10/01/2012 . (TMZ) Johnny Lewis was a good guy whose life changed forever earlier this year -- after a very bad experience with drugs ... sources close to Lewis' family tell TMZ. We're told the "Sons of Anarchy" star was "mentally healthy" -- until an episode early this year, when he dabbled with an undisclosed drug. Our sources say the incident triggered a "psychotic break" and he never recovered from it. Family sources tell us ... after the episode Johnny changed dramatically -- he became mentally unstable and began to "self-medicate" to deal with the problem. The family says doctors told them Johnny's condition was classified as "co-occurring disorders." Translation -- by abusing drugs to treat the mental condition, Johnny was simultaneously troubled on 2 fronts. As for the nature of the mental disorder -- family sources say they were never able to get Johnny stable enough to get a clear diagnosis. As for the landlady's murder -- they do not believe it was triggered by a drug-fueled rage. We're told doctors had given Johnny medicine to stabilize his condition and when he was taking it he seemed fine, but when he got out of jail 6 days before the … Continue reading →

There are fears that India's poorest could lose access to vital medicines if big drug companies succeed in curbing the country's generic medications industry. Several pharmaceutical giants are using India's courts in an attempt to block the production of key generic drugs used by cancer sufferers and those with HIV. Generic Indian drugs cost a fraction of the price of the equivalent products. Essentially, the drugs are local copies of those originally produced by international pharmaceutical companies. The availability of cheap generic anti-retro viral drugs that prevent HIV being passed from mothers to their children is what has stopped the disease from reaching full-blown epidemic levels in India. Anjali Gopalan, who heads India's NAZ foundation, which is committed to raising awareness about HIV, says the drugs are the difference between life and death. "At some level we've been able to arrest the spread of the infection, but suddenly we are seeing high prevalence districts crop up all over the country," she said. "Without these cheap anti-retro drugs it is sure death for our people. Without them this infection is going to go viral. Without these drugs people are going to die horrible deaths." As well as HIV, generic drugs are … Continue reading →

Emma L'Aiguille faced court today in Kuala Lumpur in relation to an alleged seizure of methamphetamine in the car she was travelling in. Kuala Lumpur: Lawyers for Emma L'Aiguille, the Australian mother of six accused of drug trafficking and facing the death penalty if convicted, have asked the prosecution to drop the charges, promising that she will act as a witness in any related cases. Ms L'Aiguille, who was arrested in July when police allegedly found more than one kilogram of methamphetamine in the back seat of the car she was driving, made a brief appearance in the Kuala Lumpur Magistrates Court today, when her case was rescheduled for November 9. Ms L'Aiguille, 34, sobbed as she hugged her mother and sister over the wooden partition that divides the public gallery from the dock where the accused must sit. At court ... from left, Emma L'Aiguille's mother Amanda Innes, a friend, and her sister Amber Lawn. Photo: Liz Gooch Prosecutors had been expected to present a chemist's report today that would confirm the quantity of drugs seized from the car. However, because the report is not yet ready, the case was postponed. Advertisement Ms L'Aiguille has been charged under Section … Continue reading →