Substance Abuse News and Research

RSS

Post-Katrina stress contributes to three-fold increase in heart attacks

Chronic stress following Hurricane Katrina contributed to a three-fold increase in heart attacks in New Orleans more than two years after levee breaches flooded most of the city, according to researchers at Tulane University School of Medicine.

23 Jan 2010

Heart disease patients at risk of substance abuse and mental health problems

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) would like to remind Americans that substance abuse and mental health problems affect those with heart disease. In fact, nearly a million Americans experiencing a serious psychological disorder in the past year also suffered from heart disease.

23 Jan 2010

NJHA honors professionals and organizations for sustainable healthcare

Several individuals and organizations were honored at the 91st Annual Meeting of the New Jersey Hospital Association today at the Hyatt Regency Princeton.

23 Jan 2010

HIV infection causes premature aging of the brain

HIV infection or the treatments used to control it are prematurely aging the brain, researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and the University of California-San Diego have found.

22 Jan 2010

Taking opioids long term could hold small risk of addition

Coping with chronic non-cancer pain is a way of life for millions of Americans. Unfortunately, many older adults, in particular, hesitate to take opioids — a kind of narcotic — for fear of addiction. However, a new review finds that taking opioids long term is associated with clinically significant pain relief in some patients with a very small risk of addition.

20 Jan 2010

Intelligent panic disorder treatment by using biofeedback analysis and web technologies

An online treatment system for patients suffering with panic disorder and anxiety problems combine biofeedback therapy with web technologies and allows patients and medical professionals to communicate effectively, according to research published in the International Journal of Business Intelligence and Data Mining.

20 Jan 2010

Children from low SES environment may be at risk for numerous health problems in future

It's no surprise that children from low socioeconomic backgrounds may be at risk for numerous health problems in the future. Scientists speculate that these health problems, including increased risk for depression, anxiety and substance abuse, arise from the physiological toll that the environment has on the children's bodies.

20 Jan 2010

SAMHSA report indicates one quarter of adolescent girls were involved in serious fights in the past year

A report by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) indicates that, in the past year, one quarter (26.7 percent) of adolescent girls participated in a serious fight at school or work, group-against-group fight, or an attack on others with the intent to inflict serious harm.

19 Jan 2010

Study examines how opioid overdose differs by prescribed dose for chronic pain conditions

More and more Americans with chronic pain not caused by cancer are taking medically prescribed opioids like Oxycontin (oxycodone) and Vicodin (hydrocodone). The January 19 Annals of Internal Medicine features the first study to explore the risk of overdose in patients prescribed opioids for chronic noncancer pain in general health care.

19 Jan 2010

Risks associated with opioid pain medications may outweigh surgery risks

Despite limited evidence of long-term success in using opioid pain medications for chronic low back pain, opioid prescribing has increased in recent years for back pain and other non-cancer pain indications.

18 Jan 2010

Brain mechanisms behind compulsive behaviors in Parkinson's disease patients

New research unravels the brain mechanisms that underlie the ability of a standard drug treatment for Parkinson's to elicit compulsive behaviors in some patients with the disease. The study, published by Cell Press in the January 14th issue of the journal Neuron, provides fascinating new insight into the brain mechanisms that underlie a predisposition to behavioral addictions, such as pathological gambling and shopping.

18 Jan 2010

Sudden deaths attributed to cocaine use; drug remains a growing health problem in Europe

Forensic pathologists have shown that over three per cent of all sudden deaths in south-west Spain are related to the use of cocaine. They believe their findings can be extrapolated to much of the rest of Europe, indicating that cocaine use is a growing public health problem in Europe and that there is no such thing as "safe" recreational use of small amounts of the drug.

13 Jan 2010

SAMHSA invites applications for $21.8 million funds for Mental Health Data Infrastructure Grants for Quality Improvement

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is soliciting applications for approximately $21.8 million in funding over the next three years for Mental Health Data Infrastructure Grants for Quality Improvement (State DIG).

12 Jan 2010

Interest in studying psychology on the rise

"I hope I will be able to touch the lives of people when they most need help and to offer them advice and guidance."

9 Jan 2010

Illicit drug use among older adults may lead to increase in substance abuse treatment services

A new study done by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) indicates that the aging of the baby boom generation is resulting in a dramatic increase in levels of illicit drug use among adults 50 and older. These increases may require the doubling of substance abuse treatment services needed for this population by 2020, according to the report.

9 Jan 2010

Ongoing state budget cuts continue to impact health care services in California

Ongoing state budget cuts continue to negatively impact health care services in California. The latest round of budget cuts has eliminated additional health-services programs, including a prominent program for incarcerated women who suffer from drug and alcohol abuse.

8 Jan 2010

Iowa eyes improving program for uninsured adults; Minn. and Okla. confront health spending cuts

Poor, uninsured adults from throughout Iowa could receive health care at nearby hospitals and clinics, instead of having to travel to Iowa City, under proposed changes to a state health-care program. For most Iowa residents, the IowaCare program pays for medical care only at University of Iowa Hospitals.

8 Jan 2010

Citicoline supplements may reduce cravings and increase satiety

The obesity crisis in the United States has now grown to epidemic proportion. And as the list of consequential health conditions and diseases continues to expand as well, there are major movements toward helping Americans lose weight.

5 Jan 2010

Upcoming PBS series "This Emotional Life" aims to help people improve their lives

On the eve of a new year, as millions of Americans struggle to find more meaning in their lives, Vulcan Productions and NOVA/WGBH have brought together a number of national, public and private organizations around a nationwide, multi-faceted project sparked by the upcoming PBS series, This Emotional Life, premiering January 4-6, 2010 (9 p.m.).

31 Dec 2009

APA commends the U.S. Senate for its historic passage of legislation

The American Psychological Association commends the U.S. Senate for its historic passage of legislation that holds the promise of more comprehensive coverage for Americans with health insurance and provides new options for those without.

28 Dec 2009

Substance Abuse News and Research

Post-Katrina stress contributes to three-fold increase in heart attacks

Heart disease patients at risk of substance abuse and mental health problems

NJHA honors professionals and organizations for sustainable healthcare

HIV infection causes premature aging of the brain

Taking opioids long term could hold small risk of addition

Intelligent panic disorder treatment by using biofeedback analysis and web technologies

Children from low SES environment may be at risk for numerous health problems in future

SAMHSA report indicates one quarter of adolescent girls were involved in serious fights in the past year

Study examines how opioid overdose differs by prescribed dose for chronic pain conditions

Risks associated with opioid pain medications may outweigh surgery risks

Brain mechanisms behind compulsive behaviors in Parkinson's disease patients

Sudden deaths attributed to cocaine use; drug remains a growing health problem in Europe

SAMHSA invites applications for $21.8 million funds for Mental Health Data Infrastructure Grants for Quality Improvement

Interest in studying psychology on the rise

Illicit drug use among older adults may lead to increase in substance abuse treatment services

Ongoing state budget cuts continue to impact health care services in California

Iowa eyes improving program for uninsured adults; Minn. and Okla. confront health spending cuts

Citicoline supplements may reduce cravings and increase satiety

Upcoming PBS series "This Emotional Life" aims to help people improve their lives

APA commends the U.S. Senate for its historic passage of legislation

Advancing Neuroscience Research Through Collaboration and Patient-Centered Innovation

The impact of vibration on microscopy

How Omics Technologies Are Transforming Biological Research and Drug Discovery

Latest News