U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory: Marijuana Use and the Developing Brain

The U.S. Surgeon General offers a statement on marijuana us and the developing brain: “I, Surgeon General VADM Jerome Adams, am emphasizing the importance of protecting our Nation from the health risks of marijuana use in adolescence and during pregnancy. Recent increases in access to marijuana and in its potency, along with misperceptions of safety of marijuana endanger our most precious resource, our nation’s youth.“ KNOW THE RISKS. TAKE ACTION. PROTECT OUR FUTURE. Click HERE to read the full article

December is Drunk/Drugged Driving Prevention Month

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), within the U.S. Department of Transportation, with the White House’s Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Service’s Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration remind you to celebrate safely this holiday season. You can find communication campaign resources from Traffic Safety Marketing: Drug-Impaired Driving Prevention Drunk Driving Prevention     

E-cigarette Ads Associated with Cigarette Smoking Initiation Among Youth

A scientific study finds that receptivity to e-cigarette advertising increases the likelihood of trying conventional cigarettes one year later.  The study found that young people ages 12-21 who had never previously smoked, but were receptive to e-cigarette advertising, were 60 percent more likely to try smoking cigarettes one year later, compared to teens who were not receptive to the ads.  Study participants were considered receptive to an advertisement if they reported liking or recognizing images from the ad. Click HERE for more information

Monitoring the Future 2017 Survey Results

<span data-mce-type=”bookmark” style=”display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;” class=”mce_SELRES_start”></span>

New Treatment Guidance for Pregnant Mothers with Opioid Use Disorder

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) released new Clinical Guidance for Treating Pregnant and Parenting Women with Opioid Use Disorder and Their Infants.    SAMHSA’s Clinical Guidance comes at a time of great need for effective opioid use disorder (OUD) treatment.  In 2016, over 20,000 pregnant women reported using heroin or misusing pain relievers in the past month. Newborn babies of mothers who used opioids while pregnant are at risk of neonatal abstinence syndrome–a group of physical and neurobehavioral signs of withdrawal. The guidance, which consists of 16 fact sheets on prenatal, infant, and maternal postnatal care,…

Have You Registered for #PITA2017

Be sure to register and book your hotel by Thursday May 11th to guarantee your discounted room rate. Click HERE for more information 

Cleveland County’s Law Enforcement Renews Commitment

  Local law enforcement is renews it commitment with Cleveland County Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition to help prevent underage drinking in the county. On Feb. 28, leaders of the Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office, Shelby Police Department, Boiling Springs Police Department and N.C. Highway Patrol, came together to renew their commitment to working to prevent underage drinking in Cleveland County with a signing of a memorandum of understanding in partnership with the coalition. The action plan strategies target two main ways young people often access alcohol according to youth surveys and focus group discussions; adults buying and supplying alcohol for underage…

CADCA’s 27th Annual National Leadership Forum

Are you attending CADCA this year? The National Leadership Forum, February 6 – 9, 2017,  is located at the beautiful National Harbor.  This year’s Forum is focused on “Engineering Healthy Communities”. Check out the Forum Brochure 

New Study Results on Opioid Use and Pain

A study of more than 100,000 surgical cases at University of Virginia (UVA) Health System found patients’ pain scores improved even as doctors gave fewer opioids. Two key factors were associated with this finding: Opioids make patients more sensitive to pain, though the reason why that occurs is unclear. So reducing the amount of opioids given to patients might by itself improve pain scores. UVA began implementing the Enhanced Recovery After Surgery program, which increased the use of non-opioid pain medications, such as lidocaine and acetaminophen, which is commonly used in over-the-counter pain medications.  Click HERE for more on this…

Opiate Impact in 2015

The latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that the country is in fact dealing with multiple opioid epidemics right now — each with a distinct geographic footprint. Click HERE for more on this story