High-Risk Use of Opioids Prescribed for Pain: Role in Overdose Deaths JAMA Internal Medicine
From January 1, 2003, through December 31, 2010, drug overdose deaths in Tennessee increased from 422 to 1059 per year. More of these deaths involved prescription opioids than heroin and cocaine combined. This study assesses the contribution of certain opioid-prescribing patterns to the risk of overdose death.
Observational Study on Medications Prescribed to Dual-Diagnosis Outpatients Journal of Addiction Medicine (free ASAM member resource) Because polypharmacy is frequent in patients with mental illness and a co-occurring substance use disorder, specialized approaches need to be developed. This study quantifies the number of medications used for treating psychiatric and addictive disorders in a cohort of dual diagnosis with substance dependence outpatients...
Evaluation of an Electronic Medical Record System at a Treatment Program Journal of Addiction Medicine (free ASAM member resource) The Addiction Research and Treatment Corporation evaluated the impact of an electronic medical record system. A prospective pre- and post- implementation design was utilized that examined the domains of quality, productivity, satisfaction, risk management, and financial performance.
Evidence-based tools for brain health Your patient’s cognitive and emotional skills play an important part in successful recovery. MyBrainSolutions provides a rapid and validated assessment of brain health while delivering evidence-based training for your patients to develop skills important for staying resilient, overcoming impulses and adapting to challenges they face on the road to recovery.
LEARN MORE
LGBT Populations: Advancing Opportunities for Recovery SAMHSA This dialogue recaps a meeting to identify factors that promote or hinder recovery from mental illness or substance abuse for lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender (LGBT) individuals and targets an understanding of their perspectives and experiences in advancing recovery.
IOM to US Military: Raise the Bar on Mental Health Programs for Vets Institute of Medicine In many ways, the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs are at the forefront of providing evidence-based treatment for service members with psychological health problems, but challenges exist in both systems, including inconsistencies in care availability and quality and a lack of systematic evaluation.
SURVEY: WHO Guidelines on the Management of Opioid Overdose World Health Organization The World Health Organization (WHO) is developing guidelines on the management of overdoses due to drugs such as heroin and prescription opioids. The preferences of people who might be affected by the guidelines are being considered in their development. The survey will take about 5 minutes to complete.
Prescription Drug Abuse: Policy Paper from American College of Physicians Annals of Internal Medicine A position paper from the American College of Physicians in this issue discusses the public health problem created by prescription drug abuse. To achieve the dual goals of reducing iatrogenic opioid use disorders and protecting the ability to care for existing patients, the editorialists suggest several adjustments to opioid prescribing practice...
Sex Differences in the Neurobiology of Drug Addiction Experimental Neurology Epidemiological data demonstrate that while women report lower rates of drug use than men, the number of current drug users and abusers who are women continues to increase. In addition, women progress through the phases of addiction differently than men...
Continuing Care for Patients with Alcohol Use Disorders: Systematic Review Drug and Alcohol Dependence A chronic care perspective should be adopted in the treatment of patients with alcohol use disorders (AUDs). Initial treatment in a more intense psychiatric care setting should be followed by continuing care. This systematic review aims to identify effective continuing care interventions for patients with AUDs.
Pennsylvania: Casey Pushing For Drug Abuse Legislation NPR Pittsburgh Saying Pennsylvania is in a prescription and drug abuse crisis, Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pennsylvania) is pushing for legislation to study and fight opioid abuse. The Prescription Drug Abuse Act would include training for practitioners, state grants for drug abuse education, and the creation of a national registry to track opioid-related deaths.
Smoking Cessation in Pregnancy and Postpartum: Practice Patterns Among OB-GYNs Journal of Addiction Medicine (free ASAM member resource) A large majority of ob-gyns feel that it is important for pregnant and postpartum women to quit smoking, and report asking all pregnant patients about tobacco use at the initial prenatal visit. Fewer ob-gyns follow-up on tobacco use at subsequent visits when the patient has admitted to use at a prior visit.
A Computational Hypothesis for Allostasis Frontiers in Psychiatry The allostatic theory of drug abuse describes the brain’s reward system alterations as substance misuse progresses. Neural adaptations arising from the reward system itself and from the antireward system provide the subject with functional stability, while affecting the person’s mood.
Get Heard! Take ASAM's CME Survey! ASAM Please take this quick survey and help identify ways to improve your ASAM CME experience. The survey takes 5 minutes or less to complete and responses will be used to measure the effectiveness of the 2013 educational programs at improving competence and increasing knowledge in our physicians and other health care providers. The survey will close on March 14, 2014.
Richard G. Soper, MD, JD, MS, FASAM, Editor-in-Chief, ASAM Weekly
Brendan McEntee, Managing Editor & ASAM Publications Manager, 301.656.3920 ext. 110
Emily McMartin, New Media and Content Coordinator
Jennifer Strauser, Account and Customer Service Manager, Highwater Partners, 407.221.4292 AdvertiseView media kit
The views and positions of any content published in ASAM Weekly are not necessarily endorsed by ASAM nor a reflection of ASAM's beliefs and policies. The features are presented as a summary of the contemporary issues being represented and expressed in scientific, governmental, commercial, and media sources across the specialty field of addiction medicine. Contact ASAM Weekly with any comments or feedback.