Drug Addiction

Josh Hamilton

Staying Power

The Chimeras are the Tempe band that would not die

Waiting to Inhale

Luis Sharpe led a double life. In public, he was an admired NFL star. In private, he was a crackhead hell-bent on self-destruction.

Children of Synanon

An acclaimed Tucson drug-treatment program went suddenly, mysteriouly bankrupt. Administrators blame the board of directors. But others are questioning the administrators and their history at the notorious drug-treatment empire known as Synanon.

Methology - Part I

Arizona is awash in crystal methamphetamine, a highly addictive stimulant that makes the weak strong, the lazy motivated, the fat thin, the trivial profound. Abuse it enough, and it can also make you psychotic.

Methology - Part II

Arizona is awash in crystal methamphetamine, a highly addictive stimulant that makes the weak strong, the lazy motivated, the fat thin, the trivial profound. Abuse it enough, and it can also make you psychotic.

A Capitol Idea

Phoenix Community Alliance's new plan for the Capitol Mall sends the homeless scrambling while the city looks the other way

Shooting Star

Three years ago, at the pinnacle of their 15-year career, local rock heroes the Meat Puppets vanished from view, after bass player Cris Kirkwood became addicted to cocaine and heroin. The story only gets worse from there.

Grant's Doom

State misspent $350,000 of federal funds earmarked for HIV and substance-abuse services

Street Without Hope

On Madison Street, crowds of crack-addicted homeless are plaguing police and downtown businesses. But no one seems to be doing much about it.

Letters

On Madison Street, crowds of crack-addicted homeless are plaguing police and downtown businesses. But no one seems to be doing much about it.

The Once and Future Mom

CPS slammed for severing parental rights while doing little to preserve the family

Shape Up or Sharpe Out

Trouble-plagued NFL vet faces stint in Valley rehab

Gentle Exit

ADJC Director steps down

Letters From the Issue of Thursday, December 22, 2005

ADJC Director steps down

Letters From the Issue of Thursday, January 5, 2006

ADJC Director steps down

Alice In Chains

ADJC Director steps down

Blood on the Tracks

O.C. straight-edge kids suffer for their art

Former Korn guitarist Brian Welch finds Jesus

O.C. straight-edge kids suffer for their art

Arizona Medical Board's hands-off approach to relapsed addict physicians is endangering patients

O.C. straight-edge kids suffer for their art

An Inconvenient Untruth

BTT play will make you squirm -- and that's no lie

Blazing Saddle

Where the girls are

It Girl

Welcome to the Cult of Katie Rose. Hope your liver can handle it

Hey, Hey, We're the Junkies

The heroin of our story

Meth Madness

For $5 million, Arizona can grow its population of meth users -- just like Montana

Get Out of the Chronic Rescue Rut . . .

And accept that you can't always save the people you love

Methology Redux

When it comes to Arizona's meth addiction, there are no easy solutions

Fast Times at Westwind junior high

Any way you add it up, kids at one Valley middle school were dealing meth out of their backpacks

Meth Treatment

Meth addiction isn't impossible to beat -- but the treatment's not cheap. And good luck finding it

Bad Medicine

Locking up cold medicine makes the politicians feel good -- but it won't put a dent in Arizona's meth habit

Meth and Sex

Tweakers, straight and gay, are obsessed with sex. The result is that pregnancy and HIV-infection rates among meth-heads are increasing at alarming rates

Ice, Ice, Baby

Arizona moms are abusing meth more than any other drug. Want to get them clean, save the family and save tax dollars? Try dangling their kids as the carrot

Take Two Bottles of These. Call Me When You're Dead

Dr. Willard Hunter's repeated misprescription of dangerous drugs has contributed to two deaths. But the state medical board doesn't see any reason to revoke his doctor's license.

Blood on their hands

Six hours after County mental health officials sent a psychotic man back home, he killed his mother and young niece.

XO, Elliott

Elliott Smith, 1969-2003

It Takes a Tribe

A tiny Indian community struggles to educate its young

Moment of Truth

A Goonie no more, Corey Feldman is searching for his soul as a rock musician

Concealed Weapons

Despite some misfires, The Pistoleros keep looking for a break and say that rumors of their demise are greatly exaggerated

Opiate for the Mrs.

When laws are broken, somebody's got to be punished. In the case of Cindy McCain, that somebody is Tom Gosinski

ALONE IN THE DARK

When laws are broken, somebody's got to be punished. In the case of Cindy McCain, that somebody is Tom Gosinski

Phoenix Police See Spike in Heroin Use

www.motivatedphoto.com​Just when we though crystal meth reigned supreme as the drug of choice among hard dopers, here's this blast from the past. Remember heroin? Well drug addicts sure do, and according to Phoenix police, "smack" is coming back in a big way."Between January 2006 and January ... More >>

Three-Week-Old Girl Not Expected to Survive Injuries Police Say Were Caused by Her Father

Brian Mark Hopf​The 3-week-old girl, who police say suffered some gruesome injuries at the hands of her father, 25-year-old Brian Mark Hopf, is not expected to survive. Hopf poked the girl in the eyes,police say, and dropped her on the floor, leaving her with several skull fractures, ... More >>

Psychedelic Mushrooms May Help Treat Drug Addiction; Somebody Call the Irony Police

www.theemptyroom.com​Congratulations drug addicts -- doctors hope to prove that the cure for your addiction is the actual cause of your affliction: More drugs!Doctors from around the globe are meeting in San Jose, California, this week to revisit the topic of hallucinogenic drugs used t ... More >>

Ibogaine Helps Junkies Kick Heroin and Meth. Is It the Trip That Does the Trick?

www.theemptyroom.com​Congratulations drug addicts -- doctors hope to prove that the cure for your addiction is the actual cause of your affliction: More drugs!Doctors from around the globe are meeting in San Jose, California, this week to revisit the topic of hallucinogenic drugs used t ... More >>

Peoria Police Looking for Missing Woman: 50-Year-Old Maria Chagolla

If you've seen 50-year-old Maria Chagolla call the po-po.​A Peoria woman is missing and cops need your help finding her. Maria Delores Chagolla, 50, was last seen dropping off her adult son about 9 a.m. yesterday in the area of 8700 West Butler Drive in Peoria. She never made it home and hasn't be ... More >>

Alleged Pill Addict (Apparently Suffering From "Bieber Fever") Arrested in Un-Elaborate Forgery Scheme

MCSOJackson James Keehn​It seems 19-year-old James Keehn's remedy for his apparent "Bieber Fever" is oxycodone -- authorities say he tried to get a fake prescription for oxycodone filled at a Mesa Target in December, but the pharmacist immediately recognized the script as bogus. Keehn left the st ... More >>

Etta James Hospitalized with Blood Infection

Wikimedia CommonsEtta James ​Legendary jazz and R&B singer Etta James has been hospitalized in Riverside, California with a blood infection. James, 73, is perhaps best known for her song "At Last," though she's also sang backup vocals for Chuck Berry, toured with Little Richard, and garnered f ... More >>

In Which the Bassist from Coheed and Cambria Holds Up a Walgreens With a Bomb for Some Oxycontin

New York PostCoheed and Cambria bassist Mic Todd​You guys heard this one, right? The one about how Michael "Mic" Todd -- the bassist from prog-rockers Coheed and Cambria -- robbed a Massachusetts Walgreens claiming he had a bomb for some bottles of Oxycontin this past Sunday? Yeah, I wish I was ma ... More >>

Should Prosecutors Seek Death Penalty For Convicted Killer Steven James...Again?

Arizona Department of Corrections Steven James​The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals yesterday tossed out the death sentence of convicted murderer Steven James, who was sentenced to die for the brutal 1981 murder of a man he targeted for being gay.The reason: the Court feels James had ineffectiv ... More >>

Phoenix's Most At-Risk Homeless Find Their Way, Thanks to a Team of "Navigators"

Arizona Department of Corrections Steven James​The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals yesterday tossed out the death sentence of convicted murderer Steven James, who was sentenced to die for the brutal 1981 murder of a man he targeted for being gay.The reason: the Court feels James had ineffectiv ... More >>