Michael Jackson’s death is a wake-up call over prescription drug abuse: claimed nation’s drug czar

October 16th, 2009 Ala. court rejects verdicts in drug price casesMONTGOMERY, Ala. — The Alabama Supreme Court has thrown out jury decisions awarding the state more than $274 million from three pharmaceutical companies.

September 30th, 2009 In 16 states, drug deaths overtake traffic fatalsATLANTA — In 16 states and counting, drugs now kill more people than auto accidents do, the government said Wednesday. Experts said the startling shift reflects two opposite trends: Driving is becoming safer, and the legal and illegal use of powerful prescription painkillers is on the rise.

September 30th, 2009 CDC: Drug deaths outpace crashes in more statesATLANTA — Drug-related deaths outnumber those from motor vehicle accidents in a growing number of states, according to new government data that highlight a shift in the top cause of deaths after disease and illness. Crashes still cost more lives nationwide, but state-by-state calculations show the rate of drug-induced deaths outpaced vehicle accidents in 16 states in 2006, up from about a dozen states the year before and eight in 2003.

September 16th, 2009 Manager: Burt Reynolds treated for drug abuseMIAMI — Burt Reynolds has been released from a drug rehabilitation center where he was being treated for an addiction to painkillers, his manager said Wednesday. The star of "Smokey and the Bandit," ''Deliverance" and "Boogie Nights" began struggling after recent back surgery and "realized that he was in the prison of prescription pain pills," his manager Erik Kritzer said in a statement.

September 8th, 2009 Troubled police chief in Vt. resignsVERGENNES, Vt.

September 1st, 2009 Drug czar kicks off anti-meth ad campaignST. LOUIS — Josh Palmer's story has played out countless times here in the heart of meth country.

August 28th, 2009 CBO: House bill could raise drug costs for someWASHINGTON — Some seniors could end up paying 20 percent more for their Medicare prescription drug plans under health care legislation in the House. But overall prescription drug spending would decrease for seniors on average under the bill, the Congressional Budget Office said Friday in a new report.

August 14th, 2009 Medicare drug premiums to rise slightly in 2010WASHINGTON — Seniors enrolled in Medicare can expect to see a $2 increase in their monthly payment for prescription drug coverage next year. Medicare officials announced late Thursday that the average monthly premium for the government's drug plan will be $30 next year, up from $28 this year.

July 14th, 2009 Batch of drug central to Jackson probe recalledLOS ANGELES — Federal drug enforcement officials have contacted the maker of the powerful anesthetic propofol (PRO-puh-fall) as part of their investigation into Michael Jackson's death. A spokeswoman for Teva Pharmaceuticals says the Drug Enforcement Administration asked the company about a specific batch of the drug.

July 10th, 2009 LAPD: Michael Jackson's drug history to be probedLOS ANGELES — Detectives investigating the death of Michael Jackson are looking at his prescription drug history and trying to talk with his numerous former doctors, the Los Angeles police chief said. Chief William Bratton told CNN that police are waiting for the coroner's report before ruling out any possibilities in their "comprehensive" investigation into the sudden death of the 50-year-old pop star two weeks ago.

July 4th, 2009 Colin Powell: Celebrate Michael Jackson's artWASHINGTON — Colin Powell says Michael Jackson had controversy in his life, but in death his art should be celebrated. The retired general and former secretary of state said he was in Vietnam, Korea or stationed elsewhere during Jackson's heyday.

July 2nd, 2009 AP source: DEA joins Jackson death investigationWASHINGTON — The Drug Enforcement Administration is joining the investigation into Michael Jackson's death, a law enforcement official said late Wednesday. The DEA is stepping in at the request of the Los Angeles Police Department, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the ongoing investigation.

May 9th, 2009 Seattle police chief gets Senate nod as drug czarWASHINGTON — The Senate on Thursday approved the nomination of Seattle Police Chief Gil Kerlikowske as the nation's drug czar, signaling a change in U.S. drug policy.

May 8th, 2009 Senate approves Seattle police chief as drug czarWASHINGTON — The Senate has approved the nomination of Seattle Police Chief Gil Kerlikowske as the national drug czar. Kerlikowske, a 36-year law enforcement veteran, has said he will take a balanced, science-based approach to the job of director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy.

March 3rd, 2009 MOSCOW - Up to 2.5 million Russians, including 140,000 minors, are drug addicts, an official said Tuesday. 'The overall number of drug addicts in our country is between 2 and 2.5 million people between the ages of 18 and 39,' said Viktor Ivanov, the head of the Federal Drug Control Service.