Substance Abuse: Archives

Smoking Prevention Intervention in Adolescents

• General Medicine
• Summary and Comment
• Subscription required

A specific provider- and peer-delivered intervention raised both continuing abstinence rates among nonsmokers and cessation rates among smokers.

• By Howard Bauchner, MD
• May 8, 2008
• Covering:
  • Pbert L et al., Pediatrics 2008 Apr; 121:e738

Marijuana Use and Mortality After Myocardial Infarction

• General Medicine
• Summary and Comment
• Subscription required

An analysis suggests that marijuana use is associated with higher short-term risk for mortality in survivors of MI.

• By Kirsten E. Fleischmann, MD, MPH
• May 6, 2008
• Covering:
  • Mukamal KJ et al., Am Heart J 2008 Mar; 155:465
  • Gaziano JM., Am Heart J 2008 Mar; 155:395

Nonmedical Use of Prescription Opioids

• Psychiatry
• Summary and Comment
• Subscription required

An increasing problem in both adults and adolescents

• By Deborah Cowley, MD
• May 5, 2008
• Covering:
  • Becker WC et al., Drug Alcohol Depend 2008 Apr 1; 94:38
  • Wu L-T et al., Drug Alcohol Depend 2008 Apr 1; 94:1

Guidelines: MI and Chest Pain Associated with Cocaine Use

• Cardiology
• Clinical Practice Guideline Watch
• Subscription required

A scientific statement summarizes urgent and nonurgent care of a subgroup of chest-pain patients with unique characteristics.

• By Mark S. Link, MD
• April 16, 2008
• Covering:
  • McCord J et al., Circulation 2008 Apr 8; 117:1897

Possible New Treatment for Alcohol Dependence

• General Medicine
• Summary and Comment
• Subscription required

A drug that inactivates the neurokinin 1 receptor reduced cravings for alcohol.

• By Anthony L. Komaroff, MD
• April 8, 2008
• Covering:
  • George DT et al., Science 2008 Mar 14; 319:1536

Inappropriate Treatment for Alcohol Withdrawal Is Common

• General Medicine
• Summary and Comment
• Subscription required

Care is poor, despite the existence of proven therapies.

• By Richard Saitz, MD, MPH, FACP, FASAM
• March 27, 2008
• Covering:
  • Hecksel KA et al., Mayo Clin Proc 2008 Mar; 83:274

Telling Smokers Their Lung Age Increases Their Likelihood of Quitting

• General Medicine
• Summary and Comment
• Subscription required

Expressing spirometry results as lung age is more effective than providing raw numbers.

• By Paul S. Mueller, MD, MPH, FACP
• March 25, 2008
• Covering:
  • Parkes G et al., BMJ 2008 Mar 15; 336:598

New Treatment for Alcoholism?

• Psychiatry
• Summary and Comment
• Subscription required

A receptor antagonist that targets craving and stress has positive effects.

• By Jonathan Silver, MD
• March 24, 2008
• Covering:
  • George DT et al., Science 2008 Mar 14; 319:1536

Increasing Amphetamine Abuse Among Pregnant Women

• General Medicine
• Summary and Comment
• Subscription required

Hospitalizations for amphetamine abuse in pregnant women have doubled and primarily occur in the western region of the U.S.

• By Robert W. Rebar, MD
• March 20, 2008
• Covering:
  • Cox S et al., Obstet Gynecol 2008 Feb; 111:341

Cannabis Smoking Is Bad for Oral Health

• Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine
• Summary and Comment
• Subscription required

Periodontal disease can now be added to the list of potential adverse effects of marijuana smoking.

• By F. Bruder Stapleton, MD
• March 12, 2008
• Covering:
  • Thomson WM et al., JAMA 2008 Feb 6; 299:525
  • Hujoel PP., JAMA 2008 Feb 6; 299:574
  • Torpy JM et al., JAMA 2008 Feb 6; 299:598