Wednesday, March 19, 2003
SAMHSA Announces $7 Million Grant Program for Effective Adolescent Treatment Item at the National Resource Center on Homelessness and Mental Illness on a new SAMHSA funding initiative - "The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) announces the availability of approximately $7 Million in grants for up to 35 awards for effective adolescent alcohol and drug abuse treatment. The grants will increase the provision and effectiveness of alcohol and drug abuse treatment for adolescents by adoption or expansion of a combined program of five sessions of Motivational Enhancement Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (MST/CBT-5)."
House panel urges study on closing hospitals (Kansas) AP story at the
Lawrence Journal World - "A legislative panel has recommended creation of a commission to study the possible closing of one state hospital for the mentally ill and one for the developmentally disabled. The recommendation by the House Appropriations Committee subcommittee on social services spending could be a step toward closing two of Kansas' five public hospitals sometime in the future."
Inside Outside 60-page
Adobe Acrobat report from the National Institute for Mental Health. As noted in the brief, related
article at the CommunityCare web site, the report "reveals how rates of compulsory admission are higher for black and minority ethnic groups compared to white people, and that the police are more likely to be involved with these clients. It also shows how patients from minority ethnic groups are more likely to be misdiagnosed, prescribed drugs, and readmitted to hospitals."
Illinois Faces Lack of Treatment Centers March 13 story at
Join Together - "Because of a lack of treatment centers, hundreds of Illinois residents with alcohol and other drug addictions have to wait months for help, the Springfield State Journal-Register reported March 4. According to the Illinois Department of Human Services, 600 people a day are on a waiting list for treatment services."
New drugs, social support offer hope Chicago Tribune story reprinted at the
Billings Gazette that provides an overview of current treatment for schizophrenia, noting that "at least 90 percent of schizophrenia patients can make a substantial recovery if they are treated early enough with a full range of drugs and "psycho-social" support."
Risks from mental illness drug not adequately noted, some say Baltimore Sun story on Zyprexa, which "has been linked in multiple studies in this country and abroad with diabetes and severe hyperglycemia, a related failure of the body's ability to process sugar. It can quickly lead to coma and death if not discovered and treated soon enough. Those studies, and actions taken recently by drug regulators in other countries, have prompted some U.S. physicians to call for more prominent warnings to doctors and the public about the potentially life-threatening side effects of this otherwise helpful medication."
Advocates ask Buncombe to reject mental health reform (North Carolina) Citizen Times story - "Mental health advocates on Tuesday asked the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners to vote against a crucial part of a state-mandated mental health reform plan. A group of residents associated with the National Association of Mentally Ill told county leaders that the business plan for the proposed eight-county mental health authority did not include input from families and consumers."
