Alcohol, Drugs & Impairment

New York – Smoking may cause airway cell damage before health tests indicate anything is wrong, according to a new study from Weill Cornell Medical College.

Washington – Air carriers that also conduct commercial air tours as well as commuter or on-demand operators that also conduct commercial air tours will now be allowed to use one combined alcohol and drug testing program instead of two, under a final rule from the Federal Aviation Administration.

Atlanta – The number of women dying from overdosing on painkillers has increased substantially since 1999, according to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Cincinnati – Positive relationships with parents and peers may help adolescents avoid prescription drug abuse, according to a new study from the University of Cincinnati.

Columbus, OH – Poisonings among young children increased more than 12 percent from 2000 to 2010, largely driven by medications found in the home, according to a new study from Nationwide Children’s Hospital.