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,…
Combination of Smoking and Heavy Drinking ‘Speeds Up Cognitive Decline’
Researchers from UCL (University College London) found that smokers who drank alcohol heavily had a 36% faster cognitive decline compared to non-smoking moderate drinkers. Smoking and heavier alcohol consumption often co-occur, and their combined effect on cognition may be larger than the sum of their individual effects. The research team found that in current smokers who were also heavy drinkers, cognitive decline was 36% faster than in non-smoking moderate drinkers. Click here for full story…
Brief Intervention Helps Adolescents Curb Substance Use
Drug- and alcohol-involved middle and high school students markedly reduced their substance use following two 60-minute sessions that combined motivational interviewing (MI) and cognitive behavioral therapy. The students also reported significantly fewer substance-related symptoms of substance use disorders during the 6 months after the intervention compared with the 6 months before it. Adding a separate 1-hour MI-based session with a parent or primary caregiver enhanced the beneficial effects. Continue reading…
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…
MADD Seeks Support for Drunk Driving Legislative Reform
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…
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…
New Web-Based FASD Toolkit
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), with support through a cooperative agreement with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities (NCBDDD) has developed a comprehensive, web-based FASD toolkit that helps to raise awareness, promote surveillance and screening, and ensure that all affected children receive appropriate and timely interventions. Primary care providers should consider FASDs when evaluating children with developmental problems, behavioral concerns, or school failure. Like other children with complex medical or behavioral disabilities, children with FASD need a pediatric medical home to provide and coordinate care and ensure necessary medical, behavioral,…