Monday, April 26, 2004

Top U.S. Physicians, Lawyers Tackle National Drug Policy
A "newsmaker interview" at Medscape Medical News with David C. Lewis, MD, a professor at Brown University and a member of the board of directors of a nonpartisan organization, Physicians and Lawyers for National Drug Policy formed "to advocate for a public health approach to federal and state substance abuse policies." The introduction to the interview notes, " Since its inception in 1997, the group has believed that drug and alcohol policies must be based on evidence rather than on politics, that prevention and treatment are more cost-effective than incarceration, and that substance abuse should be afforded equal footing with other chronic, relapsing conditions in terms of access to care and insurance coverage. The revised and expanded group, now incorporating members from the legal profession, met on April 20 at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., to discuss these and other issues, including the need for widespread alcohol screening in trauma centers and emergency rooms." [Viewing Medscape resources requires registration, which is free].  
  

Developments in the Treatment of Cannabis Use Disorder
Article from Current Opinion in Psychiatry at Medscape that describes recent developments in the treatment of cannabis abuse and dependence in the general and special populations - "There is a paucity of research into pharmacological and psychological interventions for cannabis use disorder. There are no accepted pharmacotherapies available. Whereas relatively brief cognitive-behavioural therapy has the strongest evidence of success for adults with cannabis dependence, among adolescents involved in the juvenile justice system and those with severe, persistent mental illness, longer and more intensive therapies provided by interdisciplinary teams may be required..." [Viewing Medscape resources requires registration, which is free].  
  

Drug Makers Hope to Kill the Kick in Pain Relief
April 20 New York Times story - "Worried that millions of Americans are using prescription opiate painkillers to get high rather than to ease severe chronic pain, drug makers are working on ways to prevent abuse. Cooperating closely with government officials and pain specialists, the companies are educating doctors, rewriting warning labels and tracking pills as they move from pharmacy to patient..." [Viewing New York Times resources requires registration, which is free].