Marijuana and Driving Don't Mix
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Acute cannabis use raises risk for motor vehicle accidents.
Baclofen: A New Adjunct Therapy for Acute Alcohol Withdrawal?
Hospital Medicine Summary and Comment
Significantly fewer baclofen than placebo recipients required high benzodiazepine dosing for alcohol withdrawal syndrome in a small randomized trial.
By Kellie Clearo, MD, RPh, and Daniel D. Dressler, MD, MSc, SFHM
February 13, 2012
Covering:
Lyon JE et al., J Hosp Med 2011 Oct; 6:469
Finn KM and Greenwald J., J Hosp Med 2011 Oct; 6:435
Smoking Is Associated with Increased Risk for Nonmelanoma Skin Cancer
Dermatology Summary and Comment
Free
Smoking is associated with risk for squamous cell carcinoma in both men and women, but especially among women.
By Jeffrey P. Callen, MD
February 10, 2012
Covering:
Rollison DE et al., Cancer Causes Control 2011 Nov 19
Smoking Increases the Risk for Acute Pancreatitis
Gastroenterology Summary and Comment
Free
Risk for nongallstone-related acute pancreatitis is higher for smokers and increases further with alcohol use.
Can Carotid Ultrasound Screening Motivate Smokers to Quit?
General Medicine Summary and Comment
In a randomized trial, screening was ineffective.
By Allan S. Brett, MD
February 7, 2012
Covering:
Rodondi N et al., Arch Intern Med 2012 Jan 23
O'Malley PG., Arch Intern Med 2012 Jan 23
Sobering Data About Young People's Attitudes Toward Alcohol
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Strict societal and parental attitudes toward drinking decrease drinking and alcohol-related problems in young adults.
By Steven Dubovsky, MD
February 6, 2012
Covering:
Huckle T et al., J Stud Alcohol Drugs 2012 Jan; 73:53
Abar CC et al., J Stud Alcohol Drugs 2012 Jan; 73:71
No Decline in Pulmonary Function with Marijuana Use
General Medicine Summary and Comment
But the effects of heavy use still are unclear.
Nebulized Naloxone Is Safe and Effective for Management of Opioid Overdose
Emergency Medicine Summary and Comment
But some patients will still require injected naloxone.
Desipramine for PTSD and Alcoholism in Military Veterans
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
A modest-sized study suggests that this forgotten tricyclic might have beneficial effects that equal those of FDA-approved medications for these two conditions.
By Peter Roy-Byrne, MD
January 9, 2012
Covering:
Petrakis IL et al., Neuropsychopharmacology 2011 Nov 16
Does Religiosity Facilitate Substance Use Recovery in Teens?
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Religious practices, not beliefs, were associated with improvements in an inpatient program.
By Steven Dubovsky, MD
January 9, 2012
Covering:
Kelly JF et al., J Stud Alcohol Drugs 2011 Nov; 72:1000
Who Will Become Violent? New Insights in Psychiatric Research
Psychiatry Year in Review
Substance abuse is a major factor increasing the risk for violence.
Few Level I Trauma Centers Provide Pediatric Psychosocial Services
Emergency Medicine Summary and Comment
Fewer than 30% of centers nationwide offer pediatric services for alcohol abuse or PTSD.
By Katherine Bakes, MD
December 22, 2011
Covering:
Zatzick DF et al., J Pediatr 2011 Dec; 159:1012
A Promising Intervention for Suicidal, Substance-Abusing Adolescents
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Free
A modified CBT protocol involving patients and their families is more effective than enhanced treatment as usual.
By Joel Yager, MD
December 22, 2011
Covering:
Esposito-Smythers C et al., J Consult Clin Psychol 2011 Dec; 79:728
DWI Means SUD
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
A conviction for driving while impaired strongly suggests that the offender has a drug or alcohol use disorder.
By Steven Dubovsky, MD
December 19, 2011
Covering:
Lapham SC et al., Arch Gen Psychiatry 2011 Nov; 68:1151
Smoking, Severity of Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus, and Response to Therapy — What's the Right Answer?
Dermatology Summary and Comment
In this most recent study, current smokers were more likely to have severe disease that was less responsive to antimalarials.
Levamisole-Adulterated Cocaine Might Not Be Associated with Agranulocytosis
Emergency Medicine Summary and Comment
Providers should obtain a complete blood count to evaluate for agranulocytosis in cocaine users with suggestive symptoms.
More Bad News About Varenicline
Cardiology Summary and Comment
Compared with other smoking-cessation treatments, the risk for suicidal behavior or depression was markedly increased with varenicline.
Rise in Fatal Overdoses of Prescription Opioid Pain Relievers
Emergency Medicine Summary and Comment
Prescription opioid overdoses kill more people each year than heroin and cocaine overdoses combined.
By Diane M. Birnbaumer, MD, FACEP
November 18, 2011
Covering:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)., MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2011 Nov 4; 60:1487
Alcohol and Murder, East and West
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Despite national differences, alcohol use clearly contributes to homicide, especially among those who heavily binge drink.
By Steven Dubovsky, MD
November 7, 2011
Covering:
Landberg J and Norström T., J Stud Alcohol Drugs 2011 Sep; 72:723
Don't Drink If Your House Might Catch Fire
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
High blood alcohol concentrations are associated with fatal smoking-related fires and with a lower likelihood that death was caused by blocked escape.
By Steven Dubovsky, MD
October 31, 2011
Covering:
Bruck D et al., J Stud Alcohol Drugs 2011 Sep; 72:731
Use of Stimulants in Adolescents with Substance Abuse and ADHD
Adding stimulant treatment to behavioral therapy did not further reduce ADHD symptoms or substance use.
By Martin T. Stein, MD
October 26, 2011
Covering:
Riggs PD et al., J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2011 Sep; 50:903
Alcohol-Induced Brain Damage Increases Relapse Risk
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Abstainers and relapsers show before-treatment volume differences in the mesocorticolimbic reward system.
By Steven Dubovsky, MD
October 24, 2011
Covering:
Cardenas VA et al., Biol Psychiatry 2011 Sep 15; 70:561
A New Drug Option for Smoking Cessation?
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Cytisine is modestly effective, but not sold in the U.S.
By Allan S. Brett, MD
October 13, 2011
Covering:
West R et al., N Engl J Med 2011 Sep 29; 365:1193
Directly Observed ART: The Benefits Last Only as Long as the Intervention
A post-trial analysis supports the use of long-term antiretroviral DOT for HIV-infected patients who are heavily engaged in methadone maintenance care.
By Peter J. Ackerman, MD, and Josiah D. Rich, MD, MPH
September 26, 2011
Covering:
Berg KM et al., Clin Infect Dis 2011 Sep 2
How Chronic Amphetamine Abuse Alters Thought
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
In an animal study, previous amphetamine use altered pathways between the medial PFC and basolateral amygdala and disrupted emotional and cognitive processes.
By Steven Dubovsky, MD
September 19, 2011
Covering:
Tse MTL et al., J Neurosci 2011 Aug 3; 31:11282
