HEALTH NEWS HEADLINES

SAMHSA Announces Availability of New Drug-Free Workplace Kit

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has developed a Drug-Free Workplace Kit, suitable for all sizes of workplaces. The free kit provides public and private workplaces with practical evidence-based information, resources, and tools for producing and maintaining drug-free workplace policies and programs. 

CT Gov. Rell Releases Teen Safe Driving Proposals

Governor M. Jodi Rell today, April 1, 2008 released 20 new draft proposals on teen safe driving that aim to further broaden the state’s overhaul of the licensing, regulation, education of young drivers. “I am pleased to report the Teen Safe Driving Task Force continues to look at recommendations for curbing the senseless traffic fatalities involving teens,” said Governor Rell. “Frankly, these tragic accidents have sent a clear message that more needs to be done to protect teen drivers by enacting new laws and raising awareness." For more information, please visit www.ct.gov/governorrell

Teen Drug Use Continues to Decline Nationally

Drug and alcohol use among our teens has remained a constant and often tragic problem for several generations. Using science based models and a highly successful Strategic Prevention Framework, we have seen a continued decline in overall illicit drug and alcohol use among teens since 2001.

Should Servers Be Certified to Pour?

A Superior Court jury in Middletown recently pointed its finger at the Chester bar where Richard Roy drank vodka martinis the night his pickup slammed head-on into Donna Moran's car. Moran's husband, George Amarant, won a $250,000 verdict this month against the owners of the Sage American Grill & Riverside Bar in a case that rekindled debate about the liability of bartenders and taverns in alcohol-related crashes involving injury or death. Connecticut does not mandate training or certification for bartenders and others who serve alcohol.

ONDCP Launches Initiative to Raise Public Awareness of Prescription Drug Abuse

Though overall teen drug use is down nationwide, more teens abuse prescription drugs than any other illicit drug, except marijuana—and more than cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine combined. However, research shows that many parents are not aware of teen prescription drug abuse and are not discussing the dangers with their teens. To address this serious trend, the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) today announced its first major federal effort to educate parents about teen prescription drug abuse.

Justin: Filling in the Blanks

When a youth died of a heroin overdose, his words lived on to help explain.
Talk to those who knew Justin Parent, and the same words come up again and again: Outgoing. Driven. Funny. He was the class clown who seemed to own a spot on the honor roll at Glastonbury High School, a pre-med student at Penn State who could lighten a room with an almost defiant ability to make people laugh ... who seemed to achieve whatever he set his mind to. Not the kind of kid who dies of a heroin overdose two months before his 20th birthday.

Campaign for Hispanic Youth: Link Between Drugs & HIV

The National Institute on Drug Abuse, part of the National Institutes of Health, marked World AIDS Day on December 1st with the launch of its new, national public service campaign to educate Hispanic teens on the link between non-injection drug use and HIV transmission. The campaign features an innovative television spot blending English and Spanish; a Webisode series that will launch soon on www.hiv.drugabuse.gov; outdoor, transit and print placements; community events and partnerships.

Don't Do It! Ineffective Prevention Strategies

Prevention pioneers have learned much about ineffective programming and strategies that  practitioners have a responsibility not to repeat. Ineffective strategies include scare tactics and moralistic appeals, curricula that relies solely on information about drugs and their dangers, curricula that work only to promote self-esteem and emotional well-being, and one time assemblies, events or testimonials.

Technology Targets Drunk Drivers

The war against drunk driving is turning high-tech. Devices that can sense the amount of alcohol in the air around your face or even in your sweat are already on the drawing board, to join current technology aimed at stopping you from getting behind that wheel if you've had too much to drink, researchers say. 

How We Get Addicted

I was driving up the Massachusetts Turnpike one evening last February when I knocked over a bottle of water. I grabbed for it, swerved inadvertently – and a few seconds later found myself blinking into the flashlight beam of a state trooper. "How much have you had to drink tonight, sir?" he demanded. Before I could help myself, I blurted out an answer that was surely a new one to him. "I haven't had a drink," I said indignantly, "since 1981." 

Study Finds Link Between Depression and First Use of Drugs or Alcohol

Youths who faced depression in the past year were twice as likely as those who did not have depression to take their first drink or use drugs for the first time, according to a new report by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

$2 Heroin Aimed at Young Teens

A cheap highly addictive drug known as "cheese heroin" has killed 21 teenagers in the Dallas area over two years, and authorities say they are hoping they can stop the fad before it spreads across the nation.

Teen Drug Talk Fills Internet

Ashley Duffy, 18, knew her parents wouldn't tap into her online journal so she wrote freely about her drug use. She says she used the Internet to contact her dealer and connect at parties with people who had drugs.

Getting to the Bottom of How Speed Kills

Also known as "speed," "meth" and "chalk," methamphetamine is an easily manufactured drug that is very stimulating, highly addictive and results in potentially serious physical and mental health consequences for users and, potentially, their friends and families. A recent study assessed the correlation between strokes and substance abuse, including cannabis, opioids, cocaine and methamphetamine.