Monthly Archives: April 2008

In the 5 years since SAMHSA launched the Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) Initiative, the program has increasingly become an integral part of medical practice in clinics, emergency rooms, trauma centers, and other treatment settings. The SAMHSA News cover story gives an update on SBIRT, describes new billing codes for providers, and highlights grantees in Alaska and in Massachusetts.

Date Added: 04/17/08
Continue reading →

In 2006, admissions who were employed full time were more likely to report alcohol as the primary substance of abuse (58 percent) than admissions who were homemakers (35 percent), unemployed (39 percent), labor force dropouts (39 percent, or disables (46 percent). Admissions who were labor force dropouts were more than twice as likely as admissions who were employed full time to report daily use of their primary substance in the past month (56 vs. 26 percent). Admissions who were homemakers or who were employed full time were more likely to report entering treatment for the first time (59 and 57 percent, respectively) than admissions who were unemployed (40 percent), labor force dropouts (47 percent), or disabled (41 percent).

View this Publication (PDF)
Order this Publication

Date Added: 04/15/08
Inventory #: DASISRPT08-0320
Continue reading →

Among persons who initiated alcohol use 13 to 24 months prior to the survey interview (“year-before-last initiates”), 3.2 percent were dependent on alcohol in the past 12 months (“past year”). Among year-before-last marijuana initiates, 5.8 percent were dependent on marijuana in the past year. More than one tenth (13.4 percent) of year-before-last heroin initiates were dependent on heroin in the past year, and 9.2 percent of year-before-last crack initiates were dependent on any type of cocaine in the past year.

View this Publication (PDF)
Order this Publication

Date Added: 04/15/08
Inventory #: NSDUH08-0327
Continue reading →

In 2006, a majority (53.9 percent) of American adolescents and young adults aged 12 to 20 had used an alcoholic beverage at least once in their lifetime. Young people aged 12 to 20 consumed approximately 11.2 percent of the alcoholic drinks consumed in the United States in the past month by persons aged 12 or older. Research shows that underage drinkers tend to consume more alcohol per occasion than those over the legal minimum drinking age of 21.

Date Added: 04/11/08
Continue reading →

Are the estimated 1 million young adults who were exposed to cocaine before birth more vulnerable to drug abuse today? New research indicating long-lasting brain changes suggests the possibility — especially in males — according to a new report. Continue reading →

A series of recent research reports has examined the characteristics associated with the development of dependence soon after the initiation of alcohol, marijuana, cocaine, and hallucinogen use. These studies suggest that each drug class has a different trajectory from first use to cessation of use, continuation of use without dependence, or dependence upon the drug.

Date Added: 04/09/08
Continue reading →

New research in monkeys suggests the feasibility of treating cocaine addiction with a “replacement” drug that mimics the effects of cocaine but has less potential for abuse — similar to the way nicotine and heroin addictions are treated. Continue reading →

Over 1 million babies born annually in the United States are exposed to drugs, alcohol or tobacco while in utero. New research suggests that prenatal exposure to these substances (alone or in combination) may have effects on the baby’s brain structure that persist into adolescence. Continue reading →