| New drug finds success in battling heroin addiction
Health officials in Baltimore say the city's latest effort to combat heroin addiction is showing some encouraging results.
The city has spent nearly one (m) million dollars since October to put addicts on a new drug called buprenorphine. Unlike methadone treatments, addicts can take the drug at home instead of report daily to public clinics.
Health commissioner Doctor Joshua Sharfstein told a city council committee last night that 65 percent of 269 addicts who entered the program before April have remained in the program for at least six months. Sharfstein says that's not bad, but methadone programs typically have a 90-day retention rate above 80 percent.
Baltimore and Howard counties also have bupe programs, and state funds are available for likely future programs around Maryland.
Brief Motivational Interviews Work Best Long-term For College Students Sent To Alcohol Counseling
Students who break university rules on alcohol and drug use in residence halls are often sent to counseling or educational programs. Little is known about the long-term effectiveness of these interventions. New findings show that the effects of brief motivational interviews on drinking problems are still apparent 15 months after initiation.
Results are published in the August issue of Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research.
"Here at Rutgers University, all colleges require students who have violated university rules regarding alcohol and drug use in residence halls to attend three sessions at our Alcohol and Other Drug Assistance Program for Students (ADAPS)," said Helene Raskin White, professor of sociology with a joint appointment in the Center of Alcohol Studies and the Sociology Department.
Addiction can be cured in 24 hours: Expert
SOON, addicts will be able to overcome their weaknesses within 24 hours, according to de-addiction expert Narendra Chitte who plans to start around 1,000 centres all over the State as part of his 'Tobacco, alcohol chale jao' campaign. He was speaking at a press conference here on Monday. The centres will offer free de-addiction programmes for the poor, while others will be required to pay a nominal fee. Chitte runs a de-addiction programme for alcohol, gutkha, nicotine and drug addicts in Pradhikaran, Nigdi. He describes a four-step process for tackling addiction. "Lack of self-confidence and motivation push an addict towards substance abuse. These centres will provide counselling, psychological techniques, a herbal programme and detox consultation that relieve a person of his substance abuse within a day," he said.
Substance abuse, addiction top work issues
More than two-thirds of human resource professionals believe substance abuse and addiction is one of the most serious issues they face in their companies.
Absenteeism, reduced productivity and a lack of trust are also major problems stemming from substance abuse that affect the efficiency and success of companies across the Unites States, according to the survey of 1,000 human resource professional conducted by the Hazelden Foundation.
Although most companies offer employee assistance programs, many do not openly and proactively deal with employee substance abuse issues, do not refer employees to treatment programs and face barriers that prevent them from helping employees seek and receive addiction treatment.
"Addiction is this country's No. 1 public health problem," Jill Wiedemann-West, senior vice president of clinical and recovery services at the Hazelden Foundation, said in a statement.
81-year-old Montreal nun found beaten to death
Montreal police have detained a man in connection with the fatal beating of an 81-year-old nun who cared for the mentally ill. Police have not identified the slain nun, but residents of the Maison de la Providence complex said she was Estelle Lauzon. A 31-year-old man has been arrested, and faces a second-degree murder charge when he appears in court on Tuesday. The man resided at the convent, where nuns treat people recovering from drug addiction and psychiatric problems. Dozens of elderly people also live in the complex. "We know that she was helping people," police spokeswoman Lynne Labelle said of the victim. "There are some people who live here and the nuns are helping them find jobs and get back on their feet.
Celebrities more likely to deny addiction-experts
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Celebrities are more likely to deny they have an addiction because they feel protected from life's problems and must hit rock bottom -- often a run-in with the law -- before admitting they need help, experts say. With society allowing the rich and famous to be held less accountable, addiction experts say, celebrities often face a tougher recovery after denying their problems for a long time. "A lot of times celebrities get away with a lot more, so they're often a lot further along in their disease before they ever get treatment and it's very difficult," said Susan Blank of the nonprofit Caron group, which runs rehab programs. .
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