MADD Focuses on Drugged Driving

Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), in partnership with the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), launched a new campaign focusing on raising awareness of the risks involved with drugged driving. According to the ONDCP, the number of deadly crashes in which drugs played a role jumped by five percent in the last five years.

Researchers at Columbia University came to a similar conclusion in a meta-analysis of nine studies. Their findings suggest that driving within three hours of smoking marijuana doubles the risk of being involved in a car accident. The study also found that the chances of an accident increase as the amount of marijuana found in the driver’s system rises.

Over 40 percent of drivers testing positive for marijuana who die in crashes are less than 25 years old. Mindful of this fact, MADD’S campaign focuses on educating parents and teens about drugged driving. Part of the campaign includes a Drugged Driving Toolkit containing tips for parents of teenage drivers and suggestions to help the teens themselves deal with the peer pressure they often receive to try drugs.

Tags: alcohol abuse, drug abuse, drug abuse prevention, drug and driving, drugged driving

How Long Between First Abuse and Treatment?

A recent report by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) revealed that 669,000 Americans received their initial treatment for substance abuse last year. The study showed that, on average, over 15 years passed between the time when individuals first started using and when they first sought treatment.

The numbers analyzed were from SAMHSA’s Treatment Episode Data Set (TEDS), a system that tracks data in treatment facilities throughout the nation. The study showed that males took longer than females to get help. Men averaged 16.5 years between use and treatment, while women averaged 13.8 years. In terms of substances, alcohol had the largest gap at a little over 20 years. The lag was shortest for prescription painkillers at 7.8 years.

Tags: alcohol abuse, alcohol safety

Drug and Alcohol Use Increased in 2010

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) released its 2010 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) in September. The study included data from 67,500 respondents aged 12 and older, making it one of the most significant studies in the field of drug abuse. Key findings include:

• Illicit drug use continued to grow among 18 to 25 year olds.  In 2008, almost 20 percent surveyed in this demographic reported using, compared to 21.2 percent in 2009 and 21.5 in 2010.

• The rates of both heavy and binge drinking in 2010 were similar to the 2009 rates. Twenty-three percent of respondents reported binge drinking (i.e. consuming five or more drinks on an occasion within 30 days of the study) and 6.7 percent drank “heavily” (i.e. binge drinking on at least five days in the past 30 days).

The study also found a rise in marijuana use.  As the most popular drug, with 17.4 million users, marijuana use increased from 5.8 to 6.9 percent.  The percentage of 18 to 25 year olds using marijuana also increased from 16.5 percent in 2008 to 18.5 percent in 2010.

Tags: alcohol abuse, drug abuse, drug abuse prevention

Binge Drinking’s U.S. Price Tag

A study released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reveals that in 2006 excessive alcohol consumption cost the United States $223.5B, roughly $1.90 per drink. Binge drinking accounted for approximately 75 percent of the costs.

The study defined binge drinking as four or more drinks in an occasion for women, and five or more drinks in an occasion for men. Excessive drinking was classified as averaging one or more drinks per day for women, and more than two per day for men.

CDC researchers reported that employers paid the largest portion of the costs (72 percent) because of subpar job performance associated with excessive/binge drinking. Health care expenses totaled 11 percent, and criminal justice expenses and motor vehicle crash costs came in at nine and six percent respectively.

The study found that local, city and state governments paid almost 42 percent of the bill, while drinkers and their families picked up the remainder of the tab.

Tags: alcohol abuse, alcohol free workplace, alcohol in workplace, alcohol safety, binge drinking

State-Mandated Rx Monitoring

The focus on state-mandated prescription-monitoring programs has been well documented in recent months. These programs were enacted to cut down on “doctor shopping” by patients seeking pain medication and over-prescribing by disreputable physicians.

Some states are also demanding that doctors participate in the solution to the painkiller abuse epidemic in other ways. Currently, certain doctors in California, Florida, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, Tennessee and West Virginia must complete continuing medical education courses in the areas of pain management and controlled substance prescriptions. In Ohio, the requirement pertains to doctors who work in clinics where 50 percent of the patient roster is treated with opioids.

The creation of these mandates is timely; especially considering prescription drug overdoses claimed more American lives in 2009 than fatal car crashes. As overdoses increase, physicians are also facing criminal charges for overprescribing painkillers. Although some doctors, like the five in Florida who allegedly participated in a distribution ring, are thought to have criminal intent, others may face charges for making poor clinical decisions. A majority of the 37 criminal cases brought against doctors from 2001 to 2011 were done so under the Controlled Substances Act. To be found guilty, it must be demonstrated that the doctor prescribed medication for uses other than legitimate medical reason or uses beyond accepted medical practices.

Tags: prescription drug abuse, Prescription Drug Abuse Awareness Month, rx abuse

Medical Marijuana Linked to Higher Overall Usage

Currently 16 states have laws on the books allowing medicinal use of marijuana. However, two recent studies show that these measures may have an unintended consequence. The first study, appearing in Annals of Epidemiology, reported that 8.6 percent of youths between the ages of 12 and 17 in states with medicinal laws use marijuana. States without these laws, however, have a lower usage rate of 6.9 percent. Another recent study found that medical marijuana states have two times the abuse or dependency rates of those without. Although there appears to be a correlation, neither study explores causation.

Tags: drug abuse prevention, drug awareness, medical marijuana

Hydrocodone Gains Attention from Legislatures

Over the past 12 years, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have been considering reclassifying the painkiller hydrocodone. The move would switch the drug from Schedule III to Schedule II, resulting in stricter regulations. Hydrocodone would then be in the same classification as morphine and oxycodone.

Why has the action been delayed? The FDA is considering how the new classification would affect patients who are using hydrocodone as prescribed.  There is also some concern that it would become more difficult for legitimate users to obtain prescriptions for the drug.  However, the FDA is weighing this against the fact that hydrocodone has the second highest rate of illegal pill seizures, behind oxycodone, and is the most prescribed opiate in the U.S.

At the state level, New York has decided not to wait for the FDA.  A bill introduced in the Empire State’s senate would move hydrocodone from Schedule III to Schedule II under New York’s Controlled Substance Act. If passed, those who possess the drug without a prescription would face stiffer penalties, and a patient would be required to visit his or her doctor each time a refill is due. Currently, New York patients are allowed up to five refills between doctor visits and there are no minimum sentences for illegal possession of hydrocodone.

Tags: drug abuse, drug abuse prevention, drug-free safety program, drug-free workplace, prescription drug abuse

Emergency Action Curtails “Bath Salts”

After temporarily banning three man-made stimulants found in bath salts earlier this year, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has invoked its emergency scheduling ability and classified mephedrone, methylone and MDPV as Schedule I. The decision comes after emergency rooms have seen an increase of bath- salt-related visits with users displaying symptoms such as paranoia, psychosis and hallucinations.

The new classification will last for one year, providing the DEA and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services time to make permanent control recommendations for these substances. The Schedule I classification is the most limiting one, and contains other substances with a high potential of abuse and no medical use. Possession of a Schedule I drug can result in up to a 20-year prison sentence.

Despite the ban, one manufacture is already finding new chemical compounds to use in products that are not banned. The new product, promising effects similar to synthetic marijuana (also banned), will be a natural herb mixture with a certification stating it is compliant with the new law.

Tags: bath salt drug, bath salt drug abuse, drug abuse prevention, drug usage

Alcohol’s Double Edge Sword

Alcohol sales in several states are being used to bolster state budgets and improve businesses, but some worry increased access will result in increased use.

Harrison, AR, which began selling beer and wine this year after their county ceased being “dry,” is hoping alcohol-related fees and sales taxes will bring in up to $200,000 annually, about one percent of their budget.  Since introducing alcohol sales the city, located in the Ozark Mountains, has found tourists are staying longer and presumably spending more money.

AMC Theaters in New York, thanks to a new state law, are following in Arkansas’s footsteps and considering adding restaurants that serve alcohol in their theaters.  The hope is that by attracting adults looking for dinner and a movie in one place, business will increase.

Washington State voters also weighed in on alcohol sales when they passed I-1183 removing liquor sales from state control in favor of privatization. While reports are mixed on how this move will impact state and local government budgets, Washington residents will be able to purchase beer, wine and liquor in one location.

While increased alcohol sales result in increased revenue for some, the increased availability of alcohol also causes others to worry. While specific arguments vary slightly, critics claim that limited access or “dry” laws help prevent underage drinking and criminal activity. An April Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report has also been cited specifically in opposition of privatization.  The report found “… strong evidence that privatization results in increased per capita alcohol consumption, a well-established proxy for excessive consumption.”

Tags: alcohol abuse, alcohol in workplace, alcohol safety

Drugs, Alcohol Play Large Role in Single-Vehicle Crashes

Researchers have examined records of fatalities in 44,000 single-vehicle crashes and found that almost 25 percent of those individuals had drugs in their system and 37 percent had blood alcohol levels above the legal limit of .08. Five percent had some alcohol in their system, but less than legal limit; 58 percent showed no trace of drugs or alcohol.

Of those who tested positive for drugs, both marijuana and stimulants topped the list with 22 percent each.  Nine percent tested positive for narcotics.

Tags: alcohol abuse, alcohol free workplace, alcohol safety