Sex Differences in Substance Use, Health, and Social Functioning Among Opioid Users Receiving Methadone Treatment Biology of Sex Differences Compared to men, women had frequent physical and psychological health problems, family history of psychiatric illness, and childcare responsibilities and began using opioids through a physician prescription. Men had higher rates of employment, cigarette smoking, and cannabis use compared to women. This data, drawn from a sample of 503 methadone patients in Ontario, Canada, may be helpful in developing individualized treatment regimens.
Editor’s Comments William Haning, MD, FASAM, DFAPA Drug treatment policy is represented rather more strongly in this edition than in the usual lot. This reflects a higher interest level in such topics at this time of year - customarily when national and state legislators are being encouraged to craft new legislation, or to revise and resurrect old bills. The hotter topics nationally include the call for commentary on a 2-year cap to CMS-funded buprenorphine coverage, availability of naloxone injection to patients and other laymen, and conditions of availability of cannabis. ASAM Membership and readers of this digest are encouraged to watch ASAM Policy postings as they become available, through
http://www.asam.org/advocacy/find-a-policy-statement, and through the monthly magazine, http://www.asam.org/magazine.
FROM JOURNAL OF ADDICTION MEDICINE
Clinicians’ Beliefs and Practices Regarding Drug Use Care of Their Community Health Center Patients Journal of Addiction Medicine (free ASAM member resource) Primary care clinicians expressed limited confidence in their ability to address patients’ illicit drug use, although two-thirds of clinicians assess for drug use routinely and usually address drug use. Both confidence and routinely addressing substance use are associated with increased substance use education. Improving clinicians’ training and integrating drug use care in federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) may improve confidence in substance use care and facilitate the Affordable Care Act's mandate to integrate behavioral health into routine FQHC primary care.
FREE Online CME/CE Tools for Motivational Interviewing
NIDA is offering 2 FREE CME opportunities for Motivational Interviewing. These online simulations guide providers of adult and adolescent patients through MI skills-building with real time testing in a clinical setting.
Now Comes the Hard Part: Turning National Attention into Action American Medical Association In an AMA Viewpoints post, Patrice A. Harris, MD, chair-elect of the AMA Board of Trustees, urges physicians to take specific actions to help end the nation's opioid epidemic. Four steps are described to address the need for increased education for physicians and increased access to treatment for patients.
Treating your patients just got a whole lot easier with Stratus EMR. From consolidated patient histories and robust treatment notes to e‑prescriptions with seamless authorizations, we don’t JUST save you time and money, we ensure the security and quality of care your patients deserve.
Enforcing Mental Health Parity Health Affairs Five years after the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act took effect, access to equal benefits and qualified providers remains elusive for many insured Americans. This Health Policy Brief examines the history of mental health parity laws in the United States along with the challenges of enforcement, access, and equivalence, quality, and efficacy of services.
Survey: UNGASS on Drugs in April, Share Your Expertise New York NGO Committee on Drugs The United Nations General Assembly will hold a Special Session (UNGASS) on drugs in April 2016. This is the most significant opportunity to hold a global and in-depth discussion on drugs in almost 20 years. With less than 6 months until the UNGASS, physicians are invited to participate by sharing their key areas expertise, best practices and key concerns relating to drug policy and programming through the completion of a short survey.
Understanding and Predicting Suicidality Using a Combined Genomic and Clinical Risk Assessment Approach Molecular Psychiatry In this study, researchers identified 76 potential biomarkers for suicidal behavior. The top biomarkers along with clinical information were integrated into a universal predictive measure (UP-Suicide) that was able to predict suicidal ideation across psychiatric diagnoses with an area under the curve (AUC) of 92%. While not bearing specifically on substance use disorders, the study incorporates one instrument (CFI-S) which does address addiction in the sample: the CFI-S was newly devised, and raises the question of whether an extant screening instrument, such as the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale, might not have been used. Interestingly, the UP-Suicide test does not require asking individuals whether they have thoughts of suicide.
Baltimore: City Health Director Critical of Decision to End Prisoner Drug Treatment, Anti-Recidivism Initiative Baltimore Sun Baltimore City Health Commissioner Dr. Leana Wen recently spoke out against the end of a 5-year-old program that has helped people leave Maryland prisons early and enter drug treatment.
Analysis of Cannabinoids and Their Metabolites in Human Urine Analytical Chemistry Biologically monitoring marijuana exposure from active and passive use requires both a wide linear range and sensitive detection. The authors of this study have developed and validated a multifunctional method using ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry for analysis of urinary Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), cannabidiol and cannabinol, and two major metabolites of THC in active users and particularly in people exposed to secondhand marijuana smoke. Levels of detection were approximately 10–100 times more sensitive than those reported in the literature.
Co-Editors – Kimberly M. Brown, MD; Paul S. Chung, MD; Sarah Martin Domb, MD; Matthew Goldenberg, DO; Angela Gough, DO; Sameer Hassamal, MD; Christian Schrader, MD
Brendan McEntee, Associate Director, Publications and Communications, 301.656.3920
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Articles included are reviewed on their merit at the discretion of ASAM Weekly’s Editor-in-Chief. Any relationship that exists with products or services advertised with content is coincidental and not an endorsement, guarantee or condemnation of said products or services. Similarly, 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.