Addiction Solution Source

Federal prosecutors have slapped Pfizer with the largest criminal fine in U.S. history. This is part of a $2.3 billion settlement in fines for the illegal promotions of drugs that have influenced doctors with free golf, massages and resort gatherings.

The pharmaceuticals giant is pleading guilty to promoting its withdrawn arthritis painkiller Bextra to doctors for unapproved uses and is paying to settle other claims over its marketing of nine other drugs. Bextra, which was withdrawn in 2005 after being linked to an increased risk of heart attacks and strokes, was among several drugs Pfizer promoted to doctors for unapproved uses.

The government said Pfizer also paid kickbacks to market a host of well-known drugs that include: Aricept, Celebrex, Lipitor, Norvasc, Relpax, Viagra, Zithromax, Zoloft and Zyrtec.

A six-year legal battle against Pfizer Inc just made whistleblower John Kopchinski a rich man. Taking on a corporate giant such as Pfizer can be overwhelming, but Kopchinski was motivated by wanting the truth to be told.

The Gulf War veteran and former Pfizer sales representative will earn more than $51.5 million as a result of his whistleblower lawsuit against the world’s biggest drugmaker and the record penalty the company must pay the U.S. government for its massive marketing transgressions.

Kopchinski was appalled by Pfizer’s tactics in selling the pain drug Bextra and filed a “qui tam” lawsuit in 2003, sparking federal and state probes. The company is paying $2.3 billion in civil and criminal penalties and is pleading guilty to a felony charge for promoting Bextra and 12 other drugs for unapproved uses and doses.

Kopchinski was fired by Pfizer in 2003 when he wouldn’t promote drugs to increase the company’s profits. This was two years before the company had to pull Bextra from the market over concerns that it raised the risk of heart attacks and strokes.

Research to be published in the October issue of Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research, state that children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) have a high risk of psychiatric problems, particularly attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), conduct disorder, or both.

“Behaviorally, FASD and ADHD can look quite similar, particularly with respect to problems with very limited attention, physical restlessness, and extreme impulsivity,” explained Rachel Greenbaum, a clinical psychologist with the Children’s Mental Health Team at Surrey Place Centre in Toronto, who conducted the study as part of her doctoral dissertation.

Health and life insurance companies in the U.S. and abroad have nearly $4.5 billion invested in tobacco stocks, according to Harvard doctors. Is this who you want running our health care system?

Researchers are reporting "convincing evidence" that marijuana smoke damages the genetic material DNA in ways that could increase the risk of cancer.

The US Senate voted today (June 11, 2009) to give the FDA new power to limit nicotine in cigarettes, drastically curtail ads and ban candied tobacco products aimed at young people.

The legislation, one of the most dramatic anti-smoking initiatives since the U.S. surgeon general’s warning 45 years ago that tobacco causes lung cancer, would give the Food and Drug Administration authority to regulate the content, marketing and advertising of cigarettes and other tobacco products.

“This legislation represents the strongest action Congress has ever taken to reduce tobacco use, the leading preventable cause of death in the United States,” declared Matthew Myers, president of Campaign for Tobacco-free Kids.

The theme of World No Tobacco Day 2009 is "Tobacco Health Warnings", with an emphasis on the picture warnings that have been shown to be particularly effective at making people aware of the health risks of tobacco use and convincing them to quit.

A federal appeals court on May 22,2009, agreed with the major elements of a 2006 landmark ruling that found the nation's top tobacco companies guilty of racketeering and fraud for deceiving the public about the dangers of smoking.

I will be attending the “Brain Repair” National conference this week. The information being presented is at the core of healing people with natural and alternative health methods who have had a drug abuse problem or even ADHD symptoms.

Top professionals and experts in the field join academic researchers to share with drug treatment providers the most current evidence-based research and strategies integrating mind-body techniques with conventional therapies to achieve the goal of recovery without relapse.

Various topics include:

– Does Sugar Matter?
– Food’s Influence On Mental Health
– Simple Solutions to Chronic Stress
– Functional Laboratory Testing For Recovery
– Neurotransmitter deficiencies
– Nutrient therapies
– Prison-Based Nutrition Research
– Group Acupuncture for Precontemplative Clients
– Acupressure Relief of PTSD
– Movement Therapies
– Intravenous and Over-the Counter Supplement Therapy
– Integrating Brain Repair Into Group Psychotherapy and over a dozen other useful topics

The conference is April 17-19, 2009, in Sacramento, California.

Sponsored by the California Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs and hosted by the Community Addiction Recovery Association.

For more information see: carainstitute.org

More information about some of the speakers:

Candy cigarettes predispose children who play with them to smoke the real things later.