Many states, including Arizona, have been trying to institute drug testing for individuals applying for welfare and/or unemployment benefits. Who could object to that?  Employers today commonly require drug testing for employees. Why shouldn’t the state? I personally have had to be drug tested for jobs in the past, as I am sure you have. Even though I am not now nor have I ever been a drug user, that did not matter. All employees and prospective employees had to experience the inconvenience of the drug test. This was the new normal.

Alex Rodriguez has it all, or so it would appear. Looks. Unmatched baseball talent. More money than anyone could need.

Small amounts of drugs have been found in a well in Continental Ranch, but Tucson Water officials maintain that the levels of the pharmaceuticals are harmless.

Although experts are unsure yet if it poses a health risk, sophisticated new techniques have detected pharmaceuticals such as antibiotics, anti-inflammatory drugs, X-ray contrasting agents and antiepeleptic medication in the effluent flowing in the Santa Cruz River channel in Northwest Tucson and Marana and in nearby wells used to monitor ground water quality.

Erin Schmidt, ESchmidt@ExplorerNews.com

May 31, 2006 - As drug use in public high schools continues to increase across the country, Catalina Foothills High School is hoping to stop the abuse among its teens by drug testing students next year.

For busy women who typically put others’ needs before their own, remember that taking time to care for themselves is important to good health. Regular well-woman exams are a simple and effective way to start.

(StatePoint) What do you do with your unused prescription pills and over-the-counter medications? Do you throw them away? Flush them down the toilet? Simply leave them in your cabinet for a rainy day?

(NAPSI)—An apple a day keeps the doctor away? Research shows an aspirin a day may do the same. How often have you heard about chewing an aspirin if you feel the symptoms of a heart attack? If it’s that critical to get the medication to your system, isn’t it as important to know you are taking a safe dose? Good news—there is a simple blood test that is available to aid your doctor in assessing response to aspirin.

(NewsUSA) - Thanks to the outrage of one tenacious Detroit prosecutor, 21 serial rapists were identified -- rapists whose DNA sat untested in a police warehouse for years. Prosecutor Kym Worthy shined an unforgiving light on the gratuitously inefficient process of testing rape kits, in fact she's pronounced a national pandemic.

CWuensch@ExplorerNews.com

On Monday, Sept. 20, at about 8:30 p.m., Oro Valley police responded to the Taco Bell near Oracle and Magee roads because two people had locked themselves in the men's restroom for about an hour and would not come out. When police arrived, the officer pounded on the door, at which time he heard the toilet flush and some coins fall on the floor. After almost a minute, two subjects, a male, 19, and a female, 17, came out of the bathroom. The man told police he and his girlfriend were taking a pregnancy test, talking, and erasing text messages on her cell phone. He told police the pregnancy test was thrown away in the trash can, which later police could not find. Police noticed the male subject appeared to be dazed about what was going on. When asked if he had done any drugs that day, he said no. When asked if he had anything illegal on him, he said he had some marijuana in his pocket. He was arrested and upon further searching, police found burnt and clean aluminum foil, a burned straw, several lighters, a knife and an electronic scale, which all are commonly used to smoke heroin. He was arrested for possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia. The female told police she had not done any drugs and police did not find any drugs on her person. Both were released from the scene and told they would be cited for trespassing if they returned to the Taco Bell.

Pima County is sponsoring a discount prescription card designed to provide families and individuals with significant savings on prescription drug costs.

(NAPSI)—If you’re like nearly 85 percent of Americans, you’ve bought something online.

The article on "medical pot" in the Sept. 22 Explorer failed to inform its readers of several key provisions of Prop 203.

(NAPSI)—Protecting your health is important to everyone. That’s why the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) wants you to know that there are many dangerous products unlawfully marketed as “dietary supplements” that contain hidden drugs and chemicals. These products are sold for all sorts of conditions including weight loss, sexual enhancement, bodybuilding, arthritis and diabetes. They can contain hidden prescription ingredients at levels much higher than those found in approved drugs.

PHOENIX -- Voters who have seen how medical marijuana works in Arizona may get a chance to extend the ability to use the drug to all other adults.

Pinal County Sheriff’s deputies on Monday, Feb. 7, arrested Lewis Paul Larkin, better known as the Pinal County assessor, on charges of driving under the influence. 

On Thursday May 20, Oro Valley police responded to Wilson K-8 School in reference to a sixth-grade student in possession of marijuana. When police arrived, they were escorted to the assistant principal's office where the student was located. According the police report, a teacher and several other students reported that the student had marijuana with him and was showing it to his classmates. After a search of the bag, the assistant principal found a sunglasses case with a plastic bag inside of it containing marijuana. The student said he got it from a friend who did not go to the school, but knew it was marijuana. When the student's mother arrived, he admitted to smoking marijuana in the past but would pass a drug test. The student later changed his story saying he might not pass a drug test because he has been to parties where people were smoking marijuana. Police advised the mother that her son be drug tested. He was arrested for possession of marijuana in a drug free school zone.

March 9, 2005 - After a school bus driver received a DUI charge while driving a bus full of students, local officials want to reassure the public that their children are safe on district buses.

A roundup of recent police activities throughout the Northwest.

Oro Valley

The firing of a paramedic who tested positive for cocaine use during a drug test has placed Northwest Fire and Rescue District Chief Jeff Piechura at odds with the firefighter's union that has staunchly supported him in the past.