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.
Smokers Easily Identify “Light” Cigarettes Despite Federal Ban: Study
Smokers can easily identify “light” and “mild” cigarettes, despite a federal law banning those words, because tobacco companies have substituted color names for those terms, a new study concludes.
Army Report Recommends Changes to Address Mental Health Care Deficiencies
A study of the Army’s mental health care system identifies a number of gaps, and provides recommendations, including increasing the number of behavioral health specialists, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Colorado Task Force Makes Recommendations on Marijuana Regulations
A task force in Colorado has issued recommendations on how to regulate marijuana, now that recreational use of the drug has been legalized.
Quitting Smoking Reduces Risk of Heart Disease Even in Those Who Gain Weight
Quitting smoking reduces the risk of heart disease, even in smokers who gain weight after they quit, a new study finds.
Enrolling in College Does Not Lead to Later Substance Abuse Problems, Study Suggests
Enrolling in college does not lead to substance abuse problems later in life, despite high levels of binge drinking on campuses, a new study suggests.
U.S. Military Studying Ways to Reduce Substance Abuse Among Service Members
Military researchers are studying ways to reduce substance abuse among service members, their families and veterans, a Defense Department official said this week. “We’re doing a great job with those physical wounds,” said Dr. Michael E. Kilpatrick. The military now wants to focus on the invisible wounds of war, he added.
California Legislators: Use Database to Find Doctors Who Overprescribe Painkillers
Legislators at a hearing in California this week called on the state’s Medical Board to use a statewide database of prescriptions to help find physicians who overprescribe painkillers, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Commentary: Tobacco: The Next Winnable Battle for America’s Armed Forces
Research shows that an astonishing 31 percent of America’s service men and women smoke. David Dobbins of Legacy explains why leaders in public health are excited that America’s armed forces will now have powerful tools in their arsenal to combat one of the most lethal products available to consumers: tobacco.
Attorneys General: Abuse-Resistant Generic Prescription Painkillers Needed
The group representing the nation’s attorneys general is calling on the Food and Drug Administration to require manufacturers and marketers of generic prescription pain drugs to develop versions of their products that are resistant to tampering and abuse.
Combination of Mental Illness and Substance Use Disorder Raises Risk of Being Murdered
A new study finds people with mental illness who also have a substance use disorder are nine times more likely than the general population to be murdered. Overall, people with mental illness were almost five times as likely to be a murder victim, compared with those with no psychiatric diagnosis.
