American Morning

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May 11th, 2010
12:00 PM ET

Calif. spinal injury clinic draws controversy

(CNN) – For people with severe spinal cord injuries, the ultimate dream is walking again. For many, that's just not possible. Spinal cord patients were given a very famous and public advocate with the late actor Christopher Reeve.

Reeve frequently pushed for more studies involving stem cells, but a controversial clinic in California is taking a much simpler approach. The results seem to be medical miracles. Our Alina Cho has this AM original report.

Related link: Help A Fwend


Filed under: AM Original • Health
May 11th, 2010
11:02 AM ET

Fighting America's prescription drug abuse

(CNN) – In our special series, "Addicted," we brought you Melissa's story. Like many kids her age, she experimented with drugs. Not what you'd typically think – street drugs – but prescription pills right out of her family medicine cabinet.

Stories like hers happen every day and the problem is growing. The latest government figures show abuse of some of the strongest types of prescription painkillers is up 400 percent over the decade. Deaths from these drugs are up 160 percent over just five years.

Today, the White House is launching a new drug strategy focusing on prevention and treatment. It also gives real attention to prescription drug abuse. The director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, Gil Kerlikowske, joined us on Tuesday's American Morning.


Filed under: Addicted... • Drugs
May 11th, 2010
10:00 AM ET

Teen's battle & recovery from drug addiction

(CNN) – The White House today is set to release a new strategy to battle America's drug problem, shifting the focus from law enforcement to prevention and treatment. But that can be tricky, because the problem isn't always illegal drugs.

Across the nation, more and more teens are using prescription pills and over-the-counter medicines to get high. In our ongoing series, "Addicted," we're following the story of one teen, named Melissa. She nearly lost her life, and everything she used to get high could be right inside your medicine cabinet.


Filed under: Addicted... • Drugs
May 11th, 2010
09:00 AM ET

Gulf oil spill threatens wildlife

(CNN) – There's a developing story out of one of the states dealing with the disastrous impact of the BP oil spill. Many animal species are now in jeopardy.

You might think their wings would carry them away from the danger, but rare birds are finding it hard to escape the brown sludge. Wildlife experts in Mississippi are calling the situation "catastrophic." Our Rob Marciano has the report.

Read more: BP execs face hearings on Capitol Hill


Filed under: Environment • Gulf Oil Spill
May 11th, 2010
08:00 AM ET

First responders learn to deal with terror attacks

(CNN) – It's hard to know just how bad the Times Square car bombing could have been. The device itself was not sophisticated, but we're about to give you a look at the powerful force of these bombs. Our Ted Rowlands takes us to the New Mexico desert where first responders quickly learn how to assess the danger.


Filed under: Terrorism
May 11th, 2010
07:00 AM ET

BP keeping cap on hours of oil leak video

(CNN) – More than three weeks after the oil rig exploded about 50 miles off the southeast coast of Louisiana, we are getting our very first look at the actual source of the leak – 5,000 feet underwater.

Critics are blasting BP for being able to contain the flow of information much better than the leak. Our Ed Lavandera takes a closer look at the criticism.


Filed under: Gulf Oil Spill • U.S.
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