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Tag Archives: alcohol

Latest Findings alcohol bulletins: teaching teenagers ’safe drinking’; IBA in college settings; lessons for treatment; benzos still best for…

Recent bulletins from the drug and alcohol bank : Should we teach teenagers to drink more safely? Official guidance for England supports 'safer drinking' lessons for teenagers, based partly on the results of an Australian curriculum, but it was unclear whether its approach and results would transfer to the UK. Now this study from Northern Ireland has confirmed that in the UK too the lessons curb the growth in alcohol-related problems and also mean pupils drink less.

Worrying Rise In Heroin Use Among Young Adults Across Washington State

New data from the University of Washington’s Alcohol and Drug Abuse Institute indicates increases in heroin availability, abuse and deaths across the state, particularly among young adults ages 18-29. These increases are concerning because of the high risks of overdose and contracting infectious diseases associated with heroin use…

Latest from the IBA blog: discussion forum launched; AUDIT Vs shorter tools; INEBRIA 2013; alcohol and the workplace; IBA – making it happen? &…

The alcohol IBA blog was set up to promote learning, understanding and the delivery of IBA through news, links and ideas on IBA from a range of contributors.  The blog now has a discussion forum for anyone to share their views, comments or questions on any IBA issues.  Recent posts from the IBA blog are highlighted below: Full AUDIT screening Vs shorter tools (FAST, AUDIT-C etc) for IBA The 10 question full AUDIT is the ‘gold standard’ screening tool for the identification of alcohol use disorders.

News & updates May 2013: ‘middle class drinkers know better’; MPs admit to ‘unhealthy drinking culture’; other news

Some recent media stories and other reports are highlighted below. 'Middle classes are in denial' or 'know better than experts' were recent headlines responding to research published in the BMC

Latest guidance offering to commissioners of drug and alcohol services

A new guidance document for commissioning drug and alcohol services has been released by the Joint Commissioning Panel for Mental Health (JCPMH).   Guidance for commissioners of drug and alcohol services [pdf] presents an overview of key considerations for those with local remits for developing treatment services

Alcohol-Related Biases in Selective Attention and Action Tendency Make Distinct Contributions to Dysregulated Drinking Behaviour

Abstract Aims There is increasing evidence that alcohol-related biases in selective attention and action tendency contribute to the eitiology of dysregulated drinking.

Findings bulletins & hot topics: peer influence; commissioning; motivational interviewing; mental health & normative approaches

Recent bulletins from the drug and alcohol bank : TEENAGE PEER INFLUENCE ON DRINKING IS NO ILLUSION Is the peer influence on which many prevention programmes are based an illusion due to other factors like pupils sharing similar environments or choosing like-minded friends?

Transitioning from DSM-IV Abuse to Dependence: The Essence of Harmful Compulsive Substance Use is Ontogenetic and Dynamic.

Authors: Ridenour TA PMID: 23721528 [PubMed - in process] (Source: The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse)

The promise of geospatial methods in prevention research.

Authors: North CS, Pollio DE PMID: 23721529 [PubMed - in process] (Source: The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse)

Naltrexone (50 mg) Plus Psychotherapy in Alcohol-Dependent Patients: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Conclusion: The analysis herein demonstrates that for short (12-16 weeks) period of treatment, a combination of naltrexone administration and psychotherapy results in high clinical efficacy with a safety profile comparable to that of the placebo in the treatment of alcohol-dependent patients. The side effects of naltrexone treatment are usually mild and transient. PMID: 23721530 [PubMed - in process] (Source: The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse)