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Top national news about alcohol, drug and tobacco problems.
Smoking to 'Self-Medicate' May Increase Depression in Teens Teenagers who smoke tobacco to 'feel better' may actually be at increased risk for depression. Stigma Hinders Drug Users' Recovery, Report Finds Referring to problem drug users as 'junkies' or 'addicts' can interfere with their recovery, according to a British review of research on stigma and drug use. Risk Factors for Painkiller Addiction Identified Researchers have found four common risk factors among study participants addicted to opioid painkillers, and found evidence that genes could play a part in the addiction CDC Says Youth Tobacco Use No Longer Declining Youth tobacco use rates dropped between 2000 and 2006, but have leveled off since then, according to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Study Finds Alcoholics Overrate Their Memory Alcoholics overestimate their ability to remember things, according to a new French study. Cigarette Smoke Harmful Even When Exposure is Low New research from New York Presbyterian Hospital shows that even low exposure to tobacco smoke can cause permanent damage to lung tissue. School-Based Interventions Can Reduce Teen Substance Use New research from the United Kingdom shows that personality-based interventions -- delivered by mental-health specialists or teachers given brief training -- can substantially reduce drug and alcohol use in teens. Wall Street Traders Bullish on Marijuana, Prescription Drugs In the high-flying '80s and '90s Wall Street employees were known as big cocaine users, but in these more sedate times investment professionals are turning to marijuana and prescription drugs to ease their stress. Calif. Toughens Law on Adults Who Let Kids Drink California passed new legislation that holds adults legally accountable if they permit minors to drink in their homes. CDC: Smoking in Movies Down, Further Restrictions Needed Depictions of smoking in U.S. films decreased by half between 2005 and 2009, but more than 50 percent of PG-13 movies still show characters lighting up, according to a new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report. NIDA to Launch National Drug Facts Week The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) announced it is launching National Drug Facts Week, a new national awareness week designed to bring together teens and scientific experts to discuss the facts about drug abuse. ER Visits for Synthetic Marijuana on the Rise An herb-and-chemical compound sold legally in the U.S. as incense is sending many of those who smoke it for its marijuana-like high to the hospital. CASA Report Warns Parents about Nexus of Drugs and Gangs in Schools; Students Less Concerned American students are essentially split over the question of whether their school is 'drug free,' but students still cite drugs as a major problem facing people their age, according to a new survey of 12- to 17-year-olds from the Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) at Columbia University. Drinking Regular Beer May Increase Psoriasis Risk in Women Women who drink five or more regular beers a week could nearly double their risk for psoriasis, a new study finds. Mass. Approves Online Tracking of Prescription Painkillers Massachusetts health officials approved a plan on Aug. 11 that will allow doctors and pharmacists to track narcotics prescriptions online -- a major step toward reducing “doctor shopping” in patients addicted to prescription drugs, officials said. Amphetamine Misuse Linked to Artery Damage in Young Adults Young adults who misuse amphetamines have a three-fold risk for tears in the aorta -- the body's largest artery -- compared with nonusers. Fewer Magazines Exposing Youth to Alcohol Exposure to alcohol ads in magazines among youth fell 48 percent between 2001 and 2008, according to a new report from the Center on Alcohol Marketing and Youth (CAMY). E-Cigarette Maker Halts Oregon Sales A leading US manufacturer of e-cigarettes has agreed to halt sales in Oregon in response to a lawsuit. Most Underage Drinkers Seen in ER Are Male The majority of US emergency-room (ER) visits for underage drinking are made by males, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). SAMHSA Report Pinpoints Local Substance Use Problems Throughout U.S. A new report shows that behavioral health problems affect every community throughout America - but in unique, and sometimes surprising ways. The report, based on a nationwide survey commissioned by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), offers detailed analyses of the substance use problems occurring within these smaller geographical areas. Canada Considers 'Decriminalization' for FAS Offenders Canadian policymakers are debating whether to divert offenders with fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) to specialized treatment programs or even to exempt them from incarceration altogether. Strict Enforcement of College Alcohol Policies Reduces Binge and Underage Drinking on Campus Tough college alcohol policies reduce underage and binge drinking on campus without causing a compensatory rise in marijuana use, according to investigators at the Center for Adolescent Substance Abuse Research (CeASAR) at Children’s Hospital Boston. Drug and Alcohol Use Lower among Hispanic Americans, Survey Finds Hispanic-American adults use drugs and alcohol less frequently than the general population, according to data from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA's) National Survey on Drug Use and Health More Birth Defects for Older Women Who Binge Drink During Pregnancy Women who get pregnant later in life are at higher risk of having children with birth defects in general, and those over age 30 who binge on alcohol are more likely to have babies who suffer from Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD). Study Says Alcohol May Protect Against Arthritis People who abstain from alcohol are at higher risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis than those who drink regularly, and drinkers with arthritis report less-severe symptoms than non-drinkers, a new study finds.

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