Stigma and Mental Health American Public Health Association We in the field of addiction medicine saw tremendous progress and increasing challenges during 2013. ASAM continues to be at the forefront advocating for our patients. In a historic first, the American Journal of Public Health has devoted an issue to covering stigma and discrimination against people with mental illnesses... R. Soper, Editor
Licit and Illicit Drug Use During Pregnancy: Maternal, Neonatal and Early Childhood Consequences Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse The harms of substance use extend beyond physical issues to the environmental and social risk factors a woman can encounter while procuring drugs. Care for an infant can be further complicated as women using drugs are more likely to be under stress and in poor health, lack the support of a partner, have lower education and employment levels...
CMS Proposes New Rules to Combat Prescription Drug Abuse Federal Register The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services are to focus on "potential opioid or acetaminophen over utilization issues that indicate the need to implement appropriate controls." CMS will accept comments on them until March 7, 2014, and then issue a final version of the regulations.
2014 Adult Drug Court Discretionary Grant Program Competitive Grant Announcement U.S. Department of Justice The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Office of Justice Programs (OJP), Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) is seeking applications for funding to establish or enhance Drug Court services, coordination, offender management, and recovery support services. All applications will be due March 18, 2014.
ASAM Releases Expert Opinion on Improving Methadone Patient Safety An ASAM expert panel has recommended that patients treated with the addiction medication methadone be reduced through careful management by providers and education of patients and their families during early phases of treatment. They also suggested...
Messages that Increase Women’s Intentions to Abstain from Alcohol During Pregnancy BioMed Central Public Health Public awareness–raising campaigns targeting alcohol use during pregnancy are an important part of preventing prenatal alcohol exposure and Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder. Despite this, there is little evidence on what specific elements contribute to campaign message effectiveness.
Peering Through the Mist: The Chemistry of Contaminants in e-Cigarettes BioMed Central Public Health Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) are generally recognized as a safer alternative to combusted tobacco products, but there are conflicting claims about the degree to which these products warrant concern for the health of the vapers (e-cigarette users).
Long-term Drug Treatment for Obesity: A Systematic and Clinical Review The Journal of the American Medical Association Medications approved for long-term obesity treatment, when used as an adjunct to lifestyle intervention, lead to greater mean weight loss and an increased likelihood of achieving clinically meaningful 1-year weight loss relative to placebo. By discontinuing medication in patients who do not respond with weight loss of at least 5%...
Enhancing the Patient Involvement in Outcomes BioMed Central Psychiatry This study attempts to show that patient-generated outcomes measurements are a potentially valid supplement to traditional standardized scales, by providing a closer insight to what motivates patients to participate in substance misuse treatment programs.
Drug Addiction Takes Toll in Iran Al-Monitor One of the socioeconomic challenges facing Iran today is extensive drug addiction, especially among the youth. Having Afghanistan – the world’s largest producer of opium – as a neighbor has turned Iran into a transit route for drug smuggling and consumption. Despite extensive efforts by the government to clamp down on drug trafficking and contain drug consumption, the issue continues to pose a major challenge to Iranian society on many levels.
New Diagnostic Perspectives on Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder Current Opinion in Psychiatry This review examines the conceptualization of obsessive–compulsive personality disorder (OCPD), its epidemiology and efforts to better understand the relationships between OCPD and other conditions.
Breath Test May Detect Marijuana Use Clinical Chemistry A new breath test may help in screening drivers or even employees for recent marijuana use, preliminary research suggests.
Cannabis-Related Working Memory Deficits and Associated Subcortical Morphological Differences in Healthy Individuals and Schizophrenia Subjects Schizophrenia Bulletin Long-term marijuana use has been linked to structural brain changes similar to those observed in schizophrenia patients, and these changes correlate with poorer working memory...
Richard G. Soper, MD, JD, MS, FASAM, Editor-in-Chief, ASAM Weekly Brendan McEntee, Managing Editor & ASAM Publications Manager, 301.656.3920 ext. 110
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