Alcoholism & Drug Abuse Weekly articles from May 2004

Alcoholism & Drug Abuse Weekly archives from May 2004

Oregon mandates evidence-based practice for addiction treatment: other states considering approach.
May 3, 2004... Many behavioral health providers have embraced the use of evidence-based treatments, and those that have not adopted this approach are at least talking about it. But in Oregon, evidence-based practice now has the weight of a legislative mandate...

Maryland poised to divert nonviolent offenders to treatment: Bill received overwhelming bipartisan support.
May 3, 2004... Maryland soon may join several other states in offering its nonviolent drug offender population the opportunity for treatment rather than incarceration. This turn of events has come about through joint activity of the state's governor, a...

$20 million Mayo Clinic research effort to study genes, addiction.
May 3, 2004... The Rochester, Minn.-based Mayo Clinic last month announced the establishment of a landmark research program in the genomics of addiction, with the long-term goal of obtaining the information needed to predict and prevent chemical dependency....

Treatment center revamps phone intake to improve access.(From the Field)
May 3, 2004... At 3 p.m. on Saturday, Shawn was slowly waking up with another bad hangover, unsure of what day it was or where she had been the night before. When she realized she only had an hour to get to work, she panicked; her supervisor had insisted...

States move toward diversity of reforms for dually diagnosed.
May 3, 2004... There was some brazen stealing of ideas going on at a policy academy sponsored this month by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Such behavior was encouraged, as the perpetrators were officials from 10 states...

SAMHSA provider directory available.(Resources)(Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration)(Brief Article)
May 3, 2004... The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has updated its National Directory of Drug and Alcohol Abuse Treatment Programs. The 2004 edition provides current information on more than 11,000 substance abuse treatment...

MAXIMUS wins contract for Calif. diversion program.(Business Notes)(Brief Article)
May 3, 2004... The California Department of Consumer Affairs has awarded MAXIMUS a contract to manage a chemical dependency and mental illness monitoring and referral program for more than 700 healthcare professionals regulated by the State Boards and...

Oklahoma standardizes DUI curriculum.(Briefly Noted)(Driving Under the Influence)(Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services)(Brief Article)
May 3, 2004... The Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (ODMHSAS) recently announced that it has completed implementation of a new standardized offender education curriculum for DUI and other drug offenders in the state. The new...

Grant to support research into nicotine vaccine.(Briefly Noted)(Brief Article)
May 3, 2004... The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) has awarded a $100,000 grant to Sam Sanderson, Ph.D., a biochemist at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, the Associated Press reported. The one-year grant will support research into a possible...

Coming up.(Brief Article)(Calendar)
May 3, 2004... The National Association for Children's Behavioral Health (NACBH) will hold its 21st annual meeting, "Children's Behavioral Health: Reforming, Reshuffling or Reneging?" May 23 to 26 in Washington, D.C. For more information, call (202) 857-9735;...

In case you haven't heard ...(Brief Article)
May 3, 2004... Actor Paul Newman has asked Princeton University to end a campus drinking tradition that bears his name, the Associated Press reported. "Newman's Day" derives its name from a quote attributed to the actor: "24 beers in a case, 24 hours in a...

D.C. the setting for ongoing fights on two reform matters.(Washington, D.C)
May 10, 2004... It's been a busy few weeks for national drug reform groups in their focus on the local Washington, D.C., area. The Drug Policy Alliance and other groups in February sued the federal government and the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit...

Overall marijuana use stable, but abuse and dependence rates increase: researchers suspect increased potency.
May 10, 2004... While overall marijuana use in the adult population remained substantially unchanged from the 1991-1992 period to 2001-2002, abuse or dependence rates for the drug increased markedly during that span, leading federal researchers to cite...

Curie's budget testimony updates status of several initiatives.
May 10, 2004... Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Administrator Charles G. Curie testified before a House appropriations subcommittee late last month, touching on key priorities for fiscal 2005 that include the administration's...

SAMHSA announces state grants for Strategic Prevention Framework.(Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration)(Brief Article)
May 10, 2004... The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) last month announced the availability of funding to implement a new Strategic Prevention Framework to advance community-based programs for substance abuse prevention and...

Study links license laws with lower teen drinking.(Brief Article)
May 10, 2004... Young drivers in states with more restrictive driver-licensing laws had lower rates of heavy drinking and driving under the influence of alcohol, according to a federal report. The findings are from "Graduated Driver Licensing and Drinking...

Youth exposure to alcohol advertising grows substantially.
May 10, 2004... Alcohol advertising on television, and youth exposure to it, grew substantially in 2002 from 2001, according to a study released last month by the Center on Alcohol Marketing and Youth at Georgetown University. The study found that the...

SAMHSA holds free training events.(Resources)(Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration)(Brief Article)
May 10, 2004... The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is holding a series of free conferences, workshops and technical assistance meetings for small, faith-based and community groups, Coalitions Online reported. The meetings...

Book examines effects of marijuana use, abuse.(Resources)(Brief Article)
May 10, 2004... AuthorHouse is offering a new book, Marijuana Impaired Youths: A Clinical Handbook for Counselors, Mentors, Teachers and Parents by Dr. Kay Wachuku, that looks at the social, emotional and physical effects of marijuana use and abuse. The book...

Workplace Options launches forum on work/life and EAP.(Resources)(employee assistance program)(Brief Article)
May 10, 2004... Workplace Options has announced the launch of a web-based forum for people who are interested in work/life and employee assistance program (EAP) return-on-investment (ROI). The moderated discussion board is free to anyone interested in...

OJJDP and ARC offer free grant-writing workshops.(Resources)(Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention)(Accessing Resources for Community)(Brief Article)
May 10, 2004... The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) and the Accessing Resources for Community and Faith-Based Organizations (ARC) Initiative are offering free grant-writing training workshops in Atlanta, Philadelphia, Chicago and...

Fresno County awards upgrade to Creative Socio-Medics.(Business Notes)(Brief Article)
May 10, 2004... The Fresno County (Calif.) Adult Services Department has awarded a contract upgrade to Creative Socio-Medics (CSM), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Netsmart Technologies, Inc. The contract includes software license and professional services...

The Change Companies wins Calif. Youth Authority contract.(Business Notes)(Brief Article)
May 10, 2004... The California Department of the Youth Authority (CYA), the nation' s largest juvenile justice institution, has awarded a contract to The Change Companies to develop a standardized youth counseling program to be integrated into all CYA...

N.J. proposal would expand SA program for mothers.(Briefly Noted)(New Jersey )(Brief Article)
May 10, 2004... Welfare officials in New Jersey have proposed a plan to expand a program that allows children to stay with their mothers while the parents receive substance abuse treatment, the Associated Press reported. The plan calls for $3 million to be...

Internet alcohol sales target of Mich. campaign.(Briefly Noted)(Brief Article)
May 10, 2004... The Coalition for a Safe and Responsible Michigan has launched a campaign against alcohol sales to minors through the Internet and mail, the Associated Press reported. The coalition includes groups such as Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD),...

SAMHSA unveils guide for physicians prescribing buprenorphine.(Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration)(Brief Article)
May 10, 2004... The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) last month published a practical guide for physicians prescribing buprenorphine to treat patients with an opiate addiction. The guide, "Clinical Guidelines for the Use...

Prenatal nicotine exposure may influence adolescent brain.(Briefly Noted)(Brief Article)
May 10, 2004... Prenatal exposure to nicotine may cause brain changes that persist throughout adolescence and into adulthood, according to researchers at Duke University Medical Center. The researchers found that exposure to nicotine during fetal development...

Canada may allow pharmacies to sell medical marijuana.(Briefly Noted)(Brief Article)
May 10, 2004... Canadian officials are organizing a pilot project that would allow participating pharmacies to sell marijuana directly to approved patients, CBS News reported. The project, modeled on a program in the Netherlands, would take place in British...

Coming up.(Brief Article)(Calendar)
May 10, 2004... Faces & Voices of Recovery, Massachusetts Organization for Addiction Recovery (MOAR) and the Alliance of Addiction Recovery Communities (AARC) will hold their first training and regional meeting, "The Power of Story and Persuasion: Fighting...

In case you haven't heard ...(Brief Article)
May 10, 2004... A study appearing in this month's American Journal of Health Behavior found that "bidis", flavored cigarettes from India and Southeast Asia, are gaining a foothold among minority youth in New Jersey, Health Behavior News Service reports. The...

National survey finds strong public support for treatment.(Faces & Voices of Recovery )
May 17, 2004... Faces & Voices of Recovery (FAVOR), the national recovery support organization, last week released results from a groundbreaking survey that found overwhelming public support for addiction treatment. The survey found that addiction has...

Johnson Institute launches initiative to help congregations address addiction.
May 17, 2004... The Washington, D.C.-based Johnson Institute this month launched a nationwide campaign to equip people in faith organizations with the tools to respond to alcohol and drug problems. The Rush Center of the Johnson Institute will educate and...

Survey suggests fewer gambling problems among college students.
May 17, 2004... Fewer college students than expected participate in gambling activities, according to a survey conducted as part of the Harvard School of Public Health College Alcohol Study. According to the CAS survey, 42 percent of college students...

SAMHSA announces funds for services research.(Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration)(Brief Article)
May 17, 2004... The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) last month announced the availability of funds to support dissertation research involving data analysis on substance abuse services issues. The dissertation must examine in...

Providers must participate in creation of performance measures.(From the Field)
May 17, 2004... Dr. Kenneth Kizer, president of the National Quality Forum and former head of the Veterans Health System, predicts that in 10 years, not only will public reporting of performance data be the norm across the entire healthcare system, but...

CD offers drug information for youths and adults.(Resources)(Compact Discs)(Drug Free America Foundation)(Brief Article)
May 17, 2004... The Drug Free America Foundation (DFAF) has introduced a new interactive CD, "InFocus: A Clear Message About Drugs," to teach youths and adults about the dangers of drugs. The CD includes graphics, music options, video and interactive games...

CADCA's 2004 Election Guide available.(Resources)(Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America)(Brief Article)
May 17, 2004... Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America's (CADCA's) Public Policy Department has completed the 2004 Election Guide. The guide is designed to provide the tools needed to raise and address substance abuse and treatment issues at campaign...

Workplace Options launches lower-cost work/life product.(Business Notes)(Advantage Fundamentals)(Brief Article)
May 17, 2004... Workplace Options, a provider of work/life programs, has announced the launch of Advantage Fundamentals, an economical work/life resource and referral program for employers and employee assistance programs (EAPs). Workplace Options developed...

Hythiam licenses treatment program.(Business Notes)(Hythiam, Inc.)(HANDS Treatment Protocol)(Brief Article)
May 17, 2004... Hythiam, Inc., a healthcare services management company that focuses on alcohol and drug addiction treatment, recently licensed its proprietary HANDS Treatment Protocol to Lake Chelan Community Hospital of Washington, Business Wire reported....

Conn. agency selects Uni/Care Systems.(Business Notes)(Brief Article)
May 17, 2004... Uni/Care Systems, Inc., a provider of information systems for the behavioral healthcare industry, has announced the addition of Conn.-based Community Mental Health Affiliates, Inc (CMHA) to its customer base. CMHA will implement Pro-Filer's...

Colorado to use new program for DUI offender education.(Briefly Noted)(Colorado Intoxicated Driver Education Program)(Driving under the influence)(Brief Article)
May 17, 2004... The Change Companies has released a new standardized curriculum for DUI offender education in Colorado, according to a company announcement. The Colorado Intoxicated Driver Education Program (IDEP) is an evidence-based behavioral change program...

Missouri county effectively reduces number of meth labs.(Briefly Noted)(methamphetamine)(Companies Helping to Eliminate Meth)(Brief Article)
May 17, 2004... A program in Franklin County, Missouri has been credited with reducing the number of methamphetamine labs in the area, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported. Operation CHEM (Companies Helping to Eliminate Meth) focuses on reducing the supply of...

Gene therapy associated with reduced drinking in rats.(Briefly Noted)(Brief Article)
May 17, 2004... Findings published in the May issue of Alcoholism. Clinical and Experimental Research suggest that high levels of dopamine D2 receptors may be associated with reduced alcohol consumption, AScribe Newswire reported. Researchers at the U.S....

Narcotic lozenges raise concerns.(Briefly Noted)(Brief Article)
May 17, 2004... A lollipop-like form of pain medication is raising concerns about possible abuse, the Associated Press reported. Actiq is an oral form of the synthetic opioid fentanyl, manufactured by Cephalon, Inc. The medication is delivered by rubbing a...

Study: childhood sleeping habits predictive of teen substance use.(Briefly Noted)(Brief Article)
May 17, 2004... Findings in the April issue of Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research suggest that there may be a link between sleep and substance abuse, the Associated Press reported. Researchers found that teens who had poor sleeping habits between...

Coming up.(Brief Article)(Calendar)
May 17, 2004... The Betty Ford Center and Caron Foundation will present "The Women's Conference," June 7 and 8 in Palm Springs, Calif. and October 21 and 22 in Stamford, Conn. For more information, visit www.TheWomensConference.org or call (800) 643-0797. ...

In case you haven't heard ...(Newman's Day)(Brief Article)
May 17, 2004... Actor Paul Newman's lawyers recently sent a letter to Princeton University officials asking for the end of "Newman's Day," a drinking day at the school named after Newman for a quote attributed to him. Newman has denied uttering the quote:...

NAATP annual leadership meeting reflects direction field is moving.(National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers)
May 24, 2004... The National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers (NAATP) has traditionally represented programs that take an abstinence-based approach to recovery from drug and alcohol addiction. While the abstinence-based approach still resides...

Treatment admissions increase for opiates, marijuana, methamphetamine: admissions for alcohol remain most frequent.
May 24, 2004... Data released by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) last week showed an increase in admissions over the past 10 years for narcotic prescription medications, heroin, marijuana and methamphetamine. The...

Study links youth substance use with peers, parents.
May 24, 2004... A study released this month found associations between early youth alcohol and drug use and use among peers, the dynamics of certain parental interactions, and school performance. Statistics Canada examined data from the 1998/99 National...

NAATP speakers address leadership, federal initiatives.(National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers )
May 24, 2004... Speakers at the 2004 National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers Annual Addiction Treatment Leadership Conference spoke of the importance and difficulty of leading treatment organizations. In addition, a leading federal official...

Journeyworks offers samples of new sexual health materials.(Resources)(Brief Article)
May 24, 2004... Journeyworks Publishing is offering health professionals and educators free samples of their new pamphlets on sexual health and abstinence. Titles include "Sexual Abstinence, Alcohol and Other Drugs," "STDs, Alcohol and Other Drugs" and "What...

Drinking may precede suicidal thoughts in women.(Briefly Noted)(Brief Article)
May 24, 2004... Findings in the journal Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research suggest that hazardous drinking may precede suicidal thoughts among women, Health Behavior News Service reported. Researchers found that rates of suicide attempts and...

Early release program sees low rate of recidivism.(Briefly Noted)(Brief Article)
May 24, 2004... Most of the inmates released early under an Alabama early release program have stayed out of prison, the Associated Press reported. Of 3,637 inmates paroled through "special dockets" for nonviolent offenders, only 4 percent (155 inmates) have...

Ad campaign targets teen tobacco, drug, alcohol use.(Briefly Noted)(Brief Article)
May 24, 2004... The Partnership for a Healthy Mississippi has launched a new advertising campaign that will focus on reducing tobacco, alcohol and drug use among middle and high school students, the Associated Press reported. The campaign began May 11 with...

Binge drinking may predict teen suicide.(Briefly Noted)(Brief Article)
May 24, 2004... Binge drinking may be a good predictor of suicide attempts in teens, Health Behavior News Service reported. Findings based on a survey of high school students indicated that binge drinking, depression and stressful life events were good...

Tennessee seeks solution to methamphetamine problem.(Briefly Noted)(Drug Enforcement Administration)(Brief Article)
May 24, 2004... Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen has asked a 20-member task force to identify specific efforts that can be done to tackle the state's methamphetamine problem, the Associated Press reported. The Governor's Task Force on Methamphetamine Abuse has...

Federal judge upholds protection of growers.(Briefly Noted)(Wo/Men's Alliance)(Brief Article)
May 24, 2004... U.S. District Judge Jeremy Fogel in San Jose, Calif., has ruled that the Justice Department cannot raid or prosecute members of the Wo/Men's Alliance for Medical Marijuana, the Associated Press reported. The group asked Fogel to issue an...

Bill would increase alcohol tax to fund treatment, prevention.(Briefly Noted)(Brief Article)
May 24, 2004... Missouri voters may be asked to approve a bill that would raise taxes on alcoholic beverages to fund substance abuse treatment and prevention services, the Associated Press reported. The bill by Rep. Bill Deeken (R.-Jefferson City) would...

Eating disorders associated with suicidal thoughts, attempts.(Briefly Noted)(Brief Article)
May 24, 2004... Findings reported in the journal General Hospital Psychiatry suggest that eating disorders may be associated with suicidal thoughts and attempts, Health Behavior News Service reported. Researchers found that women with anorexia were more likely...

Marijuana may help relieve nerve pain.(Briefly Noted)(Brief Article)
May 24, 2004... Findings presented at the 11th Annual Retrovirus Conference suggest that marijuana may help relieve nerve pain associated with HIV infection, Reuters reported. Researchers found that patients who smoked marijuana for seven days experienced at...

Many Americans abuse prescription drugs.(Briefly Noted)(Brief Article)
May 24, 2004... Findings published in the American Journal of Public Health indicate that more than a million Americans abuse prescription drugs, Health Behavior News Service reported. Researchers determined that nearly 1.3 million Americans ages 12 and older...

Coming up.(Brief Article)(Calendar)
May 24, 2004... The National Association of State Alcohol and Drug Abuse Directors, Inc. (NASADAD) will hold its 2004 annual meeting June 5 to 9 in Portland, Maine. For more information, visit www.nasadad.org or contact Kelle Masten at (202) 293-0090, ext....

In case you haven't heard ...(Communion wine)(Brief Article)
May 24, 2004... A conflict is brewing in Wisconsin about whether prison inmates should be allowed to consume Communion wine at church services, the Associated Press reports. Current Wisconsin law forbids the serving of alcohol behind prison walls, but...