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High comorbidity of DSM mood and anxiety disorders found among substance use disorder patients

Authors used both DSM-IV and DCPR criteria in a sample  of substance abuse outpatients to verify if DCPR might expand the psychological  assessment in SUD settings.

28 May 2013

New report reveals that parents can influence the health and well-being of children

A new report indicates that more than one in five parents of teens aged 12 to 17 (22.3 percent) think what they say has little influence on whether or not their child uses illicit substances, tobacco, or alcohol.

27 May 2013

Most residents dissatisfied with quality of substance-abuse training, survey finds

A 2012 survey of internal medicine residents at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) - one of the nation's leading teaching hospitals - found that more than half rated the training they had received in addiction and other substance use disorders as fair or poor.

24 May 2013

GWU launches Avance Center for the Advancement of Immigrant/Refugee Health

Today the George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services announced the launch of the Avance Center for the Advancement of Immigrant/Refugee Health, a collaboration between SPHHS, the Maryland Multicultural Youth Centers, the Rivera Group, and other community partners.

22 May 2013

Study examines effects of smoking on cognitive functioning in AD individuals

Treatment for alcohol use disorders works best if the patient actively understands and incorporates the interventions provided in the clinic.

18 May 2013

GWU to hold forum to discuss public health issues that affect Latino immigrant communities

The George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services will hold a forum on May 22 to discuss public health issues that disproportionately affect Latino immigrant communities.

16 May 2013

Routine depression screening for adults not recommended in primary care settings

For adults with no apparent symptoms of depression, routine screening is not recommended in primary care settings because of the lack of high-quality evidence on the benefits and harms of screening for depression, according to new evidence-based guidelines from the Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care published in CMAJ.

14 May 2013

CompCare, UticaCSD sign Pharmacy Savings Management Agreement

Comprehensive Care Corporation, a leading behavioral health, substance abuse and pharmacy management services provider for employers, Taft-Hartley health and welfare Funds, and managed care companies throughout the U.S., today announced the signing of a Pharmacy Savings Management Agreement with Utica City School District.

13 May 2013

Research roundup: Out-of-pocket costs on individual market; Federal spending on mental health care; Underused Medicare benefit

Since many of the people who will gain insurance under the federal health law will likely get such individual plans through the state-based online marketplaces, or exchanges, researchers sought to identify the effects on vulnerable populations, some of whom with incomes above 400 percent of the poverty level and thus will not qualify for Medicaid or receive subsidies.

13 May 2013

State roundup: Miss. Gov. says Medicaid can go on without reauthorization

Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant says he thinks he can run Medicaid even if lawmakers don't reauthorize the program or set its budget by the time the state's new fiscal year starts July 1. The Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal reported Bryant's remarks and said he spoke about Medicaid after taking part in a tourism event at the state Capitol (5/9).

10 May 2013

Pregnant teen admissions for substance abuse treatment to face greater challenges

A new report shows that among the approximately 57,000 teenage female (ages 12 to 19) substance abuse treatment admissions each year, about 2,000 (4 percent) involve pregnant teens.

10 May 2013

State roundup: Ala. lawmakers OK shift to Medicaid managed care

A bill that restructures the way Medicaid is administered passed the Alabama Legislature Tuesday and now awaits the governor's signature. The State Medicaid Agency now pays doctors directly for services provided to Medicaid patients. Under the new policy, there will be several regions managed by privately owned, for-profit Regional Care Organizations that will contract with doctors and other providers (Wingard, 5/7).

9 May 2013

Schools play a critical role in early identification of adolescents with mental disorders

A study published in the May 2013 issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry found that mental health resources provided by schools are significantly associated with whether adolescents with mental disorders receive needed mental health services.

7 May 2013

Foster care can provide emotional health benefits to maltreated children

Newspaper articles, TV shows and books are filled with horror stories of children placed in foster care. A new study bucks that trend by showing out-of-home placements can improve the emotional health of some youths who have been maltreated by a parent.

6 May 2013

Comprehensive Care Closes $5 million Senior Secured Credit Facility with TCA

Comprehensive Care Corporation, a leading behavioral health, substance abuse and pharmacy management provider for employers, Taft-Hartley health and welfare Funds, and managed care companies, today announced that it has closed a $5 million Senior Secured Credit Facility with TCA Global Credit Master Fund (TCA).

6 May 2013

Synthetic anti-inflammatory substances related to marijuana may help fight HIV infection

HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, is notorious for hiding within certain types of cells, where it reproduces at a slowed rate and eventually gives rise to chronic inflammation, despite drug therapy.

2 May 2013

New report finds sharp increase in emergency department visits involving adverse reactions to zolpidem

A new report shows that the number of emergency department visits involving adverse reactions to the sleep medication zolpidem rose nearly 220 percent from 6,111 visits in 2005 to 19,487 visits in 2010.

2 May 2013

1 in 4 teens misused or abused a prescription drug at least once in their lifetime

New, nationally projectable survey results released today by The Partnership at Drugfree.org and MetLife Foundation confirmed that one in four teens has misused or abused a prescription (Rx) drug at least once in their lifetime - a 33 percent increase over the past five years.

23 Apr 2013

Viewpoints: Solving the doctor shortage; Can Gov. Scott convince Fla. lawmakers to accept Medicaid expansion?

With every new report about the recent slowdown in health-care spending there is speculation in the media that the problem of rising health costs has somehow been solved or cut down to size.