Heroin
Addiction Takes Toll in Suburban New Jersey
New Jersey officials report a rise in heroin addiction, drug-related crime and deaths among young people in suburbs. Many became addicted to prescription painkillers, and switched to heroin because it is cheaper, potent and widely available, according to The Record of Woodland Park. The growth of heroin use among young people in the suburbs is being seen nationwide. According to the 2011 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, the number of people who were past-year heroin users in 2011 (620,000) was higher than the number in 2007 (373,000). New Jersey is a center of heroin use in part because of its ports and highways, which are conduits for South American heroin, the article notes. Heroin found on New Jersey streets today is at least five times more pure than it was several decades ago, law enforcement officials say. The increased potency leads to quicker addiction, they add. “Heroin is much more commonplace than it’s been in years,” Ellen Elias, Director of the Center for Alcohol and Drug Resources in Hackensack, told the newspaper. “We see it all around. It seems like the population in which heroin is most prevalent is that 18- to 25-year-old population.” Police in Bergen County, in northern New Jersey, report increases in shoplifting, home invasions, burglaries and armed robberies, by people addicted to heroin who are seeking money to buy drugs. Last week, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie signed into law a measure that encourages people to report drug overdoses. The law allows people to call 911 to report a drug overdose, without the fear of getting arrested for drug possession themselves.
New Jersey officials report a rise in heroin addiction, drug-related crime and deaths among young people in suburbs. Many became addicted to prescription painkillers, and switched to heroin because it is cheaper, potent and widely available, according to The Record of Woodland Park. The growth of heroin use among young people in the suburbs is being seen nationwide. According to the 2011 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, the number of people who were past-year heroin users in 2011 (620,000) was higher than the number in 2007 (373,000). New Jersey is a center of heroin use in part because of its ports and highways, which are conduits for South American heroin, the article notes. Heroin found on New Jersey streets today is at least five times more pure than it was several decades ago, law enforcement officials say. The increased potency leads to quicker addiction, they add. “Heroin is much more commonplace than it’s been in years,” Ellen Elias, Director of the Center for Alcohol and Drug Resources in Hackensack, told the newspaper. “We see it all around. It seems like the population in which heroin is most prevalent is that 18- to 25-year-old population.” Police in Bergen County, in northern New Jersey, report increases in shoplifting, home invasions, burglaries and armed robberies, by people addicted to heroin who are seeking money to buy drugs. Last week, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie signed into law a measure that encourages people to report drug overdoses. The law allows people to call 911 to report a drug overdose, without the fear of getting arrested for drug possession themselves.
Youth
drinking cultures, social networking and alcohol marketing
Preventing alcohol abuse, especially among young people, has long been a focus of public-health campaigns. But despite the well-publicised social and medical consequences of drinking too much it's clear that for many, heavy drinking has become a normal part of life. And now, public-health professionals have a new force to contend with in their battle against the bottle: social-networking sites (SNS). Writing in a recent issue of Critical Public Heath, researchers from New Zealand consider the extensive, and not entirely positive, impact SNS may have on their efforts to encourage more responsible youth drinking (McCreanor et al., 2013). The authors argue that although SNS users benefit from creating and sharing content, the sites are "quintessentially commercial platforms" which provide entirely new vehicles for alcohol marketing. The very characteristics that make SNS popular – blurring boundaries between public and private spaces, acting as extensions of face-to-face relationships and being regularly viewed and updated – also contribute to their commercial potential by bringing alcohol producers and consumers closer together. The researchers note that site owners also have extensive access to valuable information about users' preferences, habits and interests, providing a bonanza for alcohol-marketing dataminers. Evidence suggests that alcohol producers and sellers are already embracing SNS as an effective marketing tool. Diageo, which has expanded its SNS marketing in recent years, has entered into a deal with Facebook, with over one billion users; other UK brands also employ a range of strategies including games, competitions and "branded conversation stimulus" in Tweets and wall posts. Well-known brands and alcohol-related events generate vast numbers of "friends", and alcohol-related apps thrive. The effect of all of this, the authors write, is to "normalise alcohol within both banal and special occasions in the everyday lives of SNS users". And then there is user-generated content. Millions of wall posts, profiles and photos revolving around alcohol play a big role in normalising drinking within young adults' lives and cultural words. But the biggest challenge posed by SNS is that "they are effectively beyond the domain of public authority, essentially unregulated and possibly uncontrollable". The authors call for more research into the impact of SNS on youth drinking patterns, as even this initial survey gives a strong indication of how they may come to play a major role in maintaining pro-alcohol environments. On the positive side, the Critical Public Health study also points out that SNS can be used to encourage young drinkers to change their practices in a more positive way. Unfortunately for public-health practitioners however, photos of people drinking responsibly aren't nearly so much fun to put up on Facebook.
Preventing alcohol abuse, especially among young people, has long been a focus of public-health campaigns. But despite the well-publicised social and medical consequences of drinking too much it's clear that for many, heavy drinking has become a normal part of life. And now, public-health professionals have a new force to contend with in their battle against the bottle: social-networking sites (SNS). Writing in a recent issue of Critical Public Heath, researchers from New Zealand consider the extensive, and not entirely positive, impact SNS may have on their efforts to encourage more responsible youth drinking (McCreanor et al., 2013). The authors argue that although SNS users benefit from creating and sharing content, the sites are "quintessentially commercial platforms" which provide entirely new vehicles for alcohol marketing. The very characteristics that make SNS popular – blurring boundaries between public and private spaces, acting as extensions of face-to-face relationships and being regularly viewed and updated – also contribute to their commercial potential by bringing alcohol producers and consumers closer together. The researchers note that site owners also have extensive access to valuable information about users' preferences, habits and interests, providing a bonanza for alcohol-marketing dataminers. Evidence suggests that alcohol producers and sellers are already embracing SNS as an effective marketing tool. Diageo, which has expanded its SNS marketing in recent years, has entered into a deal with Facebook, with over one billion users; other UK brands also employ a range of strategies including games, competitions and "branded conversation stimulus" in Tweets and wall posts. Well-known brands and alcohol-related events generate vast numbers of "friends", and alcohol-related apps thrive. The effect of all of this, the authors write, is to "normalise alcohol within both banal and special occasions in the everyday lives of SNS users". And then there is user-generated content. Millions of wall posts, profiles and photos revolving around alcohol play a big role in normalising drinking within young adults' lives and cultural words. But the biggest challenge posed by SNS is that "they are effectively beyond the domain of public authority, essentially unregulated and possibly uncontrollable". The authors call for more research into the impact of SNS on youth drinking patterns, as even this initial survey gives a strong indication of how they may come to play a major role in maintaining pro-alcohol environments. On the positive side, the Critical Public Health study also points out that SNS can be used to encourage young drinkers to change their practices in a more positive way. Unfortunately for public-health practitioners however, photos of people drinking responsibly aren't nearly so much fun to put up on Facebook.
Pregnant
Teens in Substance Abuse Treatment Face Many Challenges
Pregnant teens, who are more likely than pregnant adults to face medical issues, face a host of additional challenges if they are also being treated for substance abuse, a new government report finds. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) found pregnant teens being treated for substance abuse were three times more likely than other female teens in treatment to receive public assistance as their main source of income—15 percent versus 5.3 percent). The report also found 74 percent of non-pregnant female teens in treatment who were not working were students, compared with just 44.2 percent of pregnant teens treated for substance abuse. Half of pregnant teens in treatment used drugs or alcohol in the month before they started treatment, HealthDay reports. Almost one-fifth used drugs or alcohol daily during that month. The report notes that when mothers use drugs during pregnancy, their babies can show signs of addiction at birth. Long-term effects of a mother’s prenatal drug use have been observed in children at 6 years of age. Marijuana was the most commonly used substance among female teens in treatment programs. The report found 73 percent of pregnant teens and 70 percent of non-pregnant teens used the drug. Pregnant teens were twice as likely to use methamphetamines and amphetamines, compared with other female teens—17 percent versus 8 percent. Overall, pregnant teens make up about 4 percent of the 57,000 females ages 12 to 19 admitted to substance abuse treatment programs annually, according to SAMHSA.
Pregnant teens, who are more likely than pregnant adults to face medical issues, face a host of additional challenges if they are also being treated for substance abuse, a new government report finds. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) found pregnant teens being treated for substance abuse were three times more likely than other female teens in treatment to receive public assistance as their main source of income—15 percent versus 5.3 percent). The report also found 74 percent of non-pregnant female teens in treatment who were not working were students, compared with just 44.2 percent of pregnant teens treated for substance abuse. Half of pregnant teens in treatment used drugs or alcohol in the month before they started treatment, HealthDay reports. Almost one-fifth used drugs or alcohol daily during that month. The report notes that when mothers use drugs during pregnancy, their babies can show signs of addiction at birth. Long-term effects of a mother’s prenatal drug use have been observed in children at 6 years of age. Marijuana was the most commonly used substance among female teens in treatment programs. The report found 73 percent of pregnant teens and 70 percent of non-pregnant teens used the drug. Pregnant teens were twice as likely to use methamphetamines and amphetamines, compared with other female teens—17 percent versus 8 percent. Overall, pregnant teens make up about 4 percent of the 57,000 females ages 12 to 19 admitted to substance abuse treatment programs annually, according to SAMHSA.
Children
of Addicted Parents More Likely to be Depressed in Adulthood
Children whose parents are addicted to drugs or alcohol are more likely to be depressed as adults, a new study suggests. In a study of 6,268 adults, University of Toronto researchers studied the relationship between parental addiction and their children’s depression in adulthood. They found 312 participants had a major depressive episode in the previous year, and 877 said when they were under the age of 18, at least one parent drank or used drugs often enough to cause problems for the family. After taking into account factors such as childhood maltreatment, parental unemployment and adult smoking and drinking, the researchers found adults exposed to parental addiction had a 69 percent higher risk of depression, compared to their peers with non-addicted parents, Science Daily reports. The study did not establish what might cause the relationship between a parent’s addiction and adult depression. “It is possible that the prolonged and inescapable strain of parental addictions may permanently alter the way these children’s bodies react to stress throughout their life,” co-author Robyn Katz said in a news release. “One important avenue for future research is to investigate potential dysfunctions in cortisol production–the hormone that prepares us for ‘fight or flight’–which may influence the later development of depression.” Lead researcher Esme Fuller-Thomson said the study reinforces the need to develop interventions that support healthy childhood development. “As an important first step, children who experience toxic stress at home can be greatly helped by the stable involvement of caring adults, including grandparents, teachers, coaches, neighbors and social workers. Although more research is needed to determine if access to a responsive and loving adult decreases the likelihood of adult depression among children exposed to parental addictions, we do know that these caring relationships promote healthy development and buffer stress.” The study is published in Psychiatry Research.
Children whose parents are addicted to drugs or alcohol are more likely to be depressed as adults, a new study suggests. In a study of 6,268 adults, University of Toronto researchers studied the relationship between parental addiction and their children’s depression in adulthood. They found 312 participants had a major depressive episode in the previous year, and 877 said when they were under the age of 18, at least one parent drank or used drugs often enough to cause problems for the family. After taking into account factors such as childhood maltreatment, parental unemployment and adult smoking and drinking, the researchers found adults exposed to parental addiction had a 69 percent higher risk of depression, compared to their peers with non-addicted parents, Science Daily reports. The study did not establish what might cause the relationship between a parent’s addiction and adult depression. “It is possible that the prolonged and inescapable strain of parental addictions may permanently alter the way these children’s bodies react to stress throughout their life,” co-author Robyn Katz said in a news release. “One important avenue for future research is to investigate potential dysfunctions in cortisol production–the hormone that prepares us for ‘fight or flight’–which may influence the later development of depression.” Lead researcher Esme Fuller-Thomson said the study reinforces the need to develop interventions that support healthy childhood development. “As an important first step, children who experience toxic stress at home can be greatly helped by the stable involvement of caring adults, including grandparents, teachers, coaches, neighbors and social workers. Although more research is needed to determine if access to a responsive and loving adult decreases the likelihood of adult depression among children exposed to parental addictions, we do know that these caring relationships promote healthy development and buffer stress.” The study is published in Psychiatry Research.
Can Facebook be used to find young alcoholics?
Local
researchers are scanning college students’ social media sites to identify which
will become alcoholics later in life. Staff at the Seattle Children's Research
Institute have analyzed the Facebook profiles of college freshman and found the
majority of those who were alcohol dependent left clues of their drinking
problem on social media. Continue
reading here.
FDA
Denies Request from Opana ER Maker to Block Generic Forms of the Drug
The
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Friday denied a request from the maker of
the painkiller Opana ER to block generic forms of the drug. The decision came
as a surprise, Reuters reports. The drug’s manufacturer, Endo Health Solutions,
argued its newer tamper-resistant formula was more difficult to abuse than the
original version of the drug, and asked that the agency not approve generic
forms of the earlier version. The FDA decided that since the original Opana had
not been withdrawn for reasons of safety or effectiveness, generic forms of the
painkiller could continue to be approved and marketed. The FDA also said the
newer Opana ER could still be abused, and might be more easily injected than
the original formulation. “We are extremely disappointed and disagree with
today’s decision, and believe that the approval of non-abuse deterrent
formulations of long acting opioids will contribute to a significant increase
in prescription drug abuse,” Rajiv De Silva, President and Chief Executive
Officer of Endo Health Solutions, said in a news release. Last month, the FDA
announced it will not approve any generic versions of the original form of
OxyContin. The move is aimed at preventing prescription drug abuse. The
original version of OxyContin could be crushed and then snorted or injected.
The FDA also approved new labeling for a reformulated version of the drug, which
will indicate it is more difficult to crush, and thus harder to abuse than the
original version. OxyContin’s manufacturer, Purdue Pharma, introduced the
tamper-resistant formula in 2010. Because of the FDA’s decision about generic
versions of OxyContin, many experts thought the agency would make a similar
ruling about Opana ER, the article notes.
Colleges
Work Together To Reduce Binge Drinking
Colleges
that are part of a national program to reduce binge drinking among students say
the first two years have been productive. More schools will join the initiative
in June. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism,
about four out of five college students drink alcohol, and about half of
college students who drink, also consume alcohol through binge drinking. The
Associated Press reports 32 colleges and universities are part of the National
College Health Improvement Project, created by Dartmouth College in 2013. The
program aims to help members measure their progress against binge drinking, and
then share their strategies with other schools. “It’s been a really great
source of collaborative learning and resources,” Annie Stevens, Associate Vice
President for Student and Campus Life at the University of Vermont, told the
AP. “It really does give you a chance to get out of your own bubble and look
around and rely on your colleagues. We’re all struggling with the same thing
and saying, ‘Hey, have you found anything you’re doing that seems to work?’”
The University of Vermont has started sending emails to parents before big
party weekends or events, asking them to talk with their children about
high-risk drinking. The school is also working with police to identify
off-campus housing that generates calls about troublesome parties. “So instead
of police going back and being called to that house several times, our staff
can go and knock on doors and have a better conversation with students about,
‘Really? Do you want police showing up?’ or ‘What’s happening on this street or
in this neighborhood?’” Stevens said. Any time a student goes to the University
of Vermont campus health clinic, they are asked about their alcohol use. A
doctor becomes involved if any of the answers raise a red flag, according to
Stevens.
Modern Etiquette: When a colleague is abusing alcohol
The lovely dinner meeting with my colleague turned out to be
a bad dream. Sure, we had wine with the meal. I loved every moment, morsel, and
drop of it. Yet I was poorly prepared when she not only had wine, but slugged
down cognac afterward, and commented that she had preceded our meeting with
"a couple of scotches." I ended up taking her car keys and checking
her into the hotel that housed the restaurant where we dined. It all seemed
like a dramatic hassle - and then I realized it wasn't over. I had to face this
woman again. And what would I say when I did? It can be a painful experience to
watch an associate or friend behave badly after having one too many at a
business function or the local watering hole. So I turned to Todd Whitmer,
senior executive officer of the Caron Foundation, a nationally recognized U.S.
non-profit addiction treatment center, for advice on how to help my colleague
avoid alcohol-related career suicide - or worse. Talk About How Their Actions
Made You Feel. Continue reading here.
Doctors Should Ask and Counsel Adult Patients About Drinking,
Report Advises
Primary care physicians should ask their adult patients about
their drinking habits, and counsel those whose alcohol use is risky, according
to a new report. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force made their
recommendation based on a review of studies. They found there is sufficient
evidence to conclude screening can accurately detect alcohol misuse, and
counseling can reduce heavy drinking in adults, Reuters reports. The task force
is an independent panel of experts in prevention and evidence-based medicine.
“When people misuse alcohol, there can be serious consequences for themselves,
their families, and their communities,” Task Force member Sue Curry, PhD, noted
in a statement. “Alcohol misuse is the cause of tens of thousands of deaths per
year in the United States—deaths that could have been prevented. The good news
is that primary care professionals can identify adults who engage in risky or
hazardous drinking and through brief counseling, help them drink more
responsibly.” She added, “Unfortunately, risky and hazardous drinking is also a
serious problem among adolescents, but we don’t know how to identify teens who
may be engaging in risky or hazardous drinking, and we don’t know if brief
counseling is effective in helping them to stop. We recognize the critical need
for more research on what primary care teams can do to help keep teens safe and
sober.” The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism defines risky
drinking as having more than four drinks in one day or 14 drinks in one week
for men, and more than three drinks daily or seven per week for women. About
one-third of adults misuse alcohol in the United States, according to the
article.
How Do You Make A Painkiller Addiction-Proof?
For those who have severe chronic pain, the advantage of
OxyContin over other prescription painkillers is that it lasts for 12 hours.
For those who like to get high on opioids, the great thing about OxyContin is
that if you crush it and snort it, or mix it with water and inject it, you get
12 hours' worth of oxycodone all at once. "So basically they get a really
big high," Bob Jamison, a professor of anesthesiology at Brigham and
Women's Hospital in Boston, tells Popular Science. Read
the rest here.
Attorneys General Seek Warning Label Cautioning Pregnant
Women Against Using Pain Pills
Forty-three state attorneys general are calling for new
“black box” warning labels on prescription painkillers that can harm unborn
children. In a letter sent Monday to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the
attorneys general point to an alarming spike in the number of babies born with
“neonatal abstinence syndrome,” or drug withdrawal symptoms experienced by
babies when they are cut off from the opioid drugs ingested by their mothers.
The symptoms include tremors, seizures, poor weight gain and fever. Continue
reading here.
Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs Show Promise at Curbing
Abuse, but Need Improvement
Prescription drug monitoring programs (PDMPs) have been established
in most U.S. states to track prescriptions of opioid analgesics, sedatives, and
amphetamine-type stimulants. Abuse of such drugs—especially opioids—has reached
epidemic proportions, and PDMPs have the potential to help authorities monitor
and curb diversion through illegal practices like “doctor shopping,”
prescription forgery, and theft. Such programs are also increasingly being used
by doctors to improve patient care. But according to the authors of a new
review in Health Affairs, programs vary widely in their design, function, and
who has access to data, and although there is some evidence PDMPs are
beneficial, their overall impact remains unclear. To better realize the promise
of PDMPs, the authors recommend greater interstate cooperation and standardization
among programs, making programs proactive by issuing routine reports of
suspicious activity even if unsolicited, educating providers about effective
PDMP use, better integrating such programs into the workflow of clinicians, and
increasing funding support. Source:
NIH.
DSM-5:
The End of One-Size-Fits-All Addiction Treatment?
Sometime this month, the DSM-5 will replace the DSM-IV as the coin of the realm for diagnosis of mental illnesses, including substance use disorders. Despite the unprecedented criticism that has accompanied the process, the final product’s changes are based on very solid epidemiological research, and they are likely to reduce ambiguity and confusion. But there may be some surprise, too, as received wisdom about the diagnosis and treatment of addiction is turned on its head. Let’s hope that this development will result in a more rational and nuanced approach to addiction. Read the rest of this article here.
Sometime this month, the DSM-5 will replace the DSM-IV as the coin of the realm for diagnosis of mental illnesses, including substance use disorders. Despite the unprecedented criticism that has accompanied the process, the final product’s changes are based on very solid epidemiological research, and they are likely to reduce ambiguity and confusion. But there may be some surprise, too, as received wisdom about the diagnosis and treatment of addiction is turned on its head. Let’s hope that this development will result in a more rational and nuanced approach to addiction. Read the rest of this article here.
The National Transportation Safety Board voted to recommend to states that they lower the blood-alcohol content that constitutes drunk driving. Currently, all 50 states have set a BAC level of .08, reflecting the percentage of alcohol, by volume, in the blood. If a driver is found to have a BAC level of .08 or above, he or she is subject to arrest and prosecution. The NTSB recommends dropping that to a BAC level of .05. See more here.
And here’s the fallout….
Beverage group rips 'ludicrous' call from NTSB for lowered blood alcohol limit
Beverage companies are pushing back on the National Transportation Safety Board's (NTSB) call for lowering the blood alcohol limit for drivers. The NTSB on Tuesday recommended lowering the legal blood alcohol limit for drivers from 0.08 percent to 0.05 percent. The guidance from the five-member board is not binding, but will be sent to state governments for consideration. The American Beverage Institute panned the recommendation, calling it "ludicrous." Read the rest here.
And, a New York Times Opinion Section called “Room for Debate”
Too Drunk to Drive…read all of the posted opinions at http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2013/05/16/how-to-measure-drunken-driving
Questions about alcohol use should be a part of regular physical checkups, according to a panel of experts. About 21% of American adults admit that they engage in risky drinking behaviors, from overindulging, which can lead to physical and mental harm, to alcohol dependence. And it remains the third leading cause of preventable death in the U.S. So in an effort to address the risk, a government-backed advisory panel–the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF)–reviewed the existing data to determine whether more rigorous screening could identify and intervene in more cases of potential alcohol abuse. Read the rest of this article here.
Teens’ use of smokeless tobacco products has held steady since 2000, at about 5 percent, a new study finds. Researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health compared data from the 2000 and 2011 U.S. National Youth Tobacco Survey, according to HealthDay. The 2000 survey included almost 36,000 students, while the 2011 survey included about 19,000. They were asked if they used smokeless tobacco products such as chewing or dipping tobacco or snuff for at least one day within the past month. The study found a decrease in use of smokeless tobacco among 9- to 14-year-olds, but an increase among those ages 15 to 17, the researchers report in the Journal of the American Medical Association. The researchers noted the relatively low cost of smokeless tobacco, compared with cigarettes, might make the products more attractive to young people. “The use of modified traditional smokeless tobacco products, such as moist snuff, coupled with lower taxes on smokeless tobacco products [vs. cigarettes] may have contributed to the stable prevalence of smokeless tobacco” at the same time that cigarette smoking has decreased among teens, they wrote. Under the Family Smoking Prevention & Tobacco Control Act, signed into law in 2009, smokeless tobacco product packages and ads must contain one of four required warnings: the product can cause mouth cancer, the product can cause gum disease and tooth loss, the product is not a safe alternative to cigarettes, and smokeless tobacco is addictive.
Study Links
PTSD and Brain Receptors Activated by Marijuana
A new study finds
a connection between post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and the number of
cannabinoid receptors in the brain. These receptors, called CB1, are activated
when a person uses marijuana. Researchers at New York University Langone
Medical Center used brain imaging techniques to find the connection, Fox News reports. They say their findings could lead the
way to new treatments for PTSD. “There’s not a single pharmacological treatment
out there that has been developed specifically for PTSD,” lead author Dr.
Alexander Neumeister said in a news release. “That’s a problem. There’s a consensus among
clinicians that existing pharmaceutical treatments such as an antidepressant
simply do not work.” The researchers decided to study CB1 receptors because
many PTSD patients use marijuana in an attempt to relieve their symptoms, Dr.
Neumeister said. Many say marijuana works better for them than legal
medications. The study included 60 participants who had a PET scan. Some had
PTSD, some had a history of trauma but not PTSD, and some had neither. All
participants were injected with a radioactive tracer, which traveled to CB1
receptors in the brain, and illuminated them for the scan. The researchers
found people with PTSD had higher levels of CB1 receptors in the parts of the
brain associated with fear and anxiety, compared with participants without
PTSD. They also had lower levels of a brain chemical that binds to CB1. When a
person has lower levels of this chemical, anandamide, the brain compensates by
increasing the number of CB1 receptors. Dr. Neumeister said a new PTSD
treatment based on their research should not destroy CB1 receptors, because
this could lead to depression. Instead, he is working on a treatment that would
restore a normal balance of the endocannibinoids in the brains of people with
PTSD. Endocannabinoids are substances that activate cannabinoid receptors. He
said this compound does not cause health problems seen in people who are
chronic marijuana users. He hopes to start clinical trials of the medication
soon. The findings are published in the journal Molecular Psychiatry.
Heroin Making
a Comeback in Florida as “Pill Mills” Shut Down
Florida officials
say heroin is making a comeback, now that the state has had success in shutting
down “pill mills” selling prescription painkillers. Heroin is appearing in
urban areas and smaller communities, according to Jim Hall of Nova Southeastern
University’s Center for Applied Research on Substance Abuse and Health
Disparities. “Young adults, 18 to 30, white, prescription opioid addicts are
making the transition to heroin,” he told The Miami Herald. Officials are responding in a number of
ways, including a public education campaign about the risks of heroin and
needle injection, and increasing awareness of a Good Samaritan law designed to
prevent drug overdoses. Between July 2010 to June 2011, there were 45
heroin-related deaths in Florida, compared with 77 in the same time period a
year later. In Broward County, which includes Fort Lauderdale, addiction
treatment centers report an 87 percent increase in admissions among people
using heroin last year, from 169 to 316. Miami-Dade County reported an increase
from 227 heroin admissions to 308 in the first half of last year. A study published in July 2012 found OxyContin abuse has
decreased now that the painkiller has been reformulated to make it more
difficult to misuse. Many people who abused the drug have switched to heroin,
the researchers reported in the New England Journal of Medicine. In 2010, the
company that makes OxyContin introduced a new version of the drug that is more
difficult to inhale or inject. Florida has taken a number of measures in the
past several years designed to reduce prescription drug abuse. In June 2011, Florida
Governor Rick Scott signed into law a bill designed to cut down on prescription
drug abuse by controlling pill mills in the state. The law authorized the
creation of a prescription-drug monitoring database to reduce doctor-shopping
by people looking to collect multiple painkiller prescriptions. The legislation
also imposed new penalties for physicians who overprescribe medication and
imposes stricter rules for operating pharmacies.
5 Myths about Addiction that
Undermine Recovery
Honest, courageous and insightful aren’t words typically used to describe drug
addicts. But if given the chance, many addicts end up developing these
qualities and contributing to society in a way they never imagined possible.
These successes occur in spite of major obstacles, from the ever-present threat
of relapse to the pervasive stereotypes addicts encounter along
the way. Even with three decades of myth-busting research behind us, some of
the most damaging beliefs about addiction remain.
Continue reading here.
He's less than two weeks old, but he shows the telltale signs of a baby agitated and in pain: an open sore on his chin where he's rubbed the skin raw, along with a scratch on his left check. He suffers from so many tremors that he's been placed in a special area so nurses can watch him around the clock in case he starts seizing —or worse, stops breathing. The baby is one of many infants born dependent on drugs. He is being treated at East Tennessee Children's Hospital in Knoxville, where doctors and nurses are on the front lines fighting the nation's prescription drug epidemic. Drug abuse in the state is ranked among the nation's highest, according to some estimates, a fact underscored by the number of children born with signs of drug dependence. Click here for more content.
Felons, including sex offenders, are allowed to work as substance abuse counselors in California because of lax rules, according to a new report. The state Senate Office of Oversight and Outcomes found California does not require criminal background checks for drug and alcohol counselors. Applicants are not required to report their criminal histories, the Los Angeles Times reports. At least 23 sex offenders have been allowed to work as substance abuse counselors since 2005, the report found. “Almost all other large states want to know about serious convictions before credentialing drug and alcohol counselors, even if the disclosure doesn’t automatically disqualify them,” the report notes. There are an estimated 36,000 registered or certified substance abuse counselors in California, and that number is expected to grow as more people gain health insurance under the Affordable Care Act. Although counselors must be registered with or certified by one of seven private organizations in the state, they can continue working even if they have their registration or certification revoked, by signing up with a different organization, the report found. The report recommends the state be put in charge of credentialing counselors. An alternative would be to require certifying organizations to perform background checks. David Peters, a spokesperson for the California Association of Addiction Recovery Resources, one of the certifying organizations, said his group supports background checks. He noted many people become counselors while in recovery from addiction, and cautioned against disqualifying someone simply because they have a criminal history that includes drug use.
Treating
addiction as an ailment not a crime
So, how are the courts coping with heroin? While drugs account for relatively
few criminal charges — the Greenfield Police Department logged 47 drug
violations and 68 DUIs in 2010, in contrast to 215 break-ins or burglaries and
388 assaults, sex crimes and intimidations — local courts acknowledge addiction
or substance abuse as an underlying factor in as many as 80 or 90 percent of
their cases. Many addicts find themselves in court for behavior resulting from
drug use, not the drug possession itself. So, locally, both the Greenfield and
Orange district courts operate “drug court” programs, designed to get at some
of the drug-related underlying problems. Despite the name, drug court is
essentially an enhanced form of probation. The program — which emphasizes
solving the underlying problems instead of doling out automatic punishment —
were instituted as part of Franklin County’s Reinventing Justice initiative in
the 1990s. Continue
reading here.
Commentary: Drug Courts’ Positive
Effects on Families and Society
Jails and prisons in America are overflowing with people who suffer from
substance use disorders. In fact, more than three quarters of inmates have
either been arrested for a drug- or alcohol-related crime, have been
intoxicated at the time of their arrest, have a history of regular drug or
alcohol use, or have previously received drug or alcohol treatment. Despite
what most people think, the association between drugs and criminal behavior is
not solely due to people committing crimes to further their drug habit. Drug
use is actually a factor in many crimes that have nothing to do with obtaining
money for drugs. In fact, drug use is implicated in 50 percent of violent
crimes, 50 percent of instances of domestic violence and 80 percent of child
abuse and neglect cases. Historically, policies addressing substance abuse and
crime have shifted back and forth between either using treatment or using
criminal sanctions. But research indicates that a more balanced approach that
incorporates both treatment and criminal justice supervision is more effective.
This is where drug courts come in. Drug courts are specialized courts that
offer people arrested for drug-related crimes an opportunity to obtain community-based
treatment coupled with close judicial supervision as a way of avoiding
sentencing and potential incarceration. By successfully completing this
voluntary program, individuals have the potential to avoid criminal penalties
and even have the arrest erased from their permanent record. Drug courts
represent a criminal justice approach that takes into account the need to
ensure public safety through close supervision, and public health through the
delivery of community-based treatment. They are among the most effective ways
to address the problem of substance abuse and crime. Drug courts improve
people’s lives in a variety of ways. They have been shown to increase rates of
employment, help people obtain stable living arrangements, improve mental and physical
health, and enhance interpersonal relationships. The improvements to the
individual, their community and society are almost too numerous to mention.
Perhaps one of the most important and far-reaching effects of a drug court,
which is often overlooked, is the positive impact it has on families who have
been negatively affected by their loved one’s addiction. These families often
face poverty, strained or broken relationships and separation from spouses or
parents. The positive healing and restorative effects of drug courts on the
family are dramatic. One need only talk to a drug court alumnus, go to a drug
court graduation or attend an annual National Association of Drug Court
Professionals conference to witness these effects. As a result of drug courts,
mothers and fathers can regain custody of their children, provide for their
families and become productive members of their community. The personal
evolution that many drug court participants undergo is nothing short of
astounding. As we approach the end of National Drug Court Month, we should
continue to recognize the important role that drug courts serve in helping
individuals and families overcome the devastating effects of addiction. Source: David S. Festinger, PhD, is Director of Treatment
Research Institute’s Section on Law & Ethics and Karen Leggett Dugosh, PhD,
is a Research Scientist for Treatment Research Institute’s Section on Law &
Ethics.
Addiction to Drugs, Alcohol, Tobacco Most Common Mental
Health Problem in Teens
Addiction to drugs, alcohol and tobacco are the most common
mental health problems in teenagers, a new government report concludes.
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most commonly diagnosed
problem overall in youth ages 3 to 17, NBC News reports. The findings, from a
report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), found almost 7
percent of children under 18 are diagnosed with ADHD, while 3.5 percent have
behavioral problems and 1.1 percent have autism. An estimated one million
teenagers abuse drugs or alcohol, and more than 695,000 are addicted to
tobacco, the CDC found. The agency found during 2010-2011, a total of 4.2
percent of teens were dependent on or abused alcohol in the past year. An
estimated 4.7 percent of teens had an illicit drug use disorder in the past
year. Use of illicit drugs during the past month varied by age. Among teens
ages 12 to 13, 1.3 percent used marijuana, compared with 6.7 percent of 14- to
15-year-olds and 15.1 percent of 16- to 17-year-olds.
Georgia “Generation Rx” Campaign Aimed at Curbing Teen
Prescription Drug Abuse
Georgia launched a campaign this week, “Generation Rx,” aimed
at preventing prescription drug abuse in teens and young adults. The campaign
is funded through a grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
Administration, according to the Associated Press. It is focused on 12- to
25-year-olds. The campaign includes education and awareness about the dangers
of prescription drug abuse, and promotes Georgia’s Prescription Drug Monitoring
Program. It also features education about how to properly dispose of unused and
expired medications, and collaboration with law enforcement to eliminate
improper prescribing practices. In a statement, Georgia Department of
Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities Commissioner Frank Berry said,
“The abuse of prescription drugs by youth in Georgia and across the country has
grown substantially since the 1990s. Every day, 2,500 youth aged 12 to 17 abuse
a prescription pain reliever for the first time, and nearly 20 percent of teens
report abusing medications that were not prescribed to them.”
Hard Cases: The Traps of Treating Pain
I hadn’t seen Larry in a dozen years when he reappeared in my
office a few months ago, grinning. We were both grinning. I always liked Larry,
even though he was a bit of a hustler, a little erratic in his appointments, a
persistent dabbler in a variety of illegal substances. But he was always
careful to avoid the hard stuff; he said he had a bad problem as a teenager and
was going to stay out of trouble. It was to stay out of trouble that he left
town all those years ago, and now he was back, grayer and thinner but still
smiling. Then he pulled out a list of the medications he needed, and we both
stopped smiling. According to Larry’s list, he was now taking giant quantities
of one of the most addictive painkillers around, an immensely popular
black-market drug most doctors automatically avoid prescribing except under the
most exceptional circumstances. Continue reading here.
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