Energy Drinks + ETOH = Bad Combo

There is a link to the original study in PDF format within the AAFP article.

Alcohol/Energy Drink Combo Leads to Higher Intoxication, Driving Risk — AAFP News Now — American Academy of Family Physicians

“Caffeine appears to reduce subjective perceptions of alcohol intoxication, but it does not ameliorate the performance deficits produced by alcohol,” said Thombs. “(Individuals) are more alert but just as behaviorally impaired as if they did not consume caffeine.”

7.6% of the US Population Estimated to be Diabetic

QuickStats: Percentage of Adults Aged ≥18 Years Ever Told They Had Diabetes* by a Doctor or Health Professional, by Race/Ethnicity† — National Health Interview Survey, United States, 2004–2008§

During 2004–2008, 7.6% of adults overall in the United States reported ever having been told they had diabetes. American Indian/Alaska Natives (17.5%), blacks (11.8%), and Hispanics (10.6%) were more likely than Asians (8.0%) and whites (6.6%) to report ever having been told by a doctor or health professional that they had diabetes.

The War in Mexico – Update 4/5/2010

New adversary in U.S. drug war: Contract killers for Mexican cartels – washingtonpost.com

A cross-border drug gang born in the prison cells of Texas has evolved into a sophisticated paramilitary killing machine that U.S. and Mexican officials suspect is responsible for thousands of assassinations here, including the recent ambush and slaying of three people linked to the U.S. consulate.

The heavily tattooed Barrio Azteca gang members have long operated across the border in El Paso, dealing drugs and stealing cars. But in Ciudad Juarez, the organization now specializes in contract killing for the Juarez drug cartel. According to U.S. law enforcement officers, it may have been involved in as many as half of the 2,660 killings in the city in the past year.

The special agent in charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in El Paso, Joseph Arabit, said, “Our intelligence indicates that they kill frequently for a hundred dollars.