Alcoholism & Drug Abuse Weekly articles from March 2004

Alcoholism & Drug Abuse Weekly archives from March 2004

Calif. analysts urge revamping of Medicaid SA funding: report highlights imbalances in treatment spending.(California substance abuse program)
March 1, 2004... A new California state report has called again for restructuring the state's drug and alcohol benefit for Medicaid recipients to give control and funding of most treatment services to counties, possibly along the lines of what the state did in...

NASADAD recommends close cooperation, financial support for PPG transition.(National Association of State Alcohol/Drug Abuse Directors)(Performance Partnership Grant)
March 1, 2004... The National Association of State Alcohol/Drug Abuse Directors (NASADAD) last month called for a true federal-state partnership on developing a transition of the Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment (SAPT) block grant to a Performance...

Systematic approach to staff training wins NAATP award.(Rosecrance)
March 1, 2004... A staff training model designed largely to decrease turnover among entry-level addiction counselors is being honored with the 2004 James W. West Quality Improvement Award from the National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers (NAATP)....

Partnership's teen survey confirms downward trend in drug use.(Partnership Attitude Tracking Study)
March 1, 2004... The results of a national survey released last week showed further signs that drug use among American teens is on the decline, a welcome sign after several year of level use. The Partnership Attitude Tracking Study (PATS), a survey of 7,270...

Hythiam, Inc.(Names in the News)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... David E. Smith, M.D., has joined Hythiam, Inc. as the senior vice president of medical affairs. Hythiam is a healthcare services management company that focuses on alcohol and drug detoxification and central nervous system stabilization. Smith...

U.S. Department of Education's Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools.(Names in the News)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... Deborah A. Price has been named as deputy under secretary in charge of the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools, Coalitions Online reported. Price previously served as chief of staff at the department's Office of...

Free video aims to reduce stigma.(Resources)(Institute for Research, Education and Training in Addictions)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... The Institute for Research, Education and Training in Addictions (IRETA) is offering free copies of an educational video aimed at undercutting the stigma surrounding addictions. "Today" is a one-minute video designed to convey the message that...

Legacy Foundation offers grants.(Resources)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... The American Legacy Foundation's Small Innovative Grants program will award grants of up to $100,000 for tobacco prevention, Coalitions Online reported. The grants are intended to help start new projects, carry out new ideas or approaches or...

NAPHS offers training on staffing issues.(Resources)(National Association of Psychiatric Health Systems)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... The National Association of Psychiatric Health Systems (NAPHS) is offering a two-hour audiotape training, "Ask the Expert about Staffing within Behavioral Inpatient Programs." The training is designed to help clinicians and administrators think...

Bills would toughen alcohol penalties in N.M.(Briefly Noted)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... Lawmakers in New Mexico have passed two bills that will toughen penalties for drunken driving and supplying youth with alcohol, the Associated Press reported. One bill would make it a fourth-degree felony to supply alcohol to minors. Under the...

Substances added to blunts by Massachussetts students, grades 7 to 12.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... According to a 2001 survey of 5,000 Massachussetts students, one-in-five students have used blunts--hollowed-out cigars typically used for smoking marijuana. However, more than a quarter of these blunt users reported adding something other...

Oklahoma task force to study SA, MI and domestic violence.(Briefly Noted)(mental illness)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... Oklahoma Gov. Brad Henry has named a task force to examine the costs of mental illness, substance abuse and domestic violence, the Associated Press reported. The Governor's Task Force on Mental Health, Substance Abuse and Domestic Violence...

Florida officials work to reduce Medicaid fraud.(Briefly Noted)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... Florida officials are working to reduce fraud and abuse in the state's Medicaid prescription drug program, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reported. A three-member panel is considering reforms including legislation that would allow the state to...

Sam Donaldson to keynote 2004 Rosecrance benefit.(Briefly Noted)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... Sam Donaldson of ABC news will keynote the 2004 Rosecrance Foundation Benefit on April 19 in Rockford, Ill. The foundation is holding the benefit to celebrate the joys of recovery and to ensure that compassionate and timely treatment is...

S.C. methadone clinic has not increased crime.(Briefly Noted)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... The opening of the first methadone clinic in Horry County, S.C. does not appear to have increased crime in the area, the Myrtle Beach Sun reported. According to Lt. Jerry Sarvis, police haven't received any reports of suspicious activity in the...

Indiana police continue battle against methamphetamine.(Briefly Noted)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... Methamphetamine labs accounted for nearly all of the 1,260 illegal drug labs shut down by police in Indiana last year, the Associated Press reported. The figures released by the Indiana State Police showed a 26 percent increase from the 998...

Coming up.(Brief Article)(Calendar)
March 1, 2004... The Ben Franklin Institute will hold the Third National Adolescent Conference, "Focus on the Future of our Youth," March 31 to April 3 in Newport Beach, Calif. For more information, call (800) 643-0797 or visit www.BFIsummit.com. The...

In case you haven't heard ...(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... Much to the chagrin of public health officials, smoking is making a return to the silver screen. The smoking "incidents"--characters taking a drag, prominently displaying ashtrays or tobacco ads--reached levels not seen since the 1950s, Health...

Drug court analysis: higher upfront costs yield major savings: research approach compares courts to probation.
March 8, 2004... An analysis of the adult felony drug court in St. Louis shows that it costs about $1,500 more for a drug offender to successfully complete drug court than probation. But in time, that difference is more than recovered, and the pay off to the...

Lawmakers launch bipartisan caucus to address treatment, recovery.(Addiction, Treatment and Recovery Caucus )
March 8, 2004... Citing the need to promote awareness of chemical addiction issues and increase support for greater access to treatment, two lawmakers last month launched the first congressional caucus dedicated to these issues. Rep. Jim Ramstad (R.-Minn.)...

CASA: prescription drugs available to children on Internet: report released early to alert on danger.(National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse)
March 8, 2004... Dangerous and addictive controlled substances are easily available over the Internet without a prescription to individuals of any age, according to a study released last week by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) at...

White House drug strategy focuses on prescription drugs.
March 8, 2004... As part of its drug control strategy, the Bush administration announced last week that it will carry out a coordinated strategy to confront the illegal diversion and abuse of prescription drugs. The strategy was unveiled as part of the...

Seabrook House.(Names in the News)(Brief Article)
March 8, 2004... Names in the News Seabrook House, a non-profit alcoholism and addiction treatment facility in South New Jersey, has announced that Valerie J. StepsisHider will head its nursing department as nurse coordinator. StepisHider has over 18 years of...

Dominion Diagnostics of Rhode Island.(Names in the News)(Brief Article)
March 8, 2004... David J. Mactas, past director of the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT), has left Dominion Diagnostics of Rhode Island to devote full-time to his consulting practice.

CASAT offers online courses.(Resources)(Center for the Application of Substance Abuse Technologies)(Brief Article)
March 8, 2004... The Center for the Application of Substance Abuse Technologies (CASAT) is offering two online prevention courses for prevention, treatment and recovery professionals, Coalitions Online reported. In March, CASAT will hold "Community Prevention...

Grant-writing workshops for faith-based organizations.(Resources)(Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration)(Brief Article)
March 8, 2004... The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is sponsoring grant-writing workshops for faith- and community-based organizations, Coalitions Online reported. The workshops will explain the grant application process and...

More teens are misusing cough and cold medications.(Briefly Noted)(Brief Article)
March 8, 2004... Healthcare professionals are reporting a significant increase in the number of teens using cough and cold medications to achieve a "high," the Chicago Tribune reported. Dextromethorphan (DXM), an ingredient in many nonprescription cough and...

Smoking more common among blue collar workers.(Briefly Noted)(Brief Article)
March 8, 2004... Blue collar workers are more likely to smoke and less likely to successfully quit, Health Behavior News Service reported. Researchers found that among white and black Americans, the highest smoking rates were among people with low incomes,...

Higher-dose nicotine patches may not be more effective.(Briefly Noted)(Brief Article)
March 8, 2004... Low-dose nicotine patches may suppress smoking withdrawal symptoms as effectively as high-dose patches, according to findings presented at the annual meeting of the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco. Researchers found that smokers...

Study links alcohol, fetal brain damage.(Briefly Noted)(Brief Article)
March 8, 2004... Drinking as little as two drinks during pregnancy may lead to neurological problems in the unborn child, the Associated Press reported. Researchers found that alcohol interfered with neurons' ability to make new synaptic connections in the...

Clarification.(Correction Notice)
March 8, 2004... A March 1 article covered a report that proposes to shift the authority and financial responsibility for California's Drug MediCal program from the state to the counties. Albert M. Senella said that lifting the program's regulatory constraints...

Internet may help get information to youth.(Briefly Noted)(Brief Article)
March 8, 2004... Findings published in Alcoholism." Clinical and Experimental Research suggest that the Internet may be the best way to connect with young people on the risk of drinking, BBC News reported. Researchers found that using the Internet or targeting...

Aggression link to smoking addiction.(Briefly Noted)(Brief Article)
March 8, 2004... People who are prone to anger and aggression may be more likely to become addicted to smoking, the Associated Press reported. Researchers found that nicotine triggered brain activity in people with hostile personalities, regardless of whether...

Penn. state police support bill that could help combat meth.(Briefly Noted)(Brief Article)
March 8, 2004... Pennsylvania state police are supporting a bill that would make it a felony to possess certain chemicals with the intent of making controlled substances, such as methamphetamine, the Associated Press reported. The bill would include ephedrine...

Substance Abuse Librarians & Information Specialists (SALIS).(Coming Up)(Brief Article)
March 8, 2004... Substance Abuse Librarians & Information Specialists (SALIS) will hold its 26th annual conference April 20 to 24 in Berkeley, Calif. For more information, call (510) 642-5208 or e-mail salis@arg.org

American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM).(Coming Up)(Brief Article)
March 8, 2004... The American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) will hold its 35th Annual Medical-Scientific Conference April 22 to 25 in Washington, D.C. For more information, call (301) 656-3920 or visit www.asam.org.

GAINS Center for People with Co-occurring Disorders in the Justice System.(Coming Up)(Brief Article)
March 8, 2004... The GAINS Center for People with Co-occurring Disorders in the Justice System will hold its 2004 national conference, "From Science to Services: Emerging Best Practices for People in Contact with the Justice System," May 12 to 14 in Las Vegas....

State Associations of Addiction Services (SAAS) and the Florida Alcohol and Drug Abuse Association will cosponsor the 2004 National Conference on Older Adults and Substance Abuse June 17 and 18 in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.(Coming Up)(Brief Article)
March 8, 2004... State Associations of Addiction Services (SAAS) and the Florida Alcohol and Drug Abuse Association will cosponsor the 2004 National Conference on Older Adults and Substance Abuse June 17 and 18 in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. For more information, call...

In case you haven't heard ...(Brief Article)
March 8, 2004... California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has brought smoking back to a part of the California State Capitol building, the Associated Press reported. Schwarzenegger is allowing smoking in the interior courtyard of the building to give the governor...

Study: anti-alcohol drug effective for cocaine addiction: effect on cocaine use somewhat unexpected.
March 15, 2004... The medication most widely used to treat alcohol addiction in the United States is also effective in combating cocaine abuse, according to a study funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) and published in this month's Archives of...

Voucher program gets green light with announcement of available funds.
March 15, 2004... States, start your engines. In what is considered to be one of the most competitive grant processes in the history of the addiction field, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) this month announced it was...

SAMHSA announces new application process; reissues two grants.(Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration)
March 15, 2004... The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) last week announced a new approach to announcing grant opportunities. Rather than publishing individual detailed grant announcement for each funding opportunity, SAMHSA will...

Consumer direction, self-determination and person-centered treatment.(From the Field)
March 15, 2004... The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is hosting a Consumer Direction Summit on March 22-23 that will convene substance abuse and mental health field leaders. The purpose of the gathering is to "make strategic...

Intervention network to offer Hazelden products.(Business Notes)(Addiction Intervention Resources)(Hazelden Publishing and Educational Services)(Brief Article)
March 15, 2004... St. Paul, Minn.-based Addiction Intervention Resources (AIR), a national network of addiction and intervention specialists, counselors and consultants, will begin offering prevention products from Hazelden Publishing and Educational Services....

Reports identify promising practices.(Resources)(Brief Article)
March 15, 2004... Danya International, Inc. has released three reports on "Promising Practices in Drug Treatment: Findings from Latin America, Europe and Southeast Asia," co-edited by Susanna Nemes, Ph.D., and Salvatore Libretto, Ph.D. The reports are based...

Doctors, scientists ask media to abandon stigmatizing terms.(Briefly Noted)(Brief Article)
March 15, 2004... Late last month, 30 medical doctors, scientists and psychological researchers released a public letter calling on the media to stop using terms such as "crack baby," "crack-addicted baby," "ice babies," and "meth babies." The letter states...

State warns against overprescribing opiates.(Briefly Noted)(Brief Article)
March 15, 2004... The Washington State Department of Labor and Industries last month sent a letter to 10,000 doctors to warn of "potentially serious problems that may arise" when non-cancer patients take long-acting opiates for chronic pain, the Seattle Times...

Academy will work with sexual-addiction group.(Briefly Noted)(American Academy of Health Care Providers in the Addictive Disorders )(National Council on Sexual Addiction and Compulsivity)(Brief Article)
March 15, 2004... The American Academy of Health Care Providers in the Addictive Disorders has announced a collaboration with the National Council on Sexual Addiction and Compulsivity (NCSAC). The collaboration will provide Academy members with resources on...

Black teens less likely to become regular smokers.(Briefly Noted)(Brief Article)
March 15, 2004... Findings published in the American Journal of Public Health suggest that black teens may be less likely to become regular smokers, Health Behavior News Service reported. In general, youths who started smoking by age 14 were six times more...

Characteristics of U.S. drug and alcohol treatment programs, Oct. 2001 to Feb. 2003.(Briefly Noted)(Brief Article)(Illustration)
March 15, 2004... Characteristics U.S. drug and alcohol treatment programs, Oct. 2001 to Feb. 2003. (Based on a nationally representative sample of 175 substance abuse treatment programs) Closed or stopped services 15% Reorganized ...

Court will not reconsider medical marijuana ruling.(Briefly Noted)(Brief Article)
March 15, 2004... The Federal Appeals Court for the Ninth Circuit has denied the Bush administration's request that the court hold a new hearing on its ruling last year that backs California's medical marijuana statute, The New York Times reported late last...

Adolescents may have reduced reward anticipation.(Briefly Noted)(Brief Article)
March 15, 2004... Adolescents exhibit less brain activity in anticipation of reward, according to findings published in the Feb. 25 issue of the Journal of Neuroscience. Researchers at the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) found that...

Genetics may influence drinking motivation.(Briefly Noted)(Brief Article)
March 15, 2004... Findings in the journal Alcohol. Clinical and Experimental Research suggest that genetic factors may influence peoples' motives for drinking, Health Behavior News Service reported. Researchers found that genes affected drinking to alter mood...

Report calls for fewer arrests at University of Iowa.(Briefly Noted)(Brief Article)
March 15, 2004... A task force at the University of Iowa has recommended that the school find alternative ways to deal with minor alcohol and drug offenses among students, the Associated Press reported. The task force report calls for the school to reduce the...

Coming up.(meetings)(Calendar)
March 15, 2004... The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) at Columbia University will hold a CASACONFERENCE, "Family Matters-Substance Abuse and the American Family," April 29 in New York. For more information, visit www.casacolumbia.org. ...

In case you haven't heard ...("Steppin' Out--the 12-Step Radio Show")(Brief Article)
March 15, 2004... Mix the raw emotion of reality TV with the anonymity of the 12-Step tradition, and you have the latest media effort in addiction awareness. "Steppin' Out--the 12-Step Radio Show" is being dubbed as "real 'reality' radio" by its creator,...

NCADD moves forward with national public education campaign: organization selects PR firm to lead effort.(National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence Inc.)
March 22, 2004... The National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence Inc. (NCADD) is moving forward with plans to launch its multi-year, multimedia public education campaign designed to change existing attitudes and behaviors about alcoholism and drug...

Inhalant abuse becomes focus of SAMHSA guidelines, prevention efforts.(Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration)(Alliance for Consumer Education)
March 22, 2004... Information about the risks of inhalant abuse to the nation's children took center stage last week when the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and the National Inhalant Prevention Coalition (NIPC) unveiled new...

Study: colleges split on how to combat binge drinking.
March 22, 2004... A survey released last week by the Harvard School of Public Health College Alcohol Study found that colleges are split on what actions to take to combat binge drinking. Survey results appear in the March issue of the Journal of American...

Agencies focus on creating a welcoming environment.(From the Field)(Network for the Improvement of Addiction Treatment)(Editorial)
March 22, 2004... Editor's note: This column is the first in a series about changes being undertaken by agencies affiliated with the Network for the Improvement of Addiction Treatment (NIATx), a collaboration between the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) and...

Hamilton County Alcohol and Drug Addiction Services (ADAS) Board.(Names in the News)(Brief Article)
March 22, 2004... James Joseph Slattery, Jr. has the joined Hamilton County Alcohol and Drug Addiction Services (ADAS) Board as the agency's newest board trustee. Slattery has served as Trial Counsel assigned to Drug Court within the Hamilton County Public...

Hythiam, Inc.(Names in the News)(Brief Article)
March 22, 2004... Michel A. Sucher, M.D., has joined Hythiam, Inc. as the vice president of clinical affairs. Sucher serves as medical director for the monitored aftercare programs for the Arizona State Medical and Dental Boards, the State Bar of Arizona, and...

Seabrook House.(Names in the News)(Brief Article)
March 22, 2004... Dena Patel, M.A., C.S.A.C., has joined Seabrook House, Southern New Jersey's largest private, non-profit alcoholism and drug treatment center, as a clinical outreach representative. Prior to joining Seabrook, Patel was an employee assistance...

Netsmart Technologies signs contract with Minnesota DHS.(Business Notes)(Brief Article)
March 22, 2004... The Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) has awarded Netsmart Technologies, Inc.'s wholly-owned subsidiary, Creative SocioMedics, a $1,700,000 five-year contract, according to a company announcement. The upgrade contract includes...

Conn. residents support alternatives to prison.(Briefly Noted)(Brief Article)
March 22, 2004... A recent poll showed that most Connecticut residents think lawmakers should look at alternatives to prison, including treatment for people with mental illnesses or substance abuse problems, the Hartford Courant reported. The poll found that 89...

Prenatal alcohol exposure may lead to nerve damage.(Briefly Noted)(Brief Article)
March 22, 2004... Children whose mothers drank heavily during pregnancy may suffer permanent damage to nerves in their arms and legs, according to findings in the March issue of the Journal of Pediatrics. Researchers found that one-month-old infants who were...

Youths can access alcohol company websites.(Briefly Noted)(Brief Article)
March 22, 2004... Findings released by the Center on Alcohol Marketing and Youth at Georgetown University suggest that young people have easy access to alcohol company websites, the Associated Press reported. Researchers found that about 13 percent of all...

Pentagon finds heavy drinking among American military.(Briefly Noted)(Brief Article)
March 22, 2004... A survey conducted by the Pentagon classified nearly one-in-five members of the U.S. armed forces as a heavy drinker, the Orlando Sentinel reported. Overall, 18.1 percent of the respondents said they drank at least five alcoholic drinks at one...

Coming up.(Brief Article)(Calendar)
March 22, 2004... The American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) will hold its 35th Annual Medical-Scientific Conference April 22 to 25 in Washington, D.C. For more information, call (301) 656-3920 or visit www.asam.org. The Inaugural UK/European...

In case you haven't heard ...(Brief Article)
March 22, 2004... A survey released this month of Canadians found that smoking restrictions among transportation carriers caused smokers to travel less, CanadaNewsWire reported. Prohibition of smoking on planes, buses, or car trips with friends prevented...

Ohio prioritizes efforts for addicts with gambling problems.
March 29, 2004... Taking another step in their effort to address co-occurring problem gambling and substance addiction disorders, Ohio officials have built on an interagency collaboration with several elements, including a fifth pilot program for prevention and...

Providers urged to form partnerships with justice to help dually diagnosed.
March 29, 2004... It may be a sad commentary that so many people with co-occurring addictive and mental health disorders end up behind bars, but this process also has awakened criminal-justice professionals to treatment needs and has made them good advocacy...

Latest Hernandez decision clears way for jury trial.(Joel Hernandez )
March 29, 2004... Joel Hernandez will have his day in court, thanks to a U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals decision last week that said his former employer may have had a discriminatory intent when it refused to rehire the recovering worker. Raytheon Co....

CIGNA adds online coaching to enhance EAP services.
March 29, 2004... Managed behavioral health care company CIGNA Behavioral Health (CBH) last month announced the launch of a new web-based, interactive service for employee assistance program (EAP) and behavioral management plan participants who have anxiety,...

Card games designed to improve decision-making.(Resources)(Brief Article)
March 29, 2004... Wellness Reproductions & Publishing is offering three new card games designed to help players think about possible choices, consider the outcome and make better choices. The games include teen and adult versions of "Actions & Consequences," and...

Hazelden publishes book for recovering women.(Resources)(Book Review)
March 29, 2004... Hazelden Publishing has developed The Little Red Book for Women to speak to women about 12-Step recovery and Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). The book is based on the original Little Red Book, written by two anonymous men in 1946 for those in early...

Researchers to study law's impact on school prevention programs.(Resources)(Brief Article)
March 29, 2004... Researchers at the Chapel Hill Center of the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation (PIRE) have received funding to study the impact of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 on school-based drug and alcohol programs. The federal...

School education program to reinforce alcohol prevention.(Resources)(Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America)(Brief Article)
March 29, 2004... Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA) has joined the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) in a national school education program that will reinforce the message that alcohol is unacceptable both at home...

Bill would crackdown on drug test fraud.(Briefly Noted)(Brief Article)
March 29, 2004... Lawmakers in Illinois are considering a measure that would make it illegal to use, sell or make products that can provide fake urine samples for drug tests, the Associated Press reported. Bill HB 3978 would make the use, sale or manufacture of...

Tobacco sales to minors increase in Massachusetts.(Briefly Noted)(Brief Article)
March 29, 2004... Tobacco sales to undercover teens have increased in Massachusetts as the state has reduced funding for tobacco control, The Boston Globe reported. Massachusetts has cut spending from $50.5 million on antismoking campaigns in 2001 to $2.5...

SAMHSA announces $12 million for targeted capacity expansion.(Resources)(Brief Article)
March 29, 2004... The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) last week announced the availability of$12 million in fiscal 2004 funds for its program to expand substance abuse treatment capacity in areas of high need. SAMHSA's...

Alcohol may influence nicotine's effects.(Briefly Noted)(Brief Article)
March 29, 2004... Insight into the interaction between alcohol and nicotine may lead to new quitting methods, according to findings in the February/March issue of Nicotine and Tobacco Research. Researchers at the Duke University Medical Center found that...

San Francisco explores means of providing marijuana.(Briefly Noted)(Brief Article)
March 29, 2004... San Francisco may try to establish nonprofit cooperatives to grow marijuana for people who use it as medication, the Los Angeles Times reported. A report by San Francisco's Office of Legislative Analysis looks at several ways the city could get...

Coming up.(Brief Article)(Calendar)
March 29, 2004... The Florida Alcohol and Drug Abuse Association will hold a multicultural symposium, "Together Again Through Cultural Awareness," April 1 and 2 in Tampa, Fla. For more information, call (850) 878-2196. Breaking the Chains, a project of the...