Join Together
Join Together, a collaboration of the Boston University School of Public Health and The Partnership at Drugfree.org, delivers substance abuse and addiction news that impacts your work, life and community. Learn more.
New Psychiatric Manual Combines Alcohol Disorders
The newly released update to psychiatry’s diagnostic manual combines problem drinking and alcoholism into a single condition known as “alcohol use disorder,” which some experts say could lead binge drinkers to be mislabeled as alcoholics.
More Americans Engage in Heavy Drinking, CDC Finds
A new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention finds an increase in the percentage of adults who had five or more drinks in one day at least once in the past year. The prevalence of adult smoking remained unchanged in most age groups, but declined among young adults.
Average Colorado Marijuana Smoker Will Pay $650 for the Drug Next Year
The average marijuana smoker in Colorado will pay about $650 for the drug next year, according to Time.com. The estimate is based on a study by researchers at Colorado State University, who wanted to determine how much the state will collect in marijuana-related tax revenue.
Some Minnesota Doctors Say They Are Unfairly Blamed for Prescription Drug Abuse
Some Minnesota physicians say they are sometimes unfairly blamed for patients’ prescription drug abuse, the Associated Press reports. At a Minnesota Medical Association forum, doctors said they feel caught between trying to help patients in pain and attempting to curb abuse.
Survey Finds People in Recovery Experience Striking Improvements Over Time
The first nationwide survey of people in recovery from addiction to alcohol and drugs finds their lives steadily improve in areas from employment to family life to community involvement. The online survey, released by the advocacy group Faces & Voices of Recovery, attempts to measure and quantify the effects of recovery over time.
Many Parents Don’t Know Their Teens Use ADHD Drugs for Studying: Poll
Only 1 percent of parents believe their teens have used attention-deficit hyperactivity drugs to help them study, but 10 percent of high school students have done so, a new nationwide poll suggests.
Starting to Drink at Younger Age Linked With Heavier Drinking Later in Life
The earlier a person starts drinking, the greater the chance he or she will consume more alcohol later in life, according to a new study of humans and rats. People who start drinking during puberty consume more alcohol later in life than those who start drinking later.
Report by OAS Calls for Discussion on Legalizing Marijuana
A report released by the Organization of American States calls for a discussion on legalizing or decriminalizing marijuana, the Associated Press reports.
Kentucky Tackles Problem of Babies Born to Drug-Dependent Mothers
Health experts gathered this week in Kentucky to discuss how to deal with the problem of babies born to drug-dependent mothers, according to The Courier-Journal. Hospitalizations for newborns in the state with neonatal abstinence syndrome climbed from 29 in 2000, to 730 in 2011.
State Legislators Grapple With How to Implement Marijuana DUI Rules
Lawmakers in Washington state, where recreational marijuana use is now legal, are trying to determine how police officers can identify drivers impaired by marijuana use, The Wall Street Journal reports.
