Announcements & News

New Formula Makes Meth Easier to Manufacture - Thursday, August 27, 2009

August 26, 2009

News Summary

A new method for making methamphetamine requires less technical knowledge and fewer over-the-counter cold pills, presenting a new challenge to law-enforcement officials, the Associated Press reported Aug. 24.

Methamphetamine users are reportedly making small batches of the drug for their own use with the so-called "shake and bake" approach. The method requires only a two-liter soda bottle, a small number of over-the-counter cold pills containing pseudoephedrine, and a few household chemicals -- far less complicated than the dirty and dangerous process used at clandestine meth labs where larger quantities of the drug are typically produced.

However, the new method remains hazardous: drug batches are smaller, but the mix of chemicals in the soda bottle can still explode. "If there is any oxygen at all in the bottle, it has a propensity to make a giant fireball," said Sgt. Jason Clark of the Missouri State Highway Patrol's Division of Drug and Crime Control. "You're not dealing with rocket scientists here anyway. If they get unlucky at all, it can have a very devastating reaction." A number of burn cases have been linked to the shake-and-bake method, experts said.

Not only can the meth-making tools now be carried in a small bag, the method requires such a small amount of cold pills that users can dodge limits on sales of pseudoephedrine-based drugs imposed at the height of the meth epidemic.

Officials in the Midwestern U.S. fear that the new meth-production method is fueling a recent increase in use of the drug, which had declined after the initial crackdown on meth labs and restrictions on meth-making chemicals.

Source: Join Together Online. Join Together is part of the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) at Columbia University.

Illicit Drug Use Rising Among Those in their 50 - Friday, August 21, 2009

August 20, 2009

Research Summary

As baby boomers pass the half-century mark, many are celebrating with more than cake and ice cream: use of illicit drugs among 50- to 59-year-olds has nearly doubled during the past five years, according to a report from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

The report, An Examination of Trends in Illicit Drug Use among Adults Aged 50 to 59 in the United States (PDF), found that past-year drug use among this age group increased from 5.1 percent in 2002 to 9.4 percent in 2007. SAMHSA officials attributed the increase to more Baby Boomers entering their 50s and continuing their patterns of illicit-drug consumption.

"These findings show that many in the Woodstock generation continue to use illicit drugs as they age," said SAMHSA Acting Administrator Eric Broderick. "This continued use poses medical risks to these individuals and is likely to put further strains on the nation's health-care system -- highlighting the value of preventing drug use from ever starting."

Source: Join Together Online. Join Together is part of the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) at Columbia University.

Most People Overestimate Self-Control Researchers Find - Wednesday, August 19, 2009

August 18, 2009

Research Summary

A new study from the Kellogg School of Management concludes that most people have too much faith in their own ability to resist temptations such as drugs, sex, and greed.

Researcher Loran Nordgren and colleagues cite a "restraint bias" that causes people to overestimate their willpower and increases the risk of engaging in addictive or impulsive behavior. A series of experiments to gauge impulse control included testing the willpower of smokers to abstain after watching a movie about smoking.

"People are not good at anticipating the power of their urges, and those who are the most confident about their self-control are the most likely to give into temptation," Nordgren said. "The key is simply to avoid any situations where vices and other weaknesses thrive and, most importantly, for individuals to keep a humble view of their willpower."

"A system which assumes people will control themselves is going to fall prey to this restraint bias; we expose ourselves to more temptation than is wise, and subsequently we have millions of people suffering with obesity, addictions and other unhealthy lifestyles," explained Nordgren. "And, while our study focused on personal behaviors like smoking and eating, it is easy to apply our findings to a broader context. Understanding the power of temptation, you might also ask about the extent to which we need oversight or regulatory guidelines for business and political leaders."

The study will appear in an upcoming issue of the journal Psychological Science.

Source: Join Together Online. Join Together is part of the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) at Columbia University.

Binge Drinking: Not for Kids Only - Wednesday, August 19, 2009

August 17, 2009

Research Summary

More than one in five men ages 50-64 report consuming five or more alcoholic beverages at a single sitting within the past month, shattering the myth that binge drinking is strictly a problem for college students

USA Today reported Aug. 16 that Duke University researchers who analyzed the National Survey on Drug Use and Health found that 22 percent of older men and 9 percent of older women reported recent binge drinking. Among those over age 65, 14 percent of men and 3 percent of women reported binge drinking.

Also, the study found that many older Americans consumed enough alcohol on a daily basis to be classified as heavy drinkers by the American Geriatric Society -- 19 percent of men and 13 percent of women said that they consumed two or more drinks each day.

Researcher Dan Blazer said that drinking patterns set during youth may continue into older age. "We typically think of binge drinking as something that occurs with young people such as college students, and here we have examples of older closet drinkers," said Blazer. "Because we don't expect older people to binge-drink, this can be missed by a person's doctor because they are not asking."

The findings were published online in the American Journal of Psychiatry.

Source: Join Together Online. Join Together is part of the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) at Columbia University.

U.K. Health Experts Question Wisdom of Setting Daily Drinking Guidelines - Thursday, August 06, 2009

August 5, 2009

News Summary

Setting recommendations about daily maximum drinking guidelines could backfire by giving consumers the false impression that downing multiple alcoholic drinks each day is healthy behavior, according to a U.K. health expert.

The BBC reported Aug. 1 that Nick Sheron, a University of Southampton researcher and member of the Alcohol Health Alliance UK, said that the daily limits of three to four units of alcohol for men and two to three units for women lacked solid scientific backing and are confusing to the public. He recommended that the U.K. return to the former practice of weekly recommended alcohol consumption limits -- 21 units for men and 14 for women.

"The weekly limits were based on robust studies and were set at a level at which alcohol harms outweigh any putative benefit," said Sheron.

The change was made to daily limits to discourage binge drinking, but the shift in emphasis has brought its own problems." We are quite concerned about the use of 'daily' in the message. It implies that you can drink on every day," said Rachel Seabrook, research manager at the Institute of Alcohol Studies. "There should be an explicit warning against this."

A spokesperson for the U.K. Department of Health said the guidelines have been developed by experts and are constantly reviewed, and pointed to public-information campaigns designed to explain how the guidelines work.

Source: Join Together Online. Join Together is part of the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) at Columbia University.

Bill Would Mandate Use of Ignition-Interlock Devices - Wednesday, August 05, 2009

August 4, 2009

News Summary

A federal transportation bill now being debated in Congress would compel all states to require convicted drunk drivers to install alcohol-detecting ignition-interlock devices on their vehicles, USA Today reported July 30.

States that fail to comply would lose a portion of the federal highway money under the legislation. Currently, 47 states and the District of Columbia require the devices in at least some drunk-driving cases, but Alabama, South Dakota and Vermont lack such laws. Eleven states require all drunk-driving offenders to install the devices, which require the driver to provide a breath sample proving they have no alcohol in their system before the car will start.

If passed, the law could result in up to one million of the devices being installed.

The legislation is backed by Mothers Against Drunk Driving, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and the Governors Highway Safety Association. But the American Beverage Institute, which represents bars and restaurants, expressed concerns, with managing director Sarah Longwell saying, "As this creeping mentality about 'don't drink and drive' as opposed to 'don't drive drunk' takes over, you're seeing more officers inclined to arrest people" who aren't over the presumed threshold for intoxication.

Critics also say the devices could present a financial hardship for first-time offenders.

Source: Join Together Online. Join Together is part of the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) at Columbia University.

Roadside Driver Checks Reveal Less Drinking, More Evidence of Drug Use - Tuesday, July 28, 2009

July 20, 2009
News Summary

Random tests of U.S. drivers revealed that fewer Americans are driving drunk, but more have traces of illicit drugs in their bodies, the New York Times reported July 13.

The report from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), based on blood, breath and saliva tests collected on weekends from drivers in 300 locations nationally, found that just 2.2 percent had blood-alcohol levels in excess of the legal limit of .08 percent. In 1973, 7.5 percent of drivers similarly tested had blood-alcohol levels of .08 percent or higher.

Men were more likely to be driving drunk than women, and most impairment was detected between the hours of 1 a.m. and 3 a.m. Motorcyclists and pickup-truck drivers were more likely to be intoxicated than drivers of other vehicles.

NHTSA researchers also found that 16.3 percent of drivers had detectable traces of marijuana (9 percent), cocaine (4 percent) or prescription drugs (4 percent) in their system. However, unlike with alcohol, the drug tests do not necessarily indicate recent drug use or impairment.

The voluntary, anonymous study was conducted by volunteers, not police. Drunk drivers faced no sanctions but were not allowed to drive home. About 11,000 drivers were included in the study; participants were rewarded with cash payments of $10 for saliva samples, $50 for blood samples, and $100 if they initially refused to be tested.

Source: Join Together Online. Join Together is part of the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) at Columbia University.

Ban on Needle-Exchange Funding Lifted by U.S. House - Tuesday, July 28, 2009

July 27, 2009
News Summary

Federal money could be used to pay for needle-exchange programs under budget legislation approved this week by the U.S. House of Representatives, the Associated Press reported July 25.

The measure would lift a 21-year-old ban on funding needle exchanges, which research has shown to reduce the rate of HIV/AIDS and other diseases among injection-drug users. During the debate on the measure, the House voted 218-211 against an amendment by Rep. Mark Souder (R-Ind.) that would have kept the prohibition intact.

Souder claimed that needle exchanges do not have a proven track record and that "providing needles acts as a way for drug users to sustain and support their intravenous drug use and does not address the primary illness of the drug addiction."

However, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said that the "scientific support for needle exchange could not be more clear."

"These initiatives are an effective public health intervention that reduces the number of new HIV infections without increasing the use of illegal drugs," said Pelosi.

Source: Join Together Online. Join Together is part of the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) at Columbia University.

Dentists Seen as Source for Prescription Pain Pills - Monday, July 27, 2009

July 23, 2009
News Summary

Individuals addicted to prescription pain medications often turn to dentists as a source for drugs like codeine, Vicodin and OxyContin, CNN reported July 21.

Typically, users will work their way through the phone book, calling dentist after dentist complaining of tooth pain and asking for a prescription. "I kind of found out on my own that a dentist will prescribe you painkillers over the phone, instead of a doctor who you would most likely have to go in and see," said Kenny Morrison, a Los Angeles chef who ironically got addicted to pain pills after having dental work, taking up to 25 pills daily at his worst point.

"The moment somebody hangs up the phone on me, I know that they're literally going down the book," said L.A. area dentist Jay Grossman, who serves on the California Dental Association's disciplinary council. "They're calling the next one in the Yellow Pages, hoping that someone will write them a prescription. If you're an addict, one of your resources would certainly be a dentist."

Grossman said most such callers are deterred when he starts asking detailed questions or suggests an office visit.

Doctor-shopping is a well-known way for individuals who misuse prescription drugs to get pain pills, but dentist-shopping is less recognized as a problem. Some users even try to get drugs from veterinarians.

Source: Join Together Online. Join Together is part of the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) at Columbia University.

Analysis Identifies Effective College Drinking Interventions - Monday, July 27, 2009

July 21, 2009
Research Summary

Internet and face-to-face individuals counseling were most effective in curbing college drinking, whereas mail and group feedback did little to change drinking habits, according to a systematic review of previously published research on college alcohol use.

HealthDay News reported July 20 that researchers from Oxford Brookes University in England reviewed 22 past studies and found that 62 percent of students receiving Internet-based interventions reported reductions in their drinking, as did 65 percent of students who received in-person, one-on-one counseling.

The researchers expressed support for social-norms prevention focused on perception of alcohol consumption, saying that students might drink less if they knew that their friends weren't drinking as much as they did. However, one expert also expressed surprise that group interventions were found to be ineffective.

"By providing normative information to a group, I would have expected that it would provide a level of social support for refusal," said Jeanie Alter, program manager and lead evaluator of the Indiana Prevention Resource Center at Indiana University's School of Health, Physical Education and Recreation. "A similarly minded group usually would back you up in your decision not to use."

The review was published in the June 19, 2009 issue of the Cochrane Library.

Source: Join Together Online. Join Together is part of the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) at Columbia University.

Higher Alcohol Intake Associated with More Hospitalizations - Monday, July 13, 2009

July 7, 2009

Research Summary

A study of 6,000 men ages 35 to 64 found that the more alcohol the men drank, the more time they spent in the hospital, Forbes reported July 1.

The Scottish study, which began in the early 1970s, divided the men into six groups: no alcohol use; 1 to 7 units consumed per week; 8 to 14 units a week; 15 to 21 units a week; 22 to 34 units a week; and 35 or more units a week or more. The researchers defined a unit of alcohol as a half-pint of beer or a 4-ounce glass of wine.

The researchers found that men who drank more than 22 units of alcohol a week had a 20-percent higher hospital-admission rate than non-drinkers, while the heaviest drinkers stayed 58 percent longer in the hospital than non-drinkers. Even relatively low levels of alcohol consumption were associated with longer hospitals stays, with the length of stay increasing as consumption did, the researchers found.

The study also found that the men who drank 15 units of alcohol a week had increased numbers of hospital admissions for stroke, and that these admissions also increased the more the men drank.

The researchers found that the men who drank 22 or more units a week had more hospital admissions for respiratory illness, but they also had the lowest admission rates for coronary heart disease, while the non-drinkers had the highest rates of admission for coronary heart disease.

Men who drank 22 or more units per week had more admissions for mental-health problems, researchers found, but non-drinkers had higher rates of admissions for mental-health problems than those who drank 1 to 14 units of alcohol a week.

The study was published online in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health.

Source: Join Together Online. Join Together is part of the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) at Columbia University.

New Publication Available on Underage Drinking and Impaired Driving - Tuesday, July 07, 2009

With alcohol abuse continuing to be the nation's biggest problem among youth, CADCA has developed a new publication to help coalitions tackle underage drinking and impaired driving in their community.

Strategizer 54, A Community’s Call to Action: Underage Drinking and Impaired Driving, is meant to help prevention practitioners create multi-layered prevention and inter¬vention strategies to curb underage drinking among teens, and to prevent impaired driving among young adults ages 21-24. Developed in partnership with Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Strategizer 54 provides the latest facts, strategies and resources that coalitions and MADD Affiliates can use to address these issues in their communities.

Among the topics covered in the Strategizer is the science behind youth alcohol use and abuse, examining the biological, social and environmental challenges that make young people particularly vulnerable to saying "yes" to alcohol consumption. The publication also includes an extensive list of strategies and activities that major influencers in the community can use to prevent and reduce youth alcohol use and impaired driving, as well as a Checklist of Alcohol Policy and Priority Indicators. Finally, to help prevention leaders see what their peers are doing to address these issues, Strategizer 54 also includes case studies, highlighting the work of three community-based organizations.

To order a copy, visit CADCA’s Online Store. CADCA Members will receive a free copy via mail and can download a free copy in the Membership Only section.

Source: CADCA Coalitions Online Newsletter

Rethinking Drinking Offers Tools to Assess and Change Risky Drinking Habits - Tuesday, July 07, 2009

In March, NIAAA launched the fully interactive Web site and supporting booklet, Rethinking Drinking, to help people recognize and reduce their risk for alcohol problems. These new NIAAA resources offer evidence-based information about risky drinking patterns, the signs of an alcohol problem, and strategies for cutting down or quitting drinking. The Web site (RethinkingDrinking.niaaa.nih.gov) also provides tools, such as calculators that can be personalized by the user, to estimate the alcohol content in common cocktails and beverage containers.

According to an NIAAA survey of 43,000 U.S. adults, about 3 in 10 people drink at levels that increase their risk for alcoholism; liver disease; and many other physical, mental health, and social problems. Some of these people already have alcohol-related problems, and it’s safest for them to quit. But most of these “at-risk” drinkers can reduce their chances of harm by cutting their drinking to within the low-risk drinking limits presented in Rethinking Drinking. For men, these limits are no more than 4 drinks on any single day and no more than 14 drinks per week; for women, the limits are no more than 3 drinks on any single day and no more than 7 drinks per week.

“People can still have trouble even if they drink within these limits, particularly if they drink too quickly, have certain medical conditions, or are older,” says NIAAA Acting Director Dr. Kenneth Warren. Among people who exceed the low-risk limits, about 1 in 4 already has an alcohol use disorder—alcoholism or alcohol abuse—and the rest are at increased risk for these and other problems.

“We know that many heavy drinkers are able to change on their own,” says Dr. Mark Willenbring, Director of NIAAA’s Division of Treatment and Recovery Research. Rethinking Drinking is a convenient way to provide information and tools, especially for those who want to make a change before they develop symptoms.”

The Rethinking Drinking booklet may be ordered online, downloaded from the Web site, or ordered by telephone at (301) 443–3860.

Source: NIAAA News, Summer 2009, Issue 18

Study: Tobacco Linked to Brain Damage - Wednesday, July 01, 2009

June 30, 2009

Research Summary

New research has found a direct link between tobacco use and brain damage, Science Daily reported on June 23.

Researchers led by Debapriya Ghosh and Anirban Basu of the Indian National Brain Research Center (NBRC) said that the compound NNK, found in tobacco, incites white blood cells in the central nervous system to attack healthy cells, leading to severe brain damage.

The research focused primarily on the NNK compound that is found in all forms of tobacco. NNK is a chemical substance that becomes carcinogenic during the body's metabolic process.

In their tests, the Indian researchers found that NNK provoked an errant response from microglia, immune cells in the brain that normally attack damaged or unhealthy cells.

"This research sheds light on the processes that lead to nerve-cell damage in those who smoke cigarettes or consume tobacco products on a regular basis," said Ghosh.

Researchers believe the neuroinflammation caused by NNK may lead to disorders like multiple sclerosis.

The findings will be published in the July 2009 issue of the Journal of Neurochemistry.

Source: Join Together Online. Join Together is part of the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) at Columbia University.

Healthcare Reform Must Prioritize Treatment for Addictions, Mental Health, Report Says - Monday, June 29, 2009

June 25, 2009

News Feature
by Bob Curley

Any effort to reform the U.S. healthcare system must make behavioral healthcare a priority, treat the "whole person" not just disease symptoms, and eliminate the stigma and system fragmentation that stand in the way of patients seeking treatment and preventative services, according to a consensus statement issued by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

"As lawmakers seek to revamp America’s health care system, the prevention and treatment of mental and substance-use disorders must play a foundational role in reforms and be given equal weight to medical care provisions," according to the document, "Ensuring U.S. Health Reform Includes Prevention and Treatment of Mental and Substance Use Disorders -- A Framework for Discussion" (PDF).

"There is no health without addressing mental and substance-use disorders and it is time to give Americans the comprehensive care and support they need and deserve," the report stated.

The consensus statement was released in late May by SAMHSA just as healthcare-reform discussions were heating up in earnest on Capitol Hill. It includes a list of nine "Core Consensus Principles for Reform" based on input from "hundreds of stakeholder and consumer groups and dozens of nationally and internationally recognized experts in the fields of mental health and addictions," according to the agency. The American Society of Addiction Medicine, National Alliance on Mental Illness, the National Council of Community Behavioral Healthcare, and Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America were among the groups that provided input into the report.

"Despite the broad range of organizations and areas of focus we surveyed, there were clear themes running through the responses we received," the report noted. "With consistency and solidarity, mental health and substance-abuse professionals, consumers, and family members from every part of the country, every cultural and socioeconomic group, and every diagnosis and condition spoke with a single voice: Our nation is crying out for a health system that makes prevention and treatment for mental and substance use disorders a priority rather than an afterthought, that considers the whole person rather than physical symptoms alone, and that seeks to eliminate the stigma and fragmented systems that interfere with Americans’ ability to access necessary preventive and treatment services fundamental to achieving recovery and enabling them to lead healthy and productive lives."

The Core Principles elucidated by SAMHSA included:

1. Articulate a national health and wellness plan for all Americans that "provides for comprehensive, community-wide prevention, screening, health, and wellness services from infancy through old age."

"The plan should provide for public education, prevention, early intervention, treatment, and recovery services, and must be a holistic, standardized system that emphasizes promoting wellness and resilience, preventing risky and unhealthy behaviors before they occur to avoid the onset of illness or drug use, and addressing symptoms when they first emerge rather than waiting until they become acute or chronic," according to the consensus statement.

2. Legislate universal coverage of health insurance with full parity. "Simply talking about parity in private insurance coverage for mental and substance use disorders is not enough," according to the document. "Equal treatment for people with serious mental illness and substance use disorders must mean access to effective services and high-quality care."

3. Achieve improved health and long-term fiscal sustainability. "There is a substantial body of evidence to demonstrate that providing adequate levels of mental and substance use disorders prevention and treatment services as well as integrating these services with primary health care can improve outcomes; cut and/or control the growth of overall health care costs; lessen the rate, duration, and intensity of disability of many illnesses; improve productivity; and control the size and growth of other social costs," the document stated.

4. Eradicate fragmentation by requiring coordination and integration of care for physical, mental, and substance-use conditions.

5. Provide for a full range of prevention, early intervention, treatment and recovery services that embodies a whole-health approach. "Addressing physical health including mental and substance use disorders through effective prevention efforts that promote healthy environments, norms, and behaviors rather than waiting for the development of full-blown acute or chronic diseases is the most cost-effective approach," the SAMHSA paper said.

6. Implement national standards for clinical and quality outcomes tied to reimbursement and accountability. The consensus statement said that establishing "specific and measurable" outcomes criteria is an "essential element" of healthcare reform, adding, "Reimbursement guidelines and benefits should be tied to need and severity regardless of payer."

"These guidelines must link quality improvement with reimbursement and both encourage and reward the use of evidence-based practices without restricting coverage for those consumers who may not achieve desired outcomes with the least-costly alternative," according to the consensus statement.

7. Adopt and fully utilize health information technology, including electronic health records that allow providers to share information and improve data collection aimed at improving access to and quality of care.

8. Invest in the prevention, treatment and recovery-support workforce. "Lack of adequate health care for mental and substance use conditions is a constant cycle exacerbated by a system that has failed to grow with the needs of a quickly expanding society and has not equipped its workforce with the right tools and experience to provide sorely needed care," the consensus group stated. "It must become a National priority to increase the mental and substance use disorders workforce and provide appropriate compensation and professional support for these key members of the U.S. health system."

9. Ensure a safety net for people with the most serious and disabling mental and substance-use disorders. "We can ill afford to dismantle the current safety net of block grants to states and other resources that in many states and communities are the only blockade between even higher rates of risky behaviors, illness, disability, death, health care costs, and lost productivity," the report said. "Assuming expanded access to private and public insurance (Medicaid) for people with mental and substance use disorders will require a reexamination of the role of the public system at the local, state, and federal levels. Absent clear evidence that newly substituted health reform programs, systems, and processes are fully implemented and effective, it is imperative that our nation’s current safety net that finances health services, including school and community-based prevention programs and treatment programs for mental and substance use disorders, not be dismantled prematurely."

Alexa Eggleston, director of public policy for the National Council of Community Behavioral Healthcare, said that the consensus statement would be useful in providing background and educating the public and lawmakers about key concerns regarding addiction, mental health, and healthcare reform.

"From that perspective it's helpful," she said, although Eggleston also stressed the need for the behavioral healthcare field to draft legislative language for healthcare reform and for SAMHSA to "assert its role" in advocating for inclusion of addiction and mental health benefits in emerging legislation.

Consensus Reflected in Other Field Documents, Priorities

Recommendations forwarded to Congress by the Coalition for Whole Health, which is being coordinated by the Legal Action Center, include legislative language that advocates would like to see incorporated into the House and Senate healthcare reform bills (PDF). The coalition recommendations echo many of the priorities cited in the SAMHSA consensus document, including recognition of addiction and mental illnesses as preventable and treatable health conditions, a call for parity coverage, and maintenance of so-called "safety-net" programs like the addiction and mental-health block grants to states.

The SAMHSA consensus statements regarding information technology and workforce development also are among the top current priorities for addiction and mental health advocates working on national healthcare reform, added Eggleston, along with efforts to get Congress to recognize addiction as a chronic illness.

Congress has been debating proposals that would extend healthcare to all Americans -- perhaps by creating a government-run "public option" health insurance plan that would compete with private health insurance. This week, Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius appeared before the House Energy and Commerce Committee to press lawmakers to take decisive action on healthcare reform, while also signaling that the Obama administration remains flexible about how reform is accomplished and how it is funded.

"At this point the questions are so much bigger than individual illnesses," noted Eggleston, who said that Congress appears more likely to punt more detailed discussions to a commission after the broad outlines of the reform plan are in place. "Delving into what a benefits package looks like doesn't seem likely to happen legislatively," she said.

However, coverage for addiction and mental illness treatment is included as part of the "essential" benefit outlined in both the House bill and the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee bill, noted David Rosenbloom, Ph.D., president and CEO of the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University.

"Coverage for addiction treatment is a key part of the solution to affordable health care reform," said Rosenbloom. "Research has shown that when individuals get good addiction treatment, their families' regular medical expenses decline almost immediately, producing large net savings to the entire health system. So far, the Congressional committees seem to recognize this important fact by including addiction treatment in their draft bills."

Source: Join Together Online. Join Together is part of the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) at Columbia University.

Study: Off-Campus Drinking Can be Curbed with Community's Help - Monday, June 29, 2009

June 26, 2009
Research Summary

A new study concludes that off-campus drinking by college students was reduced 27 percent by implementing community-level prevention programs, Reuters reported on June 18.

Researchers surveyed more than 6,000 students and found a significant decrease in the percentage who reported binge drinking during the previous two weeks at a pair of schools that implemented community-based programs; meanwhile, the binge drinking rose among students at a control school that did not have a community-based prevention strategy. Frequency of binge drinking at the intervention schools also remained stable, while it increased significantly at the control school, the study found.

Western Washington University in Bellingham, Wash., used the Neighborhoods Engaging with Students (NEST) program, which involved increasing police patrols to find off-campus parties and enforcement of underage drinking laws, as well as providing forums for students, local residents and police to talk about issues such as disruptive parties. Underage students cited for alcohol possession were also required to perform community service.

Researcher Robert F. Saltz, Ph.D., of the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation and colleagues said, "The prevention field has reason to be optimistic that environmental interventions can achieve good outcomes in a relatively short time across very different organizational contexts," although the authors added that "it may prove difficult to maintain students' attention to the enforcement after the novelty wears off."

The study is published in the July 2009 issue of the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs.

Source: Join Together Online. Join Together is part of the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) at Columbia University.

As College Drinking Problems Rise, New Studies Identify Effective Prevention Strategies - Monday, June 22, 2009

Alcohol-related deaths among U.S. college students rose from 1,440 deaths in 1998 to 1,825 in 2005, along with increases in heavy drinking and drunk driving, according to an article in the July supplement of the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs.

The special issue describes the results of a broad array of research-based programs to reduce and prevent alcohol-related problems at campuses across the country. These studies resulted from the Rapid Response to College Drinking Problems Initiative, a grant program supported by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), part of the National Institutes of Health. Click here to read more from this Press Release.

College Program Aims to Curb Alcohol-Related Deaths - Monday, June 22, 2009

News Summary
June 19, 2009

Red Watch Band, a volunteer program started at Stony Brook University in New York, aims to teach students what to do when someone passes out from binge drinking, USA Today reported June 15.

The program was founded after the son of a Stony Brook professor died of an alcohol overdose in 2008. To date, about 90 students have completed the program, which involves 2.5 hours of CPR training and one hour of alcohol-related emergency training. More than 100 other colleges and universities have considered starting the program on their campuses this fall.

After they complete the training, students are given a red watch. "The Red Watch symbolizes the 'band' of students who are trained to 'watch' over one another when 'every second counts,'" according to the program website.

"Our students absolutely need to know how to stay alive, and we need to be doing something to equip them and empower them to create a culture where they can look out for each other and care about each other," said Jenny Hwang, associate dean and director for prevention and outreach at Stony Brook.

As drinking-related deaths on college campuses rise, so has the need for programs like Red Watch Band, says Tim Workman, assistant professor in the school of allied health sciences at Baylor College of Medicine. However, he added, such efforts need to be combined with prevention education.

"We don't just want to see an increase in 911 calls," Workman said. "What we want to see is a decrease in incidents."

A June 2009 report by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) found that alcohol-related deaths and binge drinking at college campuses continue to rise, and a 2007 report from the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University found that 49 percent of full-time college students binge drink and/or abuse prescription and illegal drugs.

Source: Join Together Online. Join Together is part of the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) at Columbia University.

NIDA Study Shows School-Based Prevention Program Reduces Problem Behaviors in Fifth Graders By Half - Friday, June 19, 2009

Researchers See Drop in Rates of Substance Abuse, Violence and Early Sexual Activity

A study suggests that school-based prevention programs begun in elementary school can significantly reduce problem behaviors in students. Fifth graders who previously participated in a comprehensive interactive school prevention program for one to four years were about half as likely to engage in substance abuse, violent behavior, or sexual activity as those who did not take part in the program. The study, supported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), a component of the National Institutes of Health, will appear in the August 2009 print issue of the American Journal of Public Health. Click here to read more from the Press Release.

APIS Announces Update of Alcohol Policy Information - Thursday, October 09, 2008

The Alcohol Policy Information System (APIS), a project by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, has announced its latest update of state-by-state alcohol policies. The update, which includes legislative and regulatory changes in effect on or before January 1, 2007, is posted on the site found at: http://www.alcoholpolicy.niaaa.nih.gov/. (To see policy changes at a glance, go to http://www.alcoholpolicy.niaaa.nih.gov/changesataglance.htm.)

Calif. Gov. Considers Beer Giveaway Bill - Tuesday, October 07, 2008

News Summary
September 29, 2008

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has until Tuesday night to take action on a bill that has small brewers and anti-alcohol advocates up in arms, the San Jose Mercury News reported Sept. 27.

Measure AB 1245, which has cleared the state legislature, would allow beer makers to give away promotional material worth up to $3. Currently, the state bars brewers from giveaways worth more than 25 cents per item. Distilled-spirits companies can spend up to $5 each on giveaways.

The bill would change California's Alcoholic Beverage Control Act and open the door for companies like Anheuser-Busch to distribute freebies like t-shirts and hats, rather than just bottle openers and keychains.

Assemblyman Alberto Torrico (D-Fremont) said the aim of the bill is to "equal the playing field" between beer brewers and spirits firms and to "modernize an arcane provision of the law."

However, Tom McCormick, president of the California Small Brewers Association, said his group opposes the legislation because it would give an unfair advantage to big brewers like Anheuser-Busch, which unlike smaller firms can afford to give away higher-ticket promotional items.

Officials at the Marin Institute, an alcohol industry watchdog, also oppose the legislation, saying that industry giveaways are especially appealing to adolescents. "It's designed to burn beer and alcohol brand names permanently into the developing brains of youth," said Michael Scippa, Marin's advocacy director.

Source: Join Together Online. Join Together is a project of the Boston University School of Public Health

Universities Move to Correct Misconceptions on Student Drinking Norms - Monday, August 18, 2008

News Summary
August 13, 2008

Several universities are working hard to correct some students' notions about the extent of drinking in campus, armed in some cases with detailed data on actual patterns in student drinking behaviors, the Charlottesville Daily Progress reported Aug. 11.

Officials at the University of Virginia have used results from 2001-2006 surveys measuring student alcohol consumption and its consequences to design a social-norms marketing campaign. Comparing 2006 numbers with those from 2001, the university found that about 2,000 fewer students were injured in alcohol-related incidents and 550 fewer students had unprotected sex.

At Virginia Commonwealth University, although surveys have shown that 25 percent of students don't drink at all and 70 percent don't drink at high-risk levels, many students believe the highly visible unhealthy behaviors they sometimes encounter reflect a wider phenomenon on campus.

"The majority who don't get hammered don't get seen," said Linda Hancock, director of the university's Wellness Resource Center. The university since 2002 has surveyed incoming freshmen about their perceptions of responsible alcohol use and safe sex; it also places statistics from student surveys on posters and in bathrooms across the campus.

It appears that several schools are intensifying their activity around social norms, as opposed to simply devoting one time of the year to such an effort. Florida State University has employed a multipronged strategy involving public service announcements, advertisements on buses and mandatory classes for students who have committed an alcohol-related violation.

Source: Join Together Online. Join Together is a project of the Boston University School of Public Health

45% of Young Drinkers Ages 12 to 14 Get Alcohol Free from Adult Family Members or Take from Home - Wednesday, August 13, 2008

"Young drinkers ages 12 to 14 are more likely to get alcohol in their own home than other underage drinkers, according to a recent analysis of data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Forty-five percent of youths ages 12 to 14 who drank alcohol in the past month were given alcohol for free by an adult member of their family (30%) or took the alcohol from their own home the last time they drank (15%). In comparison, 22% of underage drinkers age 15 to 17 and 14% of those age 18 to 20 reported getting alcohol from family or home the last time they drank. Similar results were found in a Chicago public school study published in 2007 (see , Volume 16, Issue 18). These findings support the need for increased parental educationon the effects of early alcohol use as well as the need to monitor the presence of alcohol in the home."

Source: CESAR FAX, July 17, 2008, Vol. 17, Issue 27.

Study Says Bingeing Worse at Colleges with Big Drinking Culture, Lax Rules - Monday, July 21, 2008

Research Summary
July 14, 2008

The college environment plays a key role in student binge drinking, researchers say, with bingeing rates higher at schools that have a strong drinking culture, few alcohol-control policies, weak enforcement, and easy access to alcohol.

Science Daily reported July 11 that the conclusions from the Harvard School of Public Health's College Alcohol Study were based on surveys of more than 50,000 students at 120 schools.

"Binge drinking among college students varies widely from college to college," said Toben Nelson of the University of Minnesota, assistant director of the study. "At some colleges almost no students binge drink, while at others nearly four in every five students do. Interestingly, we found that the levels of binge drinking, and the problems related to it, remain very stable at the same colleges over time ... That suggests there is something about certain college environments that promote binge drinking,"

Researchers found that schools that emphasize intercollegiate athletics and Greek life had higher levels of binge drinking, while there were fewer drinkers at schools that ban alcohol on campus and offer substance-free dorms.

"A 'wet' college environment, one that has many stores where students can buy alcohol, and may be influenced to do so by heavy marketing, low prices and special promotions, creates the conditions for heavy drinking," said study director Henry Wechsler of Harvard. "If colleges can change those conditions, they can reduce binge drinking among their students."

The study was published in the July 2008 issue of the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs.

Source: Join Together Online. Join Together is a project of the Boston University School of Public Health

Gov. Blunt Takes Action to Keep Drunk Drivers off Missouri Highways and Road - Thursday, July 03, 2008

Columbia - Gov. Matt Blunt has signed legislation to better protect Missouri families from drunk drivers by requiring repeat offenders to modify their vehicles with ignition interlock devices to ensure they cannot endanger other Missourians by drinking and driving.

"Drunk drivers take thousands of innocent lives every year. My heart goes out to the parents, the children, the brothers, the sisters, and the friends who have had their lives changed forever by the criminal irresponsibility of drunk drivers," Gov. Blunt said. "No one should have to suffer through the pain caused by drunk driving accidents. When someone abuses their driving privilege they should have to prove their trustworthiness to get their driver’s license back. And not just by promising not to do it again, but through ignition interlocks which verify sobriety."

"I appreciate Gov. Blunt signing this comprehensive transportation reform package," Sen. Stouffer said. "These reforms come from several years of collaborative work which will result in moving transportation forward in Missouri."

Senate Bill 930, sponsored by Sen. Bill Stouffer, amends Missouri law regarding the issuance of ignition interlocks as penalties for repeat drunk driving offenders. Under current law courts are required to mandate ignition interlock devices, a vehicle modification system that disables a vehicle’s ignition if the driver is drunk or drinking, on the second or subsequent offense.

The legislation shifts responsibility for interlock devices from the courts to the Department of Revenue. To re-gain their driving privileges from the Department of Revenue, convicted drunk drivers must use an ignition interlock device.

In 2005 there were 3,163 drivers convicted of second and subsequent offenses. Of those only about 19 percent, or 614, were required by the courts to install the interlocks. The shift of this responsibility for interlock devices from the courts to the Department of Revenue should address this problem.

The legislation signed by Gov. Blunt also addresses a loophole in our current drunk driving laws. Earlier this year, the Supreme Court ruled, essentially, that municipal DWIs could not count in a prosecutor’s calculation of whether to charge a defendant as a persistent prior offender. This legislation closes this new loophole and with Gov. Blunt’s signature, municipal DWIs will once again count against a defendant.

Gov. Blunt’s action continues his strong stance against alcohol offenders. He has signed legislation closing a loophole in the law that had allowed some arrested for drunk driving to avoid prosecution on a technicality. He also signed legislation creating two new classes for repeat DWI offenders, aggravated and chronic, that both carry increased penalties. In addition the governor strengthened Missouri’s laws against underage drinking by changing penalties to address both the possession and consumption of alcohol by minors. In Missouri a minor could be found guilty of a "minor in possession" if he or she is visibly intoxicated or has a blood alcohol content of more than .02. New laws enacted by the governor also prohibit adults from allowing minors to drink on their private property unless they are the minor’s legal guardians and requires school districts to create a policy detailing the consequences if a student is found to either possess or drink alcohol on school property or at school events.

Gov. Blunt Announces Federal Funds to Prevent Underage Drinking - Wednesday, April 02, 2008

Jefferson City - Gov. Matt Blunt announced the Department of Public Safety has competitively awarded more than $188,000 to combat underage drinking across Missouri.

"Underage drinking is a serious problem that hurts Missouri children and their families, and the consequences can be devastating," Gov. Blunt said. "By reducing the number of underage drinkers in Missouri, we can help ensure a brighter future for Missouri’s young people."

"Minors obtain alcohol in three principle ways: through illegal purchases, at parties and from the family liquor cabinet or refrigerator," said Director of Public Safety Mark James. "Research shows interventions can successfully reduce underage consumption, including regular police checks on sellers and servers of alcohol."

The grants to local Missouri law enforcement come as part of the federal Enforcement of Underage Drinking Laws (EUDL) Program and will be used by police, sheriffs and university safety departments to supplement officers’ regular pay for conducting activities such as retail compliance checks, parent and community education on the consequences of hosting alcohol parties, safe party dispersals by law enforcement, youth oriented driving-while-intoxicated checkpoints, and working special events such as county fairs or festivals.

Additionally, in order to boost the effectiveness of these grant funds the Department of Public Safety will provide recipient agencies with nationally recognized field training on proven methods in combating underage drinking.

EUDL funds are appropriated by Congress, and are awarded to states by the U.S. Department of Justice through the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP). In Missouri, the Department of Public Safety is the designated state agency to receive and administer EUDL funding.

For a complete list of EUDL awards and amounts, visit the Department of Public Safety’s internet site at www.dps.mo.gov. For more information about the grants, contact Terri Durdaller with the Department of Public Safety at 573-751-4819. more

Gov. Blunt Announces Free Training to Help Stop Underage Drinking - Wednesday, March 12, 2008

Jefferson City - Gov. Matt Blunt announced that retail establishments and liquor stores in Missouri can receive free training aimed at stopping underage drinking through the State of Missouri Alcohol Responsibility Training, or SMART, program available at http://smart.missouri.edu. “The SMART program is an excellent resource available to Missouri businesses,” Gov. Blunt said. “I encourage Missouri’s retail establishments and liquor stores to consider utilizing this program to help prevent minors from obtaining alcohol.”

SMART was initially launched for bars and restaurants and is now available statewide. Since its creation more than 500 establishments have received training through the program.

Gov. Blunt’s strong stance against drunk driving includes legislation he signed last year closing a loophole in the law that had allowed some arrested for drunk driving to avoid prosecution on a technicality. He also signed legislation creating two new classes for repeat DWI offenders, aggravated and chronic, that both carry increased penalties. In addition the governor strengthened Missouri’s laws against underage drinking by changing penalties to address both the possession and consumption of alcohol by minors. In Missouri a minor could be found guilty of a “minor in possession” if he or she is visibly intoxicated or has a blood alcohol content of more than .02. New laws enacted by the governor also prohibits adults from allowing minors to drink on their private property unless they are the minor’s legal guardians and requires school districts to create a policy detailing the consequences if a student is found to either possess or drink alcohol on school property or at school events.

Gov. Blunt Announces New Proposal to Keep Drunk Drivers off Missouri Highways & Roads - Thursday, January 10, 2008

Jefferson City - Gov. Matt Blunt today announced his plan to better protect Missourians from drunk drivers requiring repeat offenders to modify their vehicles to ensure they cannot endanger other Missourians by drinking and driving.

“To protect Missouri families and ensure our roads are as safe as possible, drunk driving offenders simply should not be allowed to get behind the wheel without some assurance they are fit to drive,” Gov. Blunt said. “My plan to toughen our drunk driving laws ensures 100 percent of repeat offenders will not be given the privilege to drive without first taking serious precautions to prevent them from again drinking and driving and endangering Missourians.” more