The actor to play the now infamous role of Zed in Quentin Tarantino’s wildly successful film, “Pulp Fiction,” has continued to stay sober since his long history with drug problems. 

Peter Greene’s most recent bust for possession of drugs took place in Manhattan at Alphabet City in 2007.  He was seen by law enforcement and other witnesses to be buying two bags of cocaine.  An officer at the scene took from his front pockets of his jeans two plastic bags of an unknown substance at the time.  He went through arraignment where he pleaded guilty to the charges of criminal possession.  He received no jail time, the judge giving him time served during his sentencing. 

He supposedly won his long and harrowing battle with drug addiction when he entered a facility  for residential drug treatment during the 90s.  However, he has managed to stay clean since this most recent run in with the law.  While he had what looked like a promising career due to his tour de force performance in both “Clean, Shaven” and  “Laws of Gravity,” his constant on and off relationship with drug  wrecked many of the chances he had to star in larger roles with more opportunities from him to grow in fame and talent.  
He has had to face many problems due to his flirting with the possibility of treatment for drug addiction ever since he began using in his late teens and early twenties.  He worked as a small time drug dealer after dunning away from his home in New Jersey on the streets of New York where he was mostly homeless except for the kindness of friends and acquaintances.  He finally began to study acting, something he credits with having helped him to save his life even thought his abuse of drugs continued. 
While it is not known if he has received further help from an addiction treatment center  from his arrest in 2007, he appears to have stayed sober since.

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Pulp Fiction Actor Peter Greene Stays Sober from Drug Addiction

According to an article from the Scotsman newspaper in Scotland, figures show that the drug death toll has reached record highs in that country. There was an increase in the deaths of older users.

What health experts there refer to as the “trainspotting generation,” they say is responsible for the increase in deaths. This generation is the one that starting injecting heroin in the late 1980s and 1990s in Scotland.

“A new report shows drug deaths have increased by more than a quarter in the past year, with the number of fatalities rising significantly among older people.”

The deaths related to drug abuse have raised a whopping 131 percent over the past ten years in Scotland, leading the government to start thinking about taking urgent action towards the problem.

“Figures show the 35-44 age bracket made up 30 per cent of drug-related fatalities and 37 per cent were aged between 25 and 34 years old.”

In Scotland the number of deaths rose much faster in the 35-44 age bracket and also in the 45 and older age bracket.

“Experts said Scotland was dealing with a legacy reaching as far back as the late 1970s and 1980s, when many people began experimenting with drugs for the first time. Those injecting drugs such as heroin 20 years ago are now inheriting a range of serious health problems, including heart and respiratory illnesses, which, in some cases, are leading to premature death.”

Heroin and morphine were the cause of most of the deaths reported in the country, especially among men.  Drug users are dying in Scotland because of a lack of care and treatment, according to the article.  The article states that because of a lack of services in the country drug users are waiting upwards of two years to receive treatment and that is why addicts are dying, the lack of drug rehab programs available.

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Older generation blamed as drug deaths soar in Scotland

According to an article from genomeweb.com, a zebrafish gene expression study has found indications that adult neuron formation may be involved in drug addiction.

The article states the study as this:

“Researchers from Germany and the Netherlands used microarrays to compare gene expression in the brains of normal and mutant zebrafish that had or had not been exposed to amphetamine. Following amphetamine exposure, they found 139 transcripts that were differentially expressed between wild type zebrafish and mutant fish that don’t respond to the drug.”

The study hopes to gain more information on what triggers addictive behavior.

“They assessed zebrafish drug response using an assay called the conditioned place preference, in which the fish change their location in a tank as a result of amphetamine use.”

The study is a step in changing the ideas of drug addiction, that is could be a response that is triggered in the brain. A new link between neurogenesis and addiction.

Here is another quote to further explain the study:

“By screening through zebrafish that had been exposed to a mutagenizing chemical called N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea, the researchers found a dominant mutation that renders zebrafish indifferent to amphetamine. They then used Agilent microarrays to compare the gene expression profile in this mutant, dubbed “no addiction”, with wild type zebrafish in the presence or absence of amphetamine.”

This study could be the first step in understanding why the brain becomes addicted to substances and therefore needs drug rehab.

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Zebrafish Gene Expression Study Offers Clues to Drug Addiction

According to a news report coming out of a CBS affiliate in Las Vegas, Nevada, are seeing an increase in the number of patients that may be faking dental pain to get pain prescriptions.

Dentists have the ability to prescribe powerful drugs and now pain killer addicts are faking tooth pain in an effort to score some drugs.  There can be consequences not only for the patient who obtains drugs under false pretenses, but also the doctor.

The article states:

“Just lying about pain to a health care provider can land you in hot water. It’s a felony to get powerful drugs under false pretenses, but the board often uses diversion programs for drug abusers to avoid criminal prosecutions so the addict can get help.”

Nevada however is one of the few states that have restrictions on drug prescriptions. “Doctors and patients are flagged if too many scripts change hands. That system keeps abuse down.”

With that system in place it is more difficult for fraud over prescription drugs to occur, in a dentist or doctor’s office, but it does not fully deter it from happening. Although, patients can call several dentists or doctors until they find one that will provide them the medicine.

Most of the time these patients do not have any tooth pain and are in need of drug rehab.

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Dentists are being targeted by drug addicts

According to an article from Canada.com, prescription drug abuse often starts in hospitals.  This type of drug use usually begins after a person undergoes some type of surgery or other trauma and then needs to take pain medication. Often times this will lead to drug abuse that cannot be overcome without drug addiction treatment.

The article states:

“The most commonly abused prescription drugs are opioids (pain-relievers) and benzodiazepines, used to treat such things as anxiety, panic attacks, depression, insomnia and stress, because they affect the mind, behavior or mood.”

And the problem has gained more newsworthiness because celebrities are dying due to prescription drug abuse. This includes the deaths of Anna Nicole Smith, Heath Ledger and most recently Michael Jackson.

It is the dangerous mixing of prescription drugs that can lead to an eventual overdose. Making the pain go away in a hospital bed can often lead to a problem that requires help.

The article also states another interesting statistic:

“Since 2005, the rate of new prescription-drug addicts has outpaced the number of people getting hooked on marijuana, the most commonly used illegal drug in North America.”

People usually think of drug abuse only involving illicit street drugs, but nearly every American is susceptible to this kind of drug abuse. All it takes is one little problem and it could turn big.

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Prescription drug use starts in hospitals

According to an article from the Associated Press, Texas A&M University is starting a five year study where cocaine is given to rats to help them understand the effects of drug addiction. The study hopes to better understand the effect the drug has on the brain.

The University got the cocaine from the federal government. The government bought the cocaine from a company that does drug research. The study received a $1.4 million dollar federal grant for the findings.

Barry Setlow, a professor at the University in the psychology department has this to say about what he hopes to learn from the study.

“A lot of addiction treatment is getting people to stop using drugs. That has to be the first step,” Setlow said. “People may choose the immediate reward of a cocaine binge instead of the greater reward of spending time with your family or paying your mortgage.”

What the University also hopes to get out of the study is a better understanding of why people relapse on drugs such as cocaine. They also hope to be able to make better progress in how to treat this type of drug addiction. Addiction treatment is something that hopefully will be improved after this study is completed.

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Texas A&M to give rats cocaine for drug addiction study

According to an article from the Associated Press, Texas A&M University is starting a five year study where cocaine is given to rats to help them understand the effects of drug addiction. The study hopes to better understand the effect the drug has on the brain.

The University got the cocaine from the federal government. The government bought the cocaine from a company that does drug research. The study received a $1.4 million dollar federal grant for the findings.

Barry Setlow, a professor at the University in the psychology department has this to say about what he hopes to learn from the study.

“A lot of addiction treatment is getting people to stop using drugs. That has to be the first step,” Setlow said. “People may choose the immediate reward of a cocaine binge instead of the greater reward of spending time with your family or paying your mortgage.”

What the University also hopes to get out of the study is a better understanding of why people relapse on drugs such as cocaine. They also hope to be able to make better progress in how to treat this type of drug addiction. Addiction treatment is something that hopefully will be improved after this study is completed.

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Texas A&M to give rats cocaine for drug addiction study

Jamie Lee Curtis, best known for her role in the Halloween franchise has always been a celebrity open to talk about her body and image. This week she wrote a piece for the Huffington Post about her addiction to prescription pain killers. Pain killer addiction and prescription drug abuse in general have come to the forefront of the news media due to the death of Michael Jackson.

Her blog entry for the Huffington Post is a direct response to the death of the King of Pop, Michael Jackson. It talks about how he sought out prescription pain killers from a number of doctors, whether licensed or not. She also notes in her blog post that Jackson’s pain may have begun after his hair caught on fire after filming a commercial for Pepsi. She however, does not believe that this was the starting point to his problems; she believes it was rooted deep from the time of his childhood.

She cites her own drug addiction in the following quote:

“Listen, I can relate. I too found painkillers after a routine cosmetic surgical procedure and I too became addicted, the morphine becomes the warm bath from which to escape painful reality. I was a lucky one. I was able to see that the pain had started long ago and far away and that the finding the narcotic was merely a matter of time. The pain needed numbing. My recovery from drug addiction is the single greatest accomplishment of my life… but it takes work — hard, painful work — but the help is there, in every town and career, drug/drink freed members of society, from every single walk and talk of life to help and guide.”

Curtis was able to find addiction treatment and move on with her life.  What do you think of the blog post by Curtis? Agree or disagree with her opinion?

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Actress Jamie Lee Curtis blogs about her addiction to pain killers

A federal advisory committee has put in a recommendation that Percocet and Vicodin be banned, along with restrictions on over-the-counter pain medications, like Tylenol because of acetaminophen. Acetaminophen has been linked to liver damage. There is worry that the overuse of the drug that is in Tylenol and many over the counter pain medications is damaging and needs to be further restricted.

The government is looking to lower the dosage on over-the- counter acetaminophen and ban the more intense versions Vicodin and Percocet.  This has patients concerned about their pain killers. Whether they are just popping Tylenol for the occasional headache or have found Percocet to be the only answer for the pain their rheumatoid arthritis causes.

There is fear that patients are becoming addicted to the pain killers more easily and overusing them. Prescription pain killer abuse is rampant in this country and with the recent death of Michael Jackson has become even more of an issue lately.

The problem also is that many people could be taking too much acetaminophen and not even knowing it. The ingredient is in many things such as cold medicine and over the counter remedies such as Midol. And people could not be looking at the packaging and then popping a few Tylenol on top of those drugs because they did not know it contained the acetaminophen. The liver damage could get worse if people are also drinking alcohol along with their Tylenol.

Here is a quote from a San Jose Mercury News article:

“According to the FDA, prescription acetaminophen combination drugs were prescribed 200 million times last year. Tylenol’s maker says nearly 50 million U.S. adults and children take acetaminophen in any given week.”

“The panel’s proposals, announced June 30, were prompted by concerns over acetaminophen overdoses, which are the leading cause of liver failure. They sicken more than 50,000 people and cause at least 200 deaths each year nationwide.”

So what do you think? Is this a little drastic or is the government panel right?

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The acetaminophen debate

According to an article from the New York Times, drivers are more likely to be under the influence of drugs than alcohol. This finding comes after the release of the most recent roadside survey from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.  The survey is based on saliva, blood samples and questionnaires from 300 locations across the United States.

In 1973, 7.5 percent of drivers had a blood alcohol level of .08 or higher, which is above the legal limit in all fifty states.  The new survey found that this has significantly reduced to 2.2 percent.  More drivers are now under the influence of drugs.

The article states:

“For the first time, the roadside survey also used screening methods to detect marijuana, cocaine and prescription drugs. The survey found that 16.3 percent of nighttime weekend drivers tested positive for drugs. Nearly 9 percent had used marijuana, whereas nearly 4 percent tested positive for cocaine and a similar number had used prescription drugs. The drug tests only indicate the presence of the drug in the body and don’t indicate when the drugs were used or whether the driver was impaired.”

This survey was conducted in 2007 on a voluntary and anonymous basis.  If the people in the survey were impaired, they were not taken into custody, rather they were allowed to call for a ride, but they were not allowed back on the road. People in the survey were also offered extra incentives to participate. Monetary compensation was offered for blood and saliva samples, as much as 100 dollars was offered.

The study also found that men are more likely to be under the influence of alcohol than women. And those drunk drivers were more likely to be operating motorcycles or pick-up trucks.

So, what does this information make you think about? Do you really think there are more people under the influence of drugs than alcohol while behind the wheel? Or is this just the first time it’s been tested.

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Driver survey finds less drinking, more drugs