Screening for Problem Drinking at the Doctor’s Office Saves Money

A 10-minute screening and talk with a doctor about problem drinking can be extremely cost-effective for the health system, according to a recent review published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine. However, only 8.7% of problem drinkers report receiving such screening or advice from their doctors. The systematic review looked at data from randomized…

Presidential Candidates Weigh in on Drug and Alcohol Abuse in America

In preparation for the upcoming Iowa Caucuses, the Partnership for Drug-Free America and the Partnership for Drug-Free Iowa asked the Presidential candidates 2 questions relating to drug and alcohol abuse in America. Seven of the candidates – Senator Christopher Dodd, Senator Barack Obama, Senator John Edwards, Senator Joseph R. Biden, Jr., Senator Mike Gravel, Mike…

Party, post, regret.

CNN.com has an interesting article in their Health section today. “Young women drink, party, post” talks about a Facebook page called “Thirty Reasons Girls Should Call it a Night.” The page features drunk photos of young women, posted (mostly) by the women themselves. According to the article, pictures on the page include a young woman…

Girls Particularly Vulnerable to Peer Influence in Drinking Alcohol

A recent study has found that peers and gender can influence teen alcohol use. Girls, in particular, are vulnerable. The study, which used data from a population-based, longitudinal twin study of behavioral development and health-risk factors from Finland, found that the influence of risk factors associated with peers appeared to be stronger in girls. Researchers…

Portland, ME Ranked 7th Healthiest City for Women Despite Higher than Average Drinking Rates

Self magazine recently ranked Portland, ME the 7th healthiest city for women. The magazine surveyed 100 of the largest metro areas in the U.S. to find “the fittest, healthiest and happiest women in the land.” The survey looked at criteria that included death and disease rates, environmental indicators, community resources and lifestyle habits. San Francisco…

Defining Addiction Recovery

A panel of experts from the Betty Ford Institute recently drafted a definition of addiction recovery. Published in the October 2007 issue of the Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, the definition describes recovery as “a voluntarily maintained lifestyle characterized by sobriety, personal health, and citizenship.” The expert panel writes, “Although ‘recovery’ is widely recognized as…

Young Workers Have Higher Rates of Drug Use and Least Access to EAPs

A recent report from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) shows that young adult worker are more likely than older workers to use illicit drugs. The younger workers are also less likely to have access to an employee assistance program (EAP), which can provide alcohol and drug education, prevention and treatment resources,…