By Benjamin Chambers, May 09 2011
Taking the "Anonymous" out of A.A.
Increasingly, adults in Alcoholics Anonymous are coming out of the closet and talking about their addiction and their membership in A.A. Is this a healthy sign that the stigma around addiction is decreasing, or does it threaten something that's critical to recovery -- and does all this look different when it comes to teens? Leave a comment below.- Computer-Based Interventions for Drug-Use Disorders: a Systematic Review According to a research survey published in the April 2011 issue of the Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, "Compared to treatment-as-usual, computer-based interventions led to less substance use and higher motivation to change, better retention, and greater knowledge of presented information. Computer-based interventions for drug use disorders have the potential to dramatically expand and alter the landscape of treatment." (Hat tip to Paul Savery.)
- Two Million American Adolescents Suffer Major Depression; only 2/3 Treated
Eight percent of American teens suffered a major depressive episode in the past year, but only 34.7% got treatment, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). (Hat tip to Mark O. on LinkedIn.) - Study: Human Beings Need to Be Doing Something - Anything - So Do Teens
Psychologists are always interested in what motivates people to do things. Turns out we don't care that much what we're doing, so long as we're doing something. That could mean work, leisure ... or drug use. Now, the study doesn't mention teens, but I'd guess that everything it says would go double for adolescents. - New Culprit for Teen Mental Health Issues: Secondhand Smoke
A new study from the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine studied nearly 3,000 kids age 8-15, and found correlations between exposure to secondhand smoke and presence of ADHD, major depressive episodes, generalized anxiety, and conduct disorder. While no mental health issue could be said to be caused by secondhand smoke, it appeared to be a contributing factor, though its impact depended on the disorder, and on the gender, race, and ethnicity of the children. - Drug Charges Haunt High School Kids
A Washington Post article on get-tough school policies for youth found in possession of illicit drugs, and the long-term consequences. - NIDA Service Helps Physicians I.D. and Screen Patients with Substance Abuse Issues
The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) and the American Society of Addiction Medicine have created a phone line and mentor service to help primary-care doctors identify and counsel patients who may have alcohol and drug issues. This is a step toward merging addiction treatment into primary health care.
Topics: Adolescent Mental Health, Adolescent Substance Abuse Treatment, No bio box, Research Updates
Updated: February 08 2018