Free Republic

July 18, 2005 -- The number of Americans admitted to hospitals and clinics for treatment of methamphetamine and prescription painkiller addictions rose sharply in 2003, federal health officials said Monday. Nearly 117,000 Americans entered hospitals and clinics for treatment of methamphetamine addiction in 2003, a 10% rise from the year before. Treatments for abuse of prescription narcotics like OxyContin rose 12% to more than 48,000 in 2003, the latest year with available data, according to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Several states, including Arkansas, California, and Utah, saw their rates for admission for abuse of methamphetamine jump...

PORTLAND, Ore. (Reuters) - A bill passed by lawmakers on Saturday would make Oregon the first U.S. state to require a doctor's prescription for cold medicines containing an ingredient that can be used to make the illegal drug methamphetamine. "We hope this will reduce the supply" of meth, Democratic state Sen. Ginny Burdick told Reuters after the Senate passed the bill. Oregon's House of Representatives approved the measure earlier this month and Democratic Gov. Ted Kulongoski was expected to sign it. The bill has widespread support, but critics say it would hurt people without medical insurance who cannot afford to...