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PARIS - Drugs were confiscated Thursday morning at the Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School during a 65-minute search of lockers and vehicles by three Maine State Police K-9 units and local police officers. “Our goal is to have a drug-free educational environment,” said Principal Ted Moccia Thursday afternoon shortly after meeting with his staff to review the results of the search. Although information about the amount and types of drugs found and the number of students involved in the drug confiscation was not available Thursday from police or school personnel, Moccia said all the drugs and illegal contraband found were turned over to law enforcement personnel. Parents of any student found with the illegal substances were notified by a school administrator or police officer. School Superintendent Mark Eastman was out of town on a two-day superintendent’s conference and could not be reached for comment.

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The government’s new drugs awareness campaign is a spoof wildlife documentary about a teenage house party – complete with a voiceover impersonating David Attenborough.  The film, part of the government’s youth drugs awareness campaign Frank, opens with the documentary cameras approaching a house party.  “Here in the suburbs we observe the human habitat after sunset,” intones the familiar voice, “even though dark there is a surprising amount of activity … the conditions suggest a social gathering or breeding colony”.  The documentary cameras venture into the house and observe different types of drug takers – as if they are wildlife species in their native eco-systems.  The cameras observe “the pill taker” on ecstasy who exhibits a “vigorous mating dance”, a “young acid dropper” on LSD “caught on camera for the first time” and the “hibernating stoner” a cannabis smoker who goes on to vomit and is labelled “the common puker”.

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The European Union on Wednesday raided pharmaceutical companies in several countries as part of an investigation into potential efforts by drug makers to prevent generic or competing drugs from reaching markets, the Wall Street Journal reports (Forelle/Whalen, Wall Street Journal, 1/17). Officials from AstraZeneca, GlaxoSmithKline, Johnson & Johnson, Merck, Pfizer, Sandoz, Sanofi-Aventis and Wyeth confirmed that they were contacted by regulators and said they are cooperating with the investigations. Neelie Kroes, the European competition commissioner, said the European Union was working closely with U.S. officials, adding, “We’re not the only one active in this.” According to the commission, “Fewer new pharmaceuticals are being brought to the market and the entry of generic pharmaceuticals sometimes seems to be delayed.