Wednesday, February 23, 2005

NIH Clears Most Researchers In Conflict-of-Interest Probe Washington Post story - "Most of the 100 or so National Institutes of Health researchers who the agency has said are under investigation for allegedly engaging in secret deals with pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies have been cleared by NIH investigators, according to agency officials. The unexpected finding that as much as 80 percent of the seeming improprieties were actually the result of errors by government investigators has undermined the rationale behind NIH Director Elias A. Zerhouni's recent decision to impose severe restrictions on the personal activities and finances of all of the agency's more than 5,000 employees, said scientists and NIH officials upset about the new rules. " [Viewing Washington Post stories requires registration, which is free.]  
  

State hospitals’ screening of patients finds many with drug treatment needs (Washington) Story in The Chronicle - "Since the start of a new project in April 2004, chemical dependency counselors stationed in six of Washington’s busiest trauma centers have screened 8,100 patients and identified a surprisingly high number who would benefit from treatment for alcohol and other drug-use disorders, according to a news release from the state Department of Social and Health Services. The five-year, $16 million project, paid for by a federal grant, is called Washington State Screening, Brief Intervention, Referral and Treatment, or WASBIRT, and is administered by the Department of Social and Health Services Division of Alcohol and Substance Abuse."  
  

County receives grant for mental health training (Montana) Independent Record story - "Thanks to a $6,000 grant from pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly and Company, a group of five volunteers from Helena will travel to Memphis this spring to receive training in crisis intervention for mentally ill men and women. According to Mignon Waterman, one of the coordinators of the effort, the training is another step on the path to addressing the community's mental health dilemma. ... In addition to being a former legislator, Waterman serves as vice-chairwoman for the Mental Health Oversight Advisory Council. The mental health crisis in Helena — and across the state — was several years in the making, but came to a head in Helena in 2002."  
  

Nevada legislators urged to fund mental-health housingBrief KRNV-TV story - "Nevada's mental health chief is asking legislators to approve 6.5 million dollars in state money to pay community homes that house mentally ill patients. Carlos Brandenburg administers the Division of Mental Health and Developmental Services. He says it's cost-effective for the state to, 'keep individuals in the community and out of the hospital.'..."