Alcoholism & Drug Abuse Weekly articles from October 2004

Alcoholism & Drug Abuse Weekly archives from October 2004

Proposition 36 proving to be initial treatment for many enrollees: completion rates found similar to other criminal justice referrals.
October 4, 2004... Proposition 36 is proving to be a critical entry point of treatment for many offenders in California and is producing completion outcome rates considered to be successful in the field, according to the second annual evaluation of the landmark...

Massachusetts developing strategic plan, restoring $12 million in SA funding.
October 4, 2004... Massachusetts is developing a statewide strategic plan for the prevention and treatment of substance use disorders across criminal justice, public safety, public health, and mental health and substance abuse treatment programs. The plan,...

NIDA identifies factors related to inhalant abuse, addiction.
October 4, 2004... New research shows that young people who have been treated for mental health problems, have a history of foster care, or who already abuse other drugs have an increased risk of abusing or becoming dependent on inhalants. In addition,...

SAMHSA guide helps providers address family issues.(Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration)
October 4, 2004... The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) today unveiled the first practical guide for substance abuse treatment counselors to incorporate family therapy techniques into substance abuse treatment. The guide...

Recovery principles could help nation end divisiveness.(From the Field)
October 4, 2004... For one luminous moment in the time after "9/11," we were truly a nation united. It did not matter how much money you made, what color your skin was, or who you voted for in the last election. We clung to each other in shared grief and...

The National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD) has presented five special awards to writers and historians who have contributed to the advancement of the general understanding of alcoholism and addiction.(Names in the News)(Brief Article)
October 4, 2004... The National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD) has presented five special awards to writers and historians who have contributed to the advancement of the general understanding of alcoholism and addiction. The awards were...

Johnson Institute has presented its 2004 "America Honors Recovery" Awards to eight innovative pioneers in alcoholism and other drug addiction recovery.(Names in the News)(Brief Article)
October 4, 2004... The Johnson Institute has presented its 2004 "America Honors Recovery" Awards to eight innovative pioneers in alcoholism and other drug addiction recovery. The awards honor individuals who have overcome addiction and have given back to their...

Survey finds MI and addiction are top causes of homelessness.(Briefly Noted)(Brief Article)
October 4, 2004... Drug addiction and mental illness were two leading causes of homelessness in Monroe County, New York, according to survey results from the Homeless Services Network. The economy has also played a role, according to Homeless Services Network...

NRADAN to publish report on economic benefit of treatment.(Briefly Noted)(National Rural Institute on Alcohol and Drug Abuse )(Brief Article)
October 4, 2004... The National Rural Institute on Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NRADAN) has commissioned a report on the economic benefits of drug treatment. The paper will be specifically directed to policy makers and aims to help them understand research on the...

Michigan House approves revised drug testing bill.(Briefly Noted)(Brief Article)
October 4, 2004... The Michigan House of Representatives has approved a scaled-back version of a bill that would allow the Family Independence Agency (FIA) to test welfare recipients for drug use, the Associated Press reported. The current version of the bill...

Russia moves to reduce beer consumption among youth.(Briefly Noted)(Brief Article)
October 4, 2004... The State Duma has passed new rules aimed at reducing beer consumption among Russian youth, the Christian Science Monitor reported. The rules, which went into effect in September, ban beer advertisements on television between 7 a.m. and 10...

Poll shows support for tobacco regulation.(Briefly Noted)(Brief Article)
October 4, 2004... A recent poll shows that many people in tobacco-growing states support a proposal to give the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulatory authority over tobacco products, the Richmond Times-Dispatch reported. The telephone poll found that 65...

Coming up.(Calendar)
October 4, 2004... The Bureau of Justice Statistics/Justice Research and Statistics Association will hold its 2004 National Conference, "Data for Decision Makers: Ensuring Quality and Applicability," Oct. 28 and 29 in Seattle. For more information, visit...

In case you haven't heard ...(drug use to terrorism, exhibition in Times Square, New York City )(Brief Article)
October 4, 2004... An exhibit opened in Times Square, New York City this month that links drug use to terrorism, among other things, USA Today reported. Target America: Drug Traffickers, Terrorists and You is an expanded version of a Drug Enforcement...

Addiction takes back seat on presidential campaign trail.
October 11, 2004... With the war in Iraq dominating the national political agenda, any talk of addiction and mental health issues on the presidential campaign trail has been put on the back burner. Addiction, in particular, has received scant attention from...

Study examines connection between drug use, violence.
October 11, 2004... Drug use is often associated with aggression and violence, although the reasons for the association are not always clear, according to an article published in the journal Addictive Behaviors. Authors from the University of Western Ontario...

HHS awards grants for state co-occurring treatment efforts.
October 11, 2004... U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Tommy G. Thompson last week announced the award of four grants totaling $19.3 million over five years to increase the capacity of state treatment systems to provide coordinated and...

HHS awards $68 million for homeless SA, MH services.
October 11, 2004... HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson last week announced 34 grants totaling $67.6 million over five years to provide substance abuse and mental health services to homeless people. The announcement was made during a meeting of the U.S. Interagency...

SAMHSA launches FASD video package.(Resources)(Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration )(fetal alcohol spectrum disorders )(Brief Article)
October 11, 2004... The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has launched a video package designed to raise awareness of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) and the risks of using alcohol during pregnancy. The video, "Recovering...

HHS grant to fund interim methadone treatment.(Briefly Noted)(Brief Article)
October 11, 2004... Baltimore officials have announced that a $1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will allow them to fund interim methadone treatment for hundreds of people who are on waiting lists for treatment, the...

GVG may show promise in treating inhalant abuse.(Briefly Noted)(gamma vinyl-GABA )(Brief Article)
October 11, 2004... A new study conducted by scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy's Brookhaven National Laboratory suggests that vigabatrin (gamma vinyl-GABA or GVG) may block the addictive effects of toluene, a substance found in many products used as...

NH alcohol treatment fund set to expire.(Briefly Noted)(New Hampshire)(Brief Article)
October 11, 2004... Some treatment and prevention initiatives in New Hampshire may lose their funding if the legislature does not reinstate the Governor's Commission Alcohol Fund, Sea Coast Online reported. The Governor's Commission Alcohol Fund uses 3 percent of...

CCHS wins contract for Higher Education Center.(Briefly Noted)(Center for College Health and Safety)(Brief Article)
October 11, 2004... The U.S. Department of Education has awarded the Center for College Health and Safety (CCHS) a five-year contract to continue to operate the Higher Education Center for Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse and Violence Prevention, previously known as...

EIC distributes special edition of PRISM Awards show.(Briefly Noted)(Entertainment Industries Council Inc.)(Brief Article)
October 11, 2004... The Entertainment Industries Council Inc., (EIC), in partnership with the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), will distribute a special edition of the 8th Annual...

Coming up.(Calendar)
October 11, 2004... Palladia, Inc., in partnership with Hunter College School of Social Work, will sponsor a conference, "A Better Future for Our Children: Collaborative Approaches to Working with Substance-Affected Families," Oct. 22 in New York City. For more...

In case you haven't heard ...
October 11, 2004... Researchers at Johns Hopkins University say that as little as one cup of coffee a today can produce a dependence to caffeine, Reuters reports. "The latest research demonstrates that when people don't get their usual dose, they can suffer a...

Report indicts juvenile justice system for lack of treatment: CASA calls for overhaul of state systems.
October 18, 2004... A groundbreaking report by the National Center on Substance Abuse at Columbia University (CASA) found that the vast majority of juvenile arrests involve substance abuse or addiction yet most of these youths go untreated. According to...

NAADAC speakers shed light on methamphetamine treatment challenges.
October 18, 2004... Among the presentations at this year's annual conference of NAADAC, The Association for Addiction Professionals were sessions designed to erase treatment professionals' misconceptions about methamphetamine and marijuana treatment. For...

Report: youth exposure to TV ads continues to increase.
October 18, 2004... The number of alcohol advertisements more likely to be seen by youths continued to rise over the past two years and reflected an upward trend in alcohol advertising in general, according to a report released last week. Alcohol industry...

HHS awards $11 million for peer-support services.(Health and Human Services Secretary )
October 18, 2004... Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy G. Thompson today announced eight awards totaling $11,190,236 over four years to support development of peer support services for people recovering from alcohol and drug use disorders. "Community...

Two organizations start initiative against inhalant abuse.
October 18, 2004... The Alliance for Consumer Education (ACE), a non-profit organization in Washington, D.C., has teamed up with The Partnership for a Drug-Free America to implement an initiative to prevent inhalant abuse. The two organizations begin a...

Livengrin Foundation, Inc.(Names in the News)(Brief Article)
October 18, 2004... Livengrin Foundation, Inc., has appointed Joseph P. Curran to the new position of director of Business Development and Marketing. The Livengrin Foundation is a nonprofit, residential and outpatient substance abuse treatment center based in...

CD mixes music with parenting tips.(Resources)
October 18, 2004... As part of National Recovery Month (September), Ohio First Lady Hope Taft released a new parenting CD that mixes children's songs with prevention tips. One to Grow On features music tracks donated by Ohio recording artists mixed in with...

Redesigned website offers EAPs more customization.(Resources)(Brief Article)
October 18, 2004... Workplace Options has redesigned its website to improve navigation, offer new features and expand the customization and private branding options available to employee assistance programs (EAPs). New features include a Working Smarter section...

ACATA expands courses, partners with Open Minds.(Business Notes)(American College of Addiction Treatment Administrators)(Brief Article)
October 18, 2004... The American College of Addiction Treatment Administrators (ACATA) has announced a partnership with Open Minds to expand the course offerings for ACATA certification. The new partnership will allow ACATA members to apply contact hours from Open...

Conn. receives grants for treatment, prevention.(Briefly Noted)(Brief Article)
October 18, 2004... Connecticut has received a total of $15 million in federal grants to fund prevention and treatment efforts among youth, the Associated Press reported. A $12 million grant from the federal Center for Substance Abuse Prevention will fund a...

Gene may increase risk of addiction under stress.(Briefly Noted)(Brief Article)
October 18, 2004... Scientists have identified a gene that appears to make it more difficult for some people to say no to drugs or alcohol in social situations, AAP Information Services Pty. Ltd. reported. The scientists found that people with the D2 dopamine...

Experts find inaccuracies in drug prevention program.(Briefly Noted)(Brief Article)
October 18, 2004... California public health officials have found that the Narconon Drug Prevention & Education Program's curriculum for schools is not evidence-based and contains factual errors, the San Francisco Chronicle reported. Steve Heilig, director of...

Alcohol misuse is a leading cause of preventable deaths.(Briefly Noted)(Brief Article)
October 18, 2004... Excessive alcohol consumption is the third leading preventable cause of death in the United States, according to a report published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC estimated that about 75,766 deaths were...

Study links other factors to drug-exposed children's problems.(Briefly Noted)(Brief Article)
October 18, 2004... Findings in the journal Child Development suggest that many of the negative outcomes seen in children with prenatal drug exposure may be attributable to care-giving factors, Health Behavior News Service reported. Researchers found that...

Court refuses to review medical marijuana decision.(Briefly Noted)(Brief Article)
October 18, 2004... The California Supreme Court has refused to review a lower court's ruling to uphold medical marijuana patients' privacy rights, according to the Drug Policy Alliance. Last month, the California Supreme Court refused to review an appellate...

Early drinking age associated with later abuse/dependence.(Briefly Noted)(Brief Article)
October 18, 2004... Findings in the journal Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research indicate that people who begin drinking at a younger age may be at greater risk for alcohol abuse or dependence later in life, Health Behavior News Service reported....

Coming up.(Brief Article)(Calendar)
October 18, 2004... UCLA Integrated Substance Abuse Programs will sponsor the "Western Conference on Addictions: Best Practices in Treatment and Community Interventions" Nov. 11 to 14 in Universal City, Calif. For more information, visit...

In case you haven't heard ...(Brief Article)
October 18, 2004... A lakeside hamlet in a remote region of British Columbia was being turned into a company town--but the business was illegal. Royal Canadian Mounted Police officers arrested 16 people in the rustic town of Seymour Arm after finding several...