The latest news, tips and updates
from The Partnership at Drugfree.org.
Alcohol dependence is four times more likely among adults with mental illness, compared with those without mental illness, according to a new government survey. The survey by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration found the rate of alcohol dependence among adults with mental illness was 9.6 percent, compared with 2.2 percent for those without mental illness.
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a significant risk factor for developing substance use disorders and cigarette smoking in both boys and girls, new research indicates.
Two leading substance abuse experts from Columbia University and The Partnership at Drugfree.org will offer professionals and parents the opportunity to learn more about teen mental health as it relates to risky teen behaviors, like substance use, and the proper methods to identify the most prevalent risk factors in teens.
‘We had no idea that things were this bad.’ I hear that so often from parents when they find out their teen has been struggling with a mental health disorder. As parents, we are certain we know our kids better than anyone else. But mental health and substance abuse problems can be confusing and hard to detect, explains Laurie Flynn, Executive Director, TeenScreen National Center for Mental Health Checkups at Columbia University.
Suicide attempts, in which drugs played a role, jumped 49 percent among women ages 50 and older from 2005 to 2009, according to a new federal report. The report, prepared by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, found that 16,757 women 50 and older had a drug-related suicide attempt in 2009, compared with 11,235 in 2005.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration has announced the availability of the 2011 Campaign for Social Inclusion Awards. These awards fund selected statewide peer-run organizations across the United States to promote social inclusion on state and local levels, and to counter the negative perceptions, attitudes and beliefs associated with mental health and/or substance use problems.
Synthetic marijuana known as Spice can cause long-lasting psychosis, according to a report at the American Psychiatric Association Annual Meeting. Doctors at the Naval Medical Center in San Diego reported that in 10 men hospitalized for psychosis caused by Spice, symptoms lasted for days or even months.
A program for veterans with post-traumatic stress syndrome (PTSD) that integrates smoking cessation into mental health care, which was found effective in a study published last year, is now being used in six Veterans Affairs (VA) medical centers around the country.
A new survey suggests that almost 25 percent of adults who seek medical treatment for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder are exaggerating or faking symptoms, to get their hands on stimulant medication such as Ritalin or Adderall.
Mad Men, Black Swan, The Fighter and Nurse Jackie were among the films and television shows recognized Thursday night at the 15th Annual PRISM Awards, which honor entertainment that accurately depicts and brings attention to substance abuse and mental health issues.
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