| Report: Depictions of Smoking in Movies Influence Young People |
| Researchers are emphasizing the importance of a new government report that they say demonstrates for the first time a causal link between tobacco use in movies and smoking behaviors in the population. |
| Study Finds Alcohol May Compromise Fertility in Young Women |
| A study of Australian twins has found that women with alcohol dependence tended to have children later in life than other women, suggesting possibly damaging effects of alcohol on fertility. |
| Controversial Anti-Smoking Medication Shows Success in England |
| Data from England's National Health Service are indicating that smokers seeking to quit in that nation are seeing comparatively good results with the medication Champix (known as Chantix in the United States). |
| Beer Distributor Makes Nice, N.H. Youth Group Prevails |
| A meeting between leaders of a New Hampshire youth group and a beer distributor whose employees reacted angrily to youths' placement of warning labels stuck on its products has led to amicable words about the groups working toward the same goal of preventing underage drinking. |
| Maine Wants to Extend Tobacco Reduction Successes to Other Drugs |
| Maine Gov. John Baldacci believes his state has the community-based program infrastructure needed to make the kind of progress in combating alcohol and drug abuse that it has seen in reducing tobacco use. |
| Study Finds Sports Stadiums Serve Alcohol to Intoxicated, Underage Fans |
| An undercover operation conducted as part of research sponsored by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's Substance Abuse Prevention and Research Program found that operatives who appeared underage or obviously intoxicated had a relatively easy time purchasing alcohol at professional sports events. |
| Desire for Plastic Surgery Motivates Some Smokers to Quit |
| With all the smoking cessation tools available to those trying to quit, an unexpected motivator is coming from the increasingly popular world of cosmetic surgery. |
| Mobile Phones Offer Vehicle for Alcohol Prevention Messages |
| A project run by a charity in the Cornwall region of England has determined that alcohol prevention efforts can successfully reach youths through messages sent to their mobile phones. |
| Canadian Poll Reflects Uncertainty About Safe-Injection Site |
| An opinion survey in Canada indicates public uncertainty about a controversial safe-injection facility in Vancouver, with 39 percent of individuals saying they were undecided about whether to support it. |
| Animal Study Suggests Similarities Between Addiction, Obesity |
| A study examining the treatment potential of the medication vigabatrin indicates some similarities between addiction and obesity. |
| FDA Considers Training Docs to Prescribe Narcotics |
| Amid growing reports of patient deaths and complications caused by problems with legally prescribed pain medication, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is discussing the possibility of requiring doctors to receive specialized training before prescribing narcotics. |
| Elderly Smokers Would Benefit from Quitline with the Patch |
| A study of whether the Medicare program should assist seniors in quitting smoking has found that a combination of the nicotine patch and support through a telephone hotline yielded the greatest benefit for seniors trying to quit. |
| Substance Use History Heightens Risk of Postpartum Suicide |
| A study has found that women with a history of substance abuse have a six-fold increase in the risk of attempting suicide shortly after giving birth. |
| Some Argentines Wary of Drug Decriminalization Proposal |
| A proposal supported by Argentina's government to decriminalize personal drug use is causing a stir in rural communities concerned about the growing presence of a cocaine derivative in their neighborhoods. |
| Latino Parents Urged to Counteract Effects of Targeted Alcohol Ads |
| With Latino/Latina youths viewing a disproportionately high number of alcohol ads compared with other young people, parents need to have open discussions with their children so they will delay drinking. |
| College Presidents Rekindle Drinking Age Debate |
| A year-old campaign by Middlebury College's former president to launch a discussion of lowering the legal drinking age from 21 has quietly gained the support of about 100 university presidents. |
| U.K. Brewers Look to Women to Reverse Slumping Sales |
| Brewers in the United Kingdom are responding to declining beer sales by establishing brands that they believe will appeal to women. |
| Canadian Survey Reveals Stigma Against Addiction |
| A survey commissioned by the Canadian Medical Association has found that only one in five Canadians would socialize with someone struggling with a substance abuse problem. |
| S.C. State Workers Will Pay Higher Premium for Smoking |
| South Carolina in 2010 will become the eighth state whose government workers pay more for their state health insurance if they or their spouse uses tobacco. |
| Spike in Methadone Prescriptions, Deaths |
| Methadone now ranks as the fastest-growing source of narcotic deaths in the country, and many experts believe lack of federal oversight and dangerous prescribing practices by physicians are largely to blame. |
| Each Cigarette Ups Stroke Risk in Women |
| Researchers have determined that the already well-documented link between smoking and stroke risk appears even more potent with higher levels of smoking. |
| England Broadens Estimate of Alcohol-Related Deaths |
| Researchers in England have discovered that by looking at the prevalence of deaths related to alcohol use in a different way, the national numbers they arrive at are close to double what officials in the country previously have cited. |
| Penn. Reconsiders Direct-to-Consumer Wine Shipments |
| Three years after a federal judge ruled unconstitutional a Pennsylvania ban on shipments of wine from out of state to local consumers, state legislators are considering a bill that would allow small wineries only to conduct direct shipments. |
| Heroin Abuse Up for Many Ohio Youth |
| An increase in treatment admissions for heroin abuse among young whites in Ohio is being attributed to problems that often start with prescription drug abuse. |
| Returning Combat Veterans at Increased Risk for Alcohol Problems |
| A survey of active-duty veterans and National Guard and Reserve personnel has found that those who were exposed to combat in Iraq or Afghanistan are significantly more likely to engage in heavy drinking and report negative outcomes from drinking. |
| Beer Distributor to Meet with Youth Group Over Disputed Warning Labels |
| A distributor of Anheuser-Busch products to New Hampshire grocery stores will meet in person with members of the Youth to Youth program on Aug. 18 to discuss a warning label campaign that led to a dispute between the youth group and distributor employees at two Dover, N.H., locations. |
| Consumers Threaten Rebellion Over Alcohol Tax Hikes |
| Taxes on alcohol remain a popular option among legislators in revenue-strapped states because they don't affect all consumers, but those affected by increases recently imposed in several states are pushing back. |
| Public Opinion Sought on Grocery Store Alcohol Tastings |
| Washington state officials are seeking public comments on a controversial pilot program in which 30 grocery stores will be allowed to conduct wine and beer tastings for customers. |
| Experts Call for Innovative Approaches to Elderly Substance Use |
| Health experts appearing at the Florida Conference on Aging urged health care providers and family members to adopt new interventions to combat alcohol and drug problems in the elderly. |
| Tobacco Cessation Podcasts for Physicians |
| The American Academy of Family Physicians released four new podcasts as part of their Ask and Act tobacco cessation program, designed to help family physicians screen their patients for tobacco use and help them quit. |
| W.Va. Officials Concerned About Kids' Secondhand Smoke Exposure |
| West Virginia officials have reported that because of hard-core tobacco use in some of the state's poorest households, children on the state's Women, Infants and Children program rolls are exposed to secondhand smoke at twice the national average. |
| Beer Distributors Disrupt Youth Labeling Campaign |
| A New Hampshire youth group that annually warns parents about youth drinking by affixing messages to alcohol products in stores ran into resistance this year from local Anheuser-Busch distributors. |
| Access to Prescription Drugs Easier for Teens |
| A survey of 12-to-17-year-olds conducted by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) at Columbia University revealed that teens are finding it increasingly easy to obtain prescription drugs, and 'problem parents' may be contributing to their teens' drug use. |
| ShotPaks Meant for Kids' Pockets? |
| The maker of a line of alcoholic drinks in pocket-sized pouches continues to come under fire after making changes to websites that violated alcohol industry advertising standards. |
| FDA Reports on Reactions to Vivitrol Injections |
| Federal authorities say about 200 patients have developed complications from receiving doses of the injectable form of naltrexone for alcohol dependence. |
| Rat Study Shows Promise in Blocking Memory of Addiction |
| Researchers at the University of Cambridge in England have been able to use memory-blocking chemicals to prevent rats that had become addicted to cocaine from using the drug. |
| CASA: National Survey of American Attitudes on Substance Abuse XIII: Teens and Parents |
| This annual survey from the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) at Columbia University reveals that 'problem parents' increase the risk that their youth will smoke, drink, and use illegal and prescription drugs. |
| Household Permissiveness and Drinking |
| Youths living in permissive households are more likely to drink heavily than those from nonpermissive households, according to a longitudinal survey of youth attending South Dakota schools. |
| Graphic Warnings on Tobacco in Australia Fail to Move Some Youths |
| The placement of graphic images of the dangers of smoking directly on cigarette packaging in Australia is having some unintended effects on youths, some of whom are actively trying to collect the pictures. |
| Rape Survivors Wrongly Denied Compensation Over Drinking, British Authority Says |
| The Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority, which assists crime victims in England, Scotland and Wales, has acknowledged that it erred in reducing awards to 14 rape victims who had been drinking at the time of the incident. |
| Universities Move to Correct Misconceptions on Student Drinking Norms |
| Several universities are working hard to correct some students' notions about the extent of drinking in campus, armed in some cases with detailed data on actual patterns in student drinking behaviors. |
| Smokers Flout Ban at Olympic Games |
| Tourists and even a number of athletes can be found smoking discreetly at this year's Olympic Games despite a smoking ban at Olympic arenas imposed by Chinese officials. |
| Alcohol, Tobacco Products Remain Popular in Tough Times |
| Consumers worldwide are leaving room for purchases of alcohol and tobacco products even as they tighten their belts on other spending during difficult economic times. |
| Negative Childhood Experiences Could Precipitate Earlier Drinking |
| A study has found that children who deal with hardships such as abuse, divorce or substance abuse in the home may be more likely to begin using alcohol at a young age. |
| Olympics Officials Admit Endless Battle with Drug Cheating |
| Amid a wealth of new designer drugs and ways to elude testing, International Olympic Committee officials acknowledge that they may never be able to guarantee an Olympics free of doping scandals. |
| Parents Warned on Pitfalls of Home Drug Testing |
| A number of child health experts are attempting to steer parents away from home drug testing kits for their children and toward professional intervention if they suspect a child may have a drug use problem. |
| Colorado: Boaters Beware of BUI |
| A new Colorado law that took effect this month places blood alcohol limits for boating under the influence (BUI) in line with limits for drunk driving, while leaving existing penalties for violations intact. |
| Alcohol-Driven Offenses Rise Sharply Under 24-hour Licensing in U.K. |
| Offenses ranging from excessive intoxication to violent behavior are on the rise in nearly every police jurisdiction in England and Wales since new laws allowed pubs and clubs to maintain long hours. |
| Austin Gets Top Spot on List of Hard-Drinking Cities |
| Forbes.com says that federal behavioral risk factor data places Austin, Texas at the top of its list of major cities with the highest alcohol consumption. |
| Navajo Leader Vetoes Ban on Public Smoking |
| Amid concerns about the breadth of the measure and its possible impact on gaming revenue, the president of the Navajo Nation has vetoed a legislatively approved ban on tobacco use in public buildings and shared public air spaces. |
| U.S. Combats Marijuana Growing Operations in National Forest |
| Federal, state and county law enforcers have eradicated more than $1 billion worth of marijuana plants from a rather unexpected location in California: the Sequoia National Forest. |
| Genetics May Influence Initial Response to Smoking |
| A University of Michigan study suggest that a variant in a nicotine receptor gene may help explain why certain individuals who try a first cigarette quickly move on to becoming regular smokers. |
| Substance Use in Minnesota: A Minnesota State Epidemiological Profile |
| A one-stop shop of data on alcohol, tobacco and drug consumption and consequences in Minnesota is now available. |
| College Coaches' Pleas for Ban on Alcohol Ads Fail to Move NCAA |
| Members of the National Collegiate Athletic Association's (NCAA's) executive committee have decided not to move toward tougher restrictions on televised alcohol ads during college sports events. |
| Hawaii Teachers Balk at Widespread Implementation of Drug Testing |
| Controversy has erupted over the Hawaii State Teachers Association's (HSTA's) apparent reluctance to subject its members to random drug testing from school districts. |
| Study: Crack Use Worsens Outcomes in HIV-Infected Women |
| A study of nearly 1,700 HIV-infected women has found that use of crack cocaine results in a deterioration of immune status and can counteract the effects of antiretroviral medication. |
| University of Florida Launches Attack on Party Image |
| Just days after a publication named it the nation's top party school, the University of Florida officially proposed dramatic changes to its campus code of conduct that include bans on kegs and drinking games. |
| Loophole in FDA Tobacco Bill Causes Concern |
| Supporters of a bill in Congress to allow the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to regulate tobacco products are disagreeing over the merits of a clause giving tobacco companies 21 months to market products outside the scope of federal regulation. |
| Getting Older, Drinking Less, Study Finds |
| Participants in the comprehensive, long-term health study conducted with residents of Framingham, Mass., generally drank less as they got older, with later generations drinking less than their predecessors. |
| Study: Some Brains Wired for Nicotine Addiction |
| Researchers have discovered how the brain processes nicotine's rewarding effects, helping to explain why some get addicted quickly while others experience nicotine adversely. |
| Gabapentin May Help Prevent Insomnia, Relapse in Alcohol-Dependent Patients |
| The epilepsy drug gabapentin could serve as an antidote to insomnia for alcohol-dependent people in recovery without presenting concerns about producing dependence or causing liver damage. |
| Study: Some May Benefit from Medical Marijuana for Neuropathic Pain |
| A group of HIV patients with neuropathic pain that did not respond to conventional pain relievers found benefits from the use of medical marijuana. |
| College Coaches Hope to Bench Alcohol Advertising |
| More than 100 college athletic coaches are asking the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) to eliminate televised alcohol advertising during college sports broadcasts. |
| CSPI: Pressure Grows to Expel Beer Advertising from NCAA Basketball |
| When the executive committee and Division I board of directors of the National Collegiate Athletic Association meet for their annual gatherings in Indianapolis on August 7, it is likely they will have to take a hard look at the organization's policies on advertising alcoholic beverages during the "March Madness" national championship basketball tournament, according to Center for Science in the Public Interest. |
| Cape Cod Symposium Offer for JT Direct Subscribers |
| The 21st Cape Cod Symposium on Addictive Disorders, Innovative & Effective Approaches to Intervention, Treatment & Recovery,' will be held Sept. 4-7 in Hyannis, Massachusetts. Join Together subscribers are being offered free registration to the pre-conference and/or post-conference (Sept. 4 & 7). |
| Methadone Could Serve as Leukemia Treatment |
| A group of researchers in Germany has found that methadone could serve as a treatment for leukemia patients whose cancer is not responding to chemotherapy and radiation. |
| Nebraska Commission Delays Alcopops Decision |
| The three-member Nebraska Liquor Control Commission has delayed until the fall a vote on a proposed rule on how to tax and regulate flavored alcoholic beverages. |
| Analyst: Philip Morris in Firing Line of Canadian Opposition |
| A tobacco analyst says Philip Morris International's decision to acquire Rothman's -- a company that owns 60 percent of a Canadian tobacco giant -- will place it squarely in an environment even more litigious than what it experiences in the United States. |
| Bill to Regulate Tobacco as Drug Faces Tight Time Frame |
| U.S. House approved legislation that would allow the Food and Drug Administration to regulate tobacco products faces a limited calendar for consideration of bills in the Senate after the August recess. |
| Call to Action: The Georgia Summit to Prevent Underage Drinking |
| A Call to Action: The Georgia Summit To Prevent Underage Drinking will be held on October 1-2, 2008, in Macon, GA. |
| PDFA: Teens Using Drugs to Cope with Stress, Parents Underestimating Pressures |
| The number one reason teens see for using drugs is to cope with the pressures and stress of school, according to the 20th Annual Partnership for a Drug-Free America study. The study's release coincides with the Partnership's 2nd annual "Time To Talk" Month, encouraging parents to discuss these issues with their teens. |
| New Brain Cell Research Could Yield Targeted Addiction Medications |
| Two studies of how brain cells process cocaine, amphetamines and antidepressants could contribute to the development of targeted medication treatments for addictions. |
| Study: Smoking Ban Nets Big Health Benefit for Nonsmokers |
| Nonsmokers accounted for two-thirds of the reduction in heart-disease hospitalizations that occurred after Scotland banned public smoking, a new study shows. |
| Scientists Express Hope for Addiction Vaccines |
| A group of scientists told attendees of a Capitol Hill briefing that vaccines and antibody medications could play an important role as an adjunct to addiction treatment -- if pharmaceutical companies show more of a commitment to research in the area. |
| Canadian Big Tobacco Slapped with Fines for Smuggling |
| Two of Canada's largest tobacco companies will pay a combined total of $300 million in criminal fines for assisting in the distribution of contraband cigarettes. |
| Binge Drinking in Early Pregnancy Associated With Oral Clefts |
| Women who engage in a binge drinking episode early in pregnancy are more than twice as likely as non-drinkers to give birth to a child with cleft lip or cleft palate. |
| World's Largest Beer Maker Reports Slumping Sales |
| A combination of a weak U.S. economy and higher prices and sluggish demand in other countries has resulted in slow first-quarter sales for SABMiller PLC, the world's largest beer maker by volume. |
| Prescription Drug Abuse Proving Difficult to Contain |
| Prescription drug abuse affected nearly 7 million Americans in 2007, and problems ranging from poorly trained prescribers to easy access to medications among young people are making it difficult to stem the tide. |
| Research Shows Smoking Exacerbates Effects of Influenza |
| Experiments using mice have found that cigarette smoke acts in combination with compounds that mimic viral components to worsen the effects of the influenza virus. This research is helping scientists understand why smokers are more likely to die from the flu than non-smokers are. |
| Arizona Court Says Religion Does Not Establish Right to Marijuana |
| The Arizona Court of Appeals has ruled that a man who said his marijuana use was based on the practices of his religion cannot avoid anti-marijuana laws on religious grounds. |
| Judges: Federal Law Does Not Pre-Empt California Medical Marijuana Law |
| A panel of the 4th District Court of Appeals in California has ruled that California counties' issuance of identification cards to patients eligible to receive medical marijuana does not violate federal law. |
| U.S. House Backs Federal Regulation of Tobacco |
| The U.S. House of Representatives has voted overwhelmingly to allow the Food and Drug Administration to regulate tobacco, but the legislation faces an uncertain path in the Senate and opposition from the Bush administration. |
| Rate of Adult Smoking in Massachusetts Hits All-Time Low |
| The adult smoking rate in Massachusetts has never been lower than it was in 2007, according to state health officials. About one in six Massachusetts residents regularly used cigarettes last year. |
| Excessive Drinking May Exacerbate Metabolic Syndrome Risk |
| A new study has found that individuals who drink in amounts exceeding federal dietary guidelines have an increased risk of the metabolic syndrome associated with cardiovascular disease. |
| Utah Alcohol Regulators Seek to Ease Restrictions |
| The Utah Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission voted to write state legislation to relax restrictions that force the purchase of private club membership fees to buy alcohol. |
| Animal Study Suggests Cellular Clues to Cocaine Addiction |
| According to a new animal study, active choice may play an important role in resumption of cocaine use long after periods of abstinence, suggesting that the pharmacological effects of a drug alone may not be enough to explain the phenomena of addiction and relapse. |
| Congressional Resolution Would Decriminalize Some Marijuana Use |
| U.S. Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) is leading the effort to adopt a congressional resolution that would allow marijuana users to possess up to about 3.5 ounces of the drug without fear of arrest. |
| San Francisco Approves Ban on Tobacco Sales in Pharmacies |
| New legislation passed by the San Francisco Board of Supervisors will bar pharmacies such as Walgreens and Rite Aid from selling all tobacco products, while big-box retailers and grocery stores will continue to be able to carry tobacco. |
| Addiction Carries a $5.8 Billion Price Tag in Oklahoma |
| Data from a 2005 task force report show that the direct and indirect costs associated with drug and alcohol addiction in Oklahoma outpace the entire cost of running the state government. |
| Bars in Oregon Get Jump on Smoking Ban |
| About two-thirds of bars and restaurants have already gone smoke-free as the Oregon businesses prepare for a Jan. 1, 2009 implementation of a statewide anti-smoking law. |
| Montana Democrats Call for Re-Examination of Drinking Age |
| A resolution adopted at the party platform convention of Montana Democrats states that legislators should address the "double standard" of not allowing 18-year-olds who can fight in wars to drink alcohol legally. |
| Historic House Vote Will Protect Kids from Tobacco, Save Lives |
| The U.S. House of Representatives cast a truly historic vote to protect children from tobacco addiction and save lives by overwhelmingly approving legislation granting the U.S. Food and Drug Administration authority to regulate tobacco products. |
| Recovery Month Toolkits Available Now |
| Toolkits to aide in planning activities and raising awareness for September as National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month are available. |
| Member States Slam U.N. on Smoking Policies |
| The United Nations is coming under criticism for smoking policies on a variety of fronts, including the fact that its New York City headquarters remains one of the few sites in the state where smoking is not banned outright. |
| N.D. Advocates Submit Signatures for Anti-Smoking Ballot Initiative |
| Anti-smoking advocates in North Dakota are awaiting formal certification of a November ballot initiative that would authorize an $18.6 million statewide campaign to discourage use of all forms of tobacco. |
| Texas Drug Use Trends Show Dramatic Demographic Shifts |
| A new report on substance use trends in the state of Texas reveals significant demographic shifts, including the emergence of a young generation of Hispanic heroin users. |
| Report Underscores Fatal Risk of Combining Prescriptions, Other Substances at Home |
| While medication-related fatalities in clinical settings have long captured the attention of researchers and health authorities, skyrocketing rates of deaths at home from combining medications and other substances have gone largely unnoticed. |
| Living with a Smoking Partner Heightens Stroke Risk |
| A Harvard University study has found that non-smokers who are married to a smoking partner find themselves at substantially increased risk of suffering a stroke. |
| 2008 National Mentor Summit |
| Sponsored by the California Mentor Foundation and MENTOR, the 2008 National Mentor Summit will be held Sept. 18-19 at the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, Calif. |
| Philip Morris Pulls Sponsorship of Alicia Keys Concert |
| Concerns from a youth tobacco prevention organization have spurred singer Alicia Keys to act to remove tobacco-related advertising from promotions of her July 31 concert in Jakarta, Indonesia. |
| Navajo Council Votes to Ban Public Smoking |
| The Navajo Nation Council has voted to ban use of commercial tobacco in public buildings and shared air spaces at outdoor events, leaving it to Navajo Nation's president to decide whether to sign the measure into law. |
| Economy, Taxes Cited for Drop in U.K. Beer Sales |
| A group representing British pub operators says beer sales in the pubs are at their lowest level since the Depression, and both the general state of the economy and government tax policies are partly responsible. |
| Afghanistan a 'Narco-State,' Ex-Official Claims |
| A former senior counternarcotics official in the U.S. State Department is adding a strong voice to the growing chorus accusing Afghan officials of doing little to stem narcotics and related corruption in the war-torn nation. |
| August Named National Medicine Abuse Awareness Month |
| Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America and the Consumer Healthcare Products Association are pleased to lend their support to S.Res. 614, a U.S. Senate resolution designating August as National Medicine Abuse Awareness Month. |
| NY: Salvia on Radar Screen |
| Despite the failure of New York legislation that would have banned sales of the hallucinogenic herb salvia in the state, state officials and prevention leaders want parents to know about the substance. |
| Substance Use Initiation Before Age 13 |
| The percentage of students who first tried alcohol or cigarettes before the age of 13 has declined considerably over the last decade, according to data from the national Youth Risk Behavior Survey. |
| Bullies May Suffer More Harms than Their Victims |
| While both bullies and their victims are at risk for harms such as physical injury, over-the-counter medication abuse, school absence and weapon use, new research is showing that the bullies may be at greater risk than their victims. |
| All N.C. Schools Tobacco-Free by Aug. 1 |
| By Aug. 1, all public schools in the state of North Carolina will be completely tobacco-free, making the generally tobacco-friendly state one of the nation's only fully smoke-free school environments. |
| Changes to Australian Alcohol Laws Will Not Include 18-to-21 Sales Ban |
| Health officials in Australia have no plans to increase the legal drinking age to 21 or to restrict young people ages 18 to 21 from buying alcohol at certain establishments. |
| Effective Border Enforcement Spurs More Addiction in Mexico |
| Better border enforcement that is making it increasingly difficult for Mexican cartels to transport illegal drugs into the United States is being cited as the reason for a spike in drug addiction in Mexico. |
| Cocaine-Fueled War Pushes on Unabated in Rural Colombia |
| Although guerrilla activity has largely disappeared from Colombia's biggest cities, violence fueled by the cocaine trade continues stronger than ever in the nation's rural areas and appears immune to U.S.-financed moves to block it. |
