Anesthesia Abuse Increases Among Health Care Professionals, Study Suggests

By Join Together Staff | March 19, 2013 | Leave a comment | Filed in Addiction, Drugs & Research

Abuse of the anesthesia drug propofol is on the rise among health care professionals who have easy access to it, a new study suggests.

The study found the number of health care professionals treated for abuse of the drug has increased steadily, the Star Tribune reports. Most of these professionals began using propofol to get to sleep, and quickly became addicted.

Propofol is used for surgery and other procedures. It takes effect quickly, and has a fast recovery time, with fewer side effects than other anesthetics, the article notes. The researchers state in a news release, “Propofol addiction is a virulent and debilitating form of substance dependence” with a “rapid downhill course.”

They studied data from an addiction center specializing in substance abuse among health care professionals, and found 22 patients treated for propofol abuse between 1990 and 2010. They included doctors, nurses and a dentist. Most of the doctors and all of the nurses were anesthesia providers. Most of them had depression, in addition to a history of childhood sexual or physical abuse. A higher than expected number of patients had family members with schizophrenia.

Most of the patients began addiction treatment within a few months after starting to use the drug; five sought treatment after just one propofol binge. About half of patients started treatment after a dramatic event, such as a motor vehicle accident. Some patients received facial injuries after passing out from propofol.

The study will appear in the April issue of the Journal of Addiction Medicine.

March With COA in the Robbinsville Parade! On Saturday, March 23, City of Angels NJ will march in the annual Robbinsville St. Patrick's Day parade. This is a fun event that will include pipe bands, high school bands, scouts, Irish bands, fire departments, local and regional law enforcement, civic, community & labor groups, floats, military servicemen and women and much more. The route is about one and one quarter miles. After the parade, marchers will gather on the grounds at Ernie's for music and refreshments. If you would like to join COA (and maybe carry the COA banner!), please meet us at 12:00 noon at Foxmoor Shopping Center. You will recognize us by the distinctive green COA t-shirts. The parade will begin at 1:00 pm. Open House Videos A Proven Way to Recover: Recovery Compliance Inc. The final videos from City of Angels' 4th annual Open House are now online! To watch Recovery Compliance President Rob Harrison talk about proven approaches to recovery, click here. For the full library of all 2013 Open House videos, click here. Redneck's Story   In November 2012, New York University journalism student Allie Ward interviewed and wrote a profile about COA's Director of Interventions, Tom "Redneck" Clark.  After Red helped her boyfriend into treatment, Allie wanted to better understand how Redneck became the person he is now, and why he devotes virtually all of his free time to helping others. The profile has since become a model for Allie's class and her professor uses it as an example for new students.  To read the profile, click here.

Tidbits   COA hosts support group meetings for both addiction sufferers and their families every day of the week at the Dwier Center (392 Church Street, Groveville, NJ). This includes 12-step meetings, a new Thursday night veteran's support group, Saturday night self-injury support group, Sunday night Spirituality Meeting, and the popular Sunday morning family support group, The Breakfast Club. To check out our online calendar, click here.     For directions to the Dwier Center, click here.      The COA website now offers an Addiction News Feed with the latest studies, reports, new and other info on addiction. It's updated in real time with the top 30 articles. To read the feed, click here.  New videos are up on the COA YouTube channel. To watch, click here.      Join COA's Pinterest community! To visit the boards, click here.          Keep current on COA activites - join the COA group on Facebook!  COA news is posted first on Facebook, and this page often has photos not available elsewhere. Click here to visit.   City of Angels NJ, Inc. is a non-profit organization that provides many services to addicts and their families including interventions, recovery support, Family Program, counseling services and more. All of our services are provided at no charge.

Middle School Dating Linked to Increased Substance Use in New Study

By Join Together Staff | March 18, 2013 | Leave a comment | Filed in Alcohol, Drugs, Research & Youth

Middle school students who date report using twice as much alcohol, tobacco and marijuana, compared with their classmates without romantic relationships, a new study finds.

Students who date in middle school also have significantly worse study skills, and are four times more likely to drop out of school, compared with their single classmates, Science Daily reports.

Researchers at the University of Georgia studied 624 students over seven years, starting when they were in sixth grade. Each year, the students completed a survey that asked about dating, substance use and other behaviors. The study looked at the students’ high school dropout rates, and annual teacher-rated study skills.

Study author Pamela Orpinas noted in a news release that the study suggests “dating should not be considered a rite of passage in middle school.”

The researchers reported their findings in the Journal of Research on Adolescence.

Recreational Marijuana Use Violates International Law, UN Body Says

By Join Together Staff | March 15, 2013 | 2 Comments | Filed in Drugs, Government, Legislation & Prevention

The recreational use of marijuana is a violation of international law, the United Nations International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) warned the United States this week.

Raymond Yans, president of the INCB, spoke about new laws in Colorado and Washington that legalize the recreational use of marijuana, at the U.N. Commission on Narcotic Drugs in Vienna. He noted U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder said in December that, regardless of any changes in state law, growing, selling or possessing any amount of marijuana remains illegal under federal law. Yan called this “good, but insufficient,” Reuters reports.

He added the United States has an obligation to ensure the implementation of international drug control treaties throughout the country. Recreational marijuana use violates the U.N. Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs of 1961, Yan said.

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Medical Group Warns Against Giving Attention Drugs to Healthy Teens

By Join Together Staff | March 14, 2013 | 1 Comment | Filed in Mental Health, Prescription Drugs, Young Adults & Youth

Healthy children and teenagers should not be given drugs designed to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, the American Academy of Neurology said this week. While young people with the disorder benefit from the treatment, the group noted, a growing number of healthy young people are taking these medications in an effort to increase concentration and school performance.

“Doctors caring for children and teens have a professional obligation to always protect the best interests of the child, to protect vulnerable populations, and prevent the misuse of medication,” said position statement author William Graf, M.D. of Yale University, in a news release. “The practice of prescribing these drugs, called neuroenhancements, for healthy students is not justifiable.”

The statement concludes there are both legal and developmental reasons these medications should not be prescribed to healthy children and teens, Reuters reports. The long-term effects of these drugs have not been studied in children, the group notes. Children and teens may not have sufficient decision-making abilities while their cognitive skills and emotional abilities are still developing. In addition, children and teens face the risks of being over-medicated and dependent on the drugs, according to the statement.

“The physician should talk to the child about the request, as it may reflect other medical, social or psychological motivations such as anxiety, depression or insomnia. There are alternatives to neuroenhancements available, including maintaining good sleep, nutrition, study habits and exercise regimens,” Dr. Graf said.