Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Research Shows Benefits of Combining Treatments for PTSD and Substance Abuse
By Join Together Staff | August 16, 2012 | 1 Comment | Filed in Alcohol, Drugs,Mental Health, Military, Research & Treatment
A new study shows people who are treated for both post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and substance abuse have improved PTSD symptoms, without an increase in severity of substance dependence.
The researchers say the results counter the common belief that treating PTSD might worsen substance abuse, by bringing up negative memories, CNN reports.
The study used prolonged exposure therapy, which is considered to be one of the most effective treatments for PTSD, the article notes. Patients work with therapists to return to their traumatic event. They describe it in the present tense, allowing them to relive the trauma. As this process is repeated, the brain reacts less severely to the trauma over time. This makes the memory appear less traumatic.
In the study, 103 participants with both PTSD and substance abuse were randomly assigned to receive either prolonged exposure therapy plus substance abuse treatment, or to receive only treatment for substance abuse. After nine months, both groups had reduced PTSD symptoms. Participants who received combined treatment did not show an increase in substance abuse severity.
The findings appear in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Monday, August 20, 2012
Real World Star's Death ODs on Viagra, Cocaine, and Booze
EXCLUSIVE
Courtesy of the fix and TMZ
2:20 PM PT -- An autopsy conducted on Saturday was inconclusive and the cause of death is pending toxicological test results.
"Real World" star Joey Kovar died after taking what could turn out to be a lethal mixture of Viagra, cocaine and alcohol... law enforcement sources tell TMZ.
Our sources say ... Thursday night, just before midnight, Joey went to a woman's house in Chicago Ridge, Illinois, told her he'd been doing cocaine ... and asked her to drive him to a location where he could score more coke. The woman, Stacey Achterhof, rebuffed his request, and asked him to stay at her place.
We're told Joey, who was also fueled up on alcohol, took "some Viagra" and messed around with Stacey ... but they did not have sex. At some point Stacey fell asleep, and when she awakened early Friday morning she found Joey bleeding from the nose and ears.
Law enforcement sources tell us ... his eyes were also "blackened" -- something that frequently occurs when someone ODs. Law enforcement sources tell us they suspect Joey had an aneurysm.
Stacey was interviewed extensively by cops on Friday. We're told she says she saw Joey take Adderall and Xanax in recent weeks -- and multiple sources close to Joey tell us although they were prescribed, he often took more than called for by doctors.
There's no indication, at this point, Stacey will be charged with a crime.
As for Joey, toxicology results will take weeks, but our law enforcement sources say they believe the results will show a fatal combo of Viagra and cocaine and alcohol.
See also
Read more: http://www.tmz.com/2012/08/18/joey-kovar-dead-real-world-viagra-cocaine/#ixzz245AWOu5F
Saturday, August 18, 2012
IN SEARCH OF YOUNG MUSICIANS
Dear Joseph,
Do you know a talented, young musician who is dedicated to leading a healthy lifestyle?
The Partnership at Drugfree.org, in conjunction with the GRAMMY Foundation® and MusiCares®, is kicking off the back-to-school season in search of young musicians (ages 14-18) to compose or create an original song and/or music video that promotes and celebrates healthy living and/or appropriately depicts a story about drug abuse. In our efforts to raise awareness of addiction and recovery, we encourage teens to submit their powerful messages of struggle, hope and triumphant healing.
The first, second and third place winners will each receive:
A trip to Los Angeles to attend the 55th annual GRAMMY Awards® Backstage Experience, a unique backstage tour taking place as artists rehearse live for the GRAMMY awards;
Placement and exposure of their musical entries on the GRAMMY365® website, MTV Act Blog, and the Above the Influence campaign website;
An iPad, equipped with the GarageBand app;
The opportunity to release a record with Iron Ridge Road Recordings, courtesy of Clarity Way of Hanover, PA; and
A certificate from the GRAMMY Foundation and MusiCares in acknowledgment of each winner’s activism in disseminating of health information on substance abuse.
A cash award of $500 will go to the first place winner; $250 to the second prize winner; and $100 to the third place winner courtesy of the Visions Adolescent Treatment Center in Malibu, California.
Submit a musical entry now at drugfree.org/teensmakemusiccontest.
Be part of the Teens! Make Music Contest today!
We look forward to honoring our nation’s most talented and inspirational musicians.
Thank you,
Janine Serio
Youth Service Leader
The Partnership at Drugfree.org
P.S.Text DRUGNEWS to 50555 and reply YES to receive timely text alerts on the news you want as a parent, friend or supporter of our cause. Sign up today!
Message & data rates may apply. Full Terms at mGive.org/T
COMEDY FOR COPS
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Friday, August 17, 2012
Addiction to Heroin and Morphine Can be Blocked, Rodent Study Suggests
By Join Together Staff | August 15, 2012 | 1 Comment | Filed in Addiction,Drugs, Research & Treatment
Addiction to heroin and morphine can be blocked, suggests a new study conducted in rodents. The study revealed a key mechanism in the immune system that amplifies addiction to opioids.
Researchers found an immune receptor in the brain that stimulates the reward response to heroin and morphine, which makes opioids addictive, according to Bloomberg News. It may be possible to prevent dependence on the drugs by blocking the immune receptor, while increasing the medical benefits of the drugs for pain relief, the researchers report. Their findings are scheduled to be published this week in the Journal of Neuroscience.
The rats and mice in the study were given a drug called plus-naloxone, a variant of the drug Narcan, which is given to patients to counter opioid overdoses.
“Our studies have shown conclusively that we can block addiction via the immune system of the brain, without targeting the brain’s wiring,” researcher Mark Hutchinson of the University of Adelaide in South Australia said in a news release. “Both the central nervous system and the immune system play important roles in creating addiction, but our studies have shown we only need to block the immune response in the brain to prevent cravings for opioid drugs.”
He told Bloomberg News that human studies that will combine plus-naloxone with drugs such as morphine to prevent opioid addiction could start in 18 months. He said the results could eventually lead to new drugs that help patients with severe pain, as well as treat heroin addiction.
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
Bonuses for Therapists Increase Thoroughness of Teen Substance Abuse Treatment
By Join Together Staff | August 14, 2012 | 1 Comment | Filed in Addiction,Alcohol, Drugs, Healthcare, Research, Treatment & Youth
Therapists who treat adolescents for drug and alcohol abuse deliver more complete treatment when they are offered monetary rewards based on the quality and quantity of care they deliver, suggests a new study.
However, the study did not find more thorough treatment by therapists resulted in better results for teens. Those who saw therapists participating in the “pay-for-performance” program were not any more likely to stop using drugs and alcohol, compared with their peers whose therapists did not participate in the program.
Pay-for-performance rewards are becoming more common throughout the healthcare system, according to Reuters.
The study included 29 community-based drug treatment organizations, which were chosen to start using a teen behavioral treatment program. Some of the programs were given monetary incentives for therapists who thoroughly implemented the program’s strategies.
About 100 therapists and more than 900 teenagers were included in the study. Most of the teens were boys being treated for alcohol or marijuana use.
Therapists in the financial incentives group were given $50 for each month they demonstrated their treatment met program guidelines. They received an additional $200 for each patient with whom they discussed specific topics and used a range of treatment tools, such as talking about the teens’ social life, and their progress toward treatment goals.
Therapists who received the incentives tended to deliver more complete care, compared with their colleagues who did not receive incentives. While pay-for-performance therapists gave 17 percent of patients the full recommended amount of treatment, less than 3 percent of therapists not receiving incentives did so. “Relatively small incentives led to very large improvements in performance,” said lead researcher Bryan Garner of Chestnut Health Systems in Normal, Illinois.
Between 41 and 51 percent of patients seen by both groups of therapists improved during the study, and had not used drugs or alcohol for at least a month before their last check-in, the researchers reported in the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine.
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