Hookah Use: Myths and Misperceptions
Commentary by Thomas Eissenbug, PhD == In recent years, there has been an increase in hookah use around the world, most notably among youth and university students. The United States is not immune. The Monitoring the Future survey for 12th grade students found that in 2012, 18.3% of high school seniors in the United States had used hookahs in the past year, up from 17.1% in 2010. Other studies of young adults indicate that hookah smoking is more prevalent among university students in the United States, with past-year use ranging from 22 percent to 40 percent. The Food and Drug…
SAMHSA releases Behavioral Health, U.S., 2012 report
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) just released a report entitled Behavioral Health, United States, 2012 — the latest in a series of publications (formerly known as Mental Health, United States) issued biennially by SAMHSA since 1980. This report features mental health and substance abuse statistics at the national and state levels from 40 different data sources. The report includes three key chapters: Behavioral Health Disorders across the Life Span Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders: Impairment in Functioning Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders: Treatment Landscape Click on image to read the full report
New App: Mobile MORE (My Ongoing Recovery Experience)
Hazelden Foundation announced as winner of the Behavioral Health Patient Empowerment Challenge for creating the Mobile MORE smartphone app, designed to assists persons through one year of recovery. Click here for more information about this app
NC Pregnancy and Opioid Exposure Professional Education Needs
Information and guidance is being sought to develop a North Carolina educational tool kit for multi-disciplinary professionals about pregnancy and opioid exposure. You are invited to participate in an anonymous electronic survey of professionals working with women of childbearing age who may be taking opioids (ex. methadone, buprenorphine, vicodin, oxycontin, or heroin), to determine the educational needs of professionals on this topic. No personally identifiable information will be recorded. Click here to participate in this important effort and for additional information about this study
Join the Partnership at Drugfree.org in Reducing Prescription Drug Abuse
Join in the effort to increase Congressional support for reducing prescription drug abuse. There is a group in Congress that works to raise awareness about prescription drug abuse and to advance treatment, prevention, law enforcement and research policy solutions at the federal level. Right now only 26 of the 435 Members of Congress are members of the Congressional Caucus on Prescription Drug Abuse. Click here to find out ways to help #EndMedicineAbuse
E-Cigs Are Trending Up…
The percentage of U.S. high school students who say they have tried e-cigarettes has doubled in the past year to 10%. They say it’s a troubling trend as no one knows yet how safe e-cigarettes are, although they are often marketed as a safer alternative to regular cigarettes. “E-cigarette experimentation and recent use doubled among U.S. middle and high school students during 2011–2012, resulting in an estimated 1.78 million students having ever used e-cigarettes as of 2012,” researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration wrote in a report. Check out the news…
Stimulant-related emergency department visits rise 300 percent among younger adults
A new report by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) shows that some drug- related emergency department visits increased by 300 percent — from 5,605 visits in 2005 to 22,949 visits in 2011. These visits, made by adults aged 18 to 34, were related to the nonmedical use of central nervous system (CNS) stimulants. On average, about 30 percent of these visits also involved alcohol. CNS stimulants featured in this report include prescription drugs, such as those used to treat attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder; other prescription medications, such as benzphetamine and modafinil; and over-the- counter products containing stimulants. Illicit stimulants,…
Hearing about “Molly” in Your Community?
According to CNN, Molly has been a popular drug at music festivals this year. According to the Drug Enforcement Administration, molly is the powder or crystal form of MDMA — or 3, 4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine, a chemical drug most commonly known for its use in the pressed pill Ecstasy. You may just be hearing about “Molly”, but she’s been around for a few years and is growing in popularity amoung youth and POP/Hip Hop music culture.