Whitney Houston's toxicology report was positive for marijuana, alprazolam, Flexeril, and Benadryl. All other celebrity deaths had a toxicology report that included opioids and benzodiazepines.  More than 30% of opioids (painkillers) also involve benzodiazepines (anti-anxiety drugs). Safe prescribing means not just appropriate opioid prescribing, but caution in prescribing multiple central nervous system medications.

8^th grader’s favorite flavor was Mango, 10^th and 12^th graders favored Mint. Menthol flavor was less popular and remains available by JUUL.  JAMA Study on JUUL flavors

Popcorn lung is also called bronchiolitis obliterans, a disease of the smaller passages of the lung. Popcorn lung is named after the workers in a popcorn factory who developed breathing problems after inhaling diacetyl, a chemical used to give foods a buttery flavor. Many E-cigarettes flavors contain diacetyl and therefore can cause popcorn lung.

Methamphetamine was found in the Pepsi Co bottling plant in Mexicali Valley, 120 miles east of San Diego in 2017. 70,000 bottles were removed as a public health measure.

Canada has drug injection sites that offer naloxone for reversal of opioids. Snuffy was a mouse saved at one of these centers. Source: May 15, 2017 CBCnews British Columbia.

The brain completes growth in the mid to late 20s.  New neurons do not generate after this age. Brain development, specifically myelination - insulation of the neurons of the brain - is completed by the mid to late 20s.  Learning and adaptation can continue throughout one's life.  To learn more, watch the lecture by Dr. Lev on The Growing Brain

Individuals 50 years of age or older who have used cannabis in the past year had the greatest rate of mental disorders (33.2%) including anxiety, manic-depressive disorder, PTSD, and bipolar disorder, compared with past use (26.5%) and never users (19.4%). These finding may be driven by the strong positive association between major depressive episodes and self-medication in the general population.

Most hospitals do not have addiction medicine services. There is a specialty training need for such services.  Medical training is provided by either psychiatric specialization or medical specialization. The American College of Academic Addiction Medicine reports that the US has 60 fellowships of addiction medicine in 2019 with a projected need of 125.

Information is available on benzodiazepine from the Veterans Administration: https://www.pbm.va.gov/PBM/AcademicDetailingService/Documents/Academic_Detailing_Educational_Material_Catalog/23_Benzodiazepine_Provider_AD_Quick_Reference_Guide_IB10_929.pdf

THC and CBD have many drug interactions.  Coumadin and THC can result in elevating PT/INR or bleeding complications. https://www.drugs.com/drug-interactions/cannabis.html

Both chronic methamphetamine users and new users are susceptible to heart damage.

Scromiting is a term associated with the symptoms of screaming and vomiting from cannabis hyperemesis syndrome.  Formication is the symptoms of insects crawling on the body.

Fentanyl is 100 times stronger than Morphine and has been found in all types of drugs. Therefore, anyone who is using drugs should have ready access to naloxone, an opioid reversal medication.