www.alkoholpolitik.ch

More people drink themselves to death in northwest New Mexico than anywhere else in the state, which is one of the worst states in the country in terms of alcohol-related deaths per capita.
Three counties in northwest New Mexico — San Juan, McKinley and Rio Arriba — have the highest concentration in the state of people who died from various alcohol-related issues from 2007 through 2009, according to reports recently published by the New Mexico Health Department. … (Source: Alcohol Reports, 02/16/11)

…AIDS Second
Today the World Health Organization (WHO) announced that alcohol is to blame for just about 4% of, or 2.5 million deaths worldwide annually. Alcohol attributable injuries are of a growing concern to the public health community, with alcohol-related injuries such as road traffic accidents, burns, poisonings, falls and drownings making up more than a third of the disease burden attributable to alcohol consumption. AIDS was a close second with 2.1 milion deaths in 2009.
Yet alcohol control policies are weak and remain a low priority for most governments despite drinking’s heavy toll on society from road accidents, violence, disease, child neglect and job absenteeism. … (Source: Medical News Today, 02/11/11) WHO: Global status report on alcohol and health analyses our Online-Comment: For those persons who don’t like them, figures from other sources are always incorrect. But nobody can deny that governments do not care enough about them. And that is the main sorrow of the WHO. The alcohol industry could not hinder that in May 2010 the WHO General Assembly accepted a resolution on a global alcohol strategy. Now it puts pressure on the national governments that they don’t implement the proposals in their legislation. The civil societies come off a loser.

Content, e.g.: * Alcohol, HIV and Public Health
* Alcohol and tobacco ‘more harmful than cannabis and ecstasy’
* Tax increases ‘superior to minimum prices’
* Facebook updates alcohol guidelines
* Eurocare Presses for Ingredient Labeling on Alcohol
* Convergence in teenage drunkenness in Western countries (Source: GAPA, The Globe)

Introduction: The alcohol and tobacco industry sell products that can be dangerous to our health. For this reason, governments take action by, for example, raising taxes, enforcing age limits, prescribing warning labels and restricting advertising and sponsoring.
Literature shows that the “industry”—the alcohol and tobacco companies—have traditionally worked closely together, sharing information and concerns about regulation. They have used similar arguments to defend their products in order to prevent or delay restrictions being placed on them (Bond, et al. 2010).
The intention of this brochure is to inform professionals about the attempts made by the alcohol industry to influence alcohol policy globally and to subsequently arm them against the industry’s methods to prevent effective policies from being made. (Source: EUCAM, 01/02/11) “The seven key messages of the alcohol industry” (pdf) Comment: Very often public health professionals who are not involved in alcohol control policy are not informed what’s happening in this field. And in the political debate they are helpless. This brochure could make a difference.

Active urges for more coherent strategies to stop the spread of HIV/ AIDS.
Active – sobriety, friendship and peace commemorates the World AIDS Day by sending our compassion to millions of victims and by urging decision makers to do more in fighting HIV/ AIDS.
The European Commission announced two things on the eve of World AIDS Day: a 10% increase in contributions, spending €1.3 billion to fight AIDS as well as a stronger effort to improve “early detection” allowing better and earlier treatment of the disease.
“Our members welcome the effort to step up action. But spending money is not enough. Improving testing is not enough. What we need is a coherent approach to fighting the AIDS epidemic. We want an effort to preventing HIV infections. That means that the EU, national governments as well as development NGOs need to take into consideration the role of alcohol,” according to Andrea Lavesson, President of Active.
The link between alcohol and the spread of HIV/ AIDS has been long known. But alcohol’s role in the AIDS epidemic continues to be neglected. Both in 2008 in Cape Town and in 2009 at the WHO expert conference in Stockholm alcohol’s role in the AIDS epidemic were on the agenda and the picture of the reviews became clear: Alcohol use increases risk taking in both injection drug use and sexual intercourse; it also increases the number of different sexual partners; the disease develops much faster in infected persons who drink. Alcohol weakens the immune system. …(Source: Press release Active, 12/01/10) ActiveHIVday2010

… between injection drug users (IDUs) and non-IDUs who report sexual partnerships with IDUs.
Conclusions: Greater prevalence of sexual risk behaviors among non-IDUs who report partnerships with IDUs, compared to IDUs themselves, suggests a potential mechanism for spread of HIV beyond the IDU population. Interventions to reduce HIV transmission should address alcohol consumption among non-IDUs who report sexual partnerships with IDUs, and methamphetamine use and the propensity of having sex when high among IDUs. (Source: BMC Public Health 2010), 10:676doi:10.1186/1471-2458-10-676 Published: 5 November 2010

There is limited information on alcohol problem drinking, which has been associated with sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including HIV, among female bar/hotel workers in Africa. This paper aimed to identify the individual- and facility-level determinants of alcohol problem drinking in this setting. Problem drinking was defined based on the CAGE alcohol screening scale. (Source: Alcohol Reports, 11/20/10) springerlink.com

An international website dedicated to providing current information on news, reports, publications,and peer-reviewed research articles concerning alcoholism and alcohol-related problems throughout the world. Postings are provided by international contributors who monitor news, publications and research findings in their country, geographical region or program area of interest. All postings are entered without editorial or contributor opinion or comment.
Alcohol and HIV/AIDS Volume 33, Number 3, 2010 (11/14/10)

During the 60th session of the Africa Committee of the WHO on Monday, Luis Sambo, regional director of the WHO for Africa, proposed the creation of a public health emergency fund to provide financial support to African countries in emergency situations, Agencia AngolaPress reports (8/30).
Also during the meeting, Sambo proposed a strategy to drive down the rates of “harmful use of alcohol and related problems in the Africa Region,” according to a second WHO press release. “In the African Region, the alcohol-attributable burden of disease is increasing with an estimated total of deaths attributable to harmful use of alcohol of 2.1% in 2000, 2.2% in 2002 and 2.4% in 2004,” according to the release, which adds that high rates of alcohol use are believed to contribute to the spread of infectious disease.
The “priority interventions proposed in the strategy include developing and implementing alcohol control policies; strengthening leadership, coordination and mobilization of partners; generating awareness and community action; providing information-based public education; improving health sector response; and strengthening strategic information, surveillance and research systems,” the press release states (8/31). (Source: Medical News Today, 9/02/10)

www.alkoholpolitik.ch Newsletter August 2010    (issued 08/31/10)

Dear English speaking reader, dear friends,

I am glad to send you examples of the new entries on my website. See the website for more entries.
After modernising the website we had to alter the look of this newsletter too. We have split the articles in two separate language newsletters, German and English. With a mouseclick on the titles you come to the original article where you find also the links to the source. We hope to meet your requirements. It is now much shorter and better to read. Anyhow we are willing to improve it when you give us a feedback with proposals. Please check, if you have included our address in your list of accepted addresses that your SPAM-filter doesn’t exclude our newsletter.

2994 articles in 109 categories and with 7784 main expressions (tags) since 1/1/2009.

If you shouldn’t like to receive this newsletter anymore or wish to order a copy for someone else, please just send a short e-mail to:  htmeyer(at)alkoholpolitik.ch

In order to make the e-mail lighter we only send the Word.doc- version.

Kind regards
Yours Hermann T. Meyer
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Letter with mailed Newsletter

While moderate drinking – one to less than three drinks per day – is linked to a decrease in mortality in middle-aged and older adults, there is also concern that the health benefits of moderate drinking have been overestimated. A new study of the association between drinking and mortality during a 20-year period, which controlled for confounding factors such as previous problem drinking, confirms an association of moderate drinking and reduced mortality among older adults. …

So far part of the article in Medical News Today, 8/27/10. They should add: …compared with heavy drinkers. Because the following statement in that report is very clear:

“Our findings demonstrate that abstainers were significantly more likely to have had prior drinking problems, to be obese, and to smoke cigarettes than moderate drinkers and scored significantly higher than moderate drinkers on health problems, depressive symptoms, and avoidance coping,” he said. “In addition, abstainers were significantly lower than moderate drinkers on socioeconomic status, physical activity, number of close friends, and quality of friend support and significantly less likely to be married than moderate drinkers. Moreover, all of these factors that were associated with abstention significantly predicted mortality.” …

This study is the end of all those alcohol friendly research we have had in the last decade. We always said, that the control group of abstainers used in those studies was not correct and that those reseachers made use of the book “Who are the Abstainers” by ICAP, the Institute of the alcohol industry; now that’s the proof. In German newspapers the headlines still say the contrary. Perhaps they learn now that the wind has changed. We have to thank a lot to that team of researchers!

With this month the website www.alkoholpolitik.ch has entered its tenth year of existence. I thank you for your interest and the moral backing sometimes. I hope this website will still be of some use for you in its tenth year on the way towards a healthier and more worthy life.

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TOP NEWS

Does Moderate Drinking Confer Health Benefits Or Not? – 28. August 2010
While moderate drinking – one to less than three drinks per day – is linked to a decrease in mortality in middle-aged and older adults, there is also concern that the health benefits of moderate drinking have been overestimated. A new study of the association between drinking and mortality during a 20-year period, which controlled for confounding factors such as previous problem drinking, confirms an association of moderate drinking and reduced mortality among older adults. … “Our findings demonstrate that abstainers were significantly more likely to have had prior drinking problems, to be obese, and to smoke cigarettes than moderate drinkers and scored significantly higher than moderate drinkers on health problems, depressive symptoms, and avoidance coping,” he said. “In addition, abstainers were significantly lower than moderate drinkers on socioeconomic status, physical activity, number of close friends, and quality of friend support and significantly less likely to be married than moderate drinkers. Moreover, all of these factors that were associated with abstention significantly predicted mortality.” … (Source: Medical News Today, 8/27/10) our online-comment: This study is the end of all those alcohol friendly research we have had in the last decade. We always said, that the control group of abstainers used in those studies was a swindle, now that’s the proof. In German newspapers the headlines still say the contrary. Perhaps they learn now that the wind has changed. We have to thank a lot to that team of researchers!

GLOBAL

UK: Tax on alcohol should rise by ten per cent: charity – 29. August 2010
Tax on alcohol should rise by ten per cent to reduce deaths, fund treatment and discourage the production of extra strong beer, Alcohol Concern has said.
The issue of alcohol pricing has been a thorny one for the coalition government with the Liberal Democrats supporting a minimum price per unit while the Conservatives have rejected the idea.
In a letter to the Daily Telegraph, the charity highlights the Treasury’s own figures showing that a ten per cent rise in tax would cut deaths from alcohol-related conditions by a third. …(Source: Google Alcohol News, 8/28/10) quedit.com, 28.8.10

News from Marin Institute, California – 26. August 2010
E.g. Privatizing Alcohol Sales Could Cost Washington State $500M – Marin Institute

Children Empowered To Skirt Alcohol And Tobacco Marketing Messages Via ‘Media Detective’ Too – 26.August 2010
Playing “media detective” allows children to understand the intentions of marketers and the goals of advertising while empowering them to resist messages that encourage alcohol or tobacco use. (Source: Medical News Today, 8/25/10)

Alcohol use and older adults – 25. August 2010
Health and addictions professionals are well aware that adults over the age of 65 should drink less than younger people and know about important new risks of consuming alcohol. Now, a federal health website for older adults has published that information in a consumer-friendly format. (Source: Join Together, 8/24/10)

New Zealand: Government’s Alcohol Measures Welcomed – 25. August 2010
The New Zealand Medical Association (NZMA) welcomes the Government’s new policies to address the many problems caused by excessive alcohol consumption, but would have liked the Government to implement additional measures such as a tax increase on alcohol, says NZMA Chair Dr Peter Foley. …”We acknowledge that the evidence supports age as a significant factor in the problems of inappropriate and excessive alcohol consumption. We support the split purchase age… (Source: Medical News Today, 8/24/10)

Politicians Ignore Key Alcohol Policies Ahead Of Election, Australia – 24. August 2010
The Alcohol Policy Coalition has today released a document provided to all federal MPs outlining a suite of evidence-based strategies to address Australia’s growing problem with alcohol. All federal Members of Parliament received copies of the document last month but Australians are yet to see any serious action from the major parties. – Alcohol remains a major cause of death and illness in Australia. (Source: Medical News Today, 8/23/10)

Sheffield Modelling On Minimum Price For Alcohol, Scotland – 23. August 2010
The British Medical Association (BMA), Alcohol Focus Scotland (AFS) and Scottish Health Action on Alcohol Problems (SHAAP) have endorsed the updated findings of researchers at Sheffield University on the impact that a minimum price per unit of alcohol will have on Scotland’s drinking culture. (Source: Medical News Today, 8/22/10)

The opportunities for and obstacles against prevention: the example of Germany in the areas of tobacco and alcohol – 20. August 2010
In Germany, there are substantial health gains to be reaped from the implementation of evidence-based, cost-effective preventive interventions and policies. Barriers to more prevention include social, historical, political, legal and economic factors. While there is sufficient evidence to scale up prevention efforts in some public health domains in Germany, in general there is a comparative shortage of research on non-clinical preventive interventions. Some of the existing barriers in Germany are at least in principle amenable to change, provided sufficient political will exists….(Source: biomedcentral.com, 8/19/10)

Moscow bans overnight sales of vodka – 20. August 2010
City authorities in Moscow have announced a ban on the sale of spirits between 10pm and 10am, in the most recent of a series of measures designed to break the country’s drinking habit. …Medvedev announced a war on alcohol last summer saying he was shocked by the “colossal” level of consumption. He ordered the government to draw up measures to discourage excessive drinking and cut off supplies of bootleg liquor….(Source: Harvard World Health News, 8/20/10) guardian.co.uk, 8/18/10

Drug Policy: The Lindsey Lohan Effect – 18. August 2010
If actress/starlet/addict Lindsay Lohan accomplishes nothing else in this life — and this seems increasingly probable — we’ll at least be able to say that she has sparked a conversation about the relative merits of drug treatment versus incarceration. As you may know, Lohan used up even the long rope afforded repeat offenders in Hollywood and was sent to jail in July for violating the terms of her probation stemming from a drunk-driving conviction. Lohan’s teary courtroom appearances have elicited some sympathy. …(Source: Join Together, 8/16/10)

UK: Minister seeks control of alcohol licensing in Wales – 14. August 2010
Ministers in Wales could take charge of rules surrounding alcohol sales, including minimum price, licensing hours and advertising. The Welsh Assembly Government has confirmed that Health Minister Edwina Hart wants to “take control and take action” over alcohol. She will ask cabinet colleagues to request that the Licensing Act 2003 is devolved in Wales by the UK government. The SNP, which wants similar powers in Scotland, has welcomed the move. Mrs Hart has previously indicated that she would seek powers to act over alcohol if the UK government did not do the same soon. (Source: Google Alcohol News, 8/14/10) bbc.co.uk, 8/14/10

UK: David Cameron backs ban on cheap alcohol – 12. August 2010
The PM David Cameron supports plans by 10 councils in the North West to create a by-law making it illegal to sell alcohol for less than 50p.
The Prime Minister said he would look sympathetically at local initiatives to tackle “deep discounting”. However, he said he would not go so far as to support proposals for a tax to increase alcohol prices to a minimum level. (Source: Google Alkohol New, 8/12/10) telegraph.co.uk, 8/12/10

Event: Working Towards a Holistic Alcohol Strategy in Europe – 12. August 2010
Communication, Education and Public Awareness
The Silken Hotel, Brussels, Thursday 30th September 2010; KEY SPEAKER: Mr. Michael Huebel, Head of Unit – Health Determinants, DG SANCO, European Commission
Event Details – Website – Register to Attend

Statement on alcohol policy – 10. August 2010
IOGT International is the largest international non-governmental organization working for the promotion of an alcohol-free lifestyle. At its Congress this month it published the following statement:
According to the World Health Organization, WHO, alcohol is the third most prominent cause of ill health in the world, killing 2.6 million people every year. Alcohol is an obstacle to development and closely linked to poverty, inequity, violence, traffic accidents and the spread of various diseases such as HIV.
The Congress of IOGT International sees the need for a strong and global action and highly supports the WHO Global Alcohol Strategy, undertaken by the World Health Assembly in 2010.
IOGT International:
- Demands the governments…. (Source: IOGT International)

Maryland, USA: The “dime a drink” pledge – 10. August 2010
Aside from the self-destructive and Walter F. Mondale, politicians don’t generally run on a promise to raise taxes. They’re more inclined to run from that prospect. So health care advocates probably shouldn’t expect to hire extra mail sorters for all the candidates returning pledge forms committing themselves to a proposed “dime a drink” liquor tax increase. Members of the Maryland Citizens’ Health Initiative are probably aware of this. They’ve not even bothered with the governor’s race and instead directed the campaign entirely at those running for the House of Delegates and state Senate. There are primaries in hardcore Democratic districts where such a pledge might actually make a difference. (Source: Marin Institute, 8/10/10) healthcareforall.com, 7/20/10

USA: Alcohol Bill Means ‘Happy Hour’ for Lobbyists – 10. August 2010
Trade associations and lobbyists for alcohol manufacturers are brawling with their wholesale distributors over a bill that would strengthen states’ ability to regulate alcohol and make it harder to challenge state alcohol laws in court. (Source: Marin Institute, 8/10/10) law.com, 7/21/10

U.S. Senators Tell FDA Alcoholic Energy Drinks Unsafe and Possibily Illegal – 10. August 2010
Senators Charles E. Schumer (D-NY), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Amy Klobuchar (D-MI), and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) have joined forces in a recent letter to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) calling on the agency to “immediately make public its findings from an investigation into possible health risks posed by so-called ‘energy drinks’ that combine alcohol and caffeine.” (Source: Marin Institute, 8/04/10)

Rally in San Francisco to Support a Charge for Harm Alcohol Mitigation Fee – 10. August 2010
Economic Analysis Shows Zero Job Impact While Raising Millions for City.
In an enthusiastic display of solidarity, 200 people rallied on the steps of San Francisco City Hall yesterday in support of a groundbreaking “Charge for Harm” alcohol-related fee ordinance. (Source: Marin Institute, 8/05/10

Minimum Pricing For Alcohol Only Credible Option – 6. August 2010
says BMA Scotland. Commenting in advance of the cross party meeting of politicians to discuss areas of consensus on alcohol policy, Dr Brian Keighley, Chairman of the BMA in Scotland, said: “I am pleased that the political parties are coming together to discuss alcohol policy but it will not be possible to reach consensus until public health is put before party politics…” (Source: Medical News Today, 8/4/10)

Technomic Sees A Rebound in 2010 Alcohol Sales – 2. August 2010
Citing a positive sales trend from restaurants and bars, Technomic has revised its forecast for sales of beverage alcohol sold away from home upward. Technomic now expects beverage alcohol sold in bars, restaurants and other on-premise establishments to grow by 1.1 percent this year, up from the decline of 2.5 percent forecasted at the end of 2009. (Source: Google Alcohol News, 8/2/10) ad-hoc-news.de, 21.7.10

Plans By The Government To Crack Down On Binge Drinking Hotspots, UK – 2. August 2010
Responding to the plan by the Government to crack down on binge drinking hotspots and give communities more influence over licensing applications, Chris Sorek, Chief Executive of alcohol awareness charity Drinkaware, says: “Alcohol misuse costs society £25 billion a year* and it is imperative our culture’s binge drinking problem is tackled head on. Drink related anti-social behavior causes misery for communities across the country, and the Government is right to take action. We hope this is the first step in a plan that goes right to the heart of the issue – changing attitudes and making it socially unacceptable to drink to excess. (Source: Medical News Today, 7/30/10) Comment: They cannot change attitudes with awareness programmes. The Government must do much more.

RESEARCH

Both Episodic Memory And Awareness Of Memory Are Damaged By Alcohol Dependence – 27. August 2010 Alcohol dependence (AD) has negative effects on cognitive processes such as memory. Metamemory refers to the subjective knowledge that people have of their own cognitive processing abilities, such as their monitoring and control of memory. A new study has found that AD has a negative impact on both episodic memory as well as metamemory. (Source: Medical News Today, 8/26/10)

Disruption Of Circadian Rhythms By Chronic Drinking – 27. August 2010
Circadian rhythmicity is regulated by circadian clock genes, and animal studies have shown that chronic drinking can alter expressions in these genes. A new study has found that significantly lower levels of messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) – a molecule of RNA that helps to manufacture proteins – in circadian clock genes in alcohol-dependent (AD) patients support a relationship between circadian clock gene dysregulation and drinking in humans. (Source: Medical News Today, 8/26/10)

Alcoholic Liver Disease Is More Aggressive Than Other Chronic Liver Diseases – 27. August 2010
Many diagnostic and treatment options have been developed for chronic liver disease during the last 40 years, yet their influence on survival remain unclear. A new study of the prognosis for patients hospitalized for liver diseases between 1969 and 2006, and of differences in mortality and complications between patients with alcoholic and non-alcoholic liver diseases, has found that the general prognosis for patients hospitalized with chronic liver diseases has not improved. (Source: Medical News Today, 8/26/10)

Alcohol Consumption Linked To Subtypes Of Breast Cancer – 25. August 2010
Regular alcohol intake raises the risk of developing lobular and hormone receptor-positive breast cancer, but does not appear to be linked to invasive ductal carcinoma risk, says a report published in JNCI (Journal of the National Cancer Institute), August 23rd issue. This is the first major study to look at a possible relationship between alcohol intake and breast cancer risk by subtype, the authors wrote. (Source: Medical News Today, 8/24/10)

UK: Women’s knowledge and attitudes regarding alcohol consumption in pregnancy – 24. August 2010
Background: Alcohol exposure in pregnancy is a common and modifiable risk factor for poor pregnancy and child outcomes. Alcohol exposure in pregnancy can cause a range of physical and neurodevelopmental problems in the child including the Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD). In order to improve prevention strategies, we sought to describe the knowledge and attitudes of women of childbearing age regarding alcohol consumption during pregnancy and its effects on the fetus. (Source: BMC Public Health, 8/23/10)

USA: Most Underage Drinkers Seen in ER Are Male – 24. August 2010
The majority of U.S. emergency-room (ER) visits for underage drinking involve males, according to a new report from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).
HealthDay reported Aug. 11 that researchers in SAMHSA’s public health surveillance system analyzed 2008 data and found that one-third of drug-related ER visits among patients aged 12-20 involved alcohol. Of these, males accounted for 53 percent of patients aged 12-17 and 62 percent of patients aged 18-20. (Source: Join Together, 8/19/10)

Identifying Factors Which Predict Alcohol Use After Liver Transplantation – 24. August 2010
Patients who receive a liver transplant due to alcoholic liver disease need to demonstrate periods of abstinence and often attend addiction treatment before transplantation. However, alcohol use disorders can recur, as can other diseases requiring transplantation, and thus alcohol use after liver transplantation is not uncommon. A new study published in the American Journal of Transplantation reveals that those at highest risk to drink alcohol post transplant, especially in patterns that will damage their health, can be identified potentially preventing relapse. (Source: Medical News Today, 8/20/10)

The Lethal Mix Of Binge Drinking And High Blood Pressure – 24. August 2010
People with hypertension (high blood pressure) who binge drink are much more likely to die than other individuals, says a study published in the medical journal Stroke: Journal of the American Heart Association. The definition of hypertension in this study was blood pressure of at least 168 /100 millimeters of mercury. (Source: Medical News Today, 8/20/10)

National Survey of American Attitudes on Substance Abuse XV: Teens and Parents – 20. August 2010
Twenty-seven percent of public school students ages 12 to 17 say that their school is both gang- and drug-infected (drugs are used, kept or sold on school grounds), according to the National Survey of American Attitudes on Substance Abuse XV: Teens and Parents, the 15th annual back-to-school survey conducted by The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA*) at Columbia University. This means that 5.7 million public school students attend schools which are both gang- and drug-infected. (Source: casacolumbia.org, 8/19/10)

New Study Sheds Light On Recovery From Intoxication – 20. August 2010
A new study shows the impact of alcohol intoxication on reasoning and problem-solving abilities and may explain why some people feel they have recovered enough to drive after drinking. The research, led by Peter J. Snyder, PhD, vice president of research for Lifespan, is the first to explore how these cognitive abilities are impacted during both rising and declining blood alcohol concentrations, at matched blood alcohol level concentrations, and how self-evaluation of recovery differs from actual recovery from impairment. The study is published in the August 2010 issue of Experimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology, a publication by the American Psychological Association. (Source: Medical News Today, 8/19/10)

Strict Enforcement of College Alcohol Policies Reduces Binge and Underage Drinking on Campus – 20. August 2010
Tough college alcohol policies reduce underage and binge drinking on campus without causing a compensatory rise in marijuana use, according to investigators at the Center for Adolescent Substance Abuse Research (CeASAR) at Children’s Hospital Boston.
The CeASAR study team surveyed students and administrators at 11 Massachusetts colleges and universities to assess the results of a more restrictive alcohol use enforcement policy put forth by the Mass. Board of Higher Education. (Source: Join Together, 8/17/10)

Disadvantaged Adolescents Prone To Adult Crime And Substance Abuse Problems – 18. August 2010
A new article published in a forthcoming issue of The Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry concludes that early intervention among young adolescents with delinquency problems may help prevent the development of long-term crime, alcohol use disorders (AUDs), and risky sex behaviors, especially among disadvantaged youth. (Source: Medical News Today, 8/17/10)

Women Who Drink Beer Regularly More Likely To Develop Psoriasis – 18. August 2010
Women who drink beer regularly seem to have a higher risk of developing psoriasis, according to a study published in Archives of Dermatology, a JAMA/Archives journal. The link does not apply to light beer or wines or spirits (liquor), the researchers say. They speak of modest amounts per week. (Source: Medical News Today, 8/16/10)

Report Pinpoints Substance Use Problems In Individual Localities – 16. August 2010
A new report shows that behavioral health problems affect every community throughout America but in unique, and sometimes surprising ways. The report, based on a nationwide survey commissioned by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), offers detailed analyses of the substance use problems occurring within these smaller geographical areas. (Source: Medical News Today, 8/14/10)

Alcohol Use May Be A Problem For Older Adults – 14. August 2010
Some people whose drinking habits do not change over the years and decades may find that they develop problems with alcohol when they get older – aging lowers the body’s tolerance for alcohol. A drink now and again as one ages will not usually cause any harm. However, alcohol can become a problem for older adults, especially if they are taking certain prescription medications, have health conditions, or do not control their alcohol intake. (Source: Medical News Today, 8/13/10)

USA: Nurses Increasingly Target Of Violence – 14. August 2010
“Violence against nurses and other medical professionals appears to be increasing around the country as the number of drug addicts, alcoholics and psychiatric patients showing up at emergency rooms climbs. Nurses have responded, in part, by seeking tougher criminal penalties for assaults against health care workers. … Visits to ERs for drug- and alcohol-related incidents climbed from about 1.6 million in 2005 to nearly 2 million in 2008, according to the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. From 2006 to 2008, the number of those visits resulting in violence jumped from 16,277 to 21,406, the agency said.” (Source: Medical News Today, 8/12/10)

Declining Youth Exposure To Alcohol Ads In Magazines – 12. August 2010
Youth exposure to alcohol advertising in magazines declined by 48 percent between 2001 and 2008, according to a new study by the Center on Alcohol Marketing and Youth (CAMY) at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Although 325 alcohol brands advertised in magazines in 2008, just 16 brands accounted for half of the advertising placed in publications more likely to be seen per capita by youth than by adults. Leading the list were Patron Silver Tequila, Absolut Vodka, Kahlua Liqueurs, Ketel One Vodka and Jim Beam Bourbon Whiskey. (Source: Medical News Today, 8/11/10)

Forensic Laboratories Develops First Oral Fluid Test For Ethyl Sulfate Detection – 12. August 2010
Forensic Laboratories, a Denver-based laboratory specializing in toxicology services for drug and alcohol abuse, has announced the expansion of its oral fluid testing capabilities. The company is the first lab in the nation to develop an analytical test capable of detecting Ethyl Sulfate (EtS) in saliva, a chemical produced by the body after alcohol exposure. Forensic Laboratories’ new test method will also simultaneously detect Ethyl Glucuronide (EtG). (Source: Medical News Today, 8/10/10)

Death Rates Among Chronic Heavy Drinkers Can Be Reduced By Alcohol Taxes – 12. August 2010
Adjusting the alcohol tax in Florida to account for inflation since 1983 would prevent 600 to 800 deaths each year in that state from diseases caused by chronic heavy alcohol use, according to a new study from the University of Florida. The Florida legislature last increased alcohol taxes in 1983. The new study, which analyzed death rate and tax data from 1969 to 2004, is published in the journal Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research (ACER). (Source: Medical News Today, 8/10/10)

Lancet Comment Calls For More Research Into Alcohol Use, HIV – 10. August 2010
According to a Lancet Comment, “alcohol remains conspicuously absent from the larger field of research and programming in HIV and substance use. … Patterns of hazardous alcohol consumption prevail in countries with the most severe HIV epidemics, notably eastern and southern Africa.” In addition, “hazardous drinking patterns also dominate in the concentrated epidemics of eastern Europe and Asia, where alcohol use by injecting drug users and other marginalised groups might be an additional barrier to effective efforts to prevent HIV infection.” T….(Fritz et. al, 8/7). (Source: Medical News Today, 8/09/10) our Online-Comment: “Conspicuously” is the correct wording in this connection. Alcohol is “tabu” regarding HIV, poverty, developing aid and sexual-risk behaviour. Public health authorities and politicians are afraid they would have to fight for less alcohol consumption.

Mental Illness And Hazardous Alcohol Usage In Doctors – 4. August 2010
Personality Traits Linked To Mental Illness And Hazardous Alcohol Usage In Doctors.
Certain personality traits, demographic and work related factors increase the likelihood that doctors will develop mental illness or hazardous alcohol habits according to a study published in the Medical Journal of Australia. Dr Louise Nash, from the New South Wales Institute of Psychiatry and University of Sydney and co-authors conducted a study to identify factors associated with psychiatric morbidity and hazardous alcohol use in Australian doctors. A total of 2999 doctors participated in the study. (Source: Medical News Today, 8/2/10)

Workers Significantly Affected By Co-Workers’ Drinking Habits – 4. August 2010
Australian workers are significantly affected by other people’s alcohol drinking and at a considerable cost, according to a study published in the Medical Journal of Australia.
Caroline Dale, from Epidemiology and Population Health at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, and Michael Livingston, from Turning Point Alcohol and Drug Centre, Melbourne, conducted a study to estimate the cost of extra time worked by Australian workers due to their co-workers’ alcohol drinking. (Source: Medical News Today, 8/2/10)

Teenage Binge Drinkers Harm Abilities In Later Life – 2. August 2010
No Safe Level First Study To Show Teenage Binge Drinkers Harm Abilities In Later Life.
Academics at Northumbria University have demonstrated a link between teenage binge drinking and damage to prospective memory. Prospective memory is an important aspect of day-to-day memory function and is defined as the cognitive ability to remember to carry out an activity at some future point in time. Examples include remembering to attend an appointment at the dentist or to carry out a task such as remembering to pay a bill on time. (Source: Medical News Today, 7/31/10)

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