British actor Russell Brand is a recovering drug addict. As such he is well-aware of why people use drugs, how they become addicted, and how to get clean. Now he is taking his personal knowledge to the government to help them deal with an ever-increasing drug problem in the United Kingdom.

Brand told the British government that it needs to adopt a pragmatic approach to address the social issues that lead young people to take drugs. This according to Reuters.

Brand, a former heroin addict who has been arrested 12 times, appeared before politicians to give his views on the government's drug policies and his battle with drug addiction. Typical of Brand, he made a flashy statement with his attire. Dressed in a flamboyant ensemble of black, Brand struck a contrast against the formally attired politicians with his long coat, vest, hat and leather wristbands.

Based on his experiences, Brand stressed the importance addressing addiction as an illness rather than a criminal or judicial matter.

Brand rightly stated that the status of a drug is irrelevant to a drug addict. If you're a drug addict, you're getting drugs. I am not sure I agree with his stance that they should consider decriminalizing drugs, but he did make a few valid points.

Brand called for more awareness and research into abstinence-based recovery, which he underwent to treat his addiction at rehabilitation charity Focus12, of which he is a patron.

The comedian has written about his struggle with drug addiction in his autobiography "My Booky Wook" in 2007 and wrote a touching obituary about singer Amy Winehouse when she died last year after battling alcohol and drug abuse for years.

Again I am not sure what the answer is, but just do not feel right to make drugs easier to access and easier to morally justify its use. I think more drug classes and rehabilitation is a step in the right direction.

Anyone who ever saw the heart-wrenching movie “The Wrestler” starring Mickey Rourke knows that drug and alcohol use are rampant among professional wrestlers.

The stories of drug and alcohol use and abuse among professional wrestlers has been going on since the days of “Lucha Libre.”

Most recently, according to the Bleacher Report, former Olympic Gold Medalist and current TNA star Kurt Angle arrested in suspicion of DWI.

It is no secret that many wrestlers are noted alcoholics or drug abusers. Alcohol and drugs have been a plague to the professional wrestling industry. Often, these wrestlers die too young because of their addictions to alcohol or drugs.

It's no surprise they turn to alcohol and drugs to alleviate the pain endured by countless bumps and bruises in that squared circle.

Alcohol and drug abuse has killed many professional wrestlers including: Rick Rude, Luna Vachon, Sherri Martel, Andrew "Test" Martin, Edward "Umaga" Fatu, Bam Bam Bigelow, "Mr Perfect" Curt Hennig, Brian Pillman, Miss Elizabeth, Davey Boy Smith, the Von Erich Family, Chris Benoit, and Eddie Guerrero were just some of the names in the wrestling industry who died because of drugs or alcohol.

But, there is a beacon of light in the midst of terrifying darkness. A light of hope at the end of the tunnel of hopelessness.

CM Punk

Philip Jack Brooks grew up in a broken home because of his father's alcoholism. Therefore, Brooks dedicated his life to not partaking in drugs and alcohol. Brooks is better known as WWE Champion CM Punk, the best wrestler in the world.

CM Punk proved that you don't need drugs or alcohol to climb the proverbial mountain to reach the top. Punk's outspoken straight edge lifestyle has been positive to impressionable youth constantly tempted by a barrage of drug and alcohol ads.

I hope that CM Punk's real-life straight-edge lifestyle might very well cause a revolution among wrestling fans. It is strong role models like him who might help turn the tide against the rampant drug and alcohol use in society.

How many different intoxicants do you think they found in the autopsy of Whitney Houston? Of course you remember the pop diva dies after drowning in her bathtub.

If you have seen the photos of the room, you can clearly see that Whitney, despite a number of attempts, she was still was using cocaine.

The drug was found throughout Houston's body according to cleveland.com. By the time she was fou8nd, she had been dead at least an hour in a tub so hot it had scalded part of her body.

Nearby, on the bathroom counter, investigators found a small spoon described by investigators as having a "crystal like substance" in it and in a drawer they discovered a white powdery substance. There also were a dozen prescription drug bottles found in Houston's suite of the Beverly Hilton Hotel.

Because of the paraphernalia and meds it was originally thought she died of an overdose, but after further examination and toxicology results they concluded she drowned accidentally. Heart disease, which caused a 60 percent blockage in one of her arteries, and cocaine use were listed as contributing factors.

Toxicology results also showed Houston had marijuana, Xanax, the muscle relaxant Flexeril, and the allergy medication Benadryl in her system.

The grim accounting of the room where Houston died and what investigators found provide a sad footnote to the singer's life, showing the impact drugs took on her. An investigator noted a hole in the singer's nose, listed under "history of substance abuse."

Houston died at the age of 48.

What a tragedy. Houston is the perfect example of how drugs ruin lives. A beauty and a God-given talent that is gone – due to drugs. I would hope this is a wake-up call to other celebrities and members of the public. They should know that there are drug classes available that can help them!

Not every drug overdose happens to some junkie who is trying to get too high.  Given the variety of legal drugs, it is quite possible to overdose, or mix drugs that should not be combined, with a lethal result. 

So how can you protect yourself from a lethal drug interaction. Here are a few tips!

Protecting Against Adverse Drug Interactions

Mixing drugs always presents some danger. The best protection is not to mix drugs, though in some cases this is unavoidable.

#1 - Know what drugs you are taking, why, what their side effects include and if any special precautions are needed.  This is best accomplished by taking notes at your doctor’s office and pharmacy.

#2 – use the same pharmacy for all of your prescription medications and get to know your local pharmacist.  They are friendly and very helpful.

#3 – Be honest and tell your doctor and pharmacist about any over-the-counter, herbal or illegal substances you are taking and ask about possible interactions.  There are some crazy things you may not be aware of – like drinking grapefruit juice if you are on cholesterol lowering statin.

#4 – This should be a no-brainer, but never take a medication prescribed for someone else.  Just because it works for someone else does not mean it is right for you.  A physician’s recommendation for you personally is necessary for all prescription medications.

Avoid one of the Leading Causes of Death

Adverse drug interactions are one of the leading causes of death in the U.S. Americans are quick to take medications from doctors who are quick to prescribe them.  One recent study revealed that patients leave a doctor’s office with an average of 2 prescriptions.

Hopefully these tips will help you get started.  I also would recommend taking a drug class to get to know each type of drug more intimately.  If you want to learn in the privacy of your own home, there also are online drug classes.

If you have been paying attention lately, there is a strong and well-financed campaign out there to legalize marijuana. This coming November residents of both Colorado and Washington will head to the polls to vote on an initiative seeking to legalize marijuana for recreational use.

Most certainly you have an opinion on this, right? As a counselor for both in-class and online drug classes I can say with certainty that I do not want these initiatives to pass.  

In Colorado they have billboards stating “for many reasons, I prefer… marijuana over alcohol. Does that make me a bad person?” One the ad is the photo of a 40-something slim, attractive female. What do you think of this ad sponsored by regulatemarijuana.org?

This is total nonsense. Why not have a photo of some blurry-eyed college student the caption “A marijuana buzz is better than getting drunk?” Really the only segment of the population that wants marijuana legalized are the stoners.

Image courtesy: http://www.facebook.com/mmjphotography

The time has come for the entire world, secular and non-secular to band together to fight the scourge that plagues our society – drug addiction.

In an effort to rid the planet from drugs one of the most notable religious figures is actively joining the fight. Pope Benedict is taking the fight right to one of the main arteries of the problem - Mexico

Pope Benedict arrived in Mexico last week promising as reported in Reuters to "unmask the evil" of drug trafficking in a country ravaged by gang violence that has killed 50,000 people in the past five years.

The Pope made strong accusations about Mexico’s serious problem with the drug cartels and how they are losing the fight in the drug war!

The 84-year-old Pope’s words could not have been stronger when he said, "We must do whatever is possible to combat this destructive evil against humanity and our youth.”

The Pope's strong words on the drug menace should offer comfort to Mexican President Felipe Calderon, who has staked his reputation on beating down the cartels. Calderon hailed Benedict's arrival, saying it was of great significance at a time of "many hardships" for Mexico.

If somehow Mexico’s drug cartels can be beaten down a serious dent in the world drug problem might cease to exist. Hopefully faith can bring us together and help wipe out drugs. And a little education through a 15 hour drug class probable can't hurt either. The people are the power.

So many artists and musicians waste their lives due to drug use and drug abuse. Many die from their afflictions. Others live severely shortened, drug-addled lives. A few become clean and sober and thrive.

Hopefully, that will be the case for Shelly Moses Collins, as reported by TheNorthwestern.com.

Collins is a true gift. A powerful voice with a beautiful face and warm aura helped propel her to a country music star. At her peak she opened for such acts as Barbara Mandrell, Hank Williams Jr. and Willie Nelson.

Cocaine Arrives, Conquers and Destroys

The 47-year-old became painfully addicted to cocaine in her early 20s. It was a habit that consumed all of her time and all of her energy. She admits that she was completely lost to her addiction.

In one surprisingly responsible act, Collins said she entered rehab each time she became pregnant and stayed off cocaine until the babies were born, and never used drugs in front of her children.

In Missouri, Shelley Collins cooked crack for the local drug kingpins, who, to safeguard their dope, would lock the basement she worked in.

It was the first in a series of stints in jail for Shelley Collins — sentences of 2 1/2 years, 12 months, nine months and six months — that followed after she'd fail mandated drug screening on parole, and go back to jail.

Clean and Sober

She has been sober for more than 2 and a half years. Collins credits her faith in The Lord with helping her conquer her addiction. She is using her faith to help others overcome the demon of addiction.

While not singing professionally, she's back in business as a beauty salon owner — a career that cocaine had taken away from her — with her younger sister. She also has formed a 12-step support group.

It is always nice to hear a success story. It is a true shame that she wasted more than half of her life to cocaine. Hopefully, her efforts will continue to fuel my faith that we will curb drug addiction.

Does that headline surprise you. For some reason, perhaps it is her extreme lack of credibility despite being found innocent of murdering her daughter, but most people not only think Anthony will fail in her attempts at sobriety, but are rooting for her to fail!

Anthony, also known as “America's Most Hated Mother”, is apparently still clean and sober according to her latest probation report. Sober yes, employed – not yet. But she is attending school according to www.ibtimes.com.

The 25-year-old Anthony is known for her drinking and wild-partying lifestyle. She claims, and her probation report verifies it, that she has turned over a new leaf.

Because she is so hated by so many her whereabouts remain largely unknown, although it has been reported she is living in a church in Florida. She may even be planning on getting Baptized.

Last summer, after one of the most controversial murder trials since the OJ Simpson case, Anthony was acquitted in the 2008 murder of her daughter Caylee Anthony.

While exonerated in the death of her daughter, Anthony is currently serving a12-month probation for an unrelated felony check fraud conviction.

I am sure many employers are leery of hiring an employee whose coworkers have pre-judged negative opinions of her. She has had one job offer.

Doug Delvin, owner of a strip club in Port St. Lucie, Florida, has offered Anthony the job of a stripper.

Only God and Casey know whether she is guilty of the crime of killing her daughter. One day the two will sit together in judgment. During her remaining time on Earth I hope that she does seek the guidance of The Lord and continue to lead a sober lifestyle.

From Snooki to Vinnie to Mike "The Situation", anyone who ever has watched the reality show Jersey Shore know these kids need drug and alcohol classes. These reality stars have an unhealthy impact on the youth of America today.

Shows like “Jersey Shore” are creating an illusion for today’s youth that they are normal and their poor behavior is acceptable. I certainly do not like my middle-schooler watching any of these shows.

"The Situation" Enters Rehab

The communication between representatives for Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino and the reality star could use some work. Shortly after his rep denied the reality star had a problem with substance abuse and was getting some rest and relaxation. It turns out “The Situation” went and checked himself into rehab!

Turns out Sorrentino has a prescription drug problem.

While the show and the characters revolt me, I am glad to see one of them trying to better themselves by trying to quit using drugs. He made some weak statement that he was addicted to prescription medication because he was so exhausted. Please, spare us the BS.

MTV announced this week that "The Jersey Shore" is coming back for a sixth season, with expectant mom Snooki on board as well.

I remember when MTV was "Music Television" and broadcast music videos. Those make far too much money for MTV to consider getting rid of them. However, my guess is that this will be the last season. We can only hope. The cast certainly can use a New Jersey Drug and Alcohol Class.

There is a long-running argument of whether or not scholarship athletes should receive a stipend for spending money. Many believe the free tuition, room and board are enough. Others argue they should receive something as they cannot have a job for spending money.

I am certain nobody believes they should supplement their income by selling drugs.

Four Texas Christian University football players, including one All-American, were among 17 students arrested as a result of a six-month investigation into illegal drug dealing on the Fort Worth, Texas campus.

The investigation is continuing and more student arrests are possible at the university, which has an enrollment of about 9,500.

The football players arrested were junior linebacker Tanner Brock, junior defensive tackle David "D.J" Yendrey; junior safety Devin Johnson and sophomore offensive tackle Ty Horn.

Brock is a standout player who was named a Phil Steele third-team All-American and a SportsIllustrated.com honorable-mention All-American. He registered nine tackles, including five solo tackles, in TCU's 21-19 win over Wisconsin in the 2011 Rose Bowl.

The 17 students arrested had sold drugs "hand-to-hand" to undercover officers. Drugs sold to officers included marijuana, cocaine, ecstasy and a variety of prescription drugs.

The four football players are accused of selling marijuana to officers.

The arrested students were immediately removed from campus and face possible expulsion.

The TCU Horned Frogs football team has been one of the best in the nation in recent years and finished the 2011 season ranked No. 13 in the USA Today poll. TCU is set to join the powerful Big 12 Conference in July.

A controversy like this can set a football program back 10 years. Hopefully these young men and women will take a drug class, learn from their mistakes and resume a functional life.

Source: news.yahoo.com