In the News

Study Hospitalizations Increase for Alcohol & Drug Overdoses

The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, part of the National Institutes of Health, found that the number of hospitalizations due to alcohol and drug overdoses has increased dramatically among 18- to 24-year-olds between 1999 and 2008. Over the 10-year study period, the percentage of alcohol overdoses, drug overdoses and a combination of drug and alcohol overdoses increased by 25 percent, 56 percent and 76 percent, respectively.

Appropriately, there has been an increased media focus on the number of prescription drug related overdoses. Much of this attention has been prompted by the high profile deaths of Heath Ledger, Amy Winehouse, Michael Jackson and most recently Whitney Houston. Regrettably, in many of these stories, the media has failed to provide accurate information to the public about the critical role that alcohol plays in the number of overdose hospitalizations and deaths.

Breaking the Code of Silence: The Irish and Drink

Irish1 "We Irish are known for being courageous, compassionate, spiritual, creative, difficult, resourceful, witty, sad, lovable, clannish, hot headed, devious, self-destructive and brilliant. Sociologists agree that we have been the most successful and accomplished immigrant group in the United States, with the possible exception of the Jews. Since our arrival in the U.S. in the early 1700s we have excelled in business, education, medicine, the law, religion, the military, entertainment, construction, professional sports, and, last but certainly not least, politics and organized crime.

For all that success, it is sad to say that we are still known as a race of drunks."

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A New Campaign for the Prevention of Substance Use and the Promotion of Mental Health

crowdOfHappyPeople The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's (SAMHSA's) Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP) is launching an exciting new initiative to prevent substance use and promote mental, emotional, and behavioral well-being—National Prevention Week.

This inaugural observance of National Prevention Week will bring communities together through local events, rallies, and celebrations focusing on the prevention of substance use and the promotion of mental, emotional, and behavioral well-being.

National Prevention Week 2012 will be held May 20 to May 26, 2012, and will embrace the theme, "We are the ones. How are you taking action?"

Ten Percent of American Adults Consider Themselves in Recovery From Drug or Alcohol Abuse

Recovery-2-28-11 Ten percent of American adults consider themselves to be in recovery from drug or alcohol abuse problems, according to a new survey released today by The Partnership at Drugfree.org and the New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS). The findings indicate there are 23.5 million American adults who are overcoming an involvement with drugs or alcohol that they once considered to be problematic.

The nationally representative survey found 10 percent of adults answered yes to the question, "Did you once have a problem with drugs or alcohol, but no longer do?" – one simple way of describing recovery from drug and alcohol abuse or addiction that was devised by Dr. Alexandre Laudet, a leading researcher in addiction recovery, now at National Development and Research Institute (NDRI).

Government Eyes Popular Malt Liquor Four Loko

A Ban-Four-Loko Image courtesy of http://www.ifiknew.org carbonated brew guzzled on college campuses is the focus of an intense write-in campaign urging federal regulators to take some buzz out of a sweet alcoholic drink sometimes referred to as "blackout in a can."

The Federal Trade Commission is looking at a wave of complaints about the popular fruit-flavored malt liquor Four Loko. Under review: the amount of alcohol in the brightly colored, supersized cans and how they are marketed.

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