Health - Addiction latest news

An epidemic of youth drinking and alcohol-related deaths has the Scottish legislature mulling a plan to raise the legal drinking age from 18 to 21.

A George Washington University researcher estimates that GOP presidential candidate John McCain has about a 20 percent chance of dying in office if elected, based on his age and past use of tobacco.

The annual National Survey on Drug Use and health found little change in past-month use of illicit drugs in 2007, although use of cocaine and methamphetamine did decline.

To help community coalitions in their efforts, Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA) has developed a Support 21 Community Toolkit.

African countries have been called upon to curb the harmful use of alcohol, a practice which experts say poses a serious threat to the Region's health and development efforts. The call was made in Yaoundé, Cameroon, by the WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Luis Sambo, in a report to the annual meeting of health ministers from 46 countries which constitute the WHO African Region.