“PhD Scholarship at NCHSR
There is opportunity to undertake a PhD program at the National Centre in HIV Social Research at UNSW supported by a 3 year scholarship.
The PhD project is based in the UNSW Hepatitis C Vaccine Project. This is a multidisciplinary project covering a number of areas of interest to students with a social science background. The project is based in Sydney.
For more information, please contact A/Prof Carla Treloar, c.treloar@unsw.edu.au, phone: 02 9385 6959.”
A UK-based resource, this magazine has made the welcome move to free PDF distribution. The full announcement and summary of contents:
” ISSUE 7 of the DRUG AND ALCOHOL FINDINGS magazine first published in 2002 is now available free of charge as downloadable PDFs (Adobe Acrobat files). Access by clicking this link:
or the BROWSE MAGAZINE link on the home page.
This final message introduces you the remaining NUGGETS. Remember to check the EXTENDED TEXTS for much more free information than we could fit on the page.
**************************************
DOING CBT AS GROUP THERAPY WORKS AND CAN SAVE MONEY
Brazilian clinic found that for both drinkers and drug users, cognitive-behavioural therapy worked as well in a group as an individual format with potential cost savings. Extended text documents similar studies.
Choose GROUP COGNITIVE-BEHAVIOURAL THERAPY… from the issue 7 listing or go direct to:
http://www.findings.org.uk/count/downloads/download.php?file=nug_7_7.pdf
TACKLE COMMUNITY, SCHOOL AND FAMILY SYSTEMS TO HELP TROUBLED TEENS
Children’s lives are hugely affected by parents, schools, peer groups and for those in trouble, public authorities and the law. Family therapy which orchestrated these multiple systems was more effective than typical group child or family approaches for teenage US drug users. Extended text highlights main advantage – effects persist while relapse is the norm after other therapies.
Choose HOLISTIC FAMILY THERAPY… from the issue 7 listing or go direct to: http://www.findings.org.uk/count/downloads/download.php?file=nug_7_8.pdf
DRUG-RELATED YOUTH WORK – IT’S NOT ONLY (OR EVEN MAINLY) ABOUT DRUGS
Analysis of nine Home Office-funded youth work projects found that the more freedom workers had to de-focus from drugs and relate to young people on their own terms, the more successful they were at working with the problem drug users among them.
Choose DRUG-RELATED YOUTH WORK… from the issue 7 listing or go direct to:
http://www.findings.org.uk/count/downloads/download.php?file=nug_7_10.pdf
INVOLVE PARENTS AND COMMUNITIES IN SCHOOL-BASED DRUG PREVENTION
NE Choices was a major UK government community project trialed in six schools in Northumbria. Few statistically significant findings but some evidence that supplementing school and youth activities with community and parental components helped curb or reverse progression to more serious forms of
drug use.
Choose INVOLVING PARENTS… from the issue 7 listing or go direct to:
http://www.findings.org.uk/count/downloads/download.php?file=nug_7_11.pdf
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Also in this issue:
CHRONIC TREATMENT TO MATCH CHRONIC DEPENDENCE
Leading US researchers argue that for many patients addiction treatment should be spread thinly and extensively and assessed in terms of change during not after treatment. http://www.findings.org.uk/count/downloads/download.php?file=off_7_2.pdf
DO NOT DENY INJECTORS HEPATITIS C TREATMENT
Good response to and compliance with interferon-based treatment means no justification for refusing treatment for hepatitis C infection to continuing injectors.
http://www.findings.org.uk/count/downloads/download.php?file=nugg_7_2.pdf
HIGH LEVEL HIDDEN SUPPORT FOR NEEDLE EXCHANGE
You won’t find it on official web sites, but in 2000 the former US Surgeon General and senior US scientists judged there was “conclusive” evidence that needle exchanges reduced HIV risk. http://www.findings.org.uk/count/downloads/download.php?file=off_7_4.pdf”
I noticed this interesting synopsis on the Update list yesterday and though it was worth passing on – the debate over NSP has raged non-stop for over twenty years now – is there likely to ever be a ceasefire?
“Full URL
http://www.aidslaw.ca/publications/interfaces/downloadFile.php?ref=1285
Conclusions
A substantial amount of scientific evidence has shown that NSPs in the community are the most effective intervention available to prevent HIV transmission associated with injecting drug use. As well, NSPs have been associated with increases in access to care and treatment among people who use such programs, and with substantial cost-savings. The concerns raised about NSPs have been shown to be unfounded. NSPs have not led to increased levels of risk behaviour among people who use the programs or increased drug use by people who inject drugs.
An important and growing body of evidence demonstrating the success of prison-based NSPs also exists. Since the early 1990s, the number of NSPs established in prison settings has steadily grown. There are now in excess of 60 prisonbased NSPs in nine countries. While existing quantitative evaluations of NSPs have some limitations, overall the program evaluations have been highly and consistently favourable. NSPs in prison have been associated with a substantial reduction in needle and syringe sharing, and there have been no recorded cases of HIV infection among prisoners participating in an NSP.
Additional benefits observed include reductions in overdose incidents and deaths, an increase in referral to drug treatment programs, increased awareness of infections transmission and risk behaviours, and a reduction in injection-site abscesses. Significantly, none of the adverse consequences projected by some have been found. In particular, there have been no incidents in which syringes or needles from NSPs were used as weapons against guards or inmates, drug use has been stable or has decreased, and there has been no increase in injecting drug use among prisoners. In general, NSPs have been accepted by prison staff, including staff that was initially opposed to such programs. Bleach programmes should be available in prisons where authorities continue to oppose the introduction of NSPs, and to complement NSPs. However, because of bleach’s limited effectiveness, such programmes can only be regarded as a second-line strategy to NSPs and cannot replace NSPs.47
From a public health perspective, piloting and rapidly expanding NSPs is a priority for responding to the dual epidemics of injecting drug use and HIV infection among prisoners. To date a number of outbreaks of HIV among prisoners in the fSU have been documented.Given the evidence of entrenched epidemics of injecting drug use and HIV infection in prisons in many countries in Eastern Europe and the fSU, it is clear that further inaction on the part of prison officials will result in increased morbidity, including HIV infection, and mortality among people who inject drugs in prison. Moreover, the failure to implement NSPs could result in spread of HIV infection among the prison population as a whole, and could potentially lead to generalized epidemics among people in communities into which prisoners are released. Such further spread of HIV would lead not only to greater suffering for affected individuals and their families, but also would result in substantial, avoidable health care costs”.
I noticed a posting on ADCA’s Update list yesterday that quotes an interesting study showing a correlation between cannabis use and increased risk of lung cancer. Nothing particularly surprising about that – it’ll just be interesting how the research will be used by different ideological camps to promote their cause…
“Cannabis use and risk of lung cancer: a case–control study
S. Aldington*, M. Harwood*, B. Cox#, M. Weatherall”, L. Beckert*, A. Hansell+, A. Pritchard*, G. Robinson* and R. Beasley*,1 on behalf of the Cannabis and Respiratory Disease Research Group
ABSTRACT: The aim of the present study was to determine the risk of lung cancer associated with cannabis smoking. A case–control study of lung cancer in adults <55 yrs of age was conducted in eight district health boards in New Zealand. Cases were identified from the New Zealand Cancer Registry and hospital databases. Controls were randomly selected from the electoral roll, with frequency matching to cases in 5-yr age groups and district health boards. Interviewer-administered questionnaires were used to assess possible risk factors, including cannabis use. The relative risk of lung cancer associated with cannabis smoking was estimated by logistic regression. In total, 79 cases of lung cancer and 324 controls were included in the study. The risk of lung cancer increased 8% (95% confidence interval (CI) 2–15) for each joint-yr of cannabis smoking, after adjustment for confounding variables including cigarette smoking, and 7% (95% CI 5–9) for each pack-yr of cigarette smoking, after adjustment for confounding variables including cannabis smoking. The highest tertile of cannabis use was associated with an increased risk of lung cancer (relative risk 5.7 (95% CI 1.5–21.6)), after adjustment for confounding variables including cigarette smoking. In conclusion, the results of the present study indicate that long-term cannabis use increases the risk of lung cancer in young adults. KEYWORDS: Cannabis, case–control, lung cancer, tobacco Eur Respir J 2008; 31: 280–286 DOI: 10.1183/09031936.00065707 Copyright ERS Journals Ltd 2008".
“NUMBING THE PAIN: POST TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE
PROFESSOR LISA M. NAJAVITS.
The Alcohol & Drug Foundation – Queensland, presents this unique opportunity to attend a full-day practical workshop with Professor Lisa M Najavits, author of the Seeking Safety program.
The goal of this workshop is to describe current state-of-the art knowledge about the treatment of patients with the dual diagnosis of post traumatic stress disorder and substance abuse, a population that is typically considered “difficult to treat”.
The workshop will cover background on PTSD and substance abuse (including rates, the “typical case”, models and stages of treatment, clinical dilemmas, and ge nder issues) and clinical Interventions for PTSD and substance abuse (including demonstration of specific treatment strategies, assessment tools, and community resources). In-depth description of the Seeking Safety psychotherapy for PTSD and substance abuse will be a major focus.
REGISTRATION FORM AND MORE INFORMATION WWW.WINTERSCHOOL.INFO
PLEASE CONTACT DINIE ON (07) 3834 0214
More information on the workshop and Lisa Najavits can be found at www.seekingsafety.org. “
I saw this interesting email this week:
“Does Grapefruit affect the drugs you take?
If you look at the average breakfast table you’ll find many potential health hazards: coffee, breakfast cereals loaded with sugar, greasy bacon and fried eggs. So most of us would think grapefruit is a welcome nutritious addition.
But if you’re taking certain medications then you should steer clear of grapefruit. That’s because grapefruit contains a substance that interacts with a long list of drugs regularly found in medicine cabinets across the country.
Geraldine Moses, a senior pharmacist from the Adverse Medicine Events Information Line, says there is evidence that an average 200 ml glass of normal strength grapefruit juice (straight from the fruit) can cause “a clinically significant interaction with a list of drugs as long as your arm”.
ABC Health & Wellbeing story:
http://www.abc.net.au/health/talkinghealth/factbuster/stories/2008/01/23/2123319.htm
Listing of affected medications:
http://www.australianprescriber.com/magazine/25/2/artid/797”
The list of medications this may be an issue with is of concern: Amiodarone, Atorvastatin, Carbamazepine, Cisapride, Diazepam, Simvastatin and Triazolam are just a few where the link is being queried.
The title of this post is also a seminar coming up in Melbourne at Turning Point:
“Prohibitionist lobby groups appear to be exerting an increasing influence on Australian illicit drugs policy. Yet remarkably little is known about their history, membership, sources of funding, political and ideological agenda, and employment of empirical evidence. Dr Mendes will discuss the key activities and objectives of these groups, drawing some conclusions about their current and likely future influence on national drugs policy.
Friday 8 February
1-2 pm
142 Gertrude St, Fitzroy
The seminar is free.
All welcome, bookings essential, ring 03 8413 8413 or email info@turningpoint.org.au
For information about the February – June program, please visit the Turning Point website: http://www.turningpoint.org.au/service_information/si_talkingpoint.html
Here’s a noteworthy addition to Australian telephonic support in ATOD:
“National Cannabis Information and Helpline – 1800 30 40 50
Do you need information on cannabis?
Do you know someone concerned about their own cannabis use, or that of a friend or family member?
Does a client need support and advice around their cannabis use?
Does someone you know want to stop using cannabis and needs help to do so?
The National Cannabis Prevention and Information Centre (NCPIC) mission is to reduce the use of cannabis in Australia by preventing uptake and providing the community with evidence-based information and interventions.
One of the most important services that NCPIC offers is the National Cannabis Information and Helpline which commences operation on Monday 14th January 2008. The Helpline will be launched formally later in the year.
The aim of the line is to provide a national free call telephone service to the general community on all issues relating to cannabis. Trained telephone counsellors can provide callers with evidence-based information on cannabis as well as targeted advice and brief intervention for cannabis users, their families and concerned others.
The call is free nationally.
For any further information, please do not hesitate to contact Paul Dillon on (02) 9385 0226.
Paul Dillon
National Communications Manager
National Cannabis Prevention and Information Centre (NCPIC)
UNSW
SYDNEY NSW 2052”
For those interested in Co-occurring disorders may find the following interesting:
“The USAs Federal Co-occurring Disorders Centre for Excellence has just released 3 new publications in their Co-occurring Disorders Overview Papers Series.
The new overviews are:
1. Services Integration
This overview paper defines and explains services integration and differentiates services integration from systems integration.
Services integration refers to the process of merging previously separate clinical services at the level of the individual to meet the substance abuse, mental health, and other needs of persons with co-occurring disorders (COD). The paper examines issues concerning the context, content, approaches, and processes that promote and inhibit services integration.
2. Systems Integration
A growing body of research demonstrates that integrated services produce better outcomes for individuals with co-occurring disorders (COD), particularly those with more serious or complex conditions. Systems integration supports the provision of integrated services. In addition to distinguishing between systems integration and services integration, this paper describes the organizational structures and processes that can promote or inhibit systems integration. The paper encourages the use of creative thinking to obtain and effectively use funding and provides examples of successful initiatives in systems integration at the local and State levels. Although evaluation of the process of systems integration is still in its infancy, one measure of systems integration outcomes is discussed.
The Epidemiology of Co-occurring Disorders
The paper is presented in two parts. Part 1 is intended for non-scientists and explains what epidemiology is and how it can be used by practitioners, administrators, and policymakers. Part 1 also presents some highlights from past epidemiologic studies of co-occurring disorders (COD) (see Literature Highlights) and introduces three major national studies that are regularly used as sources of information on the nature and extent of COD problems in the United States.
Part 2 presents some detailed technical information on these three studies and is intended for audiences who have some familiarity with epidemiologic methods.
Earlier Overview papers (also downloadable) include:
1. Definitions and Terms Relating to Co-Occurring Disorders
2 Screening, Assessment, and Treatment Planning for Persons With Co-Occurring Disorders
3. Overarching Principles To Address the Needs of Persons With Co-Occurring Disorders
4. Addressing Co-Occurring Disorders in Non-Traditional Service Settings
5. Understanding Evidence-Based Practices for Co-Occurring Disorders”.
I feel very old and ill-informed as I was unaware that dual diagnosis was now co-occurring disorders…… Thanks to Gary Croton for posting this info to the ADCA Update list,
I came across this new scholarship opportunity I thought worth passing on:
“COMORBIDITY PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SCHOLARSHIPS:
FOR ALCOHOL AND OTHER DRUG AND MENTAL HEALTH WORKERS
?
The Australian Government has allocated $17.9 million over seven years from 2003-04 to 2009-10 for the National Comorbidity Initiative (NCI).
The National Centre for Education and Training on Addiction (NCETA) has $1.9 million in funding to be awarded for Comorbidity Professional Development Scholarships as part of this initiative.
The Comorbidity Professional Development Scholarships are open to Alcohol and Other Drug and Mental Health workers employed in non-government organisations. The initiative aims to enhance workers professional skills and knowledge across the comorbidities of AOD and Mental Health by providing funding to support eligible workers to undertake relevant professional development and/or training.
Round 2 scholarships for 2008 are scheduled as follows:
Round Opens Application Closing Date Announcement of Awards
Monday 5 February 2008
Monday 3 March 2008
Monday 5 May 2008
Please refer to the enclosed Flyer.
Application forms and further information can be obtained from
http://www.nceta.flinders.edu.au/projects/comorbidity.html
Please feel free to distribute this email to your NGO networks.
Thank you!
Paula Wilson
Project Officer
National Centre for Education and Training on Addiction (NCETA)
======================
Phone: (08) 8201 7565
Fax: (08) 8201 7550
WWW: www.nceta.flinders.edu.au