Sep 24th, 2008 · Researchers are calling for warning labels on energy drinks. The drinks contain substantial amounts of caffeine, which could lead to symptoms associated with a caffeine overdose, including heart palpitations and insomnia. The energy drinks are marketed to adolescents, who haven't developed a tolerance to caffeine.
Aug 1st, 2008 · A U.S. scientist suspected in the 2001 anthrax attacks has died in an apparent suicide. The Los Angeles Times reported Friday that Bruce Ivins took an overdose of pain medication hours before he was to be indicted.
May 1st, 2008 · Since June, there has been a rash of accidental overdoses at Army hospitals, including at least six that have resulted in deaths. The hospitals have implemented new policies, including a ban on drinking in barracks.
Jan 28th, 2008 · For the first time in U.S. history, drug overdoses and other types of poisonings now kill more people than guns, according to the National Center for Health Statistics. Record numbers of West Virginians are dying in the quiet epidemic, mostly from prescription painkillers such as OxyContin, Vicodin and methadone.
Jan 2nd, 2008 · Every year, overdoses of heroin and opiates, such as Oxycontin, kill more drug users than AIDS, hepatitis or homicide. Now, public health workers are preventing thousands of deaths by giving drug users themselves the tools to save a life.
Aug 17th, 2007 · The Food and Drug Administration warns that some breast-fed infants may be at an increased risk of narcotic overdose if their mothers are taking codeine for pain relief. New genetic tests have confirmed that some women are ultra-fast metabolizers of the drug, which means more narcotic gets into their breast milk.
May 29th, 2007 · The exploding expense of presidential campaigns, "packaged" candidates and heavy media coverage might add up to an overdose of pre-election campaign politics for voters. Washington Post writer Joel Achenbach weighs in on all the hoopla.
Apr 20th, 2007 · New Mexico has passed a new law meant to protect drug users from arrest if they overdose and then call for help. By some accounts, New Mexico has the nation's highest rate of fatal drug overdoses; on average, one person dies of an overdose in the state each day.