AAP Urges Universal Drug Screening for Teens
Pediatrics
The American Academy of Pediatrics issued a policy statement urging that all adolescents be screened for alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use at every office visit.More

Renew Your Membership Today
ASAM
Reminder — If you have not already renewed your ASAM membership for 2012, please do so now in order to continue to receive your membership benefits and services. Renewing is easy. You can renew online with your credit card by using your membership credentials, or you can contact the national office at 301-656-3920 or 800-844-8948.More

Register for the Comprehensive MRO Course
ASAM
Learn the most up-to-date scientific information, guidelines, and practical tips for medical review officers. Through a highly interactive mix of lectures and panel discussions, participants will have an opportunity to interact with experts in the field and gain a deep understanding of toxicology testing and the physician's role in the prevention and treatment of substance abuse. The course will be held December 2-4 at the Capital Hilton in Washington, DC. RegisterMore

Apply for a Ruth Fox Scholarship to ASAM's Annual Meeting
ASAM
Apply now for the Ruth Fox Scholarship for Physicians-in-Training. Scholars receive a three-year membership with ASAM as well as travel, complementary registrations for the 2012 Medical-Scientific Conference and the Ruth Fox Course, an invitation to the ASAM Awards Luncheon, and a $50 per diem for five days. The application deadline is November 30.More

FDA Find Risks of Depression and Suicidal Thoughts Not Higher With Chantix
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Nicotine dependents who take varenicline (Chantix) are not more likely to be hospitalized for psychiatric events than those who are using a nicotine patch to quit, according to data from two large studies released by the FDA.More

Functional Genetic Variants Predict Alcohol and Drug Dependence
Molecular Psychiatry (free abstract)
The 5-HT3 receptor is rapidly potentiated by ethanol and medicates fast excitatory serotonin (5-HT) transmission that modulates dopamine release in the reward circuitry. More

Yoga More Effective Than Usual Care for Back Function
Annals of Internal Medicine
Yoga was proven superior to routine care for improving function in patients with chronic low back pain in a recent study. More

Eating Disorders a New Front in Insurance Fight
The New York Times
People with eating disorders like anorexia have opened up a new battleground in the insurance wars that tests the boundaries of laws mandating equivalent coverage for mental illness.More

Traumatic Stress in Children and Adolescents
Psychiatric Times (free registration required)
Traumatic experiences can have significant psychological effects on adolescent emotional well-being and overall development. Read an eight-stage approach to treating children who have had traumatic experiences and learn how to improve treatment outcomes.More

President Announces $1 Billion to Improve Health Care
Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation
On November 14, President Barack Obama's administration announced $1 billion in Health Care Innovation Challenge grants to implement the most compelling new ideas that better deliver health care, improve care and lower the cost to people enrolled in Medicare, Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program. Proposals are encouraged to focus on high cost and high-risk groups including those populations with mental health or substance abuse issues. More

Institute of Medicine Report Calls for Oversight of Health IT
Institute of Medicine
A new Institute of Medicine report evaluates health information technology safety concerns and recommends ways that the government and the private sector can make patient care safer.More

SAMHSA Awards UCLA Grant for Substance Abuse Prevention in Iraq
Medical News Today
As part of an agreement to support the Iraqi Demand Reduction Initiative, SAMHSA awarded the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) $770,000 to support the development of substance abuse services in Iraq.More