drug use

People may make their own choices whether to use and/or sell drugs, but independent decision-making is steadily reduced as factors such as addiction and economic disadvantage come into play. Given the failure of the so-called "war on drugs" to stop illegal drug use and the violent crime that often flows from it, the question becomes how to end this cycle of arrest and re-arrest and the concomitant expenditure of resources to deal with these cases in ways that will meaningfully reduce crime.

A Westminster man is charged with possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute and related charges for allegedly selling marijuana near the Westminster branch of the library.

The longer Maryland waits to end criminal penalties for pot, the harder it will be for addicts to seek treatment.

Fed-up residents in Southeast Baltimore banded together to shut the T-shaped alleyway off from the rest of the neighborhood with a locked gate — illustrating a movement that is spreading to neighborhoods across Baltimore.

A 'harm reduction' approach is key to preventing deaths at electronic dance music events.

On June 21, the Vatican press office published the presentation made by Pope Francis to the 31st International Drug Enforcement Conference (IDEC) in Rome. The Pope told the conferees, "The problem of drug use is not solved with drugs! … Substitute drugs are not an adequate therapy, but rather a veiled means of surrendering to the phenomenon." These comments represent an unfortunate, categorical rejection of "maintenance" treatment of opioid addiction with medications such as methadone.

A Pennsylvania man was sentenced to serve three years in the Carroll County Detention Center for a series of robberies, some armed, he committed in Westminster.

After the most difficult year of his professional life, Orioles outfielder Nelson Cruz is reborn as the American League's top slugger.

Mike Gimbel says 'harm reduction' strategies like outfitting police officers with Narcan will do no good without treatment on demand.

While Americans like to believe that a child can rise above a low-income family background to go to college and then a high paying job, research by a Johns Hopkins University sociologist over a quarter of a century in Baltimore proves it rarely happens in Baltimore.

Drugs continue to be Harford's biggest problem, and legalizing any of them would only make things worse, Harford County Sheriff Jesse Bane said.

Crime reports from around Harford County

Hoping to curb the spread of HIV, Baltimore officials want legislation allowing them to hand out thousands more needles to drug addicts.

A driver who sped into downtown Baltimore hitting a killing a city worker pleaded guilty Thursday in the crash and was sentenced on the spot to 11 years in prison.

An honest analysis of both the impacts of broad marijuana legalization and the true intent of its advocates is missing from the public discussion, likely because it would chill the momentum.

Currently Congress refuses to provide us with one of the cheapest, most effective tools as we struggle against the spread of HIV/AIDS and hepatitis C in our communities. In response, over 70 scientists and health practitioners from Maryland have written to Senator Barbara Mikulski (D-MD), asking her to help end the ban. Such action is essential not just for our state, but for the country as a whole.

According to the 2010 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, nearly 23 million Americans, or roughly 9 percent of the U.S. population were illicit drug users. So if the original objective of the War on drugs was to rid the country of recreational drugs, it has been a dismal failure.

Whether it's alcohol, marijuana, heroin, prescription medication or newer, synthetic substances like K2, it's easy for teenagers to access drugs in Howard County.

Following police officer's death in Catonsville, Capt. Doug Irwin looks to inspire an intolerance toward crime

The NCAA is grappling with how to treat college athletes' use of marijuana — a popular drug that presents a puzzle because it is considered unsafe by the U.S. government but is not a performance enhancer and has been decriminalized by a number of states.

Naval Academy's honor concept demands excellence — as it should

For candidates for elite teams, the moral high road can lead to expulsion and dashed hopes

Linda Fletcher lives in fear of reliving a nightmare: A son dying from a heroin overdose.

Congress has again banned federal funding for needle exchange programs, despite their importance to public health and their proven ability to save money.

In response to a 2010 Youth Commission Survey, in which 49 percent of youth in grades six to 12 indicated they feel strongly that alcohol and drug abuse educational program and initiatives are needed, the Harford County Department of Community Services launched the new prevention program, Above the Influence Alcohol and Drug Education Program, in January

University of Maryland School of Medicine research has found that the brain's orbitofrontal cortex may play an important role in decision-making and may be affected by drug use.

Colorado and Washington voters legalize pot, setting up a fight with the feds

Health officials call for more testing of hepatitis C in baby boomers

The Aegis police blotter lists the most recent arrest, crimes and other police reports.