Smoking and Mortality in China
Cardiology Summary and Comment
An analysis of population and mortality data reveals the immensity of the absolute risk associated with smoking.
Link Between Alcohol Consumption and Atrial Fibrillation in Women
Cardiology Summary and Comment
Findings from a large observational study suggest that consuming two or more drinks per day increases women’s risk for AF.
Unintentional Fatal Opioid Overdoses
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Most cases in West Virginia were associated with inappropriate diversion and "doctor shopping."
By Thomas L. Schwenk, MD
December 24, 2008
Covering:
Hall AJ et al., JAMA 2008 Dec 10; 300:2613
McLellan AT and Turner B., JAMA 2008 Dec 10; 300:2672
Unhealthy Alcohol Use Is Associated with Medication Nonadherence
General Medicine Summary and Comment
People who drank most heavily had lowest adherence to statins and antihypertensive drugs.
Worldwide Injection-Drug Use and HIV Prevalence Are High
Emergency Medicine Summary and Comment
An estimated 19 million people worldwide inject drugs, and about one in six of them is HIV-positive.
By Kristi L. Koenig, MD, FACEP
December 24, 2008
Covering:
Mathers BM et al., Lancet 2008 Nov 15; 372:1733
Arasteh K and Des Jarlais DC., Lancet 2008 Nov 15; 372:1709
Addiction Treatment and Pain
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Persistent pain is associated with worse outcomes in veterans with non-opioid substance dependence.
By Deborah Cowley, MD
December 22, 2008
Covering:
Caldeiro RM et al., Addiction 2008 Dec; 103:1996
Physician Health Programs Help with Drug and Alcohol Addiction
Emergency Medicine Summary and Comment
Emergency physicians are one of the specialty groups most susceptible to substance use disorders.
Cardioprotection from Moderate Drinking Is Limited to People with Unhealthful Behaviors
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Free
Nonsmokers who ate healthful diets and exercised didn’t benefit from alcohol.
Alcohol and Atrial Fibrillation in Women
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Daily intake of
Increased Prevalence of Risk Behaviors Reported by Chronically Ill Adolescents
Adolescents with chronic conditions were more likely than healthy peers to smoke cigarettes or marijuana or to engage in violent or antisocial acts.
Asking About Parental Alcohol Use Might Be Easier Than You Think
Most parents surveyed would not mind being asked about their alcohol use.
New Treatment for Opioid Addiction in Adolescents Shows Promise
Emergency Medicine Summary and Comment
Treatment decreases dependence, but additional therapies might enhance outcome.
Add PMS to the Antismoking Arsenal
Women's Health Summary and Comment
Free
Smokers were more likely to develop moderate-to-severe PMS than were nonsmokers.
By Diane E. Judge, APN/CNP
December 4, 2008
Covering:
Bertone-Johnson ER et al., Am J Epidemiol 2008 Oct 15; 168:938
Extended Buprenorphine-Naloxone Treatment for Opioid-Addicted Adolescents: A Qualified Success
Fewer adolescents who received treatment for 12 weeks than for 14 days had opioid-positive urine tests at 4 and 8 weeks, but not at 12 weeks or 1 year.
Can Naltrexone Reduce Amphetamine Abuse and Dependence?
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
The answer might be yes.
By Joel Yager, MD
December 1, 2008
Covering:
Jayaram-Lindström N et al., Am J Psychiatry 2008 Nov; 165:1442
Naltrexone for Amphetamine Dependence
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Naltrexone blocks endorphin receptors in the pleasure pathways where all drugs of abuse have effects.
Outcomes of Health Programs for Physicians with Substance-Use Disorders
General Medicine Summary and Comment
The primary problem substances were alcohol, opiates, and stimulants.
Choose to Chew: Nicotine Gum and Pregnancy
Women's Health Summary and Comment
Women who chewed nicotine gum cut their daily smoking more than did women who chewed placebo gum.
Anabolic Steroids and Violent Behavior
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Anabolic steroids might be bad for mental as well as physical health.
By Joel Yager, MD
November 17, 2008
Covering:
Beaver KM et al., Am J Public Health 2008 Dec; 98:2185
Another Reason Not to Smoke, As If You Needed One
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Smoking is not good for your cognitive health.
By Joel Yager, MD
November 17, 2008
Covering:
Nooyens ACJ et al., Am J Public Health 2008 Dec; 98:2244
Cost-Effectiveness of Alcoholism Treatments
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Researchers attempt to develop clinician-focused cost-benefit ratios of several common treatments.
By Steven Dubovsky, MD
November 10, 2008
Covering:
Zarkin GA et al., Arch Gen Psychiatry 2008 Oct; 65:1214
The More You Drink, the More You Shrink
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Alcohol consumption might decrease brain volume.
By Jonathan Silver, MD
November 3, 2008
Covering:
Paul CA et al., Arch Neurol 2008 Oct; 65:1363
CBT for Insomnia: Taper the Sleeping Pills at the Same Time
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Guidance on how clinicians should handle chronic use of hypnotics when providing cognitive-behavioral therapy for insomnia
By Peter Roy-Byrne, MD
October 27, 2008
Covering:
Zavesicka L et al., BMC Psychiatry 2008 Sep 18; 8:80
Cannabis Withdrawal Syndrome: Reefer Madness?
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
An epidemiologic study uncovers evidence for the syndrome.
By Peter Roy-Byrne, MD
October 27, 2008
Covering:
Hasin DS et al., J Clin Psychiatry 2008 Sep; 69:1354
Reviews of Note
Naltrexone; genetics of bipolar disorder and depression; new drug development; stress; psychotherapy; renal effects of lithium; cognition in twins; and the geography of genetics
