West Virginians Most Medicated

A study by Forbes magazine says West Virginia is the most medicated state in the country.
The study says the average WV resident fills about 18.4 prescriptions each year. The national average is 11.6. The mountain state also ranked No. 1 last year.
The study suggests one reason may be that West Virginia residents are generally older and less healthy than those in other states. The state has the nation's highest rates for smoking, arthritis and population of those who are obese or overweight.

Marshall County Anti-Drug Coalition September Meeting

The next Marshall County Anti-Drug Coalition meeting will be held on September 10th at noon in the Historic Federal Building, 324 7th Street, Moundsville, WV. All community members, young and old, who are interested in helping to reduce substance abuse in our county are welcome to attend. For further information or to RSVP, contact the Marshall County FRN @ 304-845-3300.

Smokeless Tobacco Products a Potential Poison for Children

Smokeless tobacco products may look like candy to young children, but these alternative nicotine products can be poisonous if they fall into small hands and mouths. Dissolvable candy-like smokeless tobacco pellets can be tempting for children because they resemble Tic Tac candies both in their shape and packaging and are flavored with cinnamon or mint.
The Food and Drug Administration outlawed tobacco that tastes like fruit, candy or cloves in 2009 because the flavors mask the tobacco taste and appeal to adolescents. Non-tobacco flavored nicotine products still are sold legally, however. One of the most common calls parents make to poison control centers is about children who eat tobacco products. Most children are under age 6, and more than 70% are under 1 year of age, according to a study in Pediatrics, the journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). Smokeless products contain an average of 0.83 milligrams (mg) of nicotine. Ingesting just 1 mg of nicotine can cause a child to become nauseous and vomit. Larger doses can cause more severe reactions, including weakness, convulsions, unresponsiveness and rapid breathing.
The AAP has some great tips for parents who suspect their young child has swallowed tobacco or nicotine products.
If the child still has some of the product in his or her mouth, make the child spit it out or remove it with your fingers.
Keep the substance and package, if available, in case the child has a reaction.
If the child is not conscious or breathing or seems to be having convulsions or a seizure, call 911 or your local emergency number immediately. Otherwise, call the poison center hotline at 1-800-222-1222 for instructions.

The Most Beautiful Sport has the Ugliest Habit

It is as common as hot dogs and Crakerjacks when you go to a baseball game, players using smokeless tobacco. But a new campaign to stop the dangerous habit may help athletes finally spit out tobacco for good. To find out more, click here.

New Drug Mimics Marijuana

A blend of herbs laced with synthetic marijuana known popularly as K2 is being sold openly in head shops and online, often sending people who smoke it to hospitals with symptoms ranging from soaring heart rates to paranoia to near-death experiences, according to health professionals. Several states have already banned the substance. To read more about K2 and its effects click here. Then tell us what you think by clicking the comment link below.