now because of all the deaths and they have just closed up a case. 

"WASHINGTON - American drug enforcement agents posing as money launderers secretly helped a powerful Mexican drug trafficker and his principal Colombian cocaine supplier move millions in drug proceeds around the world, as part of an effort to infiltrate and dismantle the criminal organizations wreaking havoc south of the border, according to newly obtained Mexican government documents. 

The documents, part of an extradition order by the Mexican Foreign Ministry against the Colombian supplier, describe American counternarcotics agents, Mexican law enforcement officials and a Colombian informant working undercover together over several months in 2007. 

Together, they conducted numerous wire transfers of tens of thousands of dollars at a time, smuggled millions of dollars in bulk cash - and escorted at least one large shipment of cocaine from Ecuador to Dallas to Madrid. 

The extradition order - obtained by the Mexican magazine emeequis and shared with The New York Times - includes testimony by a Drug Enforcement Administration special agent who oversaw a covert money laundering investigation against a Colombian trafficker named Harold Mauricio Poveda-Ortega, also known as "The Rabbit. ... "

Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/09/world/americas/us-agents-aided-mexican-drug...

If you are interested in getting your counselor degree extremely fast to become a chemical dependency counselor, then feel FREE to visit CentaurUniversity.com!

New Law in Carolina Could Be a Huge Help

This is a short article about a new law in Carolina that could be the begining of a huge decrease in Meth labs. More news for them chemical dependency counseling community to come...

"RALEIGH — A new year will bring some new laws to North Carolina, with changes in store for teenage drivers, county jails and people buying certain kinds of cold medicine.

Starting Sunday, pharmacies will be required to enter customers into a national database when they want to buy cold medicine that contains pseudoephedrine, a key ingredient in making methamphetamine. The database will block the sale if the person has gone on a buying spree for the drug.

The state already requires stores to keep the medicine behind the counter, record buyer information and require a photo ID.

Gov. Beverly Perdue signed the law in June as part of an effort to help law enforcement track criminals making methamphetamine. Attorney General Roy Cooper, a legislation supporter, called it a significant step in the fight against the meth trade.

The number of meth labs the State Bureau of Investigation responded to statewide were cut in half within two years of a 2005 law requiring all pills containing pseudoephedrine and ephedrine be sold in a limited number of packets behind a pharmacy counter. Since then, the number of responses has begun to creep upward again."

Source: http://www.rockymounttelegram.com/ap/staten/new-year-brings-new-laws-north-ca...

If you are interested in getting your counselor degree extremely fast to become a chemical dependency counselor, then feel FREE to visit CentaurUniversity.com!