Each year, millions of dollars of Mexican drug money pass through the hands of American Drug Enforcement Administration officials. Undercover American narcotics agents launched the money laundering operation in order to trace the drug cartels. This is not the first instance of a U.S. governmental agency using illegal means to fight the war against drugs in Mexico. While the effectiveness of either program stopping the flow of drugs into the U.S. remains unclear, their impact on Mexican citizens is less ambiguous.

The 10 million Americans who take Lipitor to deal with their high cholesterol are about to get some good news. The 20 year patent on the blockbuster prescription drug expires Wednesday, creating an opening for other companies to manufacture cheaper, chemically identical generic versions of the drug. Two companies have products coming out on the market to entice the 3.5 million users of Lipitor away. But Pfizer, the makers of Lipitor − which derives almost a fifth of its revenue from $11 billion in sales of the drug — has its own plan for keeping patients on the name brand.

On Friday, the FDA ruled that cancer drug Avastin should not be used to treat breast cancer because Avastin’s risky side-effects outweigh its benefits for breast cancer patients. "Women who take Avastin for metastatic breast cancer risk potentially life threatening or serious side-effects, such as heart attacks or heart failure, severe high blood pressure, bleeding or hemorrhaging," FDA Commissioner Dr. Margaret Hamburg said. 

In an exclusive story, The New York Times reports today that the United States has a network of highly placed informants in Mexican drug cartels, often operating without the knowledge of the Mexican government. The informants have been instrumental in capturing or killing a number of important traffickers. Eric Olson, senior associate at the Woodrow Wilson Center's Mexico Institute, comments on what this revelation means for U.S.-Mexican relations.

Mexico's War on Drugs, which President Felipe Calderón declared in January of 2007, has already resulted in the deaths of some 40,000 Mexicans, according to the Congressional Research Service. The epicenter of the violence is Ciudad Juárez, a city in northern Mexico less than five miles from El Paso, Texas. Last year, over 4,500 federal police began patrolling there, replacing army units that had been stationed there previously. Today, those police will leave the city.

The mental side effects of a drug withdrawal are often debilitating, and can include anxiety, confusion or mild to severe depression. This is true of cigarettes, alcohol, and heroin. But could it apply to the internet as well? According to a study conducted by the London based behavior research company Intersperience, 53 percent of people feel upset when they are separated from the internet, and 40 percent feel "lonely." Do these withdrawal symptoms mean that the Internet is a drug? And if so, what should be done to curb our national addiction?

The Drug Enforcement Agency has ruled that marijuana has no acceptable medical use. The decision comes almost nine years after supporters of medical marijuana first asked the government to reclassify cannabis. It is the third time that a petition to reclassify marijuana has failed. Justin Elliott of Salon has the latest on the story.

A Commission in Washington has voted to reduce sentences for inmates jailed for crack cocaine offences, in a decision that could affect about 12,000 prisoners. As many as 2,000 prisoners will be able to seek a reduced sentence within the year, provided they can show they are not likely to be risks to public safety.

The Global Commission on Drug Policy released a report on Thursday arguing the "global war on drugs as failed.” The findings detail how criminalization of drugs and drug users has led to devastating consequences for individuals and societies around the world. With millions of people involved in the cultivation, production and distribution of illicit drugs to some 250 million users worldwide, the question of what to do next is of grave importance.  

Would you want to know whether or not you'll have Alzheimer's if you had the opportunity? The National Institute on Aging and the Alzheimer's Association released new guidelines on the disease, in order to diagnose it earlier in its nascent stages as well as encourage more drug development. Readers and Takeaway listeners shared their own stories about the disease, worrying about the problems associated with early diagnosis. I don't think I would want to know. I sure as hell wouldn't want the insurance companies to know. Early screening and diagnosis sounds like a great way for insurance companies to expand the field of 'pre-existing conditions,'" writes Takeaway listener, Miriam, from Westwood, NJ.

Earlier this week, it was reported that Russia was considering several joint initiatives with NATO in Afghanistan. Today, a Russian news agency has quoted the country's top drug enforcement official, Viktor Ivanov as saying Russia and the United States have collaborated on drug raids in Afghanistan, destroying $250 million of heroin and morphine. Clifford Levy, Moscow bureau chief for The New York Times, says Russia's role in these raids is relatively small.

In under a week, the nation will vote in gubernatorial, Senate and Congressional elections that seem very likely to shift the national balance of power. But in many states, those same voters will be deciding on ballot initiatives that will have more dramatic and immediate consequences.  

In California, voters are going to decide on Proposition 19, a ballot initiative that would legalize the use of marijuana for non-medicinal purposes. U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder says that even if California were to legalize pot, the Department of Justice will prosecute Californian users and growers under federal drug laws. 

A major shortage of a drug called sodium thiopental is hampering the ability of states to put inmates to death. The first execution in California in four years was postponed this week, and it's likely not to be the last. Though nine states across the nation have 17 lethal injections scheduled between now and the end of January, it is uncertain whether they will be able to perform the executions due to the shortage.

State prison systems are scrambling to find supplies of sodium thiopental, but they have competition in their search. Over the last few years, the drug has become popular with hospitals, where it is used as an anesthetic for surgery and to induce medial comas. Hospitals had previously used a drug called propofol, though that too has become scarce.

As the debate over immigration rages on in the political spotlight, and candidates all over the country use the sensitive topic as a platform to gain votes for coming November election, Robert Rodriguez’s new movie, "Machete" does the same. Op/Ed pages contributing editor for The Los Angeles Times and creator of  Ask A Mexican, Gustavo Arellano, joins us to discuss Rodriguez's film and its satirical look at the immigration issue, corruption in politics and drug trafficking. He also revels in the revenge fantasy.

Earlier this month, former Mexican president Vicente Fox wrote that Mexico should consider legalizing drugs and current president Felipe Calderon has called for a debate on the idea. More than 28,000 people have died in Mexico in drug-related violence over the last 3 years. 

According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, Mexico is one of the world's most dangerous countries for the press. More than 30 journalists have been killed or disappeared in the country since President Felipe Calderón was elected in 2006. 

Four Mexican journalists are still missing after being kidnapped Monday by alleged members of a drug cartel. Three of the missing journalists are television cameramen, while one is a newspaper reporter. They were were all kidnapped after reportedly photographing a protest at Gómez Palacio prison, in the state of Durango. The protests came on the heels of the arrest of Margarita Rojas, the head of the prison, who is accused of allowing armed prisoners to leave the prison and carry out a mass killing a week earlier.

Today an FDA advisory panel meets with lawmakers to hammer out voluntary best practices for doctors who prescribe opiates. The regulation of opioid drugs like Oxycontin has loosened in recent years, as patient advocates asked for powerful narcotic painkillers for end-of-life care and cancer treatments. But in loosening restrictions for such cases, the FDA opened a window for wider prescriptions — and for abuse.

It is currently legal to grow, purchase and use marijuana for medical purposes in 14 states and the District of Columbia. And this November, Californians will vote on whether to legalize recreational pot use, too. So who benefits financially from the legalization of marijuana? And could legalizing and taxing the drug be a good way to boost local and state economies?

Ecuador's police have seized a 100 foot narco-submarine. Built secretly, the boat is capable of carrying six people and ten tons of cocaine on underwater voyages lasting up to ten days — long enough to reach the Pacific coast of Mexico. This isn't the first time that drug traffickers have used submarines, but this may signal that Ecuador is becoming an increasingly important hub. BBC World Service reporter, William Marquez reports.

We're following up on a story we did yesterday, from the perspective of Chicago funeral home owner Spencer Leak Sr., about the challenges Chicago is facing in combatting gun and gang violence. On Monday, the Supreme Court struck down a Chicago ban on handgun ownership, a move that divided city residents. Some Chicagoans were thrilled, and say the ability to own a handgun makes them feel safer. Others say even more people will lose their lives. Why is gun violence such a problem in Chicago? The Chicago Police Department says that gang activity was involved in 74 percent of murders in the first five months of 2010. 80 people were shot and thirteen killed over the past two weekends in the city.