Free Republic

Get ready to give up a little bit of your privacy in exchange for certain allergy or cold medicines. Starting in late September, just in time for cold season, consumers will be required to fork over photo IDs and list their home addresses in logbooks before buying Sudafed, Contac or other remedies containing the nasal-decongestant pseudoephedrine or similar substances. Some retailers already are asking for the information, which law-enforcement officials hope will help them fight the illegal production of methamphetamine, a highly addictive drug that can be made, in part, by "cooking" pseudoephedrine. Consumers in Florida and many other states...

Michigan officials cope with 'bad heroin' Drug cocktail causing overdoses from Philadelphia to Chicago. SARAH KARUSH Associated Press Writer DETROIT -- Larry, a 53-year-old heroin addict, has two cardinal rules: Never shoot up alone, and only shoot up one at a time. If one person overdoses, "you need someone there to bring you back," he said. Larry, who asked that his last name not be used because of his illegal habit, recited his rules after hearing that a mixture of heroin and a powerful painkiller has been killing unsuspecting users who believe they are taking pure heroin. Officials from Philadelphia...

Hydro, more potent and more expensive than regular grass, is sold mostly to the affluent, but police fear rise in violence, crime if youth start using Israel Police have waged a war on the distribution of Hydro, a more potent and more expensive type of marijuana that is sweeping the local drug market. Dubbed by police as “death grass,” Hydro goes for about NIS 500 (USD 110) per 10 grams (0.35 ounces), compared with regular marijuana which is sold for NIS 600 (USD 133) per kilo. The high price of Hydro is mainly due to the high cost of growing...