SAMHSA and other mental health groups are using National Suicide Prevention Week to encourage people in crisis and those who are concerned about someone possibly at risk for suicide to use the Lifeline and the many lifesaving services it offers.
SAMHSA convened the Fifth Annual COSIG Grantee Meeting on May 28–30, 2008 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Bethesda, MD. Attendees included 170 members of the 19 COSIG States, Federal and Co-Occurring Center for Excellence (COCE) representatives, and invited guests. The meeting focused on the successes of the COSIG program, with special attention given to the first cohort of seven grantees that are in their final year of funding. Key themes were leadership; workforce development; screening, assessment, and treatment planning; peer issues; information systems; and sustaining change.
In 2006, more than one in four persons aged 12 to 20 in the United States, or about 10.8 million persons, drank alcohol in the past month (i.e., were current drinkers). Nearly one in five persons aged 18 to 20 drove under the influence of alcohol in the past 12 months in 2006, and each year approximately 1,900 people under the age of 21 die as a result of alcohol-involved motor vehicle crashes. In addition, early initiation of alcohol use is associated with increased likelihood of unprotected sexual intercourse and multiple sex partners.
Every year, towns, counties, and states around the country observe National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month in September. This year, the 19th annual Recovery Month recognizes the impact that real people and real stories have on recovery and celebrates those who work to advance the treatment and recovery landscape.
Cocaine and methamphetamine use among young adults dropped significantly over the past year, while abuse of prescription drugs has risen, according to the Nation’s largest substance use assessment, the 2007 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH). The report also showed a spike in drug use among 55- to 59-year-olds, as baby boomers entered that age range.
Inhalant use and abuse constitute a public health problem that disproportionately affects youth. The 2006 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) indicated that the prevalence of past-year inhalant use was almost four times higher among persons aged 12 to 17 than among young adults aged 18 to 25 (1.3 vs. 0.4 percent). Among adolescents, inhalant use and abuse have been found to be associated with depressive symptoms. Mental health research focusing on young adolescents who had not previously used inhalants indicates that those with a past-year major depressive episode (MDE) were more than three times as likely as their counterparts with no past-year MDE to initiate use of inhalants.
As the days of summer wind down, kids coast to coast are heading back to school. For parents, teachers, and caregivers, the start of the school year is often exciting, but it can be difficult for kids of all ages. Peer pressure, bullying, and social anxieties can take their toll on kids in hallways and classrooms. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) can help.
I was in bed a little before 7 a.m. on Sunday, September 25, 1999, when I received the news that the wreckage of Big Island Air flight 58 had been found in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. All 10 people on board died when the plane crashed onto the slopes of Mauna Loa, the world’s largest active volcano.
While larger airlines were required to have plans in place under the Aviation Disaster Family Assistance Act of 1996, smaller operators like Big Island Air were not. It had no plan and neither, it turned out, did anyone else.
SAMHSA’s Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT) announces the availability of the Spanish-language version of Alcohol and Drug Treatment: How It Works, and How It Can Help You. This four-page brochure informs people involved in the criminal justice system about substance abuse treatment resources.
Relapse to substance use after a period of abstinence is a common pattern among substance abusers. Many are admitted to substance abuse treatment multiple times before they achieve long-term abstinence. Individuals who are re-admitted to treatment (i.e., repeat admissions) often exhibit different substance use and socioeconomic characteristics than individuals admitted to treatment for the first time.
Every year, towns, counties, and states around the country observe National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month in September. This year, the 19th annual Recovery Month recognizes the impact that real people and real stories have on recovery and celebrates those who work to advance the treatment and recovery landscape.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has released a new toolkit, "Sustaining Grassroots Community-Based Programs: A Toolkit for Community- and Faith-Based Service Providers." Grassroots community- and faith-based treatment and recovery providers are concerned about continuing critical services for people affected by substance abuse and mental health disorders. This toolkit is designed to help these organizations plan for long-term survival.
In 2006, about 2% of Americans used alcohol on a daily or nearly daily basis, according to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH). The same survey showed that these alcohol users were more likely than other Americans to be alcohol dependent in the past year.
In a joint effort to support returning veterans, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), with the Department of Defense and Department of Veterans Affairs, is holding a national conference and policy academy built around enhancing mental health and substance abuse services for veterans and their families.
A new report released by three agencies of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services proposes strategies to overcome barriers associated with the reimbursement of mental health services provided in primary care settings. Key actions recommended focus on a variety of stakeholders, including primary care providers, state Medicaid officials, and others billing for mental health services in the public sector, working together to promote a greater understanding of mental health reimbursement policy.
SAMHSA's new Homelessness Resource Center (HRC) Web site launched this week. Targeted toward providers who work with people who are homeless, the Web site shares state-of-the art knowledge, evidence-based practices, and practical resources.
Every year, towns, counties, and states around the country observe National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month in September. This year, the 19th annual Recovery Month recognizes the impact that real people and real stories have on recovery, and celebrates those who have worked to advance the treatment and recovery landscape.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is issuing its latest Treatment Episode Data Set (TEDS) report on Discharges From Substance Treatment Services, which provides a myriad of information on substance abuse treatment episodes at state-licensed treatment facilities across the country.
