ASAM Weekly

Underage Drinking in the Home

24 May 2013 13:57:01 CDT

The tool, "Underage Drinking In The Home," provides an interactive map of the United State and explains each state's "social hosting" laws in detail, while outlining the civil and criminal penalties for adults who serve alcohol to minors

Over 100 hours of New Content on the ASAM e-Live Learning Center

24 May 2013 13:57:01 CDT

Full registrants of the 44th Annual Medical Scientific Conference can now experience all 93 hours of educational content at ASAM's e-Live Learning Center. Registrants at the Ruth Fox Course for Physicians or the Pain & Addiction Course: Common Threads XIV can review audio synchronized slides. Registrants enjoy this bonus content as a part of their paid registration at the live programs.

Music in the NICU May Help Soothe Preemies

24 May 2013 13:57:01 CDT

Music in the "newborn intensive care unit ... may help those born way too soon adapt to life outside the womb." According to the Associated Press, "recent studies and anecdotal reports suggest the vibrations and soothing rhythms of music, especially performed live in the hospital, might benefit preemies and other sick babies."

Comparison of the Analgesic Effects of Dronabinol and Smoked Marijuana in Daily Marijuana Smokers

24 May 2013 13:57:01 CDT

Recent studies have demonstrated the therapeutic potential of cannabinoids to treat pain, yet none have compared the analgesic effectiveness of smoked marijuana to orally administered Δ⁹–tetrahydrocannabinol (THC; dronabinol). This randomized, placebo–controlled, double–dummy, double–blind study compared the magnitude and duration of analgesic effects of smoked marijuana and dronabinol .

Eating Disorder Prevention: Current Evidence-Base and Future Directions

24 May 2013 13:57:01 CDT

This narrative review sought to characterize prevention programs that have produced reliable, reproducible, and clinically meaningful effects in efficacy trials, discuss effectiveness trials that have tested whether prevention programs produce intervention effects under ecologically valid real-world conditions, discuss dissemination efforts and research on dissemination, and offer suggestions regarding directions for future research in this field.

The Bidirectional Relationships Between Alcohol, Cannabis, Co-Occurring Alcohol and Cannabis Use Disorders With Major Depressive Disorder: Results From a National Sample

24 May 2013 13:57:01 CDT

Alcohol use disorders (AUD) and cannabis use disorders (CUD) are common in the United States, and are associated with major depressive disorder (MDD). Co–occurring alcohol and cannabis use/use disorders (AUD+CUD), though understudied, have been found to be associated with greater adverse outcomes than alcohol or cannabis use/use disorders alone.

Opioid Use Linked to Erectile Dysfunction

24 May 2013 13:57:01 CDT

Taking opioids, especially high doses and over several months, is strongly associated with markers for sexual dysfunction, a new study shows.

Want Hospital Admitting Privileges? First Pass a Drug Test

24 May 2013 13:57:01 CDT

Physicians seeking medical staff privileges at a hospital should first go into a bathroom and fill a small paper cup, all for the sake of patient safety.

IBH Commentary: 'Psychedelic Medicine' — The Next Frontier in Drug Legalization

24 May 2013 13:57:01 CDT

The pro-drug lobby has recently expanded its ambitious agenda from simply legalizing marijuana to legalizing psychedelic drugs. The template for this campaign has been taken from its successful promotion of state marijuana initiatives over the past two decades, starting with legal medical use and, once that was successful, pivoting quickly to full legalization.

President Carter Opposes Marijuana Legalization, Supports Project SAM

24 May 2013 13:57:01 CDT

At a recent meeting with state legislators in Atlanta, Ga., former U.S. President Jimmy Carter said the dichotomy of "punishment versus rehabilitation" oversimplifies the issue of marijuana legalization.

The State of Addiction and Mental Healthcare

24 May 2013 13:57:01 CDT

Between 2007 and 2011, spending on inpatient admissions for mental health and substance use treatment grew faster than spending on medical and surgical admissions.

Parity Laws: Powerful Weapon — or Pipe Dream?

24 May 2013 13:57:01 CDT

Is true mental health parity really possible, even with the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA)? It's beginning to look like the answer is maybe — but only with a fight.

Prescription Databases Spur Privacy Concerns for Some Physicians

24 May 2013 13:57:01 CDT

The practice of drug company sales representatives chatting up local pharmacists to learn what drugs doctors were prescribing is waning quickly, thanks to vast databases of patient and doctor information being used by pharmaceutical companies to market drugs.

Prescription-Medication Tracking Bills Set to Reach President's Desk This Summer

24 May 2013 13:57:01 CDT

The House Energy and Commerce Committee approved its version of the prescription-drug tracking bill, HR 1919, and the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee will mark up its version, S 957, on May 22. Both bills aim to "move to an interoperable, electronic, unit-level tracing system throughout the drug supply chain," but they differ in terms of how fast they would transition.

Congresswoman Matsui Calls on HHS to Release Final Mental Health Parity Rules

24 May 2013 13:57:01 CDT

California Congresswoman Doris Matsui, D-Sacramento, sent a letter to Secretary Kathleen Sebelius of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) urging the agency to expeditiously issue a final rule on the Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA), to provide much needed certainty and access to vital mental health and substance abuse services.

Antidotes to Burnout: Fostering Physician Resiliency, Well-Being, and Holistic Development

24 May 2013 13:57:01 CDT

An Orlando, Fla.-based 8-campus hospital with 2,200 beds, a 2000-plus physician medical staff, and more inpatient admissions annually than any other hospital in the United States — is home to Physician Support Services, a pioneering program created to address physician burnout.

DSM-5 Chair: Use DSM-5 'Cautiously, If At All'

24 May 2013 13:57:01 CDT

On the eve of the official launch of the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), Allen Frances, M.D., chair of the DSM-5 Task Force and one of the new manual's staunchest critics, is advising physicians to use the DSM-5 "cautiously, if at all."

Clinical Applicability of a Genetically Based Treatment Algorithm

24 May 2013 13:57:01 CDT

The objective of this study was to evaluate the potential benefit of utilizing a pharmacogenomic testing report to guide the selection and dosing of psychotropic medications in an outpatient psychiatric practice.

Alcohol Alert Number 85

24 May 2013 13:57:01 CDT

This Alert explores the relationship between alcohol and stress, including identifying some common sources of stress, examining how the body responds to stressful situations, and the role that alcohol plays—both in alleviating and perpetuating stress.

TAP 33: Systems-Level Implementation of Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT)

24 May 2013 13:57:01 CDT

This publication describes core elements of screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment (SBIRT) programs for people with or at risk for substance use disorders. Describes SBIRT services implementation, covering challenges, barriers, cost, and sustainability.

Underage Drinking Prevention Campaign: Talk — They Hear You

24 May 2013 13:57:01 CDT

This provides parents of children ages 9 to 15 with the tools and information they need to start talking with their children early about the dangers of alcohol. It includes a suite of materials that helps reinforce the underage drinking prevention campaign's messages.

SAMHSA Appoints Elinore F. Mccance-Katz, MD, to the New Position of Chief Medical Officer

24 May 2013 13:57:01 CDT

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's (SAMHSA) Administrator Pamela S. Hyde is announcing the appointment of Elinore F. McCance-Katz, M.D., Ph.D. as SAMHSA's first chief medical officer. In this capacity she will provide medical-scientific expertise to SAMHSA's major behavioral health efforts, including those promoting the prevention of mental illnesses and substance use disorders, as well as the treatment and recovery of people from these conditions.

ASAM Congratulates the 2013 SAMHSA Science and Service Award Winners

24 May 2013 13:57:01 CDT

The applications received for SAMHSA's 2013 Science and Service Award for the Treatment of Opioid-Related Disorders have been reviewed, and SAMHSA's is in the process of making the final selections. Winners will be announced by the end of May 2013. Thank you to all who participated in this important SAMHSA initiative to promote excellence in patient care.

Just Announced — DOT Substance Abuse Professional Training

24 May 2013 13:57:01 CDT

This training is designed to provide the student with the information required by the Department of Transportation (DOT) regulations and prepare the student for the qualification examination. The course content will cover the nine requirements for training as detailed in the regulations and will conclude with a quiz covering the course materials. Participants will receive a certificate of completion.

Mental Health with Dr. Surita Rao

24 May 2013 13:57:01 CDT

Mental Health with Dr. Surita Rao is an interactive show focusing on everyday behavioral health issues. The program’s focus is on common behavioral health conditions, including depression, drug and alcohol problems, anger management, stress, and other emotional challenges we face in our day-to-day lives. In addition, behavioral health conditions such as mood and anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, and ADHD will be discussed.