"Health & Medical News"

If all currently illicit drugs were legalized only a relative handful of Americans would try drugs like cocaine or heroin, according to a Zogby poll sponsored by a drug-policy reform group.

A poll of about 1,000 likely voters ages 18 or older found that only 0.6 percent replied “yes” when asked, “If hard drugs such as heroin or cocaine were legalized, would you be likely to use them?” Ninety-nine percent answered “no,” and 0.4 percent said they were not sure.

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Thousands of prisoners convicted of crack-cocaine offenses could see their sentences cut and be released from prison if the U.S. Sentencing Commission makes recent changes in sentencing guidelines retroactive, the Los Angeles Times reported Nov. 12.

A new policy aimed at equalizing penalties for crack and powder cocaine, if applied to past as well as future offenders, would cut an average of about two years off the sentences of 19,500 federal prisoners, which would result in the release of about 2,500 prisoners.

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Picture a patient throwing $100 bills around the waiting room, urging other patients, “take them, take them.” His voice is loud; his affect, frenzied. Another image: The young man who keeps talking about Mr. Maloney. “Mr. Maloney says this, Mr. Maloney says that.” Later, his girlfriend reveals that Mr. Maloney doesn’t exist. Or what about the concerned mother who calls every day, demanding more of the physician’s time. One day overtly complimentary; the next, visibly angry.

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Mental illness is one of them most disabling conditions in the world but is rarely treated, according to the World Health Organization’s (WHO) World Mental Health Survey.

Medical News Today reported Sept. 11 that the survey of 17 countries found that mental illness ranks in the top 10 illnesses causing disability, but few people with mental illness or addictions received adequate care.

Popularity: 4% [?]