A Molecular Basis for Nicotine as a Gateway Drug New England Journal of Medicine Epidemiologic studies have shown that nicotine use is a gateway to the use of marijuana and cocaine in human populations. What has not been clear is how nicotine accomplishes this. The results of measures studied provide a biologic basis and a molecular mechanism for the sequence of drug use observed in people. One drug affects the circuitry of the brain in a manner that potentiates the effects of a subsequent drug...
Group Medication Management for Buprenorphine/Naloxone in Opioid-Dependent Veterans Journal of Addiction Medicine (free ASAM member resource) In June 2011, the Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System began using a group format to prescribe buprenorphine/naloxone. This study found that veterans prescribed buprenorphine/naloxone in a group setting as part of a drug and alcohol treatment program were retained in treatment longer than veterans prescribed this medication individually.
Clinical Case Discussion on the Assessment and Management of Opioid Use Disorders in the General Hospital Setting PCSS-MAT In the absence of objective biomarkers for pain, differentiating those patients in acute pain from those who are seeking opioids for non-medical reasons remains challenging in the acute medical setting. Patients misusing opioids are prone to painful conditions from trauma, soft-tissue infections, and overall poor health. They may require higher opioid doses due to tolerance and hyperalgesia, and may be undertreated due to bias about addiction.
Dr. H. Westley Clark Retires from SAMHSA SAMHSA After working as Director of SAMHSA’s Center for Substance Abuse Treatment for the last 16 years, Dr. H. Westley Clark retired on October 3rd. While searching for a new director, Daryl Kade has been appointed as Acting Director. ASAM is grateful to Dr. Clark for his leadership in the field of addiction medicine and for his significant contributions toward addiction treatment and recovery. We will be recognizing Dr. Clark’s achievements with the Annual Award, to be given during ASAM’s 2015 Annual Conference in April.
NIH Awards Initial $46 Million for BRAIN Initiative Research National Institutes of Health The National Institutes of Health announced its first wave of investments totaling $46 million in fiscal year 14 funds to support the goals of the Brain Research through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies (BRAIN) Initiative. More than 100 investigators in 15 states and several countries will work to develop new tools and technologies to understand neural circuit function and capture a dynamic view of the brain in action. Creating a wearable scanner to image the human brain in motion, using lasers to guide nerve cell firing, recording the entire nervous system in action, stimulating specific circuits with radio waves, and identifying complex circuits with DNA barcodes were among the 58 projects announced...
Legislation Would Prevent Drug Makers from Thwarting Generic Rivals Wall Street Journal A bill introduced in Congress, the Fair Access for Safe and Timely Generics Act, aims to prevent brand-name companies from using an FDA program known as Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategies to block competition from generic medicine makers. REMS is designed to improve patient safety but the brand-name companies allegedly use it to deny samples of their drug to generic pharmaceutical companies to carry out product testing for FDA approval.
Unhealthy Drug Use: How to Screen, When to Intervene The Journal of Family Practice Recognizing and helping patients at risk for a substance use disorder doesn’t have to be time-consuming in primary care. Here’s how to make screening and implementing a brief intervention a routine part of care.
Intentions to Smoke Cigarettes Among Never-Smoking U.S. Middle and High School Electronic Cigarette Users Nicotine and Tobacco Research Electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) use is increasing rapidly and its impact on youth is unknown. This survey assessed associations between e-cigarette use and smoking intentions among US youth who had never smoked conventional cigarettes.
Perceived Efficacy of E-Cigarettes Versus Nicotine Replacement Therapy Among Successful E-Cigarette Users: A Qualitative Approach Addiction Science and Clinical Practice These findings suggest tobacco control practitioners must pay increased attention to the importance of the behavioral and social components of smoking addiction. By addressing these components in addition to nicotine dependence, e-cigarettes appear to help some tobacco smokers transition to a less harmful replacement tool, thereby maintaining cigarette abstinence.
Prescriptions for Addictive Painkillers Soar in Canada Huffington Post Canada A new study shows prescriptions for high-dose formulations of opioids like oxycodone and morphine jumped by 23 percent in Canada between 2006 and 2011, despite guidelines advising doctors against giving most patients such elevated doses. Researchers at St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto and the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences found the rates of high-dose opioid dispensing across Canada increased from 781 units per 1,000 people in 2006 to 961 units in 2011.
Provision of No-Cost, Long-Acting Contraception and Teenage Pregnancy New England Journal of Medicine The rate of teenage pregnancy in the United States is higher than in other developed nations. Pregnancy and substance abuse/dependence is a continuing problem. Teenage girls and women who were provided contraception at no cost and educated about reversible contraception and the benefits of long-acting, reversible contraceptive methods had rates of pregnancy, birth, and abortion that were much lower than the national rates for sexually experienced teens.
Prescription Drug Abuse Epidemic Demands Mandatory Physician Education The Hill We have learned a great deal in the past decade on what types of patients may benefit, how to prescribe and what goes into the decision to continue prescribing opioids. Education can drive appropriate prescribing, monitoring and patient education and help reduce misuse and abuse.
New App Shows How Much Alcohol/Marijuana One Has Used DrugsMeter Gathering feedback from a global network of alcohol and drug users, Global Drug Survey devised the Drugs Meter and Drinks Meter, two interactive services.
ASAM Elections Open Until Early November ASAM Members can cast their vote online for the new President-Elect, Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer and six Directors-at-Large from October 1 through November 3.
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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.