The IRE Resource Center is a major research library containing more than 23,250 investigative stories — both print and broadcast. These stories are searchable online or by contacting the Resource Center directly (573-882-3364 or rescntr@ire.org) where a researcher can help you pinpoint what you need. Browse or search the tipsheet section of our library below. Stories are not available for download but can be easily ordered by contacting the Resource Center:
Search results for "substance abuse" ...
-
Struggling to Understand
The story takes an investigative look at the personal struggles of the recent suicide victims in a small seaside New Jersey town and examined how the school and community at large responded to what is for New Jersey an unprecedented public health crisis. While each case involved a unique set of circumstances, the reporters found that a history of mentalillness, alcohol and drug abuse -- and a community all to willing to turn a blind eye to teen substance abuse -- played a role in the majority of the deaths.
Tags: suicide; mental illness; drug abuse; youth suicide
-
"Drinking at Duke"
In this two-part series, Sanette Tanaka examines the alcohol policy and drinking culture at Duke University. The reporter reveals differences in drinking policies between private and public universities, as well as examines the effectiveness of the "new associate dean," who has implemented an "education-based harm-reduction model" in an effort to curb "binge drinking among students."
Tags: alcohol; binge drinking; Tom Szigethy; Stanford; Harvard; Center for Adolescent Substance Abuse Research; UNC; Wake Forest; National College Health Assessment
-
The New Addiction
Nevada per capita are the nation's number one users of hydrocodone, the narcotic in Vicodin and Lortab. The amount of painkiller abuse in the state was found after analyzing the Drug Enforcement Administration's controlled substance database.
Tags: prescription drugs; medicine; pharmaceuticals; methadone; oxycodone; DEA;
-
Mental Anguish and the Military
Army studies show that 20-25 percent of soldiers returning from Iraq show symptoms of serious mental health problems, including depression, substance abuse and post-traumatic stress disorder. Government officials say that the military has programs to treat these soldiers, but National Public Radio's investigation at Colorado Springs' Fort Carson found that "these programs are not working." Soldiers who are desperate and suicidal even have trouble getting the necessary help. Furthermore, "evidence suggests that officers at Ft. Carson punish soldiers who need help, and even kick them out of the Army." In the wake of the report, three senators - Barbara Boxer, Christopher Bond and Barack Obama - wrote a letter to the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs seeking clarification of the reports.
Tags: Post-traumatic stress disorder; Iraq War; Fort carson; Department of Veterans' Affairs
-
Nevadans live hard, risk lives
"Using mortality data from the Centers for Disease Control, a Sun analysis found that Nevadans and Clark County residents die younger and at higher rates of suicide, substance abuse and certain chronic illnesses compared with the rates nationally and in other large counties."
Tags: Nevada; death rates; suicide; depression; health; statistics; CAR; mortality data
-
Patients in the Dark
The story investigated what patients aren't being told about their doctors, and what they are unable to find out even if they ask. Utah law prevents patients knowing whether a doctor is currently in treatment for substance abuse, or has been in the past, hospital disciplinary history, basic information about malpractice suits etc. The Physicians Licensing Board, meanwhile, seldom severely restricts the practice of even the most troubled doctor, preferring to provide repeated 'second' chances.
Tags: medicine; doctors; malpractice; Utah Physicians Licensing Board; public awareness; Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing; National Practitioners Data Bank
-
Jews in Prison Face Special Challenges
The article took an in-depth look at the challenges facing Jewish inmates in Missouri prisons. The author covered all stages of incarceration, challenges on the inside and the challenge of re-integrating into society as a whole and the Jewish community in particular.
Tags: Missouri prisons; religion; Judaism; Jewish inmates; re-integration; incarceration; rights of prisoners; drug abuse; substance abuse; community outreach
-
Steroids and the NFL
This investigation exposed steroid and human growth hormone abuse by several professional football players who received prescriptions from a doctor who was subsequently indicted for prescribing them. The NFL drug testing program failed to detect the players' steroid use. This failure exposed loopholes in the NFL's substance abuse policies.
Tags: football; NFL; steroids; drug testing; performance enhancing drugs; human growth hormone
-
Generation Meth
The six-day series explores the topic of female meth addicts. The series looks at treatment, what happens to addicts' children, and Utah attitudes that prohibit proper funding for this problem
Tags: methamphetamine; meth; meth labs; meth users; drugs; addiction; substance abuse; female meth addicts; Salt Lake City; Utah
-
Behind the Prop
California's Proposition 36 aims to help drug offenders out of prison, saving the taxpayers millions. But as Stephen James uncovers, the goal of this plan isn't necessarily fulfilled. Proposition 36, also known as the Substance Abues and Crime Prevention Act of 2000 (SACPA), received great praise from its sponsor, the Drug Policy Alliance, who said that the plan would save California taxpayers $1.5 billion over five years. But James discovers that the law just may be a very expensive failure. SACPA allows for criminal offenders convicted of nonviolent drug possession to be sentenced to drug teatment instead of probation without treatment or jail time. James found that only about 10 percent of SACPA defendants actually complete the entire program.
Tags: Proposition 36; drug offenders; incarceration costs; inmate drug treatment; SACPA; Substance Abuses and Crime Prevention Act of 2000