The sometimes controversial website, craigslist has become the center of another scandal.  This time the website is coming under fire because a lot of its users have started using the site as a prescription drug black market.  Brazen drug dealers post for sale ads offering everything from roxycodone, vicodin, percocet, oxycontin, xanax and many other types of prescription drugs.  This past weekend in New York City, police officers decided to respond to many of these ads and ended up arresting over twenty individuals who were trying to sell drugs from their homes.  On the ads, many of the potential drug dealers posted ads that mentioned “No LE please” meaning no law enforcement. Not surprisingly, the police didn’t listen to those requests.

Wide Variety of People Dealing Drugs

The interesting thing about the more than twenty people that police arrested over the weekend is that they came from all different walks of life.  Some of the dealers were known, small time dealers that had been previously booked for selling cocaine and heroin.  However, others were very surprising people, such as a NYU grad student, a financial advisor and a sixty year old woman.  It seems like some of these people just had extra prescription pills laying around and knew they could make some quick cash from selling them.  Officers responded to these craigslist ads and bought a few hundred dollars worth of pills from these individuals in public places before eventually charging them with dealing drugs.

The Ongoing Battle Against Prescription Drugs

Authorities and legislators have been battling to keep prescription drugs from being trafficked for the last several years, but have had a lot of difficulties policing the drugs.  Since these drugs are legally prescribed to some people for legitimate medical reasons it can be extremely difficult to control them.  Despite all of the arrests made over the weekend, the ads on craigslist continued to be posted.  One on Thursday read: “Hello ladies and gentlemen.  If your in pain and need assistance look no further. I’ve got 30 (mg) ways to help!! … Not affiliated with any sort of law enforcement? If ALL of these pertain to you, email me with what your looking for (quantity) and we will work it out.”

As police around the country continue to fight against prescription drug trafficking, they may have to focus on a new black market that has emerged.  Craigslist allows people to post brazen ads offering drugs like roxycodone, xanax, percocet, and many other prescription drugs and then meet up and sell them.  These pills can be sold by anyone and it seems like more and more people are starting to deal their extra prescriptions that have just been lying around their homes.  These pills can sell for well over twenty dollars apiece and many people are happy to make some quick cash by selling the pills they no longer need for their own ailments.  Craigslist can be a great tool to help facilitate local buying and selling of goods and services between two parties, but it is often used for illegal activity as well.

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Over the past weekend, an eighteen year old woman from the United Kingdom was rushed to the hospital after becoming violently ill from drinking a cocktail containing liquid nitrogen.  The woman was Gabby Scanlan and she initially complained about shortness of breath and severe stomach pain, before eventually collapsing and being rushed to the hospital.  She had to have her stomach removed by surgeons who stated that she could have easily died from the incident.  She is still in aftercare at the hospital and suffering from the trauma the liquid nitrogen placed on her body.  She may need to go to a private alcohol rehab facility after her stint in the hospital to continue to recover.

Liquid Nitrogens Role in The Food Industry

The use of liquid nitrogen in food and beverage preparation is actually a pretty old process.  It was first used as a way to present food in 1890 as a way to make elegant ice confections, however it is now becoming more and more popular.  Restaurants and bars all over the world are using the chemical in their food and beverage preparation because it not only almost instantly cools whatever it touches, such as glasses or drinks, but also produces a really cool smoky effect that resembles a witch’s cauldron.  Liquid nitrogen cocktails are very popular at fancy bars because they are quite entertaining and make the drinks very cold.

The Dangers of Liquid Nitrogen

Liquid nitrogen boils at -321 degrees fahrenheit, which means that it can cause instant frostbite when it contacts human tissue.  Nitrogen is a harmless gas that makes up almost 80% of the air we breathe, so the only danger comes from how cold the liquid is.  When the liquid boils and turns into a gas it expands its volume more than 600 times that of its liquid form, which could cause someones stomach to explode if its ingested.  It seems that what happened to Scanlan is that the bartender served her her drink prematurely and she ingested liquid nitrogen causing the chemical to expand immensely in her stomach and forcing her to have to be rushed to the hospital for emergency surgery to remove her stomach.  Doctors are now saying that she was very lucky to have survived the event and it’s a good thing she was brought to the hospital when she was.

Today, liquid nitrogen is not regulated in most countries in the world and it can be used in restaurants and bars to create dishes and drinks that are potentially dangerous. Scanlan ingested Jager and liquid nitrogen which triggered her E.R visit and surgery.  She remains in aftercare at the moment still suffering from severe pain that occurred from her unfortunate incident.  She will likely need to go through private alcohol rehab once she is released from the hospital to continue to recover.  This event has raised the question of whether or not liquid nitrogen needs to be regulated more in countries, especially when it is used for serving food and beverages.

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Afghan Woman’s Revolutionary Addiction Treatment Idea

October 13, 2012

It can be very difficult to get treatment for drug and alcohol addiction in some places, including Afghanistan.  Individuals in Afghanistan who suffer from drug addiction usually caused by opiate abuse, have difficulty finding quality treatment facilities.  One woman in Afghanistan has come up with a revolutionary idea to help people in her poverty and […]

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Teens Getting Wasted Off of Liquid Hand Sanitizer

October 11, 2012

It can be very difficult to keep teenagers from getting their hands on, and abusing alcohol. Some teens will do whatever it takes to get wasted, and that has become very evident recently when more and more cases of teens drinking liquid hand sanitizer have emerged. Liquid hand sanitizer is inexpensive and easy for teens […]

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The Difference Between Helpful and Hurtful Guilt in Recovery

October 10, 2012

Some addicts have been self medicating their emotions for so long that they forget how to deal with feelings of guilt, let alone how to differentiate when they should or shouldn’t feel guilt. When people are addicted to a substance they often lie, treat their family poorly, get fired from jobs, all the while being able to […]

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Kratom Addiction Rising in South Florida

October 9, 2012

A potentially dangerous and addictive substance has gained a lot of popularity in South Florida recently and is causing many people in the area to need help with their addiction.  A natural and, at the moment, legal substance called kratom is gaining a lot of attention in the news lately.  Many places in South Florida […]

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Codependency: Addicted to People

October 8, 2012

Have you ever met a person that is in a destructive relationship with a drug addict or alcoholic, and all you can do is question how they could possibly endure all the pain that they are being put through? The truth is, in the same way that an individual can be addicted to gambling, binge […]

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Frat Bro Denies Butt Chugging Wine

October 7, 2012

In late September, an unusual story came out of the University of Tennessee involving an incident that took place at one of their fraternity houses.  In the early morning hours of September 22, a University of Tennessee student named Alexander Broughton was dropped off at the campus medical center with a blood alcohol level well […]

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The Dangers of Ageism in Treatment

October 6, 2012

Often times when we hear about ageist behavior, it falls in the direction from the younger to the older. We think of condescending remarks and patronizing notions that make the elderly feel like they have become lower class citizens and should be monitored like children. However, when it comes to teen drug treatment, the ageist […]

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Virtual Rehab Not For Everyone

October 5, 2012

Over the last few years, more and more services have become available online. It has become much more common for people to seek education online where they can do the coursework from their own home. A new company called Lionrock Recovery has a similar idea to help individuals with alcohol and drug addiction who do […]

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Hypersexuality, Addiction, and Dual-Diagnosis

October 4, 2012

Substance abuse and sex addictions, for some people, can go hand in hand. Hypersexuality can be defined as a dysfunctional obsession with things revolving around thoughts of and pursuit of sexual behaviors. The National Council on Sexual Addiction and Compulsivity has defined this type of addiction as taking part in obsessive and increasing patterns of […]

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Sick Family Discovers Their New House Was Previously a Meth Lab

October 3, 2012

When a young Oregon couple purchased a foreclosed home this past summer they thought they had found the perfect place for their family at the unbeatable price of $36,000.  Little did they know that the house they bought was filled with poison. The home that the Hankins family bought had been used as a meth […]

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Devil’s Breath: Drug That Takes Your Free Will

October 2, 2012

You may have heard horror stories about people waking up with missing organs, evidence of rape, or with all of their belongings missing from their home and their bank accounts completely wiped clean. The most frightening aspect of these instances is when the victims cannot remember a thing; not when they were taken advantage of, […]

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Mice Prove Alcohol Abuse Hinders Recovery From Trauma Related Disorders

October 1, 2012

It is not uncommon for people to want to calm their nerves with a stiff drink. However, this can be completely counterproductive for individuals who want to get over devastating experiences or life changes. A recent study that can be found in the journal of Nature Neuroscience has uncovered ways in which heavy alcohol consumption […]

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Who Is To Blame For Non-medical Use of Prescription Meds?

September 30, 2012

It is fairly well known that our nation has a huge problem with the flippant use and distribution of addictive pain medications. The number of people with percocet addictions and other self-medicating drugs has increased significantly in the past decade. Just as the problem of illegal drug abuse has been met by law enforcement with […]

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Triggers That Slip Under The Radar

September 29, 2012

Even the most prepared of people in recovery can be caught off guard by various relapse triggers. They can be diligently maintaining their sobriety by living in a halfway house or taking part in intensive outpatient programs and still get tempted because of unexpected triggers.  There are some fairly common relapse triggers that people are made […]

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How Alcoholism Effects Cognitive Function

September 28, 2012

Research is very clear that prolonged abuse of alcohol can severely damage the brain. The most obvious and immediate effects include slurred speech, and inebriation of reaction and memory. Among other negative consequences, it is important for those that have been addicted to grasp what they lost while being addicted to alcohol from a cognitive […]

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How To Help An Addicted Loved One

September 26, 2012

Although it clearly influences the addicted person, often times the household feels the effect much more. When coping with someone’s addiction, it is important to look at ourselves and the way we can continue to love and support them without being accountable for their habit or behaviors. It’s important to remember we didn’t cause the […]

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Blue Marlin Habitat May Be In Danger

September 25, 2012

Blue marlin fishing is a worldwide favorite recreational activity. Blue marlins are abundant in the oceans and their high energy leads to quite an experience when attempting to catch one. However fishing regulations could changer due to a report that was written in 2011 explaining that there are ocean dead zones that have had an […]

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Do You Have To Go To A Christian College To Stay Christian?

September 20, 2012

Many parents wonder how to help their kids keep their Christianity in college. Some consider sending their children to primarily Christian schools while others hope that they have instilled a fervent belief in Christianity within their child so they do not stray from the path. Whatever the case may be it’s important to those entering college […]

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Shaun White Arrested In Nashville For Vandalism, Public Intoxication

September 19, 2012

In the early morning hours this past Sunday, two time olympic gold medalist and X Games superstar, Shaun “The Flying Tomato” White was arrested outside the Loews Vanderbilt Hotel.  White was arrested the hotel around 2 am and charged with intoxication and vandalism, having caused a scene at the hotel that night.  White had to […]

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Real Life “Heisenberg” Caught Selling Meth in Texas

September 18, 2012

Viewers of AMCs critically acclaimed drama Breaking Bad have followed the main character Walter “Heisenberg” White for the past 5 years and watched as he transitioned from a cancer afflicted high school chemistry teacher to the drug kingpin he has now become.  However, this week the show was very eerily mimicked by a man in Linden Texas. […]

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Yes, Dinosaurs, Unicorns, and Dragons Are Mentioned In the Bible

September 17, 2012

One of the biggest backlashes from the atheist community regarding the Bible and it being taken literally is the phenomenon of dinosaurs in the Bible as well as Unicorns. So, where are dinosaurs and unicorns in the Bible? There are many passages that describe dinosaur like creatures as well as unicorns. It’s important however, to remember that this […]

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Can The Existence Of A God Be Proven?

September 17, 2012

One of the key debates between those who believe in creation and those who go a more scientific route is whether or not there is proof that a god exists. There are numerous texts that explain that there is proof of God in creation, and the incidences they’re describing are of a more scientific theory. For […]

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Ancient Floods and the Age Of The Earth

September 15, 2012

Throughout the world there are many creation myths, these myths represent the ideas, beliefs, and ancient traditions of the select groups of people. However, isn’t it interesting that each mythology has a story surrounding a great epic flood? There is evidence of a worldwide flood; this evidence can be found in numerous places, from the […]

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‘Smiles’ – The New Teen Drug Craze

September 14, 2012

Recently, teenagers in the north western states have been experimenting with a new psychedelic drug called 2C-I or more colloquially referred to as ‘Smiles’. Smiles has become a real problem in places like North Dakota and Minnesota, where the rates of teens overdosing and dying after using the drug have been raising drastically. 2C-I is […]

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Roots Of Creation Science

September 13, 2012

When it comes to debates surrounding the origin of the universe, evolution and creationism get thrown around. Many people have heard of and are familiar with the theory of evolution, but not so familiar with creation science. So what is Creation Science, and how does it differ from evolution? Creation science is a branch of creationism, […]

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Is Vivitrol A Miracle Cure For Opiate Addiction?

September 13, 2012

According to data published by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, more than 23.5 million Americans suffer from drug or alcohol addiction. That staggering number means that approximately 10% of Americans over the age of 12 are addicted to alcohol or drugs, it is also roughly the same number as the population of […]

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CDC Encourages Citizens to Be Ready For Zombie Apocalypse

September 12, 2012

Following a string of unsettling events that occurred earlier this year, including the story of the man who attacked and ate the face of a homeless man in Miami, and the story of the man who ate his nearly forty pound dog, the Center for Disease Control created a tongue in cheek campaign to raise […]

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Veterans Have Difficulty Getting Addiction Treatment

September 10, 2012

A common problem associated with military veterans is that they often have a tough time adjusting to civilian life following their time of enlistment.  Veterans are often unprepared to deal with life outside of the military because they get accustomed to being in combat.  When some soldiers return home from duty they develop Post Traumatic […]

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New Complications Linked to Marijuana Use

September 9, 2012

Marijuana has long been argued to be among the least harmful illegal drugs in America.  Some argue that it is less detrimental to a person’s health than alcohol, tobacco and even caffeine.  Most Florida detox and rehab centers do not even offer treatment options for marijuana abuse.  However some new research that has been published in the […]

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Former ANTM Finalists’ Meth Intervention on Dr. Phil

September 8, 2012

America’s Next Top Model has elevated the careers of many of its contestants and brought many of them from obscurity into the mainstream media.  One contestants life has not improved from her stint on the show however.  Jael Strauss from the eighth cycle of the show which aired in 2007, has becoming completely addicted to […]

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Chronic Binge Drinking Increases Risk of Stroke

September 6, 2012

Binge drinking has long been known to be detrimental to a person’s overall health, yet now there is even more evidence that heavy alcohol intake over a long period of time increases an individual’s risk of having a stroke.  Excessive drinking causes an array of terrible effects on a person’s body.  The newest study published […]

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What Does Evangelism Mean In Today’s World?

September 5, 2012

Evangelism, simply put, is the determined advocacy of a certain cause. In Christianity, this refers to individuals who diligently promote the Gospel of Jesus Christ to others. Those who specialize in evangelism studies are known as evangelists. They do their best to offer proof of God to those who do not yet believe in the scripture. However, in today’s […]

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The Importance of Having Boca Raton Restoration Pros On Your Side

September 5, 2012

There are many different ways that water damage during the summer months can damage the value of real estate property in southern Florida. If you are a home or property owner in the Boca Raton area, it is essential that you understand the risk that severe weather presents. If you are a home or property […]

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Boca Raton Restoration Professional Services

September 5, 2012

There are many things that Boca Raton water extraction companies can do to help home and property owners in the south Florida area following a weather disaster such as a hurricane. As anyone who lives in Boca Raton knows, the threat of potential hurricanes, especially in the summertime, is very real. It is vital that […]

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Selecting Reputable Delray Beach Restoration Professionals

September 5, 2012

If you are a home or property owner in the Delray Beach, FL area you understand that you need to have a good plan in place for how you would handle a weather related emergency. There are a number of different ways that harmful weather can destroy the value of a property in a relatively […]

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Hiring Delray Beach Restoration Professionals During The Summertime

September 5, 2012

If you live in Delray Beach, Florida, it is important that you understand the importance of having a hurricane plan during the summertime. Because Delray Beach is so close to the ocean, it is especially susceptible to the adverse effects of bad weather, including hurricanes, flash floods and severe thunderstorms. It is incumbent upon all […]

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New Species Of Fish Found Off Coast Off New Zealand

September 5, 2012

Many people are familiar with blue and black marlin; these are standard species of fish that sport-fishermen and fishing enthusiasts alike will fish and talk about especially on marlin fishing charters. Interestingly off the coast of New Zealand a new species was found. It is not of the marlin variety, but is an unknown species of flabby […]

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Ft. Lauderdale Restoration Specialists Deliver Results

September 5, 2012

There are many reasons why it is important for home and property owners in the south Florida area to be prepared for potential weather disasters during the summer time months. There are a number of different weather related activities that could pose serious harm to properties in the south Florida area. Flash floods, hurricanes, and […]

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Why You Should Consider Ft. Lauderdale Restoration Professionals

September 5, 2012

If you are a home or property owner in the Ft. Lauderdale, Florida region, it is imperative that you understand the need for having a plan in place should a weather related emergency occur. When living near the ocean, as residents of south Florida do, you must be aware of the potential damage that hurricanes, […]

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Cartel Smugglers Continue to Elude US Drug Enforcement

September 4, 2012

In the ongoing battle of keeping foreign drugs from entering the United States, the U.S Coast Guard and DEA are now having a much more difficult time. Latin American drug cartels have upgraded their technology for getting drugs through the Caribbean and into the States. The cartel’s smuggling success rate is estimated to be at […]

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Terrifying Addiction Remedies That Didn’t Work

September 3, 2012

Drug and alcohol rehab programs have progressed very far through history and today’s programs are not only effective, but also relatively pain free.  Treatments have not always been so great however, many drug treatment programs throughout history were very dangerous and ineffective.  Treatments have progressed from blood-letting and leech application to the current relaxing drug […]

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Over The Counter Adderall Alternative Raises Eyebrows

September 2, 2012

The stress of achieving better grades in college drives many students to go to extreme lengths to gain any advantage they can on their peers.  The difference between a 3.4 and 3.6 GPA could mean getting into or missing out on grad school for a student.  Amphetamines like Adderall are routinely used by college students […]

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The Most Addiction Prone Profession in America

September 1, 2012

Genetics, childhood trauma, and stress have all been scientifically linked to higher addiction rates among individuals.  However now there is evidence that career choice also influences the likelihood of an individual developing addiction to drugs or alcohol.  According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Association (SAMHSA) the professional industry with the highest rate […]

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Recovery From Addiction Means Ending Toxic Relationships

August 31, 2012

One of the biggest threats to your sobriety as a recovering addict is the existence of relationships to people that do not support your sobriety. Many people that go through alcohol rehab like the one found at https://www.thewatershed.com/resource/alcohol-rehab-florida/, find that their efforts get squandered when friends do not help them stay clean. The joy that you have […]

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How Christian Apologetics Navigate Today’s Media

August 30, 2012

Christian apologetics are a sect of the Christian faith whose sole aim is to help reconcile the seemingly incompatible differences between faith and science. These brave individuals offer only rational and logical arguments to help counterbalance the attacks from the modern scientific community against creation science. It can sometimes be very difficult for individuals to get […]

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The Dangers of Club Drugs

August 30, 2012

In the United States, there are a large amount of people who participate in all night dance parties or raves where they take different kinds of drugs recreationally and party all night.  The drugs they take usually vary and “club drugs” are a pretty loosely defined group of drugs.  The National Institute on Drug Abuse […]

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Why Women Are More Likely To Relapse Than Men

August 27, 2012

Although nobody really likes to admit or talk about it, drug and alcohol addiction is no longer just a man’s problem. Due to the emotional wiring of women, they are more likely to admit that they have a problem with drugs or alcohol sooner than men. For the same reason, however, they are also more […]

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Living In Fear: The Dangers of Meth

August 26, 2012

Crystal meth is easily one of the most dangerous and destructive drugs available in the United States today. It is very easy to find crystal meth and it’s usually very inexpensive to buy.  Meth not only physically damages the body it also makes many of its users hallucinate and develop paranoia or even borderline personality […]

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