Alcoholism & Drug Abuse Weekly articles from May 2003

Alcoholism & Drug Abuse Weekly archives from May 2003

NAADAC survey finds early career professionals satisfied.
May 5, 2003... A survey released last month by NAADAC, The Association for Addiction Professionals, found that early career addiction treatment professionals reported higher than expected rates of satisfaction with many aspects of their jobs, with 86 percent...

Federal appeals court upholds ban on testing welfare recipients for drugs.(Brief Article)
May 5, 2003... A federal appeals court last month upheld a ban on Michigan's policy of testing welfare applicants for drugs, a policy that has not been enforced since 2000 when a judge ruled that it violated privacy rights. The active judges of the 6th...

Justice Department has $20 million for drug court funding.
May 5, 2003... The U.S. Department of Justice's Office of Justice Programs' Bureau of Justice Assistance has just released its fiscal 2003 drug court grant solicitations. State and local governments and courts and tribal governments can now apply for over $20...

Addiction field summit to convene in Providence.(Brief Article)
May 5, 2003... A groundbreaking meeting bringing together leaders from 27 organizations with a stake in the addiction field will convene in Providence, R.I., May 13 and 14. The invitation-only Providence Summit on Addiction will focus on building a strategy...

Foundation-sponsored symposium analyzes youth-services crisis. (From the Field).
May 5, 2003... The critical lack of youth substance abuse treatment programs was the theme of the second annual Substance Abuse Treatment Symposium held April 1 in Sacramento, Calif. The symposium was presented to California legislators and their staff, as...

Health leadership program accepting nominations for award. (Call for Applications).(Brief Article)
May 5, 2003... The Robert Wood Johnson Community Health Leadership Program (CHLP) annually honors 10 people who have created or enhanced health services for underserved communities. Nominations are being accepted for candidates who are working full-time at...

American Association for the Treatment of Opioid Dependence. (Names in the News).(Brief Article)
May 5, 2003... The American Association for the Treatment of Opioid Dependence (AATOD) presented Valerie E. Robinson with the Nyswander/Dole Award at its annual award ceremony on April 15. Robinson is the director of training for the Danya Institute's Central...

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. (Names in the News).(Brief Article)
May 5, 2003... John R. Lumpkin, M.D., has been named the new senior vice ]president and director of the health care group at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF). Prior to joining RWJF, Lumpkin had served as director of the Illinois Department of Public...

Managed care presentation available on CD-ROM. (Resources).(Brief Article)
May 5, 2003... The Managed Care Information Center is offering a CD-ROM of the audioconference "Forecast: What's Ahead for Managed Care in 2003." The audioconference featured nationally known managed care expert Peter Kongstvedt, M.D., with the Health/Managed...

Researchers hope to continue study of homeless teens. (Briefly Noted).(Brief Article)
May 5, 2003... Researchers who have been tracking homeless teens in four Midwestern states hope to receive a second grant from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) so they can continue their work, the Associated Press reported. The first grant of...

House speaker likely to oppose medical-marijuana protection. (Briefly Noted).(Brief Article)
May 5, 2003... U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Dennis Hastert (R.-Ill.) is unlikely to support federal legislation that would protect people who grow or use marijuana for medical purposes in states that have medical marijuana laws, the Oakland Tribune...

Willingness to talk to adult linked to lower alcohol use. (Briefly Noted).(Brief Article)
May 5, 2003... Young people who said they would talk to an adult about a serious problem may be less likely to use alcohol, according to findings extrapolated from the 1999 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse (NHSDA). The survey revealed that 10 to 12...

Meth burn cases challenge hospitals. (Briefly Noted).(Brief Article)
May 5, 2003... The increasing number of people burned in methamphetamine lab accidents is causing burn units at hospitals across the country to take a more aggressive approach to treatment, the Associated Press reported. Ken Larson, head of the burn unit at...

Use of information technology may benefit hospitals. (Briefly Noted).(Brief Article)
May 5, 2003... Using information technology may lead to lower patient mortality rates and increased profitability in the hospital sector, according to findings published in Management Science, a journal of the Institute for Operations Research and the...

Medicaid recipients may benefit from directing personal care. (Briefly Noted).(Brief Article)
May 5, 2003... Initial findings from a federally supported demonstration project show that Medicaid recipients with disabilities may benefit from directing their own personal-care services. The findings, released in aweb edition of the journal Health Affairs,...

In case you haven't heard.(Brief Article)
May 5, 2003... According to the Associated Press, Utah-based Intermountain Health Care is requiring patients prescribed OxyContin, a narcotic prescribed to relieve severe pain, to sign a document that states they will not share, sell or trade the medication...

Proposition 36 realignment proposal encounters hurdles.
May 12, 2003... California Gov. Gray Davis' realignment proposal to shift the funding for Proposition 36, the state's groundbreaking diversion-to-treatment initiative, to a county-level structure received a major setback this month when a Senate subcommittee...

Indiana behavioral health advocates succeed on several legislative fronts.
May 12, 2003... Indiana's legislature has rewarded the work of behavioral health advocates this year, handing them victories, including one with high drama, on several fronts. In the eleventh hour, the General Assembly passed parity legislation that...

RAND: early alcohol use linked to adult behavior problems.(RAND Drug Policy Research Center)
May 12, 2003... Children who are drinking alcohol by 7th grade are more likely to commit criminal and violent acts once they reach young adulthood, according to a new study by the RAND Drug Policy Research Center. The "Ten-Year Prospective Study of Public...

Online tool helps businesses estimate impact of employee alcohol use.(Ensuring Solutions to Alcohol Problems)
May 12, 2003... A George Washington University Medical Center project to increase access to treatment for individuals with alcohol problems released a web-based tool this month to help businesses calculate company losses that result directly from alcohol...

PDFA ad campaign aims at youths already using substances.(Partnership for a Drug-Free America)
May 12, 2003... The Partnership for a Drug-Free America (PDFA) this month announced the launching of a new ad campaign aimed at adolescents who have already started using alcohol or drugs but haven't yet progressed to dependence. The idea of the "Check...

Dennis Mansmann Memorial Award. (Names in the News).(Seabrook House's Peg Diehl and Jacqueline Hinton receive award)(Brief Article)
May 12, 2003... Peg Diehl and Jacqueline Hinton, both therapists at Atlantic City, N.J.-based Seabrook House, received the Dennis Mansmann Memorial Award at the Addiction Treatment Providers of New Jersey's 26111 Annual Training Conference for Alcohol, Tobacco...

Utah consortium selects UNI/CARE's Pro-Filer system. (Business Notes).(Health Data Systems)(Brief Article)
May 12, 2003... Health Data Systems, a consortium of six independent Utah agencies, has selected UNI/CARE Systems, Inc.'s Windows information system, Pro-Filer, according to a UNI! CARE announcement. Pro-Filer is designed to integrate all relevant healthcare...

Biotechnology group testing cocaine vaccine. (Briefly Noted).(Xenova)(Brief Article)
May 12, 2003... Xenova, a biotechnology group in the United Kingdom, recently began the second phase of testing a vaccine designed to help people quit using cocaine, the Independent reported. TA-CD is a cocaine derivative designed to produce antibodies that...

Hospitalized smokers may be receptive to quitting. (Briefly Noted).(Brief Article)
May 12, 2003... According to findings in the journal Nicotine & Tobacco Research, hospitalization for any condition may present a good opportunity to help smokers quit. Health Behavior News Service reported. Although quit rates varied, researchers found that...

Missouri voters reject marijuana proposal. (Briefly Noted).(Brief Article)
May 12, 2003... Voters in Columbia, Mo. rejected a ballot proposal that would have legalized marijuana use for serious illnesses and eased marijuana penalties, the Associated Press reported. Nearly 58 percent of the voters opposed Proposition 1, according to...

Oregon anti-smoking program suspended due to budget cuts. (Briefly Noted).(Brief Article)
May 12, 2003... An anti-smoking program in Oregon was suspended last month as lawmakers tried to cover budget shortfalls, the Associated Press reported. The program had been supported entirely by voter-approved taxes on tobacco products. In February, lawmakers...

Prenatal alcohol exposure linked to alcohol problems. (Briefly Noted).(Brief Article)
May 12, 2003... Findings in the April issue of the Archives of General Psychiatry may link prenatal alcohol exposure to problems with alcohol later in life, the Seattle Times reported. Researchers found that 14 percent of children whose mothers drank heavily...

In case you haven't heard.("Museum of the Smoker" opens in Paris)(Brief Article)
May 12, 2003... Reuters reported last month that a "Museum of the Smoker" has opened in Paris. Tigrane Hadengue said he opened the museum to counter the French government's war on tobacco. Hadengue said that cigarettes have given tobacco a bad name. "You can't...

Addiction organizations agree to move forward with campaigns: message of recovery, 'treatment works' to be focal point.
May 26, 2003... Leaders from 29 organizations representing the addiction treatment and prevention fields agreed this month at the inaugural Providence Summit on Addiction to develop efforts to educate the public and the medical community on the effectiveness...

NAATP annual meeting celebrates past, focuses on future challenges.(National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers)
May 26, 2003... The National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers (NAATP) held its annual conference last week in Indian Wells, Calif., with the theme "Where the Dream Began." The conference marked NAATP's 25th anniversary. While the organization...

California provider carves out niche in dual diagnosis.(Creative Care Inc. )
May 26, 2003... A California provider agency that started out small in 1989 and gradually expanded has made a name for itself as a specialty treatment provider for dually diagnosed patients. While many addiction treatment providers have developed the...

Caron study finds Adolescent substance abusers have high rates of ADHD.(attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder)
May 26, 2003... Many of the adolescents coming into, addiction treatment today have cormorbid concerns, said David C. Rosenker, executive vice president of Treatment Services at the Caron Foundation. Rosenker led the workshop, "Current Trends in Adolescent...

Concordia University. (Names in the News).(Caron Foundation's Doug Tieman receives honorary Doctor of Laws degree)
May 26, 2003... Earlier this month, Doug Tieman, president of the Caron Foundation, delivered the commencement address and received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Concordia University, Nebraska, his alma mater located in Seward, Neb. Tieman, who is...

More middle-class people seeking heroin treatment in NY. (Briefly Noted).(Brief Article)
May 26, 2003... Treatment centers in New York have seen an increase in the number of middle-class people seeking treatment for heroin addiction, the Middletown Times Herald-Record reported. Heroin is becoming the drug of choice again, Newburgh Police Chief...

Georgia bill will limit decongestant sales. (Briefly Noted).(Brief Article)
May 26, 2003... Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue is expected to sign a bill that would limit the sale of decongestant pills in an effort to reduce methamphetamine production, the Macon Telegraph reported. Pseudoephedrine, a decongestant, can be combined with...

San Diego to target hosts of underage-drinking parties. (Briefly Noted).(Brief Article)
May 26, 2003... The San Diego City Council has approved a measure that will target people who host underage-drinking parties, the San Diego Union-Tribune reported. Under the House Party Ordinance, a person who allows underage drinking in their home could face...

Eagleville recognized as No. 1 in Philadelphia Magazine. (Briefly Noted).(Eagleville Hospital)(Brief Article)
May 26, 2003... Eagleville Hospital, the only hospital in Pennsylvania specifically licensed for the treatment of alcohol and drug addiction, was recognized as an "Excellent Center for Medicine" in the "Best of" Hospitals edition of Philadelphia Magazine. The...

Ireland announces restrictions on alcohol advertising. (Briefly Noted).(Brief Article)
May 26, 2003... Ireland's Prime Minister Bertie Ahern has announced plans to restrict advertisements for alcoholic beverages in an effort to reduce heavy drinking among teens, the Associated Press reported. Ahern said his Health Minister, Micheal Martin, would...

Brain's response to cues may explain cocaine cravings. (Briefly Noted).(Brief Article)
May 26, 2003... Findings in the April 10 issue of the journal Nature suggest that individuals who are addicted to cocaine may have a surge in brain chemical activity when reminded of the drug, the Associated Press reported. Researchers found that rats'...

Highly populated areas more likely to serve alcohol. (Briefly Noted).(Brief Article)
May 26, 2003... Findings in the March issue of Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, indicate that minors and people who appear to be intoxicated are more likely to be sold or served alcohol at establishments in Hispanic neighborhoods and highly...

Stores sued for allegedly selling potential inhalants to minors. (Briefly Noted).(Lowe's, Target and Home Depot in lawsuit)(Brief Article)
May 26, 2003... A California group, the JFK Center for Civil Rights, is suing Lowe's, Target and Home Depot for allegedly selling products that can be used as inhalants to children, ABC News reported. The lawsuit claims that the stores are violating a 1979...

SAMHSA offering research dissertation grants. (Briefly Noted).(Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration )(Brief Article)
May 26, 2003... The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) will award five grants, ranging from $20,000 to $30,000 each, to students who plan to write a research dissertation on substance abuse issues. Students registered and in...

Budget cuts blamed for increase in cigarette sales to Mass. Teens. (Briefly Noted).(Brief Article)
May 26, 2003... Budget cuts in Massachusetts are being blamed for an increase in the number of stores that sell cigarettes to teens, the Boston Globe reported. Last year budget cuts forced public health authorities to eliminate grants for 143 local antismoking...

Iowa toughens drunken driving laws. (Briefly Noted).(Brief Article)
May 26, 2003... Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack recently signed a bill that will toughen the state's drunken driving laws, the Associated Press reported. The bill will reduce the state's blood-alcohol standard for drunken driving from .10 to .08, putting the state in...

Smoking-cessation websites may help smokers quit. (Briefly Noted).(Brief Article)
May 26, 2003... Findings published in the journal Nicotine & Tobacco Research show that Web-based smoking-cessation programs may help smokers quit, Health Behavior News Service reported. Researchers followed a small subgroup of smoking-cessation website users...

In case you haven't heard.(movie on methamphetamine abuse begins filming)("Iowa")(Brief Article)
May 26, 2003... A movie depicting the plight of two young people who become addicted to methamphetamine began filming in Centerville, Iowa this month, the Associated Press reported. Tentatively entitled "Iowa," the film stars Patricia Arquette and John Savage,...