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Cutting back on cigarette smoking linked to improved mental health outcomes

Health professionals who treat people with psychiatric problems often overlook their patients' smoking habits, assuming it's best to tackle depression, anxiety or substance abuse problems first.

12 Feb 2014

New study analyses risk factors and mortality among heroin, cocaine consumers admitted to treatment

A new study analyses the risk factors and excess mortality among heroin and cocaine consumers admitted to treatment in Spain. The results reveal that the fatality rate among consumers of both drugs is 14.3 times higher than for the general population, while among those only using cocaine, it is 5.1 times higher.

10 Feb 2014

Research roundup: Value-based insurance; telemedicine in nursing homes; advance care planning

Each week, KHN compiles a selection of recently released health policy studies and briefs.

10 Feb 2014

Adolescent consumption of energy drink is strongly associated with substance use, says study

Nearly one-third of US adolescents consume high-caffeine energy drinks or "shots," and these teens report higher rates of alcohol, cigarette, or drug use, reports a study in the January/February Journal of Addiction Medicine, the official journal of the American Society of Addiction Medicine.

5 Feb 2014

MORE intervention reduces pain and opioid misuse

With nearly one-third of Americans suffering from chronic pain, prescription opioid painkillers have become the leading form of treatment for this debilitating condition. Unfortunately, misuse of prescription opioids can lead to serious side effects-including death by overdose.

5 Feb 2014

NIDA releases guide on treating teen substance abuse

Resources to help parents, health care providers, and substance abuse treatment specialists treat teens struggling with drug abuse, as well as identify and interact with those who might be at risk, were released today by the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

24 Jan 2014

Researchers identify molecular mechanism by which cocaine alters brain's reward circuits, causes addiction

Researchers from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai have identified a new molecular mechanism by which cocaine alters the brain's reward circuits and causes addiction.

21 Jan 2014

College students who have symptoms of PTSD are likely to drink more alcohol

The estimated 9 percent of college students who have symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are likely to drink more alcohol than peers without the psychological condition. In turn, heavy alcohol consumption exacerbates their PTSD symptoms over time, prolonging a vicious cycle.

17 Jan 2014

Study: Pro-inflammatory molecules linked with early death in HIV patients who abuse alcohol

A study led by researchers at Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) provides new insight into the impact that pro-inflammatory molecules have on early death in HIV patients who abuse alcohol.

17 Jan 2014

State highlights: Calif. Governor's budget to include $670M in new Medi-Cal spending; Mass. launches new electronic health records updates

When he unveils his new budget plan Thursday, Gov. Jerry Brown will propose billions of dollars in new spending on schools, health care, social services and environmental programs as California reaps the benefits of an economic turnaround. … The proposed budget includes $670 million more for Medi-Cal, the state's public health care program, which is expanding as part of President Obama's federal overhaul. The program is expected to serve a quarter of California's residents next year.

10 Jan 2014

Neurovance announces interim results from phase 2a pilot study of EB-1020 SR in patients with all subtypes of ADHD

Neurovance Inc. today announced interim results from its phase 2a pilot study of EB-1020 SR in adult patients with all subtypes of ADHD. With the four week trial fully enrolled and dosing completed in the majority of patients, the results indicate a statistically significant improvement in ADHD symptoms.

10 Jan 2014

Aetna is helping to reverse abuse of prescription painkillers

Abuse of prescription painkillers, known as opioids, is a widespread and growing problem in the United States. The epidemic adds billions of dollars to health care, work place and criminal justice costs each year.

10 Jan 2014

First Edition: January 9, 2014

Today's headlines include reports about how the politics of the health law continue to play out on Capitol Hill.

9 Jan 2014

Study finds discrepancies in prevalence estimates of mental disorders in middle-aged and older adults

Common methods of assessing mental or physical disorders may consistently underestimate the prevalence of mental disorders among middle-aged and older adults, a new study from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health has found.

9 Jan 2014

People with severe mental illness may have higher risk for substance use

People with severe mental illness such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder have a higher risk for substance use, especially cigarette smoking, and protective factors usually associated with lower rates of substance use do not exist in severe mental illness, according to a new study funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), part of the National Institutes of Health.

5 Jan 2014

Rates of smoking, drinking and drug use are higher among people with psychotic disorders

In the largest ever assessment of substance use among people with severe psychiatric illness, researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and the University of Southern California have found that rates of smoking, drinking and drug use are significantly higher among those who have psychotic disorders than among those in the general population.

2 Jan 2014

Neuroscience researchers discover gene that controls response to cocaine

UT Southwestern neuroscience researchers have identified a gene that controls the response to cocaine by comparing closely related strains of mice often used to study addiction and behavior patterns.

22 Dec 2013

Researchers receive 3 Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute awards from PCORI

Research teams at Group Health Research Institute have been approved for funding awards by the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) to study opioid therapy and asthma-and to help expand a health data network that will be part of PCORnet: the National Patient-Centered National Clinical Research Network.

20 Dec 2013

People with intermittent explosive disorder elevate levels of markers of systemic inflammation in blood

People with intermittent explosive disorder — a psychiatric illness characterized by impulsivity, hostility and recurrent aggressive outbursts — have elevated levels of two markers of systemic inflammation in their blood, according to a study involving nearly 200 subjects.

19 Dec 2013

Endocrine Society issues scientific statement on health consequences of performance-enhancing drugs

A new Scientific Statement issued today by The Endocrine Society represents a comprehensive evaluation of available information on the prevalence and medical consequences of the use of performance-enhancing drugs. The statement highlights the clinical pharmacology, adverse effects and detection of many substances often classified as PEDs, identifies gaps in knowledge and aims to focus the attention of the medical community and policymakers on PED use as an important public health problem.

18 Dec 2013

Drug Abuse News and Research

Cutting back on cigarette smoking linked to improved mental health outcomes

New study analyses risk factors and mortality among heroin, cocaine consumers admitted to treatment

Research roundup: Value-based insurance; telemedicine in nursing homes; advance care planning

Adolescent consumption of energy drink is strongly associated with substance use, says study

MORE intervention reduces pain and opioid misuse

NIDA releases guide on treating teen substance abuse

Researchers identify molecular mechanism by which cocaine alters brain's reward circuits, causes addiction

College students who have symptoms of PTSD are likely to drink more alcohol

Study: Pro-inflammatory molecules linked with early death in HIV patients who abuse alcohol

State highlights: Calif. Governor's budget to include $670M in new Medi-Cal spending; Mass. launches new electronic health records updates

Neurovance announces interim results from phase 2a pilot study of EB-1020 SR in patients with all subtypes of ADHD

Aetna is helping to reverse abuse of prescription painkillers

First Edition: January 9, 2014

Study finds discrepancies in prevalence estimates of mental disorders in middle-aged and older adults

People with severe mental illness may have higher risk for substance use

Rates of smoking, drinking and drug use are higher among people with psychotic disorders

Neuroscience researchers discover gene that controls response to cocaine

Researchers receive 3 Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute awards from PCORI

People with intermittent explosive disorder elevate levels of markers of systemic inflammation in blood

Endocrine Society issues scientific statement on health consequences of performance-enhancing drugs

Evaluating new approaches for rare disease genomics

Expanding access to NMR with the Fourier 80 Duo

Advancing Intracellular Delivery with LumiPore®

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