Presentation of Prescription and Nonprescription Opioid Overdoses to US Emergency Departments JAMA Internal Medicine This study found 135,971 visits to US emergency departments (EDs) for opioid overdose in 2010 alone. This number represents only a portion of all opioid overdoses because many individuals never present to an ED, or die without activation of the emergency medical services system...
Clinical Relevance of the Proposed Sexual Addiction Diagnostic Criteria: Relation to the Sexual Addiction Screening Test-Revised Journal of Addiction Medicine (free ASAM member resource) The present article examines and compares the various diagnostic rubrics proposed to codify symptoms of sexual addiction, and then briefly summarizes the ongoing controversy on whether sexual addiction is a valid construct. Differences in diagnostic criteria endorsement associated with sex, sexual orientation, and setting were also explored. Results from a clinical sample of men and women seeking treatment for sexual addiction demonstrated clinical relevance of the criteria, in that all but 3 criteria are endorsed at more than 50% of participants screening positive for sexual addiction on the Sexual Addiction Screening Test-Revised...
New CME/CE Course Addresses Substance Use National Institute on Drug Abuse Entitled “Talking to Patients About Health Risk Behaviors,” a new course adds to a growing body of tools available through the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) to help healthcare professionals care for patients at risk for substance use disorders. This online module – available now - provides a real-time patient simulation where physicians can practice motivational interviewing. ASAM will assist with the creation of another module in the program, aimed at improving care for adolescents.
SAMHSA's 2015–2018 Strategic Plan SAMHSA This report introduces six Strategic Initiatives that will guide SAMHSA through 2018 in leading change to increase awareness and understanding of mental illness and substance use disorders, promote wellness, increase access to effective treatment, and support recovery.
Special Session of the UN General Assembly on the World Drug Problem United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime In March 2014, the Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) conducted the high-level, mid-term review of the progress made in the implementation of the Political Declaration and Plan of Action – a policy document from 2009 including goals set - the results of which are included in the Joint Ministerial Statement adopted. Member states identified achievements, challenges and priorities for further action on the way to the target date of 2019. Watch video about the goals and progress here.
Costs of Care for Persons with Opioid Dependence in Commercial Integrated Health Systems Addiction Science and Clinical Practice Buprenorphine is a viable alternative to other treatment approaches for opioid dependence in commercial integrated health systems, with total costs of health care similar to abstinence-based counseling. Patients with buprenorphine plus counseling had reduced use of general medical services compared to the alternatives.
Predicting Substance-Abuse Treatment Providers' Communication with Clients about Medication Assisted Treatment Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment Results of this study indicate that substance-abuse treatment providers have very positive attitudes, neutral subjective norms, somewhat positive perceived behavioral control, somewhat positive intentions toward recommending medication-assisted treatment as part of their clients' treatment plan, and were somewhat likely to engage in the actual behavior...
Who are Resistant Patients? Quality of Treatment and Disease Control Addictive Disorders and Their Treatment The lack of knowledge into effective treatment strategies and poor skills in handling effective instruments may lead to dropping out of apparently resistant patients, whose disease has never been challenged with any potentially effective program...
A Woman Got Six Extra Years in Prison Because She Was Pregnant Vice News Lacey Weld of Dandridge, Tennessee, was 26 years old and in the final weeks of pregnancy when a camera attached to an undercover police officer captured her 40-minute visit to a methamphetamine manufacturing plant. In July, despite her cooperation in the case and testimony against co-defendants, Weld (who pleaded guilty) was sentenced to more than 12 years in prison and five years of supervised release for her involvement in meth manufacturing.
Mental Illness, Homelessness, Drug Addiction: Do These Sound Like Crimes? Moyers and Company In the absence of any national policy shift, America’s cities have been on the front lines of implementing new and better programs that get people the help they need without sending them through the criminal justice system...
Alcohol's Impact in Retirement Detailed Through Smithers Institute Research Cornell University ILR School An estimated 10 to 17 percent of Americans ages 65 and older misuse alcohol, according to research cited by the authors of “Retirement and the Hidden Epidemic: The Complex Link Between Aging, Work Disengagement, and Substance Misuse -- and What To Do About It,” published in June. Retirement complicates vulnerability to alcohol due to the loss of structure, identity, peer networks and other factors such as fewer choices in the post-2008 economy, along with aging bodies that intensify alcohol's impact, they said.
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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.