Troubling Trend: Internet Drinking Game
There’s a new horrifying drinking game making global headlines that’s already taken the lives of several young adults and the dignity of some who survive. It’s called #NekNominate or #NekNominations (hashtag used for social media purposes), and it’s an online craze spreading rapidly across countries thanks to Twitter and Facebook. Here’s how it works: kids are nominated by their peers to take video of themselves downing — or “necking” — strong drinks under bizarre or dangerous circumstances before challenging others to film an even more shocking video by the next day. Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/nek-nominations-drinking-game-2014-2#ixzz2t3s9sDE8
NIDA’s Dr. Nora Volkow Discusses Marijuana’s Effects on the Brain, Body & Behavior
Hear a fascinating presentation by Dr. Nora Volkow, Director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse, about the effects of marijuana use on the brain, body and behavior. Dr. Volkow’s remarks were given on Feb. 4th at CADCA’s 24th National Leadership Forum.
Next Week is NIDA’s National Drug Facts Week
National Drug Facts Week (NDFW) is a health observance week for teens that aims to shatter the myths about drugs and drug abuse. If you have events planned be sure to register them online TODAY! This is our chance to show the country what we’re doing in North Carolina to shatter the myths about drugs and drug abuse.
Telebehavioral Health Training and Technical Assistance
The SAMHSA-HRSA Center for Integrated Health Solutions is pleased to offer you a new set of online trainings to establish telehealth services for mental health and substance use. The SAMHSA-HRSA Center for Integrated Health Solutions Telebehavioral Health Training and Technical Assistance Series is designed to help safety net providers and rural health clinics understand and adopt telebehavioral health services. The implementation of telehealth services for mental health and substance use allows for increased access to these services, particularly in rural or underserved areas. Divided into six sessions, the training will provide you with the tools and resources necessary to identify and implement a…
Forum 2014: The Power of the Movement
It’s time to start planning for the 24th National Leadership Forum, the premier and largest training conference for community prevention leaders, treatment professionals and researchers, and SAMHSA’s 10th Prevention Day which is taking place February 3-6, 2014! CADCA’s National Leadership Forum is a four-day event packed with opportunities to learn the latest strategies to fight substance abuse and hear from nationally-known prevention experts, federal administrators, and concerned policymakers. The Forum brings together over 2,700 participants representing coalitions from all regions of the country and internationally, government leaders, youth, prevention specialists, addiction treatment professionals, addiction recovery advocates, researchers, education institutions, law…
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
Law Enforcement Utilizes New Techonology to Improve Community Ownership Among Youth
Our neighbors in Virginia are trying out the use of a new texting and email system to address the issues of substance abuse and crime in their community. One county has implemented this system for students in the county’s middle and high schools to send anonymous emails or text messages. Local County Sheriff Count Lane Perry say, “Emailing and texting are big things to the youth of today, and now, if a students sees something that really bothers them,” he said authorities can help before a situation “gets out of hand.” “Part of this effort also is to try to keep drug…
Early-Onset, Regular Cannabis Use Is Linked to IQ Decline
A NIDA-supported 25-year study of 1,000 individuals suggests regular cannabis use that starts in adolescence strips away IQ. Study participants who initiated weekly cannabis use before age 18 dropped IQ points in proportion to how long they persisted in using the drug, while nonusers gained a fraction of a point. “This study is important because we have precious little evidence on whether or not drug use leads to enduring changes in cognition,” says Dr. Steven Grant, chief of the Clinical Neurosciences Branch within NIDA’s Division of Clinical Neuroscience and Behavioral Research. “The issue is critical, because at stake are the…
Supporting Prevention Under Health Reform
The National Prevention Strategy identifies four Strategic Directions. Healthy & Safe Environments Clinical and Community Preventive Services Empowered People Elimination of Health Disparities These Strategic Directions are the foundation for all prevention efforts and form the basis for a prevention-oriented society. Each Strategic Direction can stand alone and can guide actions that will demonstrably improve health. Together, the Strategic Directions create the web needed to fully support Americans in leading longer and healthier lives. Additionally the National Prevention Strategy has identifed seven priority issues: Tobacco Free Living Preventing Drug Abuse and Excessive Alcohol Use Healthy Eating Active Living Injury and…
Substance Abuse Prevention Is Suicide Prevention
Many of the factors that increase the risk for substance abuse, such as traumatic experiences, also increase the risk for suicidal thoughts and behaviors, and substance abuse, like mental health problems, is linked with a several-fold increase in suicide risk. Drug poisoning deaths have increased 120 percent in recent years – from 17,415 in 2000 to 38,329 in 2010. The majority (58 percent) of the drug deaths involved pharmaceuticals, and 75 percent of those deaths involved prescription pain relievers. In 2010, U.S. emergency departments treated 202,000 suicide attempts in which prescription drugs were used as the means, 33,000 of which…