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.
Drug and alcohol abuse on the rise in Washington state “Abuse of drugs and alcohol is on the rise in Washington state, including one of the highest rates of nonmedical use of prescription pain relievers in the nation, according to the state Department of Social and Health Services,” the Associated Press reports in the Seattle [...]
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Seattle Times Health News
Experts divided over recommendation to screen children for cholesterol
Some clinicians say universal screening is an important tool to help identify children who are genetically predisposed to high cholesterol and to pinpoint others who could benefit from treatment. Others express concerns that screening may do more harm than good.
People in state high-risk insurance plans often feel left behind
The federal health law set up new plans that are cheaper and more comprehensive than the older ones run by states but consumers need to go without insurance for six months to qualify.
Peeking in on your doctor’s notes
Although federal law guarantees patients the right to examine and get copies of their medical records, providers haven’t always made it easy to do so. But the movement to give patients direct access to their health information has picked up steam, and policymakers have encouraged it as a way to empower patients to help manage their health and their medical care.
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