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%..."  
  

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..."