Thursday, November 18, 2004

The DASIS Report: Characteristics of Primary Prescription and Over-the-Counter Treatment Admissions, 2002
Page indexing materials related to a new report from SAMHSA - "Prescription and over the counter (OTC) drugs were the primary substances of abuse for 4% of the 1.9 million treatment admissions reported to SAMHSA's Treatment Episode Data Set (TEDS) in 2002. Of the more than 78,000 treatment admissions for primary prescription or OTC drug abuse in 2002, 55% were for prescription narcotics compared with 43% of the nearly 29,000 treatment admissions for primary prescription and OTC drug abuse in 1992. Prescription stimulants as the primary substance increased slightly from 26% to 28% during that period. In contrast, the proportions of total admissions for primary prescription or OTC drug abuse for most other prescription type drugs declined between 1992 and 2002. Tranquilizers declined from 16% to 10%. Sedatives declined from 13% to 6% and OTC medications declined from 2% to 1%..."  
  

APA Expresses Concern over NIH Draft Policy for Public Access to Research
APA press release - "Public access to research is a worthwhile goal but the possible unintended consequences of the current NIH proposal need to be considered, said the American Psychological Association (APA) in a letter sent to NIH Director, Dr. Elias Zerhouni this week. The APA is concerned that the proposed new policy of making available newly published NIH-funded research manuscripts (within six months of publication) to other scientists, health care providers, students, teachers and consumers may have unanticipated and damaging consequences. Free access to research could create fewer publishing outlets and reduce editorial scrutiny that may sacrifice the integrity, diversity and impact of scientific results, said Steven Breckler, Ph.D., APA’s Executive Director for Science."  
  

Psychological Symptoms of Eating Disorders Persist
Reuters Health story reprinted at Yahoo - "While extreme thinness may the most obvious and life-threatening aspect of anorexia, new research suggests that it is often the psychological symptoms of eating disorders that take the longest to overcome. The study of 65 patients who underwent psychotherapy for anorexia or bulimia found that psychological symptoms, such as fear of gaining weight and distorted body image, were among the last to go into remission. "  
  

Most Uninsured People Unaware of Health Care Safety Net Providers
An "Issue Brief" from the Center for Studying Health System Change - "Less than half of uninsured Americans either typically use or are aware of a safety net provider in their community, according to a national study by the Center for Studying Health System Change (HSC). Among all uninsured people, those with lower-incomes, racial/ethnic minorities and people living closer to safety net providers are more likely to know of or use a safety net provider for medical care. Uninsured people identify physician offices and community health centers most frequently as sources of lower-cost medical care, while hospital-based facilities—outpatient and emergency departments—are less likely to be mentioned. Despite high levels of emergency department (ED) use by uninsured people, few identify EDs as places to get affordable medical care."  
  

FDA Is Flexing Less Muscle
Washington Post story - "In the past four years, the Food and Drug Administration has taken a noticeably less aggressive approach toward policing drugs that cause harmful side effects, records show, leading some lawmakers, academics and consumer advocates to complain that the agency is focusing more on bolstering the pharmaceutical industry than protecting public health. From 2001 to 2004, three important drugs were taken off the market, compared with 10 that were recalled from 1996 to 2001. ... In the same period, the number of warning letters sent by the FDA's drug marketing office challenging misleading or dishonest drug advertising also plummeted. From 1996 to 2001, the agency issued about 480 cease-and-desist letters. Over the past four years, the total has been about 130. The decrease in FDA enforcement has come despite a steadily rising number of reports of potentially harmful side effects from approved drugs. From 1996 to 2004, the annual number of these 'adverse events' almost doubled." [Viewing Washington Post stories requires registration, which is free.] See also the detailed overview of reactions to recent criticisms of the FDA at the Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report.  
  

Consumers upset about health care
Detroit News story - "Forty percent of Americans in a survey say the quality of health care has gotten worse in the past five years compared with just 17 percent who see improvement. More than half -- 55 percent -- of the 2,012 adults surveyed by phone between July and September said they are dissatisfied with the quality of health care in the United States, up from 44 percent in a similar survey four years ago..." See also the page at the Kaiser Family Foundation web site, National Survey on Consumers' Experiences With Patient Safety and Quality Information, which provides links to the survey and related materials.  
  

Rise in Antidepressants Prescribed for Children
Reuters Health story at Yahoo - "Doctors are prescribing more antidepressants for children and adolescents although there is little evidence about their safety or efficacy in youngsters, researchers said on Thursday. Prescription rates for young patients under 18 years old rose in nine countries in Europe, North America and South America between 2000-2002. Britain had the highest rate of increase with 68 percent while Germany, with 13 percent, had the lowest." See also Child antidepressant use 'rising' at the BBC web site.  
  

Arab-American Communities Announce New Nationwide Network
PR Newswire press release - "Ten cities crossing the U.S. from New York to California are banding together to create the National Network for Arab-American Communities. In 2002, ACCESS (Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services) and ten Arab-American community-based organizations came together as an informal collaboration for the first national initiative to support Arab- American grassroots organizations. ... ACCESS provides a wide range of social, mental health, educational, artistic, employment, legal, and medical services, and is dedicated to empowering people to lead more informed, productive, and fulfilling lives." The cities are Brooklyn, NY;Philadelphia, PA; Orlando, FL; Cleveland, OH; Dearborn, MI; Flint, MI; Chicago, IL; Houston, TX; Anaheim, CA; and San Francisco, CA.  
  

More funds to help prevent substance abuse (Alaska)
Juneau Empire story - "Gov. Frank Murkowski is calling on the Legislature to approve $7.1 million in increased funding for state programs that prevent substance abuse and fetal alcohol syndrome. Of the requested amount, $6 million would go to substance abuse programs, and $1.1 million would go toward FAS prevention efforts. The state now spends roughly $13 million on such programs, said Janet Clarke, assistant commissioner of the Department of Health and Social Services. Some substance abuse programs have been integrated with mental health funding in recent years..."  
  

Legislation would help family members honor Ridges asylum deceased (Ohio)
Athens News story - "On Tuesday, the Ohio House of Representatives approved a law that will require the Ohio Department of Mental Health to release the patient information of the deceased. The bill will make it easier for families of mental patients buried in the Ridges cemeteries in Athens to pay respects to their loved ones. '...more than 1,900 gravesites of mental health patients -- some dating back to the Civil War era -- are marked with only serial numbers,' state Rep. Jimmy Stewart, R-Athens, said in a news release. 'These individuals and their surviving families deserve better.' "  
  

Capsules May Be Effective In Treating Bipolar Disorder, Study Finds
PR Newswire story reprinted at Yahoo - "University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill researchers have announced study results finding that a formulation of three-beaded extended-release carbamazepine capsules (ERC-CBZ) was effective, safe and tolerable in the treatment of bipolar I disorder and showed no clinically significant weight gain or changes in blood glucose between treatment groups. The pooled data presented by UNC researchers ... at the 17th annual U.S. Psychiatric and Mental Health Congress in San Diego are results from two of the first trials to use an extended-release form of carbamazepine capsules manufactured by Shire Pharmaceuticals."  
  

Codey begins tenure with push for mental health protections (New Jersey)
Newsday story - "New Jersey's new governor started his first day on the job Tuesday pushing for protections for the mentally ill, a cause he has championed through much of 31 years in public office. An 11-member task force created through an executive order Acting Gov. Richard J. Codey signed on Tuesday will focus on concerns ranging from access to care to housing and employment. The panel will report its recommendations by March 31."  
  

Mental health officials worried about revolving-door services for children (Michigan)
Holland Sentinel story - "Ottawa County Community Mental Health officials are concerned about a 'revolving door' phenomenon when it comes to children using psychiatric services in the area. Of concern is a spike in the number of children requiring psychiatric inpatient care who ended up back in the psychiatric unit less than a month later, according to a report reviewed by board members Monday. A report showed that 20 percent of children discharged from a psychiatric inpatient unit were re-admitted within 30 days of discharge in Ottawa County, from July to September."