The Pinellas County Adult Pre-Arrest Diversion (APAD) program was implemented earlier this year as a way to reduce costs of incarceration and prosecution of certain types of misdemeanors. These are:

     Yoga has recently gained increased scientific support in promoting neurological changes in the brain that aid in recovery from addiction and mental health problems. Yoga has been shown to increase activity in the frontal cortex which is associated with impulsivity and problems with addiction. This increased activity can lead to greater mindfulness, reduced anxiety and greater ability in emotional coping.

Some highlights of the report include:
 
 - Alcohol use among 8th, 10th and 12th graders is at an all time low.
 - Marijuana use has increased among 8th and 10th graders and held steady among 12th             graders at an all time high.
 - Cigarette use continues to decline in all age groups and more young people smoke pot               than tobacco.
 - Among 12th graders, 46% report lifetime use, 36% report past year use, 23% report past         month use and 7% report daily use.
 - There is a general decline in use across drug type categories and age groups save for                 marijuana.
 - The perceived risk of marijuana use among our youth continues to decline.

For all of the report data, please visit:
 - www.drugabuse.org -

Researchers the the University of Pittsburgh have learned that drug cravings can be stopped at the synaptic level. More specifically, a chemical receptor known as CP-AMPAR has been shown to be essential in the maturation process of synapses which send drug cravings (cocaine in this study) in the brain. The researchers have shown that cravings can be eliminated or greatly reduced by the removal of this chemical which stops the growth of these synapses thus rendering them 'silent'.

'Wax' or 'Dabs' is a fairly new and significantly more potent form of THC. THC is extracted from marijuana by soaking it in butane or alcohol. The liquid is then boiled leaving THC is a 'waxy' residue. Lab tests show wax can have a potency up to 99% THC. Users pick off a 'dab' of the substance and smoke it in a customized pipe. While stronger forms of THC have been around for decades (e.g. Hash oil with THC up to 50%), Wax is an evolution of the drug that is gaining popularity with recreational users.

For the full article: www.turnto23.com
For photos: www.google.com/search

     'Molly' is a purer, powdered  form of Ecstasy chemically known as methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA). It has been around for decades. It has lately surged in popularity with college students, and is being name-checked by mainstream artists ranging from Kanye West and Rick Ross to Miley Cyrus and Madonna. Molly can be taken orally in powder, tablet or capsule form. The effects, which include a sense of increased energy, euphoria and empathy, can last from three to six hours after ingestion. It was first created as a diet drug in 1914, and in the 1970s was used by doctors as an aid in psychotherapy. In the 1980s and 1990s it burst upon the club scene as a party drug. Today, the drug is currently in clinical trials as a potential aid to treat post-traumatic stress disorder as well as anxiety in terminal cancer patients.

Here is some basic but very good information on one of the most commonly prescribed antidepressants which is showing effectiveness for a variety of mental health problems.
- www.medicalnewstoday.com -

Those with mental illness are 7 times more likely to abuse marijuana.
- www.medicalnewstoday.com -

 Interesting information on this years trends with adolescents in both behavior and attitudes towards substance abuse.
- www.drugabuse.org -

More good news for Florida parents: new legislation against synthetic drugs popular with young people.
- www.tampabay.com -