In the News

Newest Synthetic Drug to Cause Concern is Called “Smiles”

24233396 The latest synthetic drug to cause concern among law enforcement officials is called "Smiles," or 2C-I, Fox News reports.

The drug has been linked to the deaths of two North Dakota teens.

According to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), 2C-I is abused for its hallucinogenic effects. It is taken orally in tablet or capsule form, or snorted in its powder form.

"2C-I is used by the same population as those using Ecstasy and other club drugs, high school and college students, and other young adults in dance and nightlife settings," the DEA reports.

Task Force Recommends Routine Adult Screening for Misuse of Alcohol

Nurse-counseling-patient Doctors and nurses should routinely screen their adult patients and pregnant women for alcohol misuse, and provide those engaged in risky or hazardous drinking with brief behavioral counseling, according to new recommendations from a national task force.

The United States Preventive Services Task Force, an independent group of national experts in prevention and evidence-based medicine, concluded there is not enough evidence to make a recommendation about whether it is effective to screen and provide counseling for alcohol misuse in teenagers ages 12 to 17.

The task force noted that about one-third of Americans misuse alcohol, The New York Times reports.

Drug Tests Become More Common in Middle School

33031226 A growing number of middle schools are requiring that students submit to drug testing, The New York Times reports.

Students are being asked to provide a urine sample to participate in sports, or even in extracurricular activities such as choir and drama.

Some parents and civil liberties advocates are objecting to the tests, the article notes.

Middle schools that conduct drug tests are located in states including Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Missouri, New Jersey, Ohio, Texas and West Virginia.

Some school administrators, coaches and teachers said drug testing deters young students from substances of all kinds, including alcohol, marijuana and steroids.

Addiction Experts Push for More Medical Approaches to Treatment

30393787 Addiction experts are advocating for a more medical approach to addiction treatment, instead of relying on 12-step programs, according to the Los Angeles Times.

In 2011, the American Society of Addiction Medicine, the largest professional society of doctors dedicated to treating and preventing addiction, released a new definition of addiction, calling it a chronic brain disorder, not just a behavior problem.

Last summer, the first group of medical residents started training in 10 newly accredited addiction medicine residencies around the country. In addition, more drugs to treat addiction are being studied, the article notes.

Doctors Should Screen Adults for Alcohol Misuse

39169605 A U.S. government advisory panel recommends that primary care doctors ask patients about their drinking habits and provide counseling to those who misuse alcohol, according to HealthDay.

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force found that screening and intervention can help adults aged 18 and up who drink more than the recommended amount of alcohol cut back. However, the panel concluded there was not enough research on people under 18 to recommend for or against screening and counseling.

The panel also recommended screening and intervention for pregnant women, although the evidence for effectiveness in this group was less strong than for the general population of adults.

The draft recommendations, released Monday, echo the task force's 2004 guidelines on alcohol screening.

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