Using Behavioral Economics to Predict Opioid Use During Prescription Opioid Dependence Treatment Drug and Alcohol Dependence This piece provides creative characterization of the patient with a substance use disorder, noting a correlation between risk and the fraction of income dedicated to drug purchases. The authors rightly note, “Future studies should examine disrupted decision-making and reward-processing in prescription opioid users more directly and test whether reinforcer pathology can be remediated in this population.”
Editor’s Comments William Haning, MD, FASAM, DFAPA This is ASAM’s equivalent of Christmas Week: The annual ASAM Conference Friday-Sunday is preceded by two courses on Thursday:
The Fundamentals of Addiction Medicine, and Pain and Addiction. The conference itself is a heady and sometimes complex array of overlapping seminars and presentations, as well as caucuses of the respective Regions and State societies, planning meetings of councils and committees, recovery meetings, and construction projects between ASAM and the ABAM Foundation,
NIDA, NIAAA, SAMHSA, and others...
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Stigma in Methadone and Buprenorphine Maintenance Treatment Edwin Salsitz, MD, FASAM This module describes the history of methadone maintenance and the effectiveness and key myths of opioid agonist treatment. The module explores empathizing with patients taking methadone or buprenorphine and empowering clinicians to support patients and their significant others.
Congress Passes SGR Repeal Bill Medpage Today On Tuesday, April 14, the Senate voted 92-8 to permanently repeal the sustainable growth rate (SGR) formula for physician reimbursement under Medicare. The President has indicated he will sign the bill, known as the "Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015," which passed the House on March 26. The measure replaces the SGR with annual increases in Medicare physician reimbursement and consolidates various reporting programs into a new, merit-based incentive payment system.
Alcohol Drinking Pattern and Risk of Alcoholic Liver Cirrhosis: A Prospective Cohort Study Journal of Hepatology This Danish study sought to address some still-unanswered questions about alcohol and cirrhosis. The questions remain, although the investigators succeed in validating some previous understandings. In men, daily drinking was associated with an increased risk of alcoholic cirrhosis. Recent alcohol consumption rather than earlier in life was associated with risk of alcoholic cirrhosis. Compared to beer and liquor, wine might be associated with a lower risk of alcoholic cirrhosis.
Benzodiazepine Use in the United States JAMA Psychiatry This provocative study suggests that psychiatrists are significantly more cautious than their other primary care colleagues in prescribing BZs to the elderly. In 2008, approximately 5.2% of US adults aged 18 to 80 years used benzodiazepines. The percentage who used benzodiazepines increased with age. Benzodiazepine use was nearly twice as prevalent in women as men. The proportion of benzodiazepine use that was long term increased with age from 14.7% (18-35 years) to 31.4% (65-80 years), while the proportion that received a benzodiazepine prescription from a psychiatrist decreased with age from 15.0% (18-35 years) to 5.7% (65-80 years). In all age groups, roughly one-quarter of individuals receiving benzodiazepine involved long-acting benzodiazepine use.
Effects of Marijuana Use on Impulsivity and Hostility in Daily Life Drug and Alcohol Dependence Marijuana use is associated with changes in impulse control and hostility in daily life. N=43 and duration 14 days in this study which came to some conclusions that are counterintuitive, such as the comparative impact of alcohol. Given the increasing prevalence of recreational marijuana use and the potential legalization in some states, further research on the potential consequences of marijuana use in young adults’ day-to-day life is warranted.
NY Probe Shows Excellus Denied Coverage for Addiction, Eating Disorders Syracuse.com Excellus wrongfully refused to cover inpatient treatment for people suffering from drug addiction and eating disorders, according to the state Attorney General's Office. The insurer would not allow members to get these services unless they failed outpatient treatment several times in violation of state guidelines, an investigation by the AG's office shows.
Protective Role of Coping Flexibility in PTSD and Depressive Symptoms Following Trauma Personality and Individual Differences The aim of this study was to examine whether coping flexibility would function as a protective factor for PTSD and depressive symptoms in trauma-exposed adults in Korea. With an N = 510, this instructive article suggests a higher degree of predictability to both PTSD and mood disorders than may have been previously thought. Assiduous efforts were made to account for cultural specificity of the customary questions and to avoid a tautological conclusion (e.g., that “coping flexibility” is signaled by reduced PTSD incidence).
How Severe is the Shortage of Substance Abuse Specialists? The Pew Charitable Trusts In a 2010 article by Lillian Eby and colleagues on attrition of SUD healthcare providers, the annualized loss was estimated at 32%. This article from the Pew Trust showcases one statistical model for workforce adequacy, in addiction care staffing, that of Jeff Zornitsky of the health care consulting firm Advocates for Human Potential (AHP).
ASAM is Austin-Bound! ASAM This week marks ASAM’s 46th Annual Conference (formerly known as the Medical-Scientific Conference). A lot of changes have been made, including more opportunities for networking, shorter sessions and more interactive learning. We are thrilled to roll out the updated conference in Austin, and look forward to seeing you there! If you haven’t registered yet, it’s not too late to do so.
Brendan McEntee, Associate Director, Publications and Communications, 301.656.3920
Emily McMartin, Communications and New Media Specialist AdvertiseView media kit Please direct customer service inquiries topubs@asam.org.
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.