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.
Chronically homeless men and women with severe alcohol problems who were allowed stay in a housing project–even if they kept drinking–reduced their alcohol intake significantly over a two-year period.
There has been a substantial drop in both smoking and alcohol use among Washington youth, according to a survey of more than 212,000 students in the state’s public schools.
Eight percent of fans who agreed to be tested after attending professional football and baseball games were too drunk to legally drive and 40 percent had booze in their bodies.
More than 15% of US adults report binge drinking, defined as 5 or more drinks on a single occasion for men or 4 or more drinks on a single occasion for women. Most who binge drink are not alcohol-dependent or alcoholics and often don’t realize the dangers of this sort of drinking.
Washington State banned the drinks last week in response to reports that nine CWU students fell ill after drinking one of the products targeted by the FDA.
Administrators say student drinking is a major concern, but focus on individual interventions and campus alcohol restrictions, and not enough on tough community policies, experts say
U.K. expert panel found little change in alcohol consumptions or alcohol-related crime after the U.K. loosened its drinking hours.
Young people in romantic relationships during two years after high school are less likely to report heavy drinking and marijuana use.
The U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration has posted an updated version of its guide for finding drug and alcohol treatment programs near you. The guide provides a directory that you can search by city, state or zip code to find local programs and facilities that are licensed and certified in each state. [...]
Washington state spends more than 15 percent of its budget coping with problems due to tobacco, alcohol and drug abuse, according to a new study. The study, conducted by National Center on Addiction and Drug Abuse, a private group at Columbia University in New York City, found that in 2005, the latest year for which [...]
A Seattle homeless housing program that allows residents with severe alcohol problems to continue to drink in their rooms substantially reduced their healthcare use and costs, University of Washington researchers report. In addition, the residents gradually reduced their alcohol intake as well, the researchers said.
LocalHealthGuide is a health news and information web service for Seattle and the Puget Sound Region. We are independent and unaffiliated with any hospital, medical association or insurer. If you have questions or if your group has an upcoming event that you would like us to cover, please let us know by going to our "Contact Us" page and dropping us a note. -- Michael McCarthy, Editor
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Lost in translation: Lack of trained interpreters can lead to medical errors
Interpreter services at hospitals and other medical settings are often inadequate, forcing family members, including children, to step in, or the task falls to medical staff members who may not speak the language well.
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.
Travel insurance can protect your wallet — and your health on vacation
Think your regular health insurance policy will cover you if you get into medical trouble overseas?
Don’t bet on it.
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