New York: Music Festival Introduces New Anti-Drug-Overdose Tactics: *UPDATED

People who want to attend the annual Electric Zoo music festival in New York must first watch an anti-drug PSA, after two people died last year at the festival from drug overdoses.

Go To Link To View This Video: 

https://uk.news.yahoo.com/video/anti-overdose-tactics-nyc-music-003511484.html 

www.drugfreeworld.org & www.drugscope.org.uk & www.drugs.ie & www.spunout.ie 

*Every year on June 26, countries commemorate the International Anti-drug Day with a slogan determined by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime UNODC.
www.independent.ie/irish-news/education/ucd-could-go-smokefree-after-ban-on-cigarette-sales-30548272.html
On this day different countries express their present challenges in the field of narcotics, measures taken and the solutions for resolving this problem. This day is a universal symbol which reminds the consequences of cultivation, trafficking and consumption of drugs and requires governments' firm resolve for an all-out campaign against this grave social problem. We have prepared a special article on this occasion as follows:

Over the past 25 years we have witnessed international anti-drug conferences at the UNODC headquarters and other countries to further reveal the importance of the nations' political determination in struggling against the destructive phenomenon, that is, narcotics. In this regard, programs like prevention of addiction, media's role in returning addicts to normal life, eradicating illegal puppet cultivation, destruction of the main drug trafficking networks, legal cooperation of countries in fighting against addiction and drug are reminded to different countries involved in addiction and drug trafficking. But unfortunately the world is witness to individuals' inclination to addiction; and the havocs and ruins created by drug abuse pave the way for the collapse of many cultural and ethical values.

Based on the estimates declared by the UN, presently there are over 200 million addicts who consume different types of narcotics including opium, heroin, marijuana and so on. What is more worrying is the decrease in the age of drug consumers, its spread among the youth and teenagers and the ever-increasing tendency towards consuming industrial drugs. Figures show that the average consumption of these substances has increased in different countries and the drug mafia networks have aimed at producing new drug combinations. Every day we witness production of a new combination of narcotics with volatile chemicals entering market under false names as hallucinatory drugs.

Some of these hallucinatory drugs are much more dangerous than the traditional drugs and they cause grave problems; hence making the treatment much more difficult. The drugs mafias embark on distributing these substances claiming that they are not addictive in a bid to increase the number of consumers.

Statistics indicate that annually drug abuse in the world claims the life of 250,000 people. This calamitous phenomenon, in addition to grave economic consequences, has greatly imperiled the psychological health of societies.

It is obvious that an increase in the number of addicts brings the highest profits for the drug mafias. So as long as the colossal profits of this black trading exist, we will face an ever-increasing supply of drugs and great efforts to increase the number of consumers. Experts believe that the profits of the drug trading stand at 500 to 700 billion dollars per annum and that a majority of this dirty money finds its way to stock market and then it is used as legal money by the drug trading mafia. According to social analysts, in addition to being a very lucrative trade, this phenomenon is an effective tool for spreading the domination of world powers over poor and so-called under-developed countries. The situation of Afghanistan confirms this claim.

Years of civil war, presence of foreign forces, economic problems and activity of death merchants in Afghanistan have turned the country into one of the main centers of producing illicit drugs in the world. Evidence shows that during the past 10 years with the occupation of Afghanistan by the US and NATO forces, cultivation of narcotics has multiplied at least 40 times. Based on the UN reports, now the scale of opium production in Afghanistan makes over 90 percent of the world opium supply. In addition to production of opium, annually about 700 tons of heroin is also produced in Afghanistan and this country has turned into one of the greatest producers of hashish in the world. It is noteworthy that such an immense amount of production of illicit drugs in Afghanistan is carried out under circumstances that thousands of NATO and foreign forces are stationed in the country with one of their main missions to be the eradication of illicit drugs in Afghanistan.

Evidence indicates that the drug traffickers and mafias are coherently active in an area expanded from Afghanistan to the markets of illicit drugs in Europe.

Many pundits are of the opinion that the revenues obtained from opium trafficking in Afghanistan are over 200 billion dollars. According to the statistics released by the World Bank, this sum is more than the annual income of Afghanistan's neighboring countries excluding China and Iran.  

Islamic Republic of Iran with 945 kilometer border with Afghanistan, including 709 kilometer land border and 236 kilometer water border, is the largest and closest neighbor to the country and due to this vast common border line is more than any other country exposed to the harms and hazards of narcotics.

Over the past 30 years, Iran has always tried to block the new routes and corridors of drug trafficking and transit without any expectation. The Islamic Republic of Iran has taken steps not only for preventing entrance of drug into the country but has also made efforts to completely close the eastern borders with Afghanistan to halt the transit of these lethal substances into European countries; and that has led to the martyrdom of thousands of security forces and police personnel.

The Islamic Republic has practically proved that it is a very serious pioneer in anti-drug campaign in the world. Iran has been appreciated several times by the UN officials including the UN secretary generals for its campaigns. The UNODC executive manager Yuri Fedotov at Vienna meeting stressed that Tehran is the UN number one partner in anti-drug campaign.

Expressing that Iran has carried out numerous activities to prevent drug trading; Fedotov reiterated that Iran ranks first in discovering drugs at the world level.

To conclude the programme we present part of Iran's extensive programs in commemorating the anniversary of the international anti-drug day in this year. By holding various conferences and speeches in relation with drugs abuse and its harmful consequences, people's awareness is improved on preventing drug addiction.

While presenting a comprehensive report on the measures taken by Iran in anti-drug campaign, those involved in this sacred campaign will be appreciated. Among other programs of the international anti-drug day is to hold exhibition on anti-drug campaign. The 10-day exhibition will be attended by all organizations affiliated to anti-drug campaign like health ministry, education ministry, welfare organization, security forces and non-governmental organizations and they will display their performances.

It is to be noted that every year on the anniversary of the international anti-drug day, in addition to explaining Iran's achievements in this domain, a huge volume of the discovered drugs are burnt as a symbol of serious campaign against drug symbolizing full annihilation of drugs in the world in the near future. Undoubtedly, struggling against illicit drugs smuggling and addiction needs collective action by international community, free from commercial profiteering. If all countries embark on the campaign together victory is certain.

Dublin: 38% Of Homicide Victims Had Illicit Drugs In Their System: STUDY: *UPDATED

Deputy State pathologist Dr Michael Curtis said: “This study shows, in certain instances like gangland shootings, that there is a link between violent deaths and the drug sub-culture.”

Some 38% of victims of homicide had illicit drugs or medication in their system at the time of death, a study has found.

A study of records from the State Pathologist’s Office found there were 288 homicides between 2008 and 2012, comprising murders and manslaughters.

www.irishtimes.com//news/crime-and-law/study-on-drugs-and-death-by-homicide-1.1906721 

The figures indicate an average of 57.6 homicides each year over the five-year period, with homicides accounting for 0.2% of all overall deaths.

The greatest number of homicides took place in 2010, with 66 deaths, while the lowest number was in 2011 when there were 47

The study, entitled ‘Drug Associated Homicidal Deaths,’ carried out by a medical student at University College Cork, Roisin Greaney, found that 109 of the 288 homicide victims had illicit drugs or medication in their system at the time of death.

Links to HELPLINES:

www.drugfreeworld.org & www.drugs.ie & www.drugscope.org.uk & www.spunout.ie & www.citywide.ie 

Of those 109 victims, 87% were male and 13% were female.

Almost half (48%) of victims who had drugs or medication in their system died from gunshot wounds.

One-in-four died from stab wounds, while blunt force trauma was the cause of death in 18% of the 109 cases.

In 75% of cases, the victims had more than one drug in their system.

The presence of benzodiazapines (sedatives) or barbiturates was detected in 53% of postmortem toxicology screenings. Alcohol was detected in 39% of cases, and opiates in 37%.

Alcohol was only taken into account if it was used in combination with other drugs or medication.

Cannabis was detected in 29% of cases, cocaine in 22% of cases and methadone was detected in 17%.

The victims had more than two substances in their system at the time of death in 32% of cases.

Just 22 of the 109 victims had previous documented abuse of drugs and alcohol.

Ms Greaney, who is from Douglas, Cork, said that in some cases the drugs or medication and alcohol may have played a contributory role in the death.

Deputy State pathologist Dr Michael Curtis said: “This study shows, in certain instances like gangland shootings, that there is a link between violent deaths and the drug sub-culture.”
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Related article: *Update:

More than 3,500 offenders being supervised by probation services in Northern Ireland have problems with drug and alcohol misuse.

The number equates to over 70% of all 5,000 criminals who are on probation in the region.

The scale of the drink and drug problem among offenders was outlined by the Probation Board for Northern Ireland (PBNI).

It has outlined the figures to highlight the extent to which alcohol and substance abuse contributes to criminal and anti-social behaviour.

The acting director of PBNI Cheryl Lamont said the percentage of those experiencing misuse problems was concerning.

"Given that we supervise almost 5000 offenders, this is a significant number of people presenting with alcohol or drug problems," she said.

"We know many offenders commit acquisitive crimes, such as theft and burglary to fund their addictions. Many who commit assaults also report the fact that they have consumed alcohol or taken drugs.

"The Probation Board has developed a range of programmes which in a practical way seek to hold offenders to account, prevent further victimisation and create safer communities. Given the numbers of offenders who present with drug and alcohol issues many of the programmes we run deal with those specific areas, and work by providing information about the effects of alcohol upon health, personal relationships and offending to enable participants to make informed choices about their use of alcohol.

"We also work with community partners across NI to deliver effective interventions in relation to alcohol and substance misuse. Groups like AddictionNI which deal with alcohol and drug addictions and raise awareness of the dangers of drug and alcohol misuse receive community grants from PBNI to assist in making communities safer.

"It is important people think carefully about their actions and the consequences and know that if they become involved in criminality they will be held to account."

Links to related articles:

www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/drugs-found-in-38-of-homicide-victims-283398.html 

www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/youthviolence/schoolviolence/data_stats.html

Ireland Orders Ban On Branded Cigarette Packets

Ireland has become the first European country to order a ban on branded cigarette packets.

Following the example set by Australia and New Zealand, big tobacco companies will be forced to use standardised packaging and carry harrowing-looking health warnings and images on the boxes and pouches.

If enacted, the new laws will remove all logos, trademarks, colours, designs and graphics except for the make or name of the product which will be in a uniform typeface on a plain background.

The Department of Health said the objective, which is expected to be fiercely contested in the courts by tobacco firms, is to make packets look less attractive, to make health warnings more prominent and to reduce the risk that people, especially children, will be misled about the harmful effects of smoking.

Health Minister James Reilly said the tobacco industry invests heavily in pack design to sell their products.

"Given all we know about the dangers of smoking, it is not acceptable to allow the tobacco industry to use deceptive marketing gimmicks to lure our children into this deadly addiction and to deceive current smokers about the impact of their addiction," Dr Reilly said.

"The introduction of standardised packaging will remove the final way for tobacco companies to promote their deadly product in Ireland. Cigarette packets will no longer be a mobile advertisement for the tobacco industry."

The Cabinet approved the Public Health (Standardised Packaging of Tobacco) Bill 2014 at its weekly meeting.

"This represents a significant step forward in our tobacco control policy and our goal of being a smoke free country by 2025," Dr Reilly added.

Australia introduced plain, non-branded packaging rules in November 2011 and the proposed legislation in New Zealand is going through parliament.

Other European states are understood to be examining similar legislation with plans announced in April in Britain for a consultation on the use of plain packets on shop shelves within a year. Some MPs have since hit out at the proposal.

Approximately 5,200 Irish people die each year from diseases caused by smoking - with one in two of all smokers dying as a result of their addiction.

To maintain smoking rates, it is estimated that the tobacco industry needs to recruit 50 new smokers every day and in Ireland the age of those taking up the habit is the youngest in Europe - 16.

Dealing with smoking-related disease costs the country's health sector more than 650 million euro (£527 million) a year.

Dr Reilly added: "There is a wealth of international evidence on the effects of tobacco packaging in general and on perceptions and reactions to standardised packaging which support the introduction of this measure. I am confident that the legislation will be supported and justified on public health grounds and by the fact that it will contribute to reducing the number of lives lost by smoking tobacco products."

Cork: School Pupil (5) Jabbed By Junkie's Discarded Needle In Playground

A five-year-old schoolboy was jabbed by a heroin addict’s needle which was thrown into his school’s play area minutes before break time yesterday.

The child, who attends North Presentation primary school on the north side of Cork City, picked it up unaware of the danger and was jabbed in the hand, puncturing his skin.

Principal Kathleen Haverty said teachers became aware of the incident immediately, contacted the boy’s parents, and a member of staff accompanied them to the Mercy University Hospital where the boy underwent a series of tests.

He and his family now face an anxious wait for results to see if he has contracted any diseases from the dirty needle.

The school has reported the incident to gardaí.

Ms Haverty said the overwhelming concern of teaching staff and the school’s board of management was for this child’s welfare, and that of all their pupils.

“We deeply regret what happened but this is a problem outside the school which visited the school,” she said. “The school caretaker checked the yard for hazards minutes before playtime and it was clear.”

She said the school will work with gardaí and other agencies to try and ensure this kind of incident never happens again.

“We will have to take additional precautions in future, but we don’t want the school to become a fortress,” she said.

She also confirmed that the school flagged concerns to gardaí some weeks ago about what she described as “antisocial behaviour” occurring in some of the lanes around Gerald Griffin Street.

Earlier yesterday, parents dropping children off at the school reported seeing a man “shooting up” in the area before classes started.

He was escorted away, but two people who returned later also reportedly began shooting up before they were also asked to leave.

The shocking jabbing incident prompted Sinn Fein Cllr Thomas Gould to lead fresh calls last night for urgent action from a range of state agencies to tackle the city's growing heroin crisis.

He said gardai must be provided with the resources to mount more foot patrols in this and other areas where open heroin abuse is on the rise.

"Garda resources are being concentrated in the city at weekends but this incident highlights the need for more day-time patrols in certain parts of the city," he said.

www.drugfreeworld.org & www.drugscope.org.uk & www.drugs.ie & www.garda.ie 

"If the people responsible for discarding this needle by just throwing it over the wall of a school are found to be tenants of Cork City Council, they have to be evicted.

"The council has a responsibility to the community.

"And if they are renting privately, then their landlord must take responsibility and deal with the situation."

This incident occurred on the same day reports emerged that several heroin needles were found amongst bags of rubbish dumped near playing pitches at St Vincent's GAA club.

Mr Gould said it is now clear that heroin is a growing problem across the city.

Earlier this year, southside Independent Cllr Mick Finn warned that parts of the city were off limits because of heroin use, and that used needles were being found in housing estates, parks, graveyards and public facilities.

Last year, heroin paraphernalia was found in St Finbarr’s Church in the South Parish.

Special sharps bins have been installed in some public toilets in the city centre in a bid to encourage those injecting heroin or methadone to dispose of their needles responsibly.

Bangor Erris, Co Mayo: Garda Raid On Cannabis Growhouse Nets €40,000 In Durgs

GardaÍ have seized €40,000 worth of drugs during a raid of a house in Mayo.

A man in his 20s was arrested after the bust.

Thirty cannabis plants were discovered at the house near Bangor Erris this morning.

Gardaí also found a large drying chamber, fertiliser and liquid feed.

The man is now being held at Belmullet Garda station.

www.drugfreeworld.org & www.drugs.ie & www.drugscope.org.uk & www.garda.ie

Dublin: Global Crackdown As Authorities Seize Counterfeit Medicines

The Irish Medicines Board says mail order of prescription-only medicines is prohibited in Ireland

Over 100,000 counterfeit and illegal prescription medicines, with an estimated value of just under €300,000 have been seized in Ireland, following a week-long operation.

The Irish Medicines Board said the items include sedatives, painkillers, weight loss products, tablets for erectile dysfunction and steroids.

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• Watch: Over 100,000 counterfeit and illegal medicines seized
• Watch: Over 100,000 counterfeit medicines seized
• Watch: Over 100,000 counterfeit and illegal medicines seized

The haul includes over 90,600 individual tablets, 8,100 liquids and 1,800 capsules.

John Lynch, Director of Compliance at the Irish Medicines Board, said that in attempting to buy prescription medicines from websites, not only are the public divulging their personal and financial details, they are also placing their health in very real danger.

This is the seventh international operation and involved the Irish Medicines Board, Revenue's Customs Service and An Garda Síochána.

Authorities from 100 countries participated in the Interpol coordinated initiative, which took place from 13-20 May.

Worldwide, the operation resulted in 239 arrests, with 10,600 illegal websites being closed down.

The Irish Medicines Board says that mail order of prescription-only medicines, including internet supply, is prohibited in Ireland.

No internet pharmacy authorised in another country is allowed to supply prescription-only medicines to consumers in Ireland.

Operation Pangea involved the cooperation of internet service providers, e-payment systems and the delivery network.

Mexico: Police Capture Leonor Nava, Boss Of (The Reds) Drugs Gang

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - The Mexican government said on Saturday it had captured the leader of a drug gang allied with a dangerous cartel in the violent southwestern state of Guerrero.

Mexican police arrested Leonor Nava, boss of Los Rojos (The Reds) in Tecpan de Galeana northwest of the beach resort of Acapulco, the biggest city in Guerrero, National Security Commissioner Monte Alejandro Rubido told a news conference.

Known as "El Tigre" (the tiger), Nava is suspected of trafficking drugs to the United States, extortion and kidnapping. He is also being investigated in connection with the murder of eight army soldiers in December 2008, Rubido said.

Los Rojos are allies of the Beltran Leyva drug cartel, which fractured into several groups after its leader Arturo Beltran Leyva was killed by marines in 2009.

Rubido said Nava, 45, was the main leader of Los Rojos.

Guerrero is one of Mexico's most violent regions and borders the Pacific state of Michoacan, which the government has had to reinforce this year to beat down another drug cartel.

(Reporting by Christine Murray and Noe Torres; Editing by Dave Graham and David Gregorio)
www.drugfreeworld.org & www.drugs.ie & www.drugscope.org.uk

MADRID: Four Arrested As Spanish Police Bust Drug Smugglers

MADRID (AP) — Officials say police have arrested four people and busted a gang suspected of smuggling marijuana buds and other drugs from southern Spain into Britain.

The investigation was triggered in January when evidence emerged that an organization was purchasing large quantities of hashish in Spain and transporting it for sale in Britain. www.drugfreeworld.org 

Investigators learned that the drugs were being acquired in the provinces of Granada and Murcia, where traffickers vacuum-packed them and hid them in trucks bound for England. www.drugs.ie 

Police said in a statement Sunday they arrested two Spaniards and two Britons as they transferred buds from Granada to Murcia, then they raided a drug- and equipment-filled house in hills near the towns of Abaran and Ricote.

PUBLIC ALERT: Gardai Warn "Bad Batch" Of Drugs May Kill After Dublin Students Fall Ill: UPDATED

gardaí are investigating after a number of people were hospitalised last night in relation to the consumption of controlled substances.

 LATEST UPDATE: Toxicology tests have confirmed that seven UCD students, who were hospitalised, had taken LSD and amphetamines separately.

Gardai have dismissed earlier reports that they became ill after taking a lethal new concoction, known on the streets as "scuzz".
The seven were admitted to hospital and six of them were said to be in a serious condition.
All had been behaving very erratically and, according to gardai, posed a danger to themselves and to others.

Gardai warned, last night, that taking the two drugs on the same night could also result in a heart attack. Those admitted to hospital were all either medical or veterinary students at UCD.
However, a UCD Students' Union spokesman said that the issue was not solely confined to UCD.
As a result of inquiries over the past week, gardai from the Donnybrook district drug unit carried out a planned search of a house in Blackrock, in south county Dublin, on Wednesday night.
They seized nine LSD "deals" in paper form in the house. The paper depicted the comic superhero Captain America. Gardai believe a total of 16 "deals" were purchased.
They pointed out that LSD tabs in paper form cannot contain amphetamines and following toxicology tests they were satisfied that the ill students had taken the two separately.
The alarm was raised initially last Friday when a student at a party in Dundrum began behaving abnormally after taking the drugs and an ambulance was called.
By the time the ambulance arrived, three others were also unwell. A fifth student in the house was also taken away in the ambulance as a precautionary measure 
and all five were brought to St James's Hospital.

A sixth student was later hospitalised after he was found behaving erratically in the city centre, and on Wednesday morning a seventh was rushed to St Vincent's Hospital after he was detained by gardai under public order legislation when found in Harcourt Street.

A garda told the Irish Independent: "There has been a lot of misinformation about the drugs involved. There is no evidence of any cocktail and it is clear from the toxicology tests that the hospitalised students had taken amphetamines and LSD separately.

"But the result of taking the two can be very dangerous as the users lose control of themselves and can also suffer wider effects such as cardiac arrest," he added.
He said the source of the "deals" had not yet been traced but said they had made substantial progress and were following a number of lines of inquiry.

Officers from the garda national drugs unit are overseeing the investigation and the HSE has also been alerted, while the UCD students' union sent out a warning about taking the two drugs.

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The Health Service Executive also issued a warning this afternoon.

It said: "Taking drugs carries serious health risks. It is important that anyone who has taken drugs and is experiencing side effects seeks medical help immediately."

The HSE outlined some practical steps that drug users should be aware of to prevent an overdose:

- Avoid mixing drugs and mixing drugs with alcohol
- Recognise that medications prescribed by a doctor may interact with street drugs and cause an overdose
- Injecting drugs increases your risk of overdose
- Injecting drugs is always a risk but can be even more so with an unfamiliar supply source.
- If someone gets into difficulty after consuming a substance it is critically important to get help immediately 

Gardaí say they are liaising with the HSE about the incident.

www.garda.ie & www.drugs.ie & www.drugfreeworld.org 

A UCD Students' Union spokesperson told RTE News, that a number of their students were hospitalised last night, after taking a cocktail of drugs, believed to have included amphetamines and LSD.

The union said that they were approached by gardaí to issue a safety message about the incident and warn students that a particularly "bad batch" of drugs is circulating Dublin.

They posted a message on their Facebook account:

"Several students have been taken into hospital last night after taking a bad cocktail of drugs that may have included amphetamines and LSD.

"The gardaí are worried that fatalities may occur if this batch is not taken out of circulation.

UPDATE:

Several UCD students have been hospitalised after taking a "bad cocktail of drugs" known as "scuzz".

Several students are now in a stable condition after they were taken to hospital on Tuesday night after taking the combination of LSD, speed and other amphetamines.

During the course of this search a small quantity of suspected LSD / Methamphetamine paper (pending analysis) was recovered. the paper depicts a picture of the comic superhero Captain America.

Gardaí have launched an investigation and have asked the college to issue a warning to students.

UPDATE: GARDAI investigating the ‘scuzz’ drugs scare – which led to up to seven university students being hospitalised – have arrested a 25-year-old suspect.

Officers made the arrest after raiding a house in Blackrock, south Dublin, late last night.

Senior sources say that officers recovered nine ‘deals’ of the drug which is believed to be a combination of LSD, speed and other amphetamines.

It is understood that the arrested man had been living with students at the house in Blackrock.

He is suspected of dealing the drug to students in UCD over the past number of days.

Gardai investigating the drugs cocktail have warned that fatalities could occur if the batch is not taken out of circulation.

A garda spokesman could not confirm the numbers hospitalised this morning.

The students union at UCD  took to social networking sites to warn its members about the potential dangers of the drug.

“Several students have been taken into hospital after taking a bad cocktail of drugs that may have included amphetamines and LSD,” a warning from the student union said.
It added: “The gardai are worried that fatalities may occur if this batch is not taken out of circulation.”

Hospitalised: It is understood that the students who were hospitalised are in a stable condition and are likely to recover.

A UCD Students’ Union spokesman said that the organisation had heard that two students remain in hospital after taking the drugs but he said the numbers aren’t confirmed.

“We’re on the ground and seeing how prevalent this is amongst the student body. We don’t think this is solely confined to UCD or that this batch of drugs is confined to UCD,” he said.

“These things generally are Dublin-wide or they might be going through the college scene in general,” the spokesman added.

It is feared that there could still be a considerable amount of the drug in circulation and the HSE has been notified a garda spokesman said.

Anyone with concerns or who has any more information on the illegal substance has been urged to call the garda drug unit on 01 666 9200.

UCD Students Union stated on Facebook: "Several students have been taken into hospital last night after taking a bad cocktail of drugs that may have included amphetamines and LSD.

"The Gardaí are worried that fatalities may occur if this batch is not taken out of circulation.

"If you are concerned or have any more information contact the drug unit on 01 6669200 or contact us here in the SU. We'll be checking emails and social media after office hours."

EDITOR's NOTE:
The name "SCUZZ" appears to be the nick name of a convicted drug dealer in the US rather than a common name for a street drug.

.... At the time, Nate was a nineteen-year-old high school dropout who worked at a Pizza Hut in Coeur D'Alene - a gorgeous but dull resort town in Idaho - and sold the occasional dime bag on the side. Chubby and baby-faced. Nate had never been the type to come up with a million-dollar brainstorm. "He was one of those guys everybody used to pick on," says his friend Scuzz - Ben Scozzaro, a year ahead of Nate at Coeur D'Alene High. "He looks like the Keebler Elf. That's what we used to call him, actually." Nor was Nate much of a scholar. His girlfriend Buffy once received a letter in which Nate spelled "pot" with an extra "t." "He can't spell 'marijuana,' either," she adds. ... www.drugfreeworld.org 

Dublin: One-Third Of Disease Burden Blamed On Alcohol: WHO Report

Alcohol and injuries: Emergency department studies in an international perspective

Alcohol-attributable injuries are of a growing concern to the public health community, with alcohol-related injuries such as road traffic accidents, burns, poisonings, falls and drownings making up more than a third of the disease burden attributable to alcohol consumption. This publication synthesizes results of a number of hospital emergency department studies conducted in different cultural and health care settings, including the WHO Collaborative Study on Alcohol and Injuries. www.drugs.ie 

It provides an introduction to the epidemiology of alcohol related injuries and refers to methodological issues of emergency department studies. It addresses public policy implications and equips the reader with practical information on interventions that can be implemented in emergency departments, such as screening and brief interventions for hazardous and harmful drinking. The book has been compiled by an international group of editors with extensive experience in the area of alcohol and injuries.
UK Children as Young as Four Treated for Drug and Alcohol Misuse 
Britain Drank Seven Billion Fewer Units of Alcohol over Last Deca

1. WHO/Europe | European status report on alcohol and health 2014

   www.euro.who.int/en/health-topics/disease-prevention/...   Cached
   

   In 2013, WHO/Europe published the "Status Report on Alcohol and Health in 35 European Countries 2013". Part two in this report covers policy changes in Member States ...

2. WHO | Alcohol - World Health Organization

   www.who.int/substance_abuse/publications/alcohol   Cached
   

   Global Status Report: Alcohol and Young People, 2001. Drawing on WHO's globalalcohol database, ... © WHO 2014 ...

Drimnagh, Dublin: Gangland Hood Christopher Zambra Shot Dead: UPDATED

UPDATE: CHRISTY 'Git' Zambra led a life of crime that ultimately led to him being gunned down in a Drimnagh garden.

But the 39-year-old had talents that could have brought him success, happiness and security if he had focused more on them.

Zambra, from Galtymore Road, was a promising football player, and also had a fledgling music career.

However, last night, a source who spent years investigating the hood told the Herald: "People were afraid of Zambra and with just cause – he was volatile and extremely dangerous.

"He was obsessively jealous in relation to his women and the drugs patch he ran. He was an extremely active criminal with many enemies and many dangerous associates."

From his earliest court cases there are mentions of Zambra's sporting abilities.

In 1998, when he was jailed for four years for being getaway driver during an attempted robbery in 1995, the court heard he was a former youth soccer international who had taken up coaching kids in the sport.

His defence solicitor told the court Zambra's soccer ambition to represent Ireland at senior level had been cut short by a serious ankle injury and before that he had been given a trial by a top English club.

He became involved with a bad crowd who would later form the nucleus of the mob which was led by convicted murderer Brian Rattigan.

DRUGS

In 2010 Zambra's involvement in gangland crime led him to being charged with the murder of suspected drugs trafficker John Carroll who was shot dead in Grumpy Jack's pub in the Coombe area of Dublin 8 on February

18, 2009.

Drug dealer-turned State witness, Joey O'Brien, gave evidence in the case. He said Zambra chose the gunman and the motorbike rider who brought that gunman to and from the scene.

After the murder, O'Brien said he met Zambra, who was "happy" that "it was done".

One of the gang, Peter Kenny of McCarthy's Terrace in Rialto, was convicted for his role in the murder, but the jury could not reach a verdict on Zambra.

Last year he was tried again, but here was uproar in the Central Criminal Court as Zambra was acquitted by a majority verdict following a two-month trial.

Zambra was also known to be a close friend of the north Dublin gangster known as 'Mr Big', and he had explored his musical talents on website christopherzambra.com.
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A major gangland figure has been shot dead in broad daylight.

The man,  Christopher Zambra, was shot in an ambush attack in Dublin's Drimnagh this afternoon.

The victim, who is in his 30s, was targeted just before 3pm as he drove along Cooley Road in the south of the city.

He tried to flee his attackers, but was gunned down in a garden a short distance away.

The man is known to gardai.

At the scene today a light-coloured Audi car with a 02 CW registration plate could be seen parked at the side of Cooley Road with the passenger door open.

The reverse lights were on, indicating that the victim made some attempt to drive away from his attackers when he saw them approach.

There are five bullet holes in the windscreen of the car, and the window on the driver's side has been shot out, leaving glass scattered on the road.

A garda forensic tent has been erected over the victim's body in the front garden of a house two doors away from the car.

Gardai believe the victim tried to flee for his life on foot but was chased down and killed in the garden of the house at the junction of Cooley Road and Kilworth Road.

Spent shells from the murder weapon, that appear to me 9mm calibre, could also be seen scattered on the road in front of the Audi car.

People could be seen arriving in tears at the house just beside the car and being comforted by the occupants.

The victim is from the Drimnagh locality.

Gardai sealed off the scene and started house-to-house enquiries while members of the technical bureau carried out a forensic examination on the scene.

A jeep, believed to be the getaway vehicle, was found burned out on nearby Galtymore Road.