One Way to Stop Overzealous Prosecutors: Defund State Prisons
When a local prosecutor sends a convicted felon to prison, the cost of keeping him locked up—an average of $ 31,286 per year—is paid for entirely by the state, not the county where the prosecutor holds office. The problem with this setup, some argue … Read more on Slate Magazine

Skid row patients die as clinic lacks OK to dispense methadone
In theory the forces of change are finally in sync: California has stopped putting drug addicts in prison, leaving them free to get help. And Obamacare has put help in reach by providing insurance that covers drug abuse treatment. But in real life … Read more on Los Angeles Times

Three infected with measles at Las Vegas seafood restaurant
All told, more than 150 people across the United Sates have recently been diagnosed with measles, 126 of them in California. Nevada public health officials believe the … Sizemore said none of the newly diagnosed patients was hospitalized, but one … Read more on Raw Story

Beverly Hills Tip Jar Bandit Sentenced to Year of Rehab
A woman charged last week with stealing money from tip jars at various businesses in Beverly Hills was sentenced today to a year in a live-in residential drug rehabilitation facility in connection with her no contest plea to stealing money from a cash … Read more on Patch.com

New adult drug rehabilitation center to open in Luzerne County
The Pocono center purchased the property through an entity named Clearbrook Treatment Centers Land Corp. LLC, but Lavelle said it will have no affiliation with Clearbrook Treatment Center, which will continue to operate an adult drug and alcohol … Read more on Wilkes Barre Times-Leader

Region's first recovery high school is planned in Worcester
"It is not for all students who are drug-addicted. I don't want people to think of it as a recovery program where that is the sole focus of the work there. It is truly a high school with academic requirements. It also has a component that supports … Read more on Worcester Telegram

Headline: Olmsted officials discuss future of addiction recovery
"About the only thing I'm completely adamant on is that I hate the disease of addiction," said Steve Coddington, a recovering addict and now counselor at Fountain Centers, a center for substance abuse recovery with both residential and outpatient … Read more on Post-Bulletin

N.H. The Only State In Region With No Addiction Recovery Services
Actually New Hampshire is the only state in New England that does not have recovery centers in the state. It's an absolutely invaluable tool, for people to be able to go to a place where they know that they can get the support they need, that no one … Read more on New Hampshire Public Radio

Criminal justice: ACLU report details problems, concern statewide with county …
The elevator ride to the second floor of the Lewis and Clark County Law Enforcement Center where the detention center is located may be the start of a journey that can last several months. However, Lewis … For some, they're incarcerated because of … Read more on Helena Independent Record

NASCAR News: NASCAR: Kyle Busch breaks leg, Kurt Busch loses final appeal
Kurt Busch went through two unsuccessful rounds of appeal on Saturday against a suspension from the sanctioning body over allegations of domestic abuse, while his younger brother Kyle suffered a violent accident during the first race of the new Xfinity … Read more on crash.net

Off the Wire
16 for at least 10 games for violating the league's substance abuse policy. He ended up serving a 12-game suspension. The team made the move Saturday night. The 6-11 center was inactive for the team's first game back from the All-Star break on Friday, … Read more on Arkansas Online

Soul Searching
The defunct strip mall coin laundry occasionally is used as a safe-party venue for residents of the Carter Hope Center, an alcohol and drug rehab center and, for this special occasion they have been allowed to invite family members, but only a handful … Read more on Chattanooga Times Free Press

At NFL scouting combine, a new emphasis on character
INDIANAPOLIS — Jameis Winston won the Heisman Trophy, reeled off 29 consecutive victories and managed a pro-style offense during the past two seasons at Florida State. He possesses every physical attribute NFL teams desire in a franchise quarterback … Read more on Washington Post

AZ lawmaker wants sober living homes to be licensed
"I call them drug rehab drop houses, where they stash people," said Rep. Noel Campbell. "There's no treatment going on. They're inundating our city." Campbell, who is a resident of Prescott, has sponsored a bill that some worry could put sober living … Read more on KPHO Phoenix

Everything You Think You Know About Addiction and the War on Drugs Is Wrong
I went in Arizona to a prison called Tent City, where I went out with women who were forced to go out on a chain gang wearing t-shirts saying "I was a drug addict." When I …. It's not drug treatment the way we normally think of it — some of it is … Read more on Mic

Health Insurance Companies Say No To Allowing Addiction Treatment …
Seabrook House is an internationally recognized private CARF-accredited, inpatient alcohol and drug rehabilitation treatment center with locations in Bridgeton, NJ , Cherry Hill, NJ , Northfield, NJ , Morristown, NJ , and Westfield, PA. Founded by … Read more on Insurance News Net

Medical clinics promote ketamine injections as treatment for depression
Sydney University Brain and Mind Research Institute executive director Professor Ian Hickie said the "off label" use of ketamine reflected the demand for more immediate treatment for depression but there were known risks of using the drug. Experts say … Read more on Sydney Morning Herald

Do K-9 drug sweeps treat kids like criminals?
Police and the dogs were there to respond to a growing concern among educators about drug use at Ridge. But after all that effort, they made only one arrest — of an 18-year-old student police say had marijuana and numerous narcotic pain pills in her … Read more on NJ.com

Could medicinal marijuana be used to treat drug addiction? Some say yes
Compare that to methadone — a common treatment for heroin addiction. According to the Centers for Disease Control, methadone contributed to nearly 1 in 3 prescription painkiller deaths in 2009. Every year about 5,000 people die of overdoses related to … Read more on KOAA.com Colorado Springs and Pueblo News

Man At Center Of MLB Steroid Scandal Sentenced To 4 Years
The message is clear: cheating doesn't pay and individuals like Bosch, who distribute performance enhancing drugs to athletes and, more importantly, to our children, will be held accountable for their actions.” The sentencing began Tuesday with Bosch's … Read more on CBS Local

Man proposing to open drug rehab center in S. Fort Myers speaks – ABC-7.com …
We are finally hearing from the man trying to open a drug rehab center in a South Fort Myers neighborhood. We spoke with the man behind the plan and those trying to stop it. "We are requesting a zoning change to CFPD," Tom Mouracade said. Mouracade is … Read more on WZVN-TV

Fort Myers orders drug rehab center to cease and desist
Marcey Chrysler called it "foul" that the city's zoning board declined to decide Thursday whether to close Sovereign Health Drug rehab Center. Attorney Neale Montgomery read from the city's Cease and Desist Order and said that Sovereign Health never … Read more on NBC2 News

DeWine wants rebate to state for high cost of Narcan
In November, The ADAMHS Board of Montgomery County began disbursing 500 blue nylon bags containing Narcan kits to those with drug addiction histories who are being released from jail or treatment centers. The local pilot, Project DAWN for “Deaths … Read more on WHIO