With major music industry types such as Russell Simmons and Carly Simon in his corner, the case of John Forte has received major headlines over the past few years.  One of the late 1990’s most prodigious R&B and Hip-hop songwriters/performers, Forte was arrested in 2000 for taking part in a cocaine smuggling operation that was bringing millions of dollars worth of the drug in the U.S.

After what many believed was an unfair trial, and an unjustly harsh sentencing, Forte was send to prison for 14 years, where his case became a cause celebre.

Now, John Forte has finally seen his prayers answered, as President George Bush pardoned the musician this week.  Forte is scheduled for release in December.

The Forte case brought many important issues into the spotlight.  Among them was the question of how to best fight the war on drugs.  The fact that Forte committed a non-violent crime, and was a first time offender made such a tough sentence difficult for many to swallow.  Currently, in the U.S. prison system there are hundreds of thousands of individuals who committed similar crimes in like circumstance living out long sentences.

When issuing the pardon, President Bush took into account the nature of the young man as well as his potential to give more to society outside of a jail cell.

Individuals who are struggling with drug addiction need help!  Contact a drug rehab facility in your area if you are someone you know is struggling with a dependence on illicit substances.

Lillo Brancato Jr., a promising young actor who played roles in HBO’s hit The Sopranos as well as opposite Robert DeNiro is his film A Bronx Tale is living a nightmare that could have come straight out of the scripts of one of his movies.

In 2005, Brancato was involved in the death of the New York City police officer during a robbery where he and an accomplice were attempting to steal drugs from their dealer.

During the robbery, the drug dealer who owned the house fired at the men breaking into his house, but also killed his neighbor, police officer Daniel Enchautegui who heard the commotion and had come over to investigate.

That leaves Brancato accused of burglary and murder and could face life in prison as a result.  His trial in New York City began this past week.

The story of Lillo Brancato Jr., is extreme, but is also indicative of a lifestyle where easy access to drugs and alcohol can lead to addiction and criminal behavior.  Heroin addiction and cocaine addiction were constant issues with this obviously troubled young man, but because of his fame - and ironically, the types of tough guy roles he portrayed - few were there to say NO and reach out with help.

Famous or not, if someone you know is struggling with drug addiction, help them find a drug rehab facility that can provide the life-saving treatment they desperately need.

Despite all the research that speaks to the contrary there are still a large number of people who are unaware of the many potential dangers of cocaine addiction.

And while most users and non-users probably know the “basic” symptoms and side effects of this addictive stimulant, such as talkativeness and nosebleeds, there are plenty of other reasons why those who are using this drug need cocaine rehab as soon as possible.

1. Irritability.  Once the stimulant effects of cocaine begin to wear off, the user can become quite irritable and agitated.
2. No sense of smell.  Cocaine damages the nasal membranes and surrounding areas which can cause the individual to lose their sense of smell entirely
3. Prenatal and post-natal problems.  Cocaine has been found to cause premature birth, low birth weight and other related disorders.
4. HIV and Hepatitis. Shooting cocaine using dirty needles can advance the spread of these deadly viruses.
5. Lung disease.  Smoking crack has been found to cause significant damage to the lungs.
6. Bowel gangrene.  Ingesting cocaine can also cause this painful internal condition.
7. Decreased appetite.  Individuals on long cocaine “benders” have been known to go days without eating.
8. Sleeplessness.  Even when not using the drug, many cocaine addicts report a restlessness that keeps them from sleeping through the night.

A drug rehab facility can help individuals break the cycle of cocaine addiction.   To get help for yourself, or a loved one, contact a program in your area.

Every day, millions of people turn to products with names like Red Bull, Monster or Redline for a burst of energy that will (if the advertisement prove correct) help give them an energy boost and enhance their focus.  While the claims of these products is still up for debate in terms of validity, many drug addiction professionals are becoming concerned that they made lead to something much worse.

A recent study by the American College of Health found that individuals who consumed multiple energy drinks each week were much more likely to engage in other damaging behaviors such as cigarette smoking and the abuse of prescription drugs.

While it is hard to prove a causational link between the two behaviors, another study from the Journal of Drug and Alcohol Dependence raised more serious concerns by associated heavy energy drink usage with caffiene toxicity and eventually, addiction to stimulants and other hard drugs.

Both these studies are still making their way through the scientific community, but whether or not they lead more findings, there is no denying that energy drink consumption, when not in moderation, can lead to a variety of health problems, including:

• Dehydration
• Kidney failure
• Heart failure
• Seizures
• Coma

Energy drinks have drawn the attention of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in recent years, so watch for more studies about the potential health hazards of these “wonder drinks.”

Obviously, these problems (and the link to drug addiction) are not applicable to the majority of individuals who consume energy drinks.  However, if you or someone you know has seen their health suffer as a result of their addiction to energy drinks, stimulants such as amphetamines or cocaine, or any other drug, it is important to contact a drug rehab facility immediately.

In October, the Drug Enforcement Agency’s travelling museum exhibit, Target America: Opening Eyes to the Damage Drugs Cause, made it’s way to Los Angeles for an extended run at the city’s California Science Center.

The exhibit is a truly unique way to spread the word to kids age 11 and up that drugs can destroy the bodies and their future.

Some of the highlights of the exhibit include:

• A “drug running” tunnel that kids can crawl through to gain an understanding of the dangers of the narcotics trade.
• A chance to shoot basketballs into a hoop while wearing 3D glasses to help simulate the effects of drugs.
• Recreated scenes from the “drug lifestyle” to design to put a scare into kids about the problems caused by addiction.

The DEA and local museums around the country are to be commended on this effort to reach kids outside of the classroom in a manner that speaks to them in a language they can understand.  Kids are at the greatest risk for developing a drug addiction - the impact of which can mean health and social problems that follow them on through adulthood.

If you know a child who is experimenting with drugs, or has developed a substance abuse problem, contact a teen-friendly drug rehab program in your area immediately.

There are so many things from our youth that once seemed pure and are now besmirched by revelations, temptations and too much information.   Until now, MARSHA BRADY seemed a pretty safe bet to stay off of that list, but alas, it just wasn’t meant to be.

In her new autobiography entitled Here’s the Story: Surviving Marcia Brady and Finding My True Voice, actress Maureen McCormick who played the eldest sister of the Brady clan on the hit TV show The Brady Bunch has admitted to years if cocaine addiction, trading cocaine for sex at the Playboy Mansion and even a string of abortions required because of unwanted pregnancies.

This is some pretty stunning stuff considering just a few years ago we were all trying to wrap our heads around Marsha kissing Greg in a brief off-screen moment.  Wow, that sure seems innocent now.

As it happens, McCormick is yet another cautionary tale of young Hollywood and its distaste for telling anyone “no” about anything.   This lack of a checks and balances system has left many 14-years olds like McCormick in grave danger.  It is to “Marcia’s” credit that she has lived to tell the tale and turn her life around in a way that allows her to help others.

To help someone in YOUR life with a drug addiction, contact a drug rehab facility and find out how you can help get that individual into an intervention and straight on through to treatment.

Well known entertainer and former WHAM lead singer George Michael is back in trouble with the law after being arrested for possession of crack cocaine in Hamstead Heath, a park near the singer’s London home.

The arrest marks the latest brush with the law for the singer, who battle drug addiction for many years.

Although Michael apologized to his fans, his act seems to wearing thin as this arrest barely registered in Britain’s tabloid-crazy media.

Over the past decade George Michael has been criminally invovled with incidents involving marijuana, ectsasy and other drugs.   Add to this his arrest for lewd behavior is a public bathroom and you have a celebrity who either cares little about his public personna, or has a very real drug addiction problem that requires professional help immediately.

If you or someone you love is struggling with drug addiction, contact a drug rehab facility in your area.   Drug rehab programs help save lives and give all their patients a chance to start their lives again.

A recent report in the British newspaper The Daily Mail has found that drug deaths related to cocaine and ecstasy are up a whopping 1200% since 1993.

The study detailed several interesting pieces of information that shed light into the demographic trends of drug abuse in England - many of which can be extrapolated to drug addiction in the United States.

• Cocaine and ecstasy use is up among individuals in the 40’s or older.   The health of these individuals puts them in a higher-risk group for overdose.
• Mixing cocaine with alcohol use has become more popular in the United Kingdom.  This can create a deadly mixture called cocaine-ethynyl which has claimed the life of hundreds of individuals over the past several years.
• 293 people died in England from cocaine use last year, a shocking figure when you consider that only 23 people died from those drugs just a few short years ago.
• Heroin and morphine-related deaths are also up in England, rising to 829 in 2007 from 713 in 2006.
• Drug addiction and drug-related deaths among young people, while not decreasing has leveled off over the past few years.   The real rise in drug use is among older men and women.

As in America, celebrities in England have had their struggles with drugs and alcohol.  The tabloid industry in the United Kingdom is in many ways, even more intrusive than it is in the United States, allowing the public to see these lifestyles first-hand.  

Whether or not this is impacting drug use among older Brits remains to be seen, but one thing is for certain, you can expect demand at quality drug rehab facilities to rise in the coming years across the pond.

Natalie Cole, daughter of singing great Nat King Cole, and a music legend in her own right has been diagnosed with Hepatitis C - a disease that commonly strikes those who have engaged in considerable drug use over long periods of time.

And as Ms. Cole herself admitted in her autobiography, she was addicted to heroin and crack cocaine for many years and saw her health and career suffer as a result.

natalie cole

She is currently receiving care in Los Angeles, but the situation has been complicated by adverse reactions to the anti-viral medicine given to her to treat the Hepatitis C virus.

Hepatitis C is a serious infectious disease that damages the liver and can cause complete liver failure if not properly treated.   Chronic Hepatitis C (the most deadly form of the virus) is commonly associated with individuals who engage in intravenous drug use or inhaled drug use.

There are no serious symptoms of Hepatitis C in the early stages of the disease.  And in later stages, the individual is likely to experience only flu-like symptoms, nausea and vomiting and extreme fatigue.

To help an individual with a drug addiction prevent Hepatitis C, make sure they get enrolled at an outstanding drug rehab program as soon as possible.

A band with a relatively clean image for the music world has taken a serious hit this week as Barenaked Ladies lead singer Steven Page was arrested for possession of cocaine in Syracuse, New York.

The singer was released on $10,000 bail and is currently awaiting his day in court, however this matter brings up several concerns for the band, as well as the parents of their youngest fans.

While there are many instances where a musician’s fall from grace due to drug addiction does little to affect his or her popularity (and it many cases will seemingly enhance it) this situation is complicated by the way the band has marketed themselves.

Appearing on the soundtracks of many animated films, and touring with Disney recording artists have created a youth-appeal to the band with will be threatened by talk of cocaine and other drugs.

Even more of a concern of course, is the health of Stephen Page.  The rigors of performing and touring lead many into the cycle of drug addiction, and one can only hope that this moment serves as a wake-up call for Mr. Page, and that is able to check into a drug treatment center that will offer him the cocaine rehab needed to get well.