Political Issues
Articles Index
Alcohol Diagnoses Missed in Hospital Patients
Many people admitted to hospitals in the U.S. have alcohol use disorders that go undetected, according to a new study by scientists at the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.
Holding Health Plans Accountable
Holding healthcare plans accountable for timely and effective alcohol treatment should lead to improved service delivery and more informed health care contract negotiations.
Smithers Foundation Responds
The president of the Smithers Foundation opposes treatment center's move toward a moderation approach to recovery.
Leslie Van Houten Denied Parole
As long as they make coffee, Leslie Van Houten will remain in prison, a California parole board voted.
Treatment Admissions Up for Opiates, Meth
The proportion of admissions to substance abuse treatment for abuse of narcotic prescription medications, heroin, marijuana, and methamphetamine has increased in the past ten years, while admissions to treatment for cocaine abuse declined.
Laws Don't Stop Bars from Serving Drunks
A new study confirms that alcohol sales to obviously intoxicated patrons nonetheless continues at a high rate in both on- and off-premise establishments.
Rosenbloom to Head Center to Prevent Underage Drinking
David Rosenbloom has been appointed Director of the new NIAAA-funded Center to Prevent Alcohol-Related Problems Among Young People.
Major Ememergency Room Study Targets Alcohol
The NIAAA and SAMSHA kicked off a major collaborative study that will investigate ways to screen, identify, and treat patients in hospital emergency departments for alcohol problems.
Access to Recovery Grants Available
Thousands of Americans with substance use disorders will have the opportunity to choose their treatment options for recovery under Access to Recovery, a new $100 million discretionary grant program for states.
Treatment Costs Efffective for Offenders
Within criminal justice settings, treatment for substance abuse may not only reduce reincarceration rates, but it may also be cost-effective.
New Guide to Help Clergy in Counseling
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration has released a new guide that will provide clergy with the basic information and skills needed to help addicted individuals and their families.
Substance Abuse Patients Pay More
A survey of 434 managed care plans in 60 market areas found that patients receiving substance abuse and mental health services often had to make a higher copayment or pay a higher share of allowed charges than did patients receiving general medical care.
Treatment in Correctional Facilities
Only 40 percent of the nation's 7,564 adult and juvenile facilities offer substance abuse treatment to inmates and residents.
New DUI Laws Unconstitutional?
In our eagerness to try to crack down on drunk drivers, especially repeat offenders, sometimes we may be overlooking other very important issues.
High School Drug Sweep Investigated
A police raid at a South Carolina high school in which a dozen officers stormed into the hallways with their guns drawn, handcuffed students, and used drug-sniffing dogs to search their backpacks is now being investigate by state police.
'Dog-on-a-Chip' Could Replace Drug-Sniffing Canines
Police dogs across the country could soon be out of work, replaced by an electronic "dog-on-a-chip" that sniffs out cocaine and other narcotics.
Workshops Planned for Faith-Based Groups
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration will hold a series of conferences, workshops and technical assistance meetings to help remove unnecessary barriers that may prevent these organizations from receiving federal funding.
Grants to Help Meth, Inhalant Abuse Programs
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration has awarded grants to begin funding 12 methamphetamine and inhalant prevention programs sites in 11 states.
Adolescent Treatment Programs Funded
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration announced 22 awards totaling $16.2 million over three years to increase the effectiveness of alcohol and drug abuse treatment for adolescents.
Only 21 Percent Get Treatment for Alcohol Only
Nearly half of all 1.1 million people receiving treatment for drug or alcohol addiction were in treatment for both drug and alcohol abuse according to the 2002 National Survey of Substance Abuse Treatment Services.
Grants to Help Improve Treatment Access
SAMSHA launches 13 cooperative agreements totaling $7.7 million over 3 years to improve client access to substance abuse treatment and retention in treatment.
Anti-Drug Ads Are Working
The Partnership Attitude Tracking Study reports that the National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign affects teen attitudes on drug use by making teens less likely to try or use drugs.
Treatment Coverage Falls Short
Employer-based health insurance plans often don't provide the treatment for alcoholism and other drug addictions that is mandated by state law, a new analysis has found.
Drug Injection Facility Sees Potential Problems
Health Canada guidelines and possible police surveillance may end up scaring away the very people North America's first sanctioned safer injecting facility is intended to help.
Household Survey - 22 Million Substance Abusers
In 2002 an estimated 22 million Americans suffered from substance dependence or abuse due to drugs, alcohol or both, according to the newest results of the Household Survey released by SAMSHA.
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