Brain patterns may help predict relapse risk for alcoholism

Distinct patterns of brain activity are linked to greater rates of relapse among alcohol dependent patients in early recovery, a study has found. The research, supported by the National Institutes of Health, may give clues about which people in recovery from alcoholism are most likely to return to drinking.

“Reducing the high rate of relapse among people treated for alcohol dependence is a fundamental research issue,” said Kenneth R. Warren, Ph.D., acting director of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), part of NIH. “Improving our understanding of the neural mechanisms that underlie relapse will help us identify susceptible individuals and could inform the development of other prevention strategies.”

Using brain scans, researchers found that people in recovery from alcoholism …

Urgent Policy Alert: NC House of Representatives Vote on House Bill 693 Today!

Message from APNC  

 

Urgent Policy Alert: NC House of Representatives Vote on House Bill 693 Today!

The NC House of Representatives will vote on House Bill 693, which would prohibit health care providers or their agents from providing minors with health care services for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of substance abuse issues without notarized consent of the parent (or guardian) and written consent of the minor.

This legislation could have a chilling effect on the ability of our members to treat underage persons, particularly those in delicate family situations in which parental involvement is detrimental to the overall health and stability of the minor involved.  Though the legislation does have provisions allow a court to waive the parental consent requirement, the process is cumbersome and difficult for a minor in need of treatment to undertake.  Various other medical groups and health organizations are in opposition to this proposed legislation.

WHAT CAN YOU DO TODAY?

  1. Read and review House Bill 693
  2. Call your legislator TODAY. You can find a listing of your NC House member by county here.
  3. Tell your legislator that House Bill 693 could have a chilling effect on the ability of minor to receive information about the prevention of substance abuse, and will make it difficult for minors who need services to receive them.
  4. Call or text (Mark Ezzell) at (919) 606-7584 and let him know when you contact your legislators.

DON’T DELAY! Your calls do make a difference.

Please feel free to contact Mark Ezzell at (919) 606-7584, if you have any questions.

 

Sincerely,

Mark Ezzell, Executive Director

Addiction Professionals of North Carolina

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New Prevention Specialist Job Task Analysis

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On May 1, 2013, IC&RC announced the completion of a new Job Task Analysis (JTA) for the Prevention Specialist.

A JTA is the methodical process of determining what elements of practice and knowledge are important to assess as part of a certification examination and serves as the blueprint for the examination. The updated Prevention Specialist Job Task Analysis, which includes new domains, will be used to develop a new examination to be administered for the first time on December 13, 2013 by IC&RC member boards.

New PS Domains:

1. Planning and Evaluation
2. Prevention Education and Service Delivery
3. Communication
4. Community Organization
5. Public Policy and Environmental Change
6. Professional Growth and Responsibility

MADD Seeks Support for Drunk Driving Legislative Reform

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LaRonda Scott
State Executive Director
Mothers Against Drunk Driving
North Carolina State Office

Did you know that 1 out of 3 people will be injured in an alcohol related crash?  That person could be a loved one, a co-worker or a neighbor.  Impaired driving affects everyone.

MADD is dedicated to cutting the number of drunk driving crashes, injuries, and deaths.  Through its initiatives and programs, MADD is making a difference and so can you.  Stand with MADD.  Save a life.

House Bill 536 will save lives in North Carolina. This lifesaving legislation will require all convicted drunk drivers to have an ignition interlock .  At this moment, this legislation is in the hands of the House Judiciary Committee.  We need your help to ensure a hearing for HB 536.

Join MADD North Carolina in the coming weeks as we visit with members of the Judiciary Committee in an effort to keep this bill alive.   If you are unable to join us at the State House, please take a moment to email your representative.

HB 536 is similar to the laws in 17 other states that require ignition interlocks for all convicted drunk drivers.  Research shows that 50 to 75 percent of convicted drunk drivers will continue to drive even with a suspended driver’s license.  License suspension alone is no longer a practical way to deal with drunk drivers.

 

A Drug Policy for the 21st Century

The release of the 2013 National Drug Control Strategy, a science-driven plan for drug policy reform in America.  This 21st century drug policy outlines a series of evidence-based reforms that address our Nation’s drug problem as not just a criminal justice issue, but also a major public health concern.

The President has outlined his vision of an America built to last—where an educated, skilled workforce has the knowledge, energy and expertise to compete in the global marketplace. Yet—for far too many Americans—that vision is limited by drug use, which not only limits the potential of the individual, but jeopardizes families, communities and neighborhoods.