User login
AA and Treatment: Best Together
Alcoholics Anonymous and treatment for alcoholism work best if started at the same time, according to a study published in the journal Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research. Researchers surveyed 362 people at 1, 3, 8, and 16 years after they first sought help with alcohol abuse. Of the respondents, nearly half sought professional help at the same time as joining AA, while 25% joined AA only, and 26% only sought professional help. “Compared with individuals who initially participated only in treatment but later entered AA, those who entered treatment and AA together participated in AA longer and more frequently and were more likely to achieve remission,” authors Rudolf H. Moos, Ph.D., and Bernice S. Moos of the Department of Veterans Affairs, Palo Alto, Calif., wrote. “Individuals who entered treatment but delayed participation in AA did not appear to obtain any additional benefit from AA.”
More Users Dependent on Meth
Although the number of actual methamphetamine users in 2004 was similar to that of 2 prior years, the number of users who met criteria for illicit drug dependence or abuse increased sharply, according to data from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. The statistics from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health showed that in 2004, 1.4 million people aged 12 years or older used methamphetamine in the past year, and 600,000 had used the drug in the past month, similar to 2002 and 2003. But the number of past-month users who met criteria for illicit drug dependence or abuse increased from 164,000 in 2002 to 346,000 in 2004. “Methamphetamine is undeniably a uniquely destructive drug,” SAMHSA Administrator Charles Curie said in a statement. “While rates of use have remained relatively stable over the past few years, these new findings show that an increasing proportion of methamphetamine users are developing problems of drug abuse and dependence and are in need of treatment.”
Hispanic Mental Health Initiative
The American Psychiatric Association has launched an initiative aimed at making more resources available to Hispanic patients. All information about mental health treatments and resources at
Groups Call for Alcohol Labeling
Two consumer groups, the National Consumers League and Shape Up America!, are calling on the federal government to require standardized labeling on alcoholic beverages similar to that appearing on packaged food and over-the-counter medications. “Even the most basic information about alcohol beverages is not required to be provided on the labels of most alcohol beverage products,” said NCL President Linda Golodner. “Just as conventional foods, dietary supplements, and nonprescription drugs are required to provide a basic minimum of information needed by consumers to make informed purchasing decisions, alcohol beverage labels should also be required to provide this information.” Information the groups would like to see on the label includes serving size, alcohol content, calories, the definition of a “standard drink,” and advice from federal dietary guidelines about moderate alcohol consumption. The two groups were responding to a request for comment from the U.S. Treasury's Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau on a proposal to revise the current labeling rules.
Public Favors Electronic Records
Nearly three-fourths of Americans favor establishing a nationwide electronic information exchange to allow patient health records to be shared quickly among health professionals via the Internet, according to a survey of 800 adults sponsored by the Markle Foundation. However, 79% of respondents said it was important to make sure sharing could take place only after patients gave their permission. “Americans use digital information technology to … pay bills, book flights, and customize the music they listen to, and our research shows they now want to use health information technology to get the best care possible for themselves,” said Zoe Baird, the foundation's president. “People realize that if they or those they love are in an accident or disaster, having their medical records available at a moment's notice through secure, electronic information exchange could mean the difference between life and death.”
Voters Sour on Health Care Policy
Roughly two-thirds of voters think Congress has not made much progress on helping those without health insurance, and is not likely to make much more in the next 5–10 years, according to a survey of 800 likely voters sponsored by Ceasefire on Health Care, a group whose aim is to stimulate dialogue on health care between Republican and Democratic policy makers. Overall, poll respondents listed their top four health care priorities as making sure all U.S. children have access to basic health care, guaranteeing health care to every American citizen, providing better preventive health care to all Americans, and helping control the amount of out-of-pocket health care costs. “Probably the most interesting result in this study is that 88% of those surveyed want Congress to compromise on the issue of the uninsured,” said former Sen. John Breaux (D-La.), who is leading the group.
AA and Treatment: Best Together
Alcoholics Anonymous and treatment for alcoholism work best if started at the same time, according to a study published in the journal Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research. Researchers surveyed 362 people at 1, 3, 8, and 16 years after they first sought help with alcohol abuse. Of the respondents, nearly half sought professional help at the same time as joining AA, while 25% joined AA only, and 26% only sought professional help. “Compared with individuals who initially participated only in treatment but later entered AA, those who entered treatment and AA together participated in AA longer and more frequently and were more likely to achieve remission,” authors Rudolf H. Moos, Ph.D., and Bernice S. Moos of the Department of Veterans Affairs, Palo Alto, Calif., wrote. “Individuals who entered treatment but delayed participation in AA did not appear to obtain any additional benefit from AA.”
More Users Dependent on Meth
Although the number of actual methamphetamine users in 2004 was similar to that of 2 prior years, the number of users who met criteria for illicit drug dependence or abuse increased sharply, according to data from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. The statistics from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health showed that in 2004, 1.4 million people aged 12 years or older used methamphetamine in the past year, and 600,000 had used the drug in the past month, similar to 2002 and 2003. But the number of past-month users who met criteria for illicit drug dependence or abuse increased from 164,000 in 2002 to 346,000 in 2004. “Methamphetamine is undeniably a uniquely destructive drug,” SAMHSA Administrator Charles Curie said in a statement. “While rates of use have remained relatively stable over the past few years, these new findings show that an increasing proportion of methamphetamine users are developing problems of drug abuse and dependence and are in need of treatment.”
Hispanic Mental Health Initiative
The American Psychiatric Association has launched an initiative aimed at making more resources available to Hispanic patients. All information about mental health treatments and resources at
Groups Call for Alcohol Labeling
Two consumer groups, the National Consumers League and Shape Up America!, are calling on the federal government to require standardized labeling on alcoholic beverages similar to that appearing on packaged food and over-the-counter medications. “Even the most basic information about alcohol beverages is not required to be provided on the labels of most alcohol beverage products,” said NCL President Linda Golodner. “Just as conventional foods, dietary supplements, and nonprescription drugs are required to provide a basic minimum of information needed by consumers to make informed purchasing decisions, alcohol beverage labels should also be required to provide this information.” Information the groups would like to see on the label includes serving size, alcohol content, calories, the definition of a “standard drink,” and advice from federal dietary guidelines about moderate alcohol consumption. The two groups were responding to a request for comment from the U.S. Treasury's Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau on a proposal to revise the current labeling rules.
Public Favors Electronic Records
Nearly three-fourths of Americans favor establishing a nationwide electronic information exchange to allow patient health records to be shared quickly among health professionals via the Internet, according to a survey of 800 adults sponsored by the Markle Foundation. However, 79% of respondents said it was important to make sure sharing could take place only after patients gave their permission. “Americans use digital information technology to … pay bills, book flights, and customize the music they listen to, and our research shows they now want to use health information technology to get the best care possible for themselves,” said Zoe Baird, the foundation's president. “People realize that if they or those they love are in an accident or disaster, having their medical records available at a moment's notice through secure, electronic information exchange could mean the difference between life and death.”
Voters Sour on Health Care Policy
Roughly two-thirds of voters think Congress has not made much progress on helping those without health insurance, and is not likely to make much more in the next 5–10 years, according to a survey of 800 likely voters sponsored by Ceasefire on Health Care, a group whose aim is to stimulate dialogue on health care between Republican and Democratic policy makers. Overall, poll respondents listed their top four health care priorities as making sure all U.S. children have access to basic health care, guaranteeing health care to every American citizen, providing better preventive health care to all Americans, and helping control the amount of out-of-pocket health care costs. “Probably the most interesting result in this study is that 88% of those surveyed want Congress to compromise on the issue of the uninsured,” said former Sen. John Breaux (D-La.), who is leading the group.
AA and Treatment: Best Together
Alcoholics Anonymous and treatment for alcoholism work best if started at the same time, according to a study published in the journal Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research. Researchers surveyed 362 people at 1, 3, 8, and 16 years after they first sought help with alcohol abuse. Of the respondents, nearly half sought professional help at the same time as joining AA, while 25% joined AA only, and 26% only sought professional help. “Compared with individuals who initially participated only in treatment but later entered AA, those who entered treatment and AA together participated in AA longer and more frequently and were more likely to achieve remission,” authors Rudolf H. Moos, Ph.D., and Bernice S. Moos of the Department of Veterans Affairs, Palo Alto, Calif., wrote. “Individuals who entered treatment but delayed participation in AA did not appear to obtain any additional benefit from AA.”
More Users Dependent on Meth
Although the number of actual methamphetamine users in 2004 was similar to that of 2 prior years, the number of users who met criteria for illicit drug dependence or abuse increased sharply, according to data from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. The statistics from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health showed that in 2004, 1.4 million people aged 12 years or older used methamphetamine in the past year, and 600,000 had used the drug in the past month, similar to 2002 and 2003. But the number of past-month users who met criteria for illicit drug dependence or abuse increased from 164,000 in 2002 to 346,000 in 2004. “Methamphetamine is undeniably a uniquely destructive drug,” SAMHSA Administrator Charles Curie said in a statement. “While rates of use have remained relatively stable over the past few years, these new findings show that an increasing proportion of methamphetamine users are developing problems of drug abuse and dependence and are in need of treatment.”
Hispanic Mental Health Initiative
The American Psychiatric Association has launched an initiative aimed at making more resources available to Hispanic patients. All information about mental health treatments and resources at
Groups Call for Alcohol Labeling
Two consumer groups, the National Consumers League and Shape Up America!, are calling on the federal government to require standardized labeling on alcoholic beverages similar to that appearing on packaged food and over-the-counter medications. “Even the most basic information about alcohol beverages is not required to be provided on the labels of most alcohol beverage products,” said NCL President Linda Golodner. “Just as conventional foods, dietary supplements, and nonprescription drugs are required to provide a basic minimum of information needed by consumers to make informed purchasing decisions, alcohol beverage labels should also be required to provide this information.” Information the groups would like to see on the label includes serving size, alcohol content, calories, the definition of a “standard drink,” and advice from federal dietary guidelines about moderate alcohol consumption. The two groups were responding to a request for comment from the U.S. Treasury's Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau on a proposal to revise the current labeling rules.
Public Favors Electronic Records
Nearly three-fourths of Americans favor establishing a nationwide electronic information exchange to allow patient health records to be shared quickly among health professionals via the Internet, according to a survey of 800 adults sponsored by the Markle Foundation. However, 79% of respondents said it was important to make sure sharing could take place only after patients gave their permission. “Americans use digital information technology to … pay bills, book flights, and customize the music they listen to, and our research shows they now want to use health information technology to get the best care possible for themselves,” said Zoe Baird, the foundation's president. “People realize that if they or those they love are in an accident or disaster, having their medical records available at a moment's notice through secure, electronic information exchange could mean the difference between life and death.”
Voters Sour on Health Care Policy
Roughly two-thirds of voters think Congress has not made much progress on helping those without health insurance, and is not likely to make much more in the next 5–10 years, according to a survey of 800 likely voters sponsored by Ceasefire on Health Care, a group whose aim is to stimulate dialogue on health care between Republican and Democratic policy makers. Overall, poll respondents listed their top four health care priorities as making sure all U.S. children have access to basic health care, guaranteeing health care to every American citizen, providing better preventive health care to all Americans, and helping control the amount of out-of-pocket health care costs. “Probably the most interesting result in this study is that 88% of those surveyed want Congress to compromise on the issue of the uninsured,” said former Sen. John Breaux (D-La.), who is leading the group.