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March 2nd SAMHSA National Methamphetamine Webinar on LGBT Log-in Information

Source: SAMHSA email 2/25/10

LGBT Populations and Meth: Updates for Addressing Challenges and Maximizing Opportunities

Date and Time: 3/2/2010 – 12:00pm to 1:30 pm (Mountain)
Description:
The LGBT Populations and Methamphetamine Webinar will include updates on research, treatment, and efforts on state and territory levels to address challenges and identify opportunities for work with LGBT populations around methamphetamine and substance abuse. Highlights will include an overview of data and research issues; results of a national survey regarding availability and accessibility of LGBT substance abuse services; research summary regarding substance abuse trends among gay men and non-gay identified men who have sex with men; information about Getting Off: A Behavioral Treatment Intervention For Gay and. Bisexual Male Methamphetamine Users; unique issues surrounding substance abuse and transgender individuals including barriers for services and research and recommendations; an overview of substance abuse and lesbian and bisexual women including barriers and recommendations; and an examination of psycho-cultural conditions for LGBT individuals and substance abuse.

Webinar Details

This webinar will provide both an online presentation and telephone audio.  We recommend that you log on to the webinar at least 5 minutes prior to the scheduled start time.  Please note that to participate in the web presentation you may be prompted to download software.  To ensure full access to both the web presentation and telephone audio, please follow the directions below:

To Join The Web Presentation

1. Go to https://www.mymeetings.com/nc/join/

2. Enter Log-in Information (below)
3. Click “Start Now”.
4. Follow the instructions that appear on your screen.

Meeting #: PW1746984
Passcode: 7892434

Audio Dial-in Information

Dial-in: 800-369-3338
Passcode: 7892434#

New Study Reveals that Black Adults Alcohol Use and Binge Drinking Levels are Below the National Average

Source: SAMHSA News Release 2/25/10

The current alcohol use rate for blacks aged 18 and older is significantly lower than the national adult average (44.3 percent versus 55.2 percent) according to a new study based on a national survey.The study by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) also reveals that black adults have a lower rate of current binge drinking than the national adult average (21.7 percent versus 24.5 percent). Young black adults (aged 18-25) are markedly less likely to be currently engaged in binge drinking than young adults in the general population (25.3 percent versus 41.6 percent).

One notable exception to the generally lower levels of alcohol use among black adults is the rate of current binge drinking among pregnant black women aged 18 to 44 which is higher than the national average for pregnant women in the age group (8.1 percent versus 3.6 percent).

At the same time the study reveals that black adults have a higher rate of current illicit drug use than the national average (9.5 percent versus 7.9 percent). The difference in rates of current illicit drug use between black adults and the national average tends to be more pronounced among male adults aged 26 and older.For example, 14.7 percent of black adults aged 26 to 49 currently use illicit drugs as opposed to 11.2 percent of the general adult population in that age group.

<<snip>>

Among the other noteworthy findings in the report – an estimated 1.1 million black adults (4.4 percent) were classified in the survey as needing treatment for an illicit drug use problem in the past year – higher than the national average of 2.9 percent. Almost one quarter (24.2 percent) of black adults in need of treatment received it at a specialty facility – significantly higher than the national average of 19.2 percent.

The report, Substance Use among Black Adults is based on data collected during 2004 to 2008 from a nationally representative sample of 25,798 black adults who participated in SAMHSA’s National Survey on Drug Use and Health.

The full report is online at: http://oas.samhsa.gov/2k10/174/174SubUseBlackAdults.cfm.

Click here for select resources available for loan from the PIC Library related to African American substance abuse and health.

Colorado HB 1352: Concerning Changes to Crimes Involving Controlled Substances

The following is a legislative summary of HB10-1352, a drug sentencing reform bill.  The summary is from The Colorado Criminal Justice Reform Coalition (CCJRC), a group that helped develop the bill as part of the drug policy taskforce of  the  Colorado Commission on Criminal & Juvenile Justivce.

Click here for recent news on HB 1352 from Google.
Click here to see legislative tracking information for HB10-1352

Source:  CCJRC email, 2/24/10

HB 1352: Concerning Changes to Crimes Involving Controlled Substances
Sponsors: Representative Mark Waller (R-Colorado Springs) and Senators Pat Steadman (D-Denver) and Shawn Mitchell (R-Broomfield) with cosponsors Representatives Pace (D-Pueblo), Court (D-Denver), Gardner B. (R-Colorado Springs), Gerou (R-Jefferson County), Kagan (D-Denver), King S. (R-Grand Junction), Levy (D-Boulder), Looper (R-El Paso), Massey (R-Poncha Springs), May (R-Douglas), McCann (D-Denver), Miklosi (D-Denver), Nikkel (R-Loveland), Roberts (R-Durango), Ryden (D-Arapahoe), Stephens (R-Colorado Springs) and Senators M. Carroll (D-Aurora), Hudak (D-Jefferson), Morse (D-Colorado Springs), Newell (D-Littleton), Penry (R-Grand Junction), White (R-Garfield/Eagle).

This drug sentencing reform bill is based on recommendations approved by the Commission on Criminal & Juvenile Justice. After reviewing the drug laws, practices, and research, the Commission concluded that drug laws and strategies would be improved by more clearly differentiating between those drug offenders who are primarily users and addicts from the more serious offenders who engage in the crimes of distribution, manufacturing and trafficking of drugs.

For those drug offenders who are primarily users and addicts, the Commission determined that intervention and treatment in the community would be a more effective use of resources than the current escalating system of punishment that often results in a prison sentence. For these offenders, it was recognized that the current structure and approach to prosecuting these drug crimes is frequently ineffective in reducing recidivism and curbing addiction and that a primary omission from current law is a means of assuring prompt and effective treatment of drug offenders.

The Commission also determined that penalties for several drug distribution offenses should be increased and that two provisions of the special drug offender statute should be clarified.

What the Bill Does:

Drug possession offenses

• Creates a separate statute for the crime of possession of drugs.
• Reduces the crime of drug use from a class 6 felony to a misdemeanor
• Redefines the quantity of drugs that is considered “simple possession” from 1 gram or less to 4 grams or less of a schedule I or II drug   and 2 grams or less of methamphetamine. “Simple possession” would be a class 6 felony.
• Standardizes that possession for personal use of amounts greater than “simple possession” quantities is a class 4 felony.
• Reduces possession of schedule III-V drugs (i.e. prescription drugs) to a misdemeanor.
• Reduces the penalty for fraud and deceit in connection with controlled substances from a class 5 to a class 6 felony.
• Requires cost savings from this bill to be evaluated annually by the division of criminal justice and reported to the legislature and that some of the cost savings will be allocated to expand and enhance substance abuse treatment.

If there is evidence that even small quantities of drugs are possessed with the intent to distribute, prosecutors can still file a criminal charge of drug distribution at any quantity of drugs.

Offenses related to marijuana

• Redefines the quantity of marijuana possession that determines crime classifications at various levels including possession of under 2 ounces (petty offense), possession of between 2 – 6 ounces (class 2 misdemeanor), possession of between 6-12 ounces (class 1 misdemeanor), and possession of over 12 ounces (class 6 felony).
• Redefines the quantity of marijuana concentrate possession that determines crime classification at various levels including possession of under 3 ounces (class 1 misdemeanor) and possession of over 3 ounces (class 6 felony).
• Creates a graduated penalty for marijuana cultivation including cultivation of less than 6 plants (class 1 misdemeanor), cultivation of between 7-29 plants (class 5 felony) and cultivation of 30 or more plants (class 4 felony).

Increasing penalties for drug distribution

• Creates a new crime of distribution of schedule I or II drugs by an adult to a minor (class 3 felony) and if the adult is more than 2 years older than the minor, imposes a mandatory minimum prison sentence.
• Increases the crime level to a class 3 felony and imposes a mandatory minimum prison sentence for distribution (even without remuneration) of marijuana or marijuana concentrate by an adult to a minor less than 15 years old.
• Increases the crime classification for distribution of ketamine (aka “date rape drug”) to a class 3 felony.

Clarifies two provisions within the Special Offender drug law (enhanced sentencing 8-48 years)

• Requires the quantity of drugs to be greater than the “simple possession” amount to be considered importation of drugs into the state.
• Enhances sentences when a deadly weapon is on a defendant’s person or his within immediate reach, when a firearm is within the defendant’s or confederate’s access in a manner that posed a risk to others or when a firearm is in a vehicle the defendant was occupying.

Colo. Sentencing Reform Bill Has Bipartisan Support

Source: JoinTogether News Summary, 2/24/10

A bill that would cut sentences for drug offenses and put more money into addiction treatment programs has support from both sides of the aisle in the Colorado statehouse.

The Colorado Springs Gazette reported Feb. 23 that the bill from Rep. Mark Waller would make most drug-possession and drug-use crimes either misdemeanors or minor felonies. Some of the money saved due to less incarceration of drug offenders would be used to fund addiction-treatment programs. The legislation was the result of a series of sentencing-reform discussions sponsored by the state’s Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice.

Waller, a Republican and former prosecutor, has won support for HB-1352 from Colorado Attorney General John Suthers, most GOP lawmakers, and some influential Democratic leaders. “This isn’t something the Democrats can do alone because they don’t want to appear soft on crime,” Waller said.

Click here to see legislative tracking information for HB10-1352

DSM-V Draft Includes Major Changes to Addictive Disease Classifications

Source: JoinTogether News Feature, 2/12/2010

The first draft of the American Psychiatric Association’s (APA) latest Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V) eliminates the disease categories for substance abuse and dependence and replaces it with a new “addictions and related disorders” — just one of several major changes to the “Bible” used almost universally to diagnose (and get insurance reimbursement for) behavioral-health problems.

“Eliminating the category of dependence will better differentiate between the compulsive drug-seeking behavior of addiction and normal responses of tolerance and withdrawal that some patients experience when using prescribed medications that affect the central nervous system,” the APA explained in a Feb. 10 press release.

<<SNIP>>

The new category for addictive diseases would include a variety of “substance-use disorders” broken down by drug type, such as “cannabis-use disorder” and “alcohol-use disorder.” Diagnostic criteria for these disorders in DSM-V would remain “very similar” to those found in the current DSM-IV, according to APA. However, the symptom of “drug craving” would be added to the criteria, while a symptom that referred to “problems with law enforcement” would be eliminated “because of cultural considerations that make the criteria difficult to apply internationally,” APA said.Also new to the DSM-V are diagnostic criteria for “cannabis withdrawal,” which the APA says is caused by “cessation of cannabis use that has been heavy and prolonged,” results in “clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning,” and is characterized by at least three of these symptoms: irritability, anger or aggression; nervousness or anxiety; sleep difficulties (insomnia); decreased appetite or weight loss; restlessness; depressed mood; and or physical symptoms such as stomach pain, shakiness or tremors, sweating, fever, chills, and headache.

<<SNIP>>

The proposed DSM-V also would add a new category of “behavioral addictions” which contains a single disorder: gambling addiction. “Internet addiction was considered for this category, but work group members decided there was insufficient research data to do so, so they recommended it be included in the manual’s appendix instead, with a goal of encouraging additional study,” according to an APA press release.

<<SNIP>>

APA is accepting public comments on the DSM-V revisions until April 20. “This is the first complete revision of the DSM since 1994,” said Volkow in a Feb. 11 letter to addiction professionals. “… In light of the advances in research on substance abuse and addiction since the last revision, many suggested changes have been proposed in this revision. Therefore, this is an important opportunity to offer your comments on the new criteria.”

All of the proposed changes and information about submitting comments can be found on the DSM-V website.Read the entire JoinToger News Feature

ONDCP and CSAP Announce FY 2010 Drug Free Communities Support Program

Source: JuvJust e-news,  2/8/2010

The Executive Office of the President’s Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) and the Department of Health and Human Services’ Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP) are accepting applications for the fiscal year (FY) 2010 Drug Free Communities Support Program.

The program’s purpose is to establish and strengthen collaboration to support the efforts of community coalitions working to prevent and reduce substance use among youth. Successful applicants will receive up to $125,000 per year over a 5-year period.

The application deadline is March 19, 2010.

Resources:

To obtain further information about the FY 2010 Drug Free Communities Support Program, see the Request for Applications at samhsa.gov/Grants/2010/SP-10-005.aspx.

Short video: Protecting Reputations Online in Plain English

Source: email from Common Craft, 1/6/2009

From the web site:

Aimed at young or inexperienced Web users, this video explains the long term risks of sharing inappropriate information online. Release Date: 1/6/09. Video Length: 02:42.

From the email:

If you’re a regular user of sites like Facebook or Twitter, you’ve seen the things people share in public.  Often, especially among the young or inexperienced, the risks aren’t known.  This video is aimed at them and helps to explain the long term risks of sharing inappropriate photos, videos and stories on the Web. It’s about understanding what it means to lose control of an image once it’s shared and how they can help protect their reputation and those of their friends.
This video will be a part of our forthcoming “Internet Safety” pack.

Check it out at: http://www.commoncraft.com/protecting-reputations-video

Guide Offers Communities Ways To Prevent and Respond to School Violence

Source: OJJDP JUVJUST, 12/16/2009 (email)

The Office of Justice Programs’ Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), in coordination with the International Association of Chiefs of Police, has published a new edition of its “Guide for Preventing and Responding to School Violence.”

Designed to assist local communities, the guide describes the roles of the school, community, families, law enforcement, and justice system in working together to take effective action to address school violence.

Resources:

BJA’s “Guide for Preventing and Responding to School Violence” is available online atwww.ojp.usdoj.gov/BJA/pdf/IACP_School_Violence.pdf.

National Survey Tracks Rates of Common Mental Disorders Among American Youth

Source: NIH News 12/14/2009

Only about half of American children and teenagers who have certain mental disorders receive professional services, according to a nationally representative survey funded in part by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). The survey also provides a comprehensive look at the prevalence of common mental disorders.

The results are part of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), a collaboration between NIMH and the National Center for Health Statistics of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The survey conducted from 2001 to 2004 had 3,042 participants. These most recent results include data from children and adolescents ages 8 to 15, and were published online ahead of print December 14, 2009, in the journal Pediatrics.

<<snip>>

Overall, 13 percent of respondents met criteria for having at least one of the six mental disorders within the last year. About 1.8 percent of the respondents had more than one disorder, usually a combination of ADHD and conduct disorder. Among the specific disorders,

• 8.6 percent had ADHD, with males more likely than females to have the disorder;
• 3.7 percent had depression, with females more likely than males to have the disorder;
• 2.1 percent had conduct disorder;
• 0.7 percent had an anxiety disorder (GAD or panic disorder);
• 0.1 percent had an eating disorder (anorexia or bulimia).

“With the exception of ADHD, the prevalence rates reported here are generally lower than those reported in other published findings of mental disorders in children, but they are comparable to other studies that employed similar methods and criteria,”said lead author Kathleen Merikangas, Ph.D., of NIMH.

Those of a lower socioeconomic status were more likely to report any disorder, particularly ADHD, while those of a higher socioeconomic status were more likely to report having an anxiety disorder. Mexican-Americans had significantly higher rates of mood disorders than whites or African-Americans, but overall, few ethnic differences in rates of disorders emerged.

Merikangas and colleagues also found that overall, 55 percent of those with a disorder had consulted with a mental health professional, confirming the trend of an increase in service use for childhood mental disorders, especially ADHD. However, only 32 percent of youth with an anxiety disorder sought treatment, a finding consistent with other studies. Moreover, African-Americans and Mexican-Americans were significantly less likely to seek treatment than whites, reiterating the need to identify and remove barriers to treatment for minority youth, noted the researchers.

<<snip>>

Click here to read the complete story

Click here to access the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) homepage