Substance Abuse News and Research

RSS

Ecstasy use down among America's youth

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's (SAMHSA's) just-released 2003 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) reports the number of current ecstasy users decreased between 2002 and 2003, from 676,000 (0.3 percent) to 470,000 (0.2 percent).

4 Nov 2004

Why some anesthesiologists end up abusing drugs

University of Florida researchers have presented a new theory at the 34th annual Society for Neuroscience on why some anesthesiologists end up abusing drugs.

25 Oct 2004

Survey on treatment for schizophrenia sheds new light on what people with schizophrenia feel is important for long-term quality care

Details from a large-scale survey focusing on treatment goals for schizophrenia shed new light on what physicians and people with schizophrenia feel is important for long-term quality care, according to Ronald J. Diamond, M.D., co-author of the study.

13 Oct 2004

New study highlights survey vulnerabilities

Some 8.3 percent of California teens smoke cigarettes. No, wait, make that 4.5 percent. Or is it really 14.2 percent?

12 Oct 2004

Using antidepressant medication to treat people with depression and alcohol or drug abuse is beneficial

A meta-analysis of 14 studies involving patients with co-occurring depression and alcohol or drug abuse suggests that using antidepressant medication to treat people with these disorders is beneficial

6 Oct 2004

New warnings on antidepressants for children and adolescents highlight the need for appropriate treatments for depression

“Taking an antidepressant comes with risks. When deciding whether an antidepressant is right for a son or daughter, parents should discuss with the physician the possible alternatives, including psychotherapy. Research by the National Institute of Mental Health shows that combining talk therapy and an antidepressant is the most effective treatment for teens battling depression,”

29 Sep 2004

Abused or neglected children are more likely to develop heart disease as adults

The study is the first to suggest that ischemic heart disease in adulthood may be a possible long-term consequence of childhood trauma.

22 Sep 2004

Red Bull energy drink does not improve a person’s physical performance

Energy drinks – usually a mixture of caffeine, taurine, carbohydrates, B-complex vitamins and gluconolactone – have become very popular in recent years.

15 Sep 2004

Recreational gambling good for the elderly

Unlike younger recreational gamblers who show high rates of alcohol use and abuse, depression, bankruptcy and incarceration, there appears to be an association between recreational gambling and good health among elderly persons, according to a Yale study in the American Journal of Psychiatry.

10 Sep 2004

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder costs the U.S. $77 billion each year

A new analysis of a large-scale survey released today estimates yearly household income losses due to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) within the U.S. at $77 billion, according to Harvard researcher, Joseph Biederman, M.D., co-author of the study.

9 Sep 2004

Adolescent substance abuse treatment programs lack key elements necessary for effective treatment

Many highly regarded adolescent substance abuse treatment programs lack several key elements believed to be necessary for effective treatment, including strategies for engaging and retaining teens, showing gender and culture sensitivity, and evaluating the success of treatment

7 Sep 2004

Pediatricians do not always feel comfortable or sufficiently trained to tackle the increasing growth in ADHD patient numbers

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurobehavioral disorder that affects 3-5 percent of all American children. Today pediatricians appear to be treating more children with these behavioral health problems.

7 Sep 2004

Admissions for substance abuse treatment in adolescents has risen, continuing a ten-year trend

The new data show that the number of adolescents ages 12 to 17 admitted to substance abuse treatment increased 65 percent between 1992 and 2002. In 1992, adolescents represented 6 percent of all treatment admissions.

1 Sep 2004

Another large tobacco company has joined the Master Settlement Agreement with Iowa and other states

Iowa's share of payments will be about $14.8 million over the next ten years, with over one-fifth of that going to State coffers.

23 Aug 2004

"Treatment for Adolescents with Depression Study" - a landmark study

The "Treatment for Adolescents with Depression Study" (TADS), reported in this week's Journal of the American Medical Association, is the first multi- center, randomized clinical effectiveness trial to review a combination of treatments for the types of adolescent depression likely to be treated in routine community-based practice settings.

18 Aug 2004

Agreement on terminology for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders

"There is so much confusion around what to call the broader effects of prenatal alcohol exposure when a diagnosis of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome cannot be made"

17 Aug 2004

Binge drinking accounts for a substantial number of deaths each year in the United States

Binge drinking and harmful drinking, including both medium to high levels of regular alcohol consumption, account for a substantial number of deaths each year in the United States.

9 Aug 2004

Heavy drinking by college students poses many serious dangers

As American college students gear up to head back to campus later this month, they'll look forward to all the usual college traditions: football games, late-night discussions, and pizza with new friends after classes.

3 Aug 2004

Substance abuse and mood and anxiety disorders are some of the most common psychiatric disorders in the United States

Substance abuse and mood and anxiety disorders that arise independently of substance abuse and withdrawal are some of the most common psychiatric disorders in the United States, according to an article in the August issue of the Archives of General Psychiatry, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

2 Aug 2004

Injuries kill more Washingtonians under the age of 45 than all diseases combined

Injuries are the leading cause of death and disability for younger people in Washington and are largely preventable. During the summer months, there are more deaths and hospitalizations due to injury.