Category: Addiction
Attorneys general seek warning label cautioning pregnant women against using pain pills
Nationally, about 13,500 infants were born with drug withdrawal symptoms in 2009, about one baby each hour, according to a 2012 study from the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Are tax revenue estimates from legal marijuana a pipe dream?
Proponents of legalized recreational marijuana touted millions in taxes that could be collected. But don’t count that money yet.
National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day – April 27
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has scheduled another National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day which will take place on Saturday, April 27, 2013, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
What will the impact of sequestration be on Washington health programs?
Less money for vaccinating children, providing HIV testing, treating substance abuse and preparing for biological, chemical and radiological disasters.
Binge Drinking: a serious, under-recognized problem among women and girls – CDC
Binge drinking is not widely recognized as a women’s health problem, but drinking too much – including binge drinking – results in about 23,000 deaths in women and girls each year, says the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Washington state moves to address epidemic of prescription painkiller overdose deaths – BMJ
A feature article on efforts in Washington state to address the epidemic of prescription painkiller overdose deaths by LocalHealthGuide editor Michael McCarthy appears this week in the BMJ, the journal of the British Medical Society.
Turn in your unwanted and expired prescription drugs on Saturday
King County residents can dispose of their unwanted and expired medicines anonymously and at no cost at a nationwide drug “take-back” day on Saturday, Sept. 29 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at more than 22 “take-back” collections sites around the county.
Washington State Tobacco Quitline resumes service for all residents
All adults in Washington who are considering quitting tobacco can now again get free help from the Department of Health’s toll-free Washington State Tobacco Quitline.
Decline in smoking stalls in King County
About 10% of King County adults smoke, plus an additional 2% use smokeless tobacco products. About 1 in 4 12th graders report using tobacco products. Overall, smoking accounts for 1 in 5 deaths in the county.
Proposed changes to psychiatric manual could affect addiction diagnosis
When does drinking alcohol a problem? When does it become abuse? When is it an addiction?
American Pain Foundation shuts down as senators launch investigation of prescription narcotics
The group received 90 percent of its $5 million in funding in 2010 from the drug and medical-device industry, and its guides for patients, journalists and policymakers had played down the risks associated with opioid painkillers while exaggerating the benefits.
Some insurers deny ER coverage to people who have been drinking
Laws in more than half the states permit insurers to deny payment for medical services related to alcohol or drug use. Faced with the prospect of not getting paid for care, some ER personnel sidestep the problem by simply not testing patients’ blood or urine for alcohol.
Training teens to handle emotions improves mental health
Teens who received emotional intelligence training had improved scores on measures of emotional well-being, including less anxiety, depression and social stress.
State disciplines health care providers
Washington State Department of Health takes disciplinary actions against health care providers, including suspensions and revocations of licenses, certifications, or registrations of providers in the state — March 30th Update
King County issues heroin warning after seven die from overdoses
Because of this sudden increase in deaths, health officials are issuing a public alert about the overdose danger and are working with partners to analyze the heroin and identify possible reasons for the sudden increase in deaths.
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