Mexican police have captured Luis Rodriguez Olivera, known as “El Guero,” in the beleaguered nation's capital. Olivera was a high-ranking member of the Sinaloa drug cartel, and aide-de-camp to Mexico’s most wanted man, Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman. He was responsible for trafficking cocaine into the United States between 1996 and 2008. Forbes listed Olivera's former boss, Guzman, as the 10th richest man in Mexico in 2011, with a net worth of around $1 billion.

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Most people drink in the evening. It just so happens that's also when most people shop online. On eBay, the traffic spikes between 6:30 to 10:30 pm; at QVC, purchases skyrocket after 7pm. One British shopping site, Kelkoo, believes that almost half the people it surveyed shopped online after drinking. The results, according to a report in today's New York Times, have led to widely disparate degrees of regret. There are people who sip wine and click on a $3 pair of knockoff sunglasses that cost $17 to ship or, in more extreme situations, those who impulse-purchasing a $10,000 motorcycle tour of New Zealand.

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Since the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan began, more than 212,000 veterans have been treated for PTSD by the U.S. Veterans Administration. Effectively treating their physical and psychological wounds—as well as the addictions that often accompany PTSD—will be one of the biggest health care crises of the coming year. Lionrock Recovery, a new online addiction recovery company, has launched their services by offering free treatment to vets. “Our Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans have served America bravely, and some will return struggling with addiction. We want to show our appreciation by reaching out to help,” says Peter K. Loeb, CEO and Founder of Lionrock Recovery. Using secure video conferencing, participants will take part in the Lionrock Intensive Outpatient Network (LION) program, receiving nine hours of treatment each week for up to three months. According to a report by Harvard University professor Linda Bilmes, the cost of caring for wounded U.S. veterans could run between $201 billion to $348 billion over the next 40 years, in addition to disability payments ranging from $355 billion to $534 billion.

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• Meth Madness Could Undermine Possible Medicinal Uses of Drug [Scientific American]
• Italians Under Arrest in Brazil After 700 Pounds of Coke Discovered in Capsized Boat [Washington Post]
• Los Angeles Sees 1500 Holiday DUI Arrest in Only Two Days [LA Times]
• Teen Injected With Heroin in Critical Condition [Anchorage Daily News]
• 100 pounds of marijuana discovered in Senior Citizens Gas Tank [Amarillo Globe News]
• Ron Paul Blames Drug War on Racism [Huffington Post]

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A research study into the effects of drugs and alcohol in aging Americans has revealed that men and women are increasingly prone to substance abuse, including prescription and illicit drugs and alcohol. A gradual surge of impaired driving charges against people over fifty highlights the mounting trend and in people born between 1946 and 1964. One in 5 baby boomers in the North Carolina study are abusing drugs and or alcohol, and because they're not as young as they used to be, the effects of the drugs and alcohol are significantly heightened. "The amount I drank could be considered social drinking," 60-year-old study participant Keith Kimbro told the News-Observer. "As the years went on I drank more and I drank more, then I found this wonderful drug called cocaine. With the cocaine, I was able to drink more and drink longer." People from this age demographic consume 30% of all prescribed drugs in the US.

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Five patients are reported dead and thirty-seven more hospitalized and in critical condition, falling ill after eating a tainted Christmas dinner at a treatment center in downtown Guadalajara. Shortly after the meal (soy sausage, vegetables and rice), several patients reportedly began feeling symptoms of food poisoning. The first victims arrived at the hospital just before 10 pm, and over a dozen others called for emergency services. Initial reports indicated that traces of cyanide were discovered in the food, but officials haven't confirmed that. "Yesterday, the members ate first, followed by the workers," Carlos Diaz, one of the victims, told El Universal. "Around half an hour had passed before we noticed and no one ate anymore, but the effects were very fast in some of us." Much of the food served at the clinic is donated, which is customary at Mexican rehabs. Workers and cooks are being interviewed by police.  

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