drugs

Bill Proposes "Zero Tolerance" Policy for Drugged Driving

Ben Adler — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 01:46:53 +0000

A California lawmaker wants to create a “zero tolerance” law for driving under the influence of drugs.

Democratic State Senator Lou Correa says his bill would expand the current law against drunk driving to cover drug use as well.

“It took us decades to pound into people that you should not drink and drive. Then, we started talking about texting and talking on the phone and driving. And today, this is about being drugged and driving.”

Valley fever vaccine stalls after early promise

YESENIA AMARO AND TRACY WOOD - Reporting on Health Collaborative — Sun, 07 Oct 2012 21:58:58 +0000

Just eight years ago, a vaccine to stop valley fever seemed within reach.

Ambitious scientists at five universities had brought in millions of dollars since 1997 from private donations and government funding to develop a way to beat the fungus before it ever had a chance to lodge in a person’s lungs and wreak havoc on his or her organs.

In 2004, they announced they had selected a pathway to pursue a vaccine.

Scientists took different routes to find valley fever vaccine

YESENIA AMARO AND TRACY WOOD - Reporting on Health Collaborative — Sun, 07 Oct 2012 21:00:05 +0000

Five scientists were chosen by a committee affiliated with California State University, Bakersfield, in 1997 to pursue vaccine research.

Dr. John Galgiani, 66, professor at the University of Arizona and director of the Valley Fever Center for Excellence

Developed a vaccine that has been tested in mice and monkeys.
Currently working to improve the vaccine to make it cheaper to make.
Also working on Nikkomycin Z, a possible valley fever cure.

Fresno Needle Exchange Program Generates Controversy

Shellie Branco — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 02:08:48 +0000

Volunteers are counting piles of used needles dumped out of plastic bags on a hot Saturday afternoon. People are lining up under a shade tent on a secluded north Fresno street to get rid of their dirty syringes. In return, they're getting an equal number of clean needles from the volunteers at the Fresno Needle Exchange Program.

The first person in line is a woman in her late forties who prefers to be called Tobi. She's a heroin user who's been coming to the exchange for 10 years. She's seen other drug users trading their old needles on the streets.

On Valley Edition: Needle Exchange Controversy; Education Gap

Juanita Stevenson — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 23:27:17 +0000

This week on Valley Edition we talk about a controversial needle exchange program in Fresno, a new study that sheds light on the Valley's education gap, and what it has to do with the local jobless problem.