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November 10, 2001 – Vogue Article on Drug Treatment Distorts Reality

An article appearing in the November 2001 issue of Vogue magazine provides a distorted view of drug addiction treatment. Its author cites several authorities, but draws her conclusions from a few whose work is not viewed seriously by the scientific community. She ignores the large body of scientific evidence about effective treatment for drug addiction and the vast number of people who have recovered from it. More.

November 6, 2001 - Drug Use Higher in Initiative States

States that have passed "medical" marijuana initiatives exhibit above-average use of marijuana and other drugs, according to the National Household Survey on Drug Abuse. The national average for past-month illicit drug use is 9.9%; initiative states show higher rates. More.

October 29, 2001 - Drug network uses media

There is an orchestrated protest that occurs every time a newspaper publishes an editorial or article that displeases the legalizers. For several years, they have posted to the DrugSense Media Awareness Project, an Internet Web site they created, copyrighted newspaper articles from publications throughout the world. More.

October 4, 2001 – Parents Count!

The new 2000 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse, out today, makes clear how important parents are in preventing teens from using illicit drugs. More

October 3, 2001 – Advocates Discuss Legalization Strategies

The following excerpts are from an audio tape of a panel presentation at the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) 2000 Conference. Panel members describe the two basic strategies legalization proponents have advanced: go slow and legalize drugs incrementally ("the nose-in-the-camel's-tent" approach) vs. the "all-out approach." Our thanks to the Drug Free America Foundation for transcribing the tape. Underscores indicate unclear words on the tape. More.

September 24, 2001 -- When Reading Criticism of John Walters' Qualifications, Consider the Source

The new Coalition for Compassionate Leadership on Drug Policy, which says it neither endorses nor opposes political appointees, is made up primarily of drug-legalization organizations that vigorously oppose John Walters for "drug czar." More

September 8, 2001 – Drug Policies of the Netherlands and Sweden: How Do They Compare?

National Families in Action is pleased to bring to your attention a report that Hassela Nordic Network will be publishing in segments starting Monday, September 10, 2001. The report is described below. To read each day's segments, see http://www.hnnsweden.com/hnn_latestnews_main.htm
More.

August 29, 2001 -- More Adult Americans on Probation for DWI than for Drug Offenses

The Bureau of Justice Statistics reports that 24 percent of the 3,839,532 men and women on probation in 2000 had been convicted of driving while intoxicated compared to 18 percent who had been convicted of a drug law violation. The Bureau defines probationers as criminal offenders sentenced to a period of correctional supervision in the community. The rest (58 percent of probationers) committed other offenses. More.

August 21, 2001 – Time to Write the New England Journal of Medicine

Legalization proponents are orchestrating a campaign to flood the New England Journal of Medicine with letters protesting the journal's publication of a letter from doctors at Children's Hospital Boston who call attention to several (legalization) websites that give out inaccurate, sometimes dangerous, medical information about the drug Ecstasy. More.

August 20, 2001 – Violent Crimes, Not Drug Crimes, Drove Prison Growth Over Past Decade
Bureau of Justice Statistics: "As a percentage of the total growth [in the U.S. prison population], violent offenders accounted for 51 percent of the growth; drug offenders 20 percent; property offenders 14 percent; and public-order offenders 15 percent." More.

August 16, 2001 – Today's British Medical Journal: Canadian Doctors' Opposition to "Medical Marijuana" Grows

Canadian doctors' opposition to medical marijuana grows, according to a report in today's British Medical Journal. The president of the Canadian Medical Association releases an open letter cautioning members that new access to the drug creates "significant concerns for both you and your patients." Both documents follow. More.

August 15, 2001 – Update on Ecstasy
Ecstasy use, overdoses, and deaths are on the rise. Congress holds hearings. NIDA hosts a research conference: even one dose changes the brain. PBS re-broadcasts In the Mix, detailing the drug's dangers. Yet the Lindesmith Center West insists in yesterday's San Francisco Chronicle the only thing wrong with Ecstasy is "dangerous adulterants," overheating, combining it with other drugs, or taking too much, too often. Who's right? More.

August 7, 2001 – Cocaine Used During Pregnancy May Damage Structure of Baby's Brain
A recent study found that monkeys exposed to cocaine during pregnancy give birth to infants whose brains contain fewer than half the neurons needed in the cerebral cortex. The study, published in the Journal of Comparative Neurology, is accompanied by a commentary, now available here.

July 23, 2001 – Peter Lewis Gives ACLU $5 Million to Fight Drug Laws
[Editor's Notes: Our thanks to Eleanor Scott, Colorado prevention leader, who sent the following editorial from the Denver Post.] Mr. Lewis, along with George Soros and John Sperling, has funded all the drug-related ballot initiatives that states have passed since 1996. More.

July 22, 2001 – Forty Percent Fail Prop 36 Pilot Program
Prior to the date (July 1) that California's Proposition 36 would become effective, some 700 defendants were placed on probation and in treatment programs in an Orange County pilot program designed to test how the proposition would work. Forty percent – 300 people – failed to complete treatment. Some stopped attending meetings. Others started using drugs again. Others were arrested on new drug charges. More

July 16, 2001 – British Medical Journal Editorial -- "Cannabinoids for Pain and Nausea: Some Evidence but is There Any Need?"
Researchers review all published studies of randomized controlled trials that examine the effectiveness of cannabinoids for pain and chemotherapy-induced nausea. The British Medical Journal concludes that while future cannabinoid research may provide useful medicines, existing studies show "the adverse effects of cannabinoids outweigh their effectiveness." More.

July 10, 2001 - Celebrating Recovery from Addiction
National Families in Action, a partner with the U.S. Center on Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT) in Recovery Month 2001, encourages prevention and treatment advocates to order free kits to help promote Recovery Month 2001 in your community. Order your kits from 1-800-729-6686. To learn more about the kits and activities planned to celebrate Recovery Month 2001 this September, click here.

June 29, 2001 - American Medical Association Declines to Endorse Compassionate Use of Marijuana for Medicine
The AMA House of Delegates votes down a proposal to recommend the compassionate use of medical marijuana, concluding that "it would be unwise for our AMA to recommend unapproved drugs for any use, particularly in the absence of scientifically verifiable evidence regarding the substance's safety and efficacy." More

June 22, 2001
Soros Group Targets Florida, Ohio, Michigan
Drafts of Florida, Michigan, and Ohio propositions.

Prop. 36 Clones Split Legalization Groups

African Americans Protest Conference, Call Legalization "Elitist"

May 30, 2001 – Letter from a 20-Year-Old Ecstasy User
Hi, I am a twenty-year-old college female student athlete who first tried ecstasy about two years ago. I used to drink quite heavily, but it did not interfere with my school or sport. Then, I tried ecstasy and immediately raved about it. I couldn't wait to do it again and again. But, with drug testing I would hold off for a time until the season would end or until summer. However, with each break it has gotten worse. (More)

May 24, 2001 – California Marijuana Activists Lose Round Marin County District Attorney Paula Kamena defeated a recall attempt led by marijuana activists, who accused her of victimizing medical marijuana users. Marin County citizens voted 4 to 1 in favor of keeping her in office. Her effort to allow patients to possess up to 7 mature marijuana plants, 12 immature plants, and ½ pound of dried marijuana without fear of prosecution displeased activists, who collected enough signatures to force the recall election.
(full story)

May 23, 2001 - Scientist Says Scientific Evidence For Marijuana as Medicine Does Not Exist
Billy R. Martin, a scientist at Virginia Commonwealth University, who has conducted marijuana research for two decades and who served on the Advisory Panel of the Institute of Medicine's "Marijuana and Medicine: Assessing the Science Base," says little scientific evidence exists to support medical use of the drug. "Although there are plenty of personal accounts, there is just not enough clear-cut scientific evidence that marijuana eases anxiety and pain, stimulates the appetite, and reduces nausea and vomiting," he said. (full story)

February 2001 - Use of Most Drugs Higher Among U.S. 10th-Graders Than European 10th-Graders The European School Survey on Alcohol and Other Drugs released its 1999 survey of 10th grade students in 30 European nations. The survey is designed to be comparable to the U.S. Monitoring the Future Survey. Graphs

January 2001 - Of each $1 states spend, 96 cents goes to shovel up the wreckage of substance abuse. Only 4 cents goes to prevention and treatment, says a new report from the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University. CASA chairman and president, Joseph A. Califano, Jr., calls for a revolution in the ways states spend money on this problem. Full report.