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Of the 2.3M inmates, only 1.5M meet DSM IV medical criteria for substance abuse: CASA

Of the 2.3 million inmates crowding our nation's prisons and jails, 1.5 million meet the DSM IV medical criteria for substance abuse or addiction, and another 458,000, while not meeting the strict DSM IV criteria, had histories of substance abuse; were under the influence of alcohol or other drugs at the time of their crime; committed their offense to get money to buy drugs; were incarcerated for an alcohol or drug law violation; or shared some combination of these characteristics, according to Behind Bars II: Substance Abuse and America's Prison Population. Combined these two groups constitute 85 percent of the U.S. prison population.

27 Feb 2010

Neurogenesis linked to drug addiction and relapse

Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center hope they have begun paving a new pathway in the fight against drug dependence. Their hypothesis - that increasing the normally occurring process of making nerve cells might prevent addiction - is based on a rodent study demonstrating that blocking new growth of specific brain nerve cells increases vulnerability for cocaine addiction and relapse.

27 Feb 2010

CAMH signs licensing agreement with US-based Athena Diagnostics to market new genetic test

For the second time in as many months the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health has signed a licensing agreement with US-based Athena Diagnostics Inc. to market a new genetic test.

From Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. 26 Feb 2010

Saint Louis County Justice Services awards alcohol monitoring contract to EMASS

Eastern Missouri Alternative Sentencing Services (EMASS) has announced that Saint Louis County Justice Services awarded their alcohol monitoring contract for the county's DUI offenders to EMASS and their transdermal alcohol sensors, known as SCRAM (Secure Continuous Remote Alcohol Monitors).

25 Feb 2010

Former Connecticut governor urges Senator to amend economic recovery legislation

At a special briefing for Congressional staff today, former Connecticut lieutenant governor Kevin Sullivan testified for the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) on the need for federal action to address the growing mental health crisis in states.

25 Feb 2010

More than 100 people enrolled in UK's tobacco treatment programs

Almost three months after the University of Kentucky became tobacco-free, more than 100 people are enrolled in UK's individual or group tobacco treatment programs, and more than 50 are taking advantage of UK's free nicotine replacement therapy.

24 Feb 2010

Catalyst Pharmaceutical Partners, NIDA partner to conduct CPP-109 Phase II(b) clinical trial for cocaine addiction

Catalyst Pharmaceutical Partners, Inc. announced today that it has signed a non-binding Letter of Intent with the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) to conduct a U.S. Phase II(b) clinical trial evaluating CPP-109, Catalyst's formulation of vigabatrin, for the treatment of cocaine addiction. It is anticipated that NIDA, under their agreement with Veteran's Administration Cooperative Studies Program, will provide substantial resources for the trial and that Catalyst will contribute approximately $2.5 million in resources as part of the estimated $10 million trial cost.

23 Feb 2010

Cancer pain patients: European regulations restricting access to opioid-based drugs

Many cancer patients in Europe are being denied access to adequate pain relief because of over-zealous regulations restricting the availability and accessibility of opioid-based drugs such as morphine.

22 Feb 2010

SRI International establishes new Neurodegenerative Diseases Research Program

SRI International, an independent nonprofit research and development institute, announced today that a new Neurodegenerative Diseases Research Program has been established within its Center for Health Sciences. This new SRI group of neuroscientists and researchers working at the cutting edge of science brings $6.2 million of funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), including the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), and National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS).

19 Feb 2010

Mental illness associated with more lost work days than any other chronic condition: Study

With mental illness associated with more lost work days than any other chronic condition and costing $17.7 billion annually in lost productivity, understanding its underpinnings is increasingly important to the Canadian economy. Now new research from the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) indicates that the strongest predictor for work disability leaves is a person's past history of occurrences.

18 Feb 2010

New book by 12 world-leading scientists calls for renewed approach to drug policy

Drug policy - or really, the way our society controls and provides interventions for both legal and illegal psychoactive substances - is one of those things that seems inherently controversial.

17 Feb 2010

Research suggests scorpion venom could be an alternative to morphine painkiller

Scorpion venom is notoriously poisonous ― but it might be used as an alternative to dangerous and addictive painkillers like morphine, a Tel Aviv University researcher claims.

17 Feb 2010

IMPACT Awards acknowledge nonprofit organizations that provide access to healthcare for underserved

The GlaxoSmithKline 14th Annual IMPACT Awards target community-based nonprofits that provide access to healthcare for the underserved. Up to ten organizations in the Pennsylvania counties of Berks, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Lancaster, Lehigh, Montgomery, and Philadelphia and the City of Camden, New Jersey, will be awarded $40,000 each.

16 Feb 2010

Lack of comprehensive insurance coverage is barrier for smoking cessation: Study

As a new year and decade begin, many Pennsylvanians have made an important resolution to quit smoking. Wanting to quit is a good first step, but it's not nearly enough. Smoking, we now know, is not just a "habit"; it's a true physical addiction, and, on average, most smokers try at least five times to quit.

16 Feb 2010

PHC announces second-quarter fiscal 2010 results

PHC, Inc., d/b/a Pioneer Behavioral Health, “Pioneer” or (the “Company”), a leading provider of inpatient and outpatient behavioral health services, reported financial results for the Company's 2010 second fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2009. The results exclude the operations of the Company`s research division, Pivotal Research Centers, Inc. ("Pivotal"), which was sold during the 2009 third fiscal quarter and was accounted for as a discontinued operation.

11 Feb 2010

Researchers investigate risk factors for childhood obesity

Both genetics and parents who comfort their infants with food are the focus of a study funded for $1 million by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestion and Kidney Disease investigating risk factors for childhood obesity.

11 Feb 2010

Mental health 'bible' starts revamp with new terminology, diagnoses

The Wall Street Journal: "Mental-health experts wrestling with how to fit temper tantrums, hoarding and even Internet addiction into the current understanding of mental illness are proposing changes to the field's primary reference for diagnoses for the first time in 16 years. The draft revisions of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders—the bible for mental health clinicians and researchers—unveiled Wednesday could have effects that ripple through mental health care."

11 Feb 2010

Bees prefer nectar containing nicotine and caffeine over "clean" nectar

A study carried out at the University of Haifa has found that bees prefer nectar with a small concentration of caffeine and nicotine over nectar that does not comprise these substances at all. "This could be an evolutionary trait intended to make the bee addicted, the researchers say.

10 Feb 2010

Children with depressive symptoms may have greater affinity for sweets, says study

New research from the Monell Center reports that children's response to intense sweet taste is related to both a family history of alcoholism and the child's own self-reports of depression.

10 Feb 2010

APA releases proposed draft diagnostic criteria for DSM-5

The American Psychiatric Association today released the proposed draft diagnostic criteria for the fifth edition of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). The draft criteria represent content changes under consideration for DSM, which is the standard classification of mental disorders used by mental health and other health professionals, and is used for diagnostic and research purposes.

10 Feb 2010

Addiction News and Research

Of the 2.3M inmates, only 1.5M meet DSM IV medical criteria for substance abuse: CASA

Neurogenesis linked to drug addiction and relapse

CAMH signs licensing agreement with US-based Athena Diagnostics to market new genetic test

Saint Louis County Justice Services awards alcohol monitoring contract to EMASS

Former Connecticut governor urges Senator to amend economic recovery legislation

More than 100 people enrolled in UK's tobacco treatment programs

Catalyst Pharmaceutical Partners, NIDA partner to conduct CPP-109 Phase II(b) clinical trial for cocaine addiction

Cancer pain patients: European regulations restricting access to opioid-based drugs

SRI International establishes new Neurodegenerative Diseases Research Program

Mental illness associated with more lost work days than any other chronic condition: Study

New book by 12 world-leading scientists calls for renewed approach to drug policy

Research suggests scorpion venom could be an alternative to morphine painkiller

IMPACT Awards acknowledge nonprofit organizations that provide access to healthcare for underserved

Lack of comprehensive insurance coverage is barrier for smoking cessation: Study

PHC announces second-quarter fiscal 2010 results

Researchers investigate risk factors for childhood obesity

Mental health 'bible' starts revamp with new terminology, diagnoses

Bees prefer nectar containing nicotine and caffeine over "clean" nectar

Children with depressive symptoms may have greater affinity for sweets, says study

APA releases proposed draft diagnostic criteria for DSM-5

Achieving and maintaining ISO/IEC 27001 and BS 10012 certifications

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

Examining how pain could play a direct protective role in the gut

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