Monday, January 13, 2003

Teen drug use associated with psychiatric disorders later in life
NIH/National Institute on Drug Abuse press release on findings based on a 22-year study that tracked the self-reported substance abuse and health histories of 736 youths through their early-and mid-teen years into early adulthood.  
  

Number of mentally ill prisoners increase, jails lack funds to cope (Michigan)
Story in the Michigan Daily - "The number of mentally ill people being locked up in Michigan jails and prisons is increasing, leading to a heightened risk of inmate suicide. Frustrated administrators say they lack the money, personnel and expertise to evaluate or treat such inmates."  
  

Heroin use threatens a generation (Vermont)
The first article in a five-part series in the Bennington Banner on heroin use in Vermont, where, according to SAMHSA data, between 1993 and 1999, the rate of hospital admissions for heroin treatment in Vermont rose 215 percent.  
  

Host of difficulties in Department of Youth and Family Services reform (New Jersey)
News12 story on proposed reforms by Governor McGreevey, and the fact that "privacy issues can impede the kinds of cross checking among protective services, mental health systems and schools" that has been proposed.  
  

Outgoing mental health commissioner warns of ''precarious'' system (Massachusetts)
AP story at Boston.com on remarks by departing commissioner of the state Department of Mental Health department, Marylou Sudders, who is "worried that gains made during her tenure would be eroded amid the state budget crisis."  
  

CNN.com - Jail officials agree to mental health reforms (California)
CNN story - "County officials have agreed to a series of sweeping reforms aimed at better identifying and treating thousands of mentally ill inmates in the nation's largest jail system, heading off a possible federal civil rights lawsuit. The agreement, finalized last month, followed years of alleged abuses in Los Angeles County jails, including the use of excessive force and the improper use of restraints that led to the deaths of at least two mentally ill inmates."  
  

State considers closing mental health clinic (Oklahoma)
NewsOK.com story - "State mental health officials are considering a plan to close a mental health clinic in Holdenville because of budget problems within the agency..."  
  

Mental health outlook has become depressing (Maryland)
Story at the Star Democrat - "State and local mental health workers painted a grim picture of shrinking resources and a growing demand for services at a reception Friday night attended by Maryland law makers."  
  

Mental health Inspector General says problems persist (Virginia)
Daily Press story on comments by Dr. Anita Smith Everett, the first inspector general for Virginia's public mental health system, who says that there have been "tremendous improvements" at the state's 10 mental health and five mental retardation institutions in recent years, but that "lack of adequate staffing constitutes a dire shortcoming."