Association of Opioid Agonist Therapy with Lower Incidence of Hepatitis C Virus Infection in Young Adult Injection Drug Users JAMA Internal Medicine Injection drug use is the primary mode of transmission for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Prior studies suggest opioid agonist therapy may reduce the incidence of HCV infection among injection drug users; however, little is known about the effects of this therapy in younger users. This study evaluates whether opioid agonist therapy was associated with a lower incidence of HCV infection in a cohort of young adult injection drug users.
New NIAAA Resource Gives Guidance on Treatment Options for Alcohol Problems NIAAA A new resource from the National Institutes of Health will help individuals and families understand available treatment options for alcohol problems. Developed by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), part of the NIH, Treatment for Alcohol Problems: Finding and Getting Help, covers the latest research-based treatments and what to consider when choosing among them.
ER Visits From Synthetic Marijuana Up Significantly SAMHSA Emergency department visits involving adolescents (ages 12 to 17) using synthetic cannabinoids doubled from 3,780 visits in 2010 to 7,584 visits in 2011. Visits among those aged 18 to 20 increased fourfold – from 1,881 visits in 2010 to 8,212 visits in 2011. In 2011 males accounted for nearly 79 percent (19,923 visits) of all emergency department synthetic cannabinoid-related visits. There was a threefold increase between 2010 and 2011, however, in the level of emergency department visits involving females using synthetic cannabinoids.
Learning for Early Careers in Addiction & Diversity (LEAD) Program University of California, San Francisco The Learning for Early Careers in Addiction and Diversity (LEAD) Program provides training to early-career research scientists from racial/ethnic minority groups that are underrepresented in the drug abuse research field. The LEAD Program uses the NIDA Clinical Trials Network (CTN) as a platform for training early stage investigators.
SAMHSA's Concept of Trauma and Guidance for a Trauma-Informed Approach SAMHSA This manual introduces a concept of trauma and offers a framework for how an organization, system, or service sector can become trauma-informed. It includes a definition of trauma (the three "E's"), a definition of a trauma-informed approach (the four "R's"), 6 key principles, and 10 implementation domains.
Increase in Prescription Opioid Use During Pregnancy Among Medicaid-Enrolled Women Obstetrics & Gynecology A cohort of pregnancies was identified using data from the Medicaid Analytical eXtract for the period of 2000–2007. Dispensing of opioids, as a class and separately for individual agents, was evaluated using claims from filled prescriptions. Variations in patterns of prescription opioid fills were examined by demographic characteristics, by geographic region, and over time. Median number of opioid prescriptions dispensed and cumulative days of availability for prescription opioids during pregnancy were reported.
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms and Food Addiction in Women by Timing and Type of Trauma Exposure JAMA Psychiatry Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) appears to increase obesity risk but the pathways by which PTSD leads to weight gain are not known. Identification of the links between PTSD and obesogenic eating behaviors is necessary to clarify this pathway and inform development of obesity prevention strategies in PTSD-affected populations.
The History of Addiction Counseling in the United States Selected Papers of William L. White Addiction counseling has rich historical roots - spanning early Native American recovery advocacy leaders, 19th century temperance missionaries, reformed men working within early inebriate homes and asylums, lay alcoholism therapists, the "paraprofessional" counsels of the mid-twentieth century - all contributing to the birth and evolution of modern addiction counseling as a specialized profession.
More Tools Needed in Fight Against Drug Addiction The Hill This piece, written by ASAM President Stuart Gitlow, MD, describes the necessity of advancing addiction treatment and screening in the US.
ASAM is Pleased to Announce the 2014 Election Results ASAM During the Business Meeting Breakfast at the Annual Conference in Austin, membership will have the opportunity to confirm Dr. Kelly J. Clark as the new President-Elect, Dr. Mark Kraus as Vice-President, Dr. Brian Hurley as Treasurer and Dr. Margaret Jarvis as Secretary. The six new Directors-at-Large will be Drs. Anthony Albanese, Paul Earley, Marc Galanter, Petros Levounis, Yngvild Olsen, and John Tanner.
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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.