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A new study shows texting and driving is now the leading cause of death of traffic deaths among teens, surpassing drinking and driving. A report issued by Cohen Children's Medical Center in New York estimates more than three-thousand teens are killed nationwide annually from texting behind the wheel nationwide.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says 2,700 teens die every year as a result of an alcohol involved crash. The CDC has said drinking and driving among teens has been dropping while texting and driving has increased in the past several years

NEW YORK -- Several tobacco measures before the New York City Council would be bad for business. That was the message business owners sent to the council's health committee on Thursday afternoon.

The committee is currently reviewing three proposals that would directly affect the way tobacco products are displayed at retail and who can buy them. Last week, council members -- led by Council Speaker Christine Quinn -- proposed raising the legal age to buy tobacco products to 21, up from the current legal age of 18.

In Washington, the Supreme Court ruled Tuesday immigrants cannot be automatically deported if they are convicted of relatively minor crimes involving marijuana.

In a 7-2 vote (Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas voted against decision), the justices sided with Adrian Moncrieffe, a longtime resident of the United States from Jamaica who was deported from the United States over possession of a small amount of marijuana. The court said Moncrieffe should have had the opportunity to contest his deportation.

A new study finds that 23 percent of teens admit to driving under the influence of alcohol, marijuana or prescription drugs used illegally. What's troubling....they do not view this behavior as dangerous.

Almost 20% of those who drink and drive say it improves their driving, a view shared by 34% of those who drive under the influence of marijuana.

READ FULL ARTICLE: USA TODAY

The mother of a Broadway actress who died after a late-night whiskey binge has slammed the bar that served her for not calling time on her drinking before she overdosed on alcohol.

Shana Dowdeswell, 23 - who has acted onstage with Cynthia Nixon and appears in the new Robert De Niro movie 'The Big Wedding' - died five days after downing several shots in a New York bar called The Basement last December.

More parents need to talk with their teens about the dangers of abusing Ritalin, Adderall and other prescription drugs, suggests a new study that finds discouraging trends on kids and drug use.

When teens were asked about the last substance abuse conversation they had with their parents, just 14 percent said they talked about abusing a prescription drug, said the report released Tuesday by The Partnership at Drugfree.org.

NEW YORK -- No one under 21 would be able to buy cigarettes in New York City under a proposal unveiled Monday to make the city the most populous place in America to set the minimum age that high.

Extending a decade of moves to crack down on smoking in the nation's largest city, the idea aims to stop young people from developing a habit that remains the leading preventable cause of death here and nationwide, City Council Speaker Christine Quinn said as she announced the plan. Eighty percent of the city's smokers started lighting up before they were 21, officials say.

Exercise may help protect the brains of people who drink heavily, a new study suggests. Researchers at the University of Colorado, Boulder found exercise may help prevent damage to white matter in heavy drinkers. White matter is involved with learning, processing, thinking and communication between various regions of the brain.

The 60 participants, who were moderate or heavy drinkers, were asked about their drinking behaviors, their attempts to control their drinking, and their exercise routines. They also underwent brain scans that looked at white matter.

Tension is mounting on the expiration of OxyContin, which is set to mark Tuesday. Where the Food Drug Administration is making plans to approve generic versions of the drug.

Lawmakers, substance abuse counselors and anti-drug community groups have reason of concern if the generic drug goes public. As this will pose new dangers for abuse of the prescription painkillers.

READ MORE ON FEATURE STORY: Staten Island Live

A quick Google search will tell you everything you need to know about the significance of April, 20th (420) to marijuana smokers. In short, three important points for the uninitiated are.