Dr. Andrew Tatarsky's Harm Reduction Blog

An Alternative to the Intervention: Seminar for Parents and Spouses

noreply@blogger.com (Andrew Tatarsky) — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 05:56:00 +0000

CENTER FOR MOTIVATION & CHANGE
An Alternative to the Intervention: Seminar for Parents and Spouses

Does your loved one have a drinking or substance use problem?
You haven't heard the whole story.

You may have been told to "detach with love," or to stage an intervention. Before you go down either of these painful paths, come to an introductory seminar on CRAFT, a New York Times-reported treatment that harnesses the powerful influence of family to safely help a loved one change.
Hear about a non-confrontational option that works.

WESTCHESTER
Wednesday, December 2nd, 2009
6:00-7:30 pm
245 Main Street, White Plains

New York City
Monday December 7th 2009
6:00-7:30 pm
276 Fifth Avenue (30th St) Suite 605

Space is limited Advance registration required Attendance fee: $15 To reserve a spot, please e-mail events@motivationandchange.com or call (212) 683-3339 x38.

Want to quit? Don't go to light smokes

noreply@blogger.com (Andrew Tatarsky) — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 20:30:00 +0000

Tue Nov 3, 2009 6:45pm EST
Rueters.com

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Smokers who switch to a low-tar, light or mild brand of cigarette will not find it easier to quit and in fact may find it harder, researchers reported on Tuesday.

They found that smokers who traded to light cigarettes were 50 percent less likely to kick the habit.

"It may be that smokers think that a lighter brand is better for their health and is therefore an acceptable alternative to giving up completely," Dr. Hilary Tindle of the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, who led the study, said in a statement.

Her study of 31,000 smokers found that 12,000, or 38 percent, had switched to a lighter brand.

A quarter said they switched because of flavor but nearly 20 percent said they had switched for a combination of better flavor, wanting to smoke a less harmful cigarette, and as part of an effort to give up smoking completely, Tindle's team reported in the journal Tobacco Control.

Those who switched brands were 58 percent more likely to have tried to quit smoking between 2002 and 2003 than those who stuck with their brand. But they were 60 percent less likely to actually succeed in quitting, Tindle's team found.

"Forty-three percent of smokers reported a desire to quit smoking as a reason for switching to lighter cigarettes. While these individuals were the most likely to make an attempt, ironically, they were the least likely to quit smoking," Tindle said.

Other research has shown that so-called low-tar cigarettes have just as much tar, nicotine and other compounds as regular cigarettes, making their .

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration was given the power to regulate cigarettes in June and was immediately sued by companies such as Reynolds American Inc and Lorillard Inc. Altria Group Inc's Philip Morris unit, the nation's largest tobacco company, supports FDA oversight.

(Reporting by Maggie Fox; Editing by Cynthia Osterman)

http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSTRE5A263920091103

Drinking By Either Partner Cuts Odds of IVF Success

noreply@blogger.com (Andrew Tatarsky) — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 05:41:00 +0000

Posted by Maia Szalavitz Tuesday, October 27, 2009 at 9:52 am
Time.com

Couples having difficulty conceiving may want to skip one item that is ordinarily considered helpful to the process—alcohol—at least if they are using in-vitro fertilization (IVF). A new study of 2,574 couples undergoing 5,363 IVF cycles between 1994 and 2003 found that couples in which both partners drank four or more alcoholic beverages per week decreased their chances of having a live birth by 26%.

If only the woman reported drinking that amount or greater, the odds of a successful pregnancy fell by 16%; if the man was the one imbibing at that level, the odds fell 14%. The researchers adjusted the data to account for other factors like age and obesity which can significantly affect fertility.

The type of alcohol also seemed to matter: for women, white wine caused the most problems, cutting the live birth rate by 24%. For men, the culprit was beer, which reduced the chances of pregnancy success by 30%. Very few couples reported consuming hard liquor at these levels—so it's hard to know what effect that had.

Given that the worst outcomes were for the type of alcohol most likely to be consumed by each gender, it's possible that the couples who were drinking most heavily under-reported their use, making the effects of lower levels of drinking look worse than they are. However, the study's lead author, Brooke Rossi, MD, a clinical fellow in reproductive endocrinology at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston notes that these effects were seen at a level below that considered as moderate drinking by national guidelines.

“It comes down to this,” says Rossi, “There are many factors in an IVF cycle that contribute to success or failure. Most of these, patients have no control over, like age. But one thing you can control is alcohol intake. You can decrease or stop alcohol consumption, knowing that you are going to have to do it anyway if you do get pregnant and it may increase the chances of success in IVF cycle.”

The research was presented at a meeting of the American Society of Reproductive Medicine, held last week in Atlanta.

http://wellness.blogs.time.com/2009/10/27/drinking-by-either-partner-cuts-odds-of-ivf-success/

HOLOTROPIC BREATHWORK ALL-DAY WORKSHOP - Nov 21

noreply@blogger.com (Andrew Tatarsky) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 07:51:00 +0000

Tim O'Connell, PhD, and Oliver Williams will offer Holotropic Breathwork on Saturday, November 21st, 2009

Time: 9.00am - 8.00pm. First time HB participants please arrive by 8.30am.

Location: Trinity House, 1292 Long Hill Road, Stirling, NJ 07980

Holotropic Breathwork has demonstrated the ability to assist individuals in recovery from alcohol and chemical dependencies. Tim Brewerton, MD, following his presentation “Long-Term Abstinence Following Holotropic Breathwork as Adjunctive Treatment of Substance Abuse” to the International Society for Addiction Medicine (ISAM) 10th Annual Meeting in Cape Town, South Africa in November 2008, is currently preparing case reports documenting “…the successful use of Holotropic Breathwork in four cases in which complete abstinence was obtained for extended periods” into a case study for submission to a peer-reviewed journal.

Cost: $150 ($135 with $50 deposit one week prior). Please send deposit to:
Oliver Williams at 114 Horatio Street #809, New York, NY 10014-1574.

Bring: blanket and pillow for your own use; food and beverage supplied. There is a full kitchen so please feel free to bring anything you wish to eat or drink.

Contact: Oliver Williams; (917) 331-8971

http://www.rebecoming.org

Supervision and Training Activities Fall 2009

noreply@blogger.com (Andrew Tatarsky) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 18:18:00 +0000

Monthly Supervision Group on Integrative Harm Reduction Psychotherapy (IHRP) for Professionals Starting November 16, 2009

This group provides training and case supervision in my approach to Integrative Harm Reduction Psychotherapy for people with drug and alcohol concerns. Substance use problems are understood as being intertwined with the unique complexity of the person in context. IHRP is based on an integration of relational psychoanalytic and cognitive-behavioral theory and technique. IHRP blends a skills building focus on cognitive and behavioral change with an exploration of the multiple meanings and functions of substance use and other risk behaviors in the context of a therapeutic relationship that anchors the process and is also an agent of change.

The harm reduction principles that inform this approach are: meeting the patient as a unique individual, the primacy of the therapeutic alliance, abandoning the abstinence requirement and any other preconceived agenda for the patient, special attention to social, personal and induced countertransference, building self-management skills, working collaboratively to assess and identify problems, clarify goals and strategies that best suit the patient's needs and recognizing small incremental positive change as success. In this spirit the form, structure and timing of the therapy emerge out of the therapeutic process rather than being predetermined.

The group will combine topical presentations and case presentation with selected readings as appropriate to the members.

Fee: $60.00 The group will meet on a monthly basis on Mondays, 12-1:30 PM. It may meet more frequently if there is interest.

November 21, 2009

Treating Drug and Alcohol Users in Your Practice: Rationale, Theory and Technique of Integrative Harm Reduction Psychotherapy

A one-day introductory training at:

The Training Institute for Mental Health
115 W. 27th Street
New York, NY To Register: 212-627-8181
December 11, 2009

Effective Psychotherapy with Drug and Alcohol Users in Your Practice: Rationale, Theory and Technique of Integrative Harm Reduction Psychotherapy

A one-day training at:

The Albert Ellis Institute
45 East 65th Street
New York, NY

To register call: 212-535-0822 and tell them Andrew Tatarsky told you about the training…
Integrative Harm Reduction Psychotherapy Workshops and Training

Over the last several years I have been offering workshops and training in the U.S. and internationally for groups that wish to get a deeper immersion in harm reduction philosophy, epidemiological and outcome research support, theoretical basis and applications to psychotherapy and counseling. This approach integrates a skills building focus to cognitive and behavioral change with an exploration of the multiple meanings and functions of substance use and other risk behaviors in the context of a therapeutic relationship the anchors the process and is also an agent of change. There is an emphasis on group participation and learning both theory and technique. Trainings are delivered in the collaborative spirit of harm reduction. These trainings can be delivered from half day to five full day formats depending on the needs of the group. Trainings can be tailored to the specific needs of the agency and client population.

Modules include:
- History and Evolution of Harm Reduction Philosophy and History
- Clinical Challenges and Limitations of Traditional Treatment
- Clinical and Epidemiological Rationales for Harm Reduction Psychotherapy
- Theoretical Basis of Harm Reduction Psychotherapy
  - Biopsychosocial Process Model of Addiction
  - Multiple Meanings of Drug Use
  - Motivational Stages of Change
- Clinical Philosophy of Harm Reduction Psychotherapy: The New Paradigm
- Overview of Integrative Harm Reduction Psychotherapy
- Building Alliances with Drug Using Patients for Physicians
- Therapeutic Tasks
  - Managing the Therapeutic Alliance
  - Therapeutic Relationship as Agent of Change
  - Facilitating Self-management Skills for Change: awareness and affect tolerance
  - Assessment as Treatment
  - Embracing Ambivalence
  - Harm Reduction Goal Setting
  - Active Strategies for Facilitating Positive Change

All activities will be led by Andrew Tatarsky, PhD. and colleagues at 303 Fifth Avenue, Suite 1403, NE corner at 31st Street. For more information call 212-633-8157. More information can be found at: www.andrewtatarsky.com

Registration Now Open for Psychedelic Science in the 21st Century

noreply@blogger.com (Andrew Tatarsky) — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 16:20:00 +0000

Registration for Psychedelic Science in the 21st Century is now open. Psychedelic Science will be held in San Jose, California from April 15-18, 2010.

This will be the largest conference in North America dedicated to psychedelic research in 17 years. The conference boasts an impressive list of presenters.

http://www.maps.org/conference/

In My Backyard: Dispelling Myths About Methadone

noreply@blogger.com (Andrew Tatarsky) — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 16:59:00 +0000

ICAAT has produced a 15-minute video addressing the "not-in-my-backyard" (NIMBY) phenomenon - probably the greatest barrier to meaningful expansion of methadone treatment availability in America. Throughout the USA, and in many other nations as well, efforts to open new facilities are met with fierce opposition based on fear of resultant crime and a general deterioration of the neighborhood.

This film highlights the patients, staff and services of a methadone maintenance treatment clinic operating since 1974 in a church building in the heart of residential and commercial Greenwich Village, NYC. We hope that the film promotes a greater understanding of methadone maintenance treatment, its patients and providers.

http://www.icaatnimbyvideo.info/

Study Counters Warnings on Quit-Smoking Drug

noreply@blogger.com (Andrew Tatarsky) — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 16:58:00 +0000

http://www.ajc.com/health/content/shared-auto/healthnews/drug/631560.html

FRIDAY, Oct. 2 (HealthDay News) -- The smoking cessation drug varenicline (Chantix) does not increase the risk for self-harm or depression, according to a new British study.

In July, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration mandated that the drug carry a "black-box warning" on its packaging, indicating that people who use it face increased risk for "serious neuropsychiatric symptoms," including changes in behavior, hostility, agitation, depressed mood, suicidal thoughts and behavior and attempted suicide.

In the new study, British researchers analyzed database information on 80,660 men and women, ages 18 to 95, who were prescribed a smoking cessation product between September 2006 and May 2008. Prescriptions were for varenicline, the antidepressant bupropion (Zyban) or nicotine replacement products, such as a patch, inhaler, gum, tablet or lozenge. People were followed through the period of the prescription and for three months after the date of their last prescription.

No clear evidence emerged that varenicline or bupropion increased the risk for self-harm, suicidal thoughts or depression, the study reported.

However, the researchers added that "the limited power of the study means we cannot rule out either a halving or a twofold increased risk."

They recommended further study of varenicline's effect on suicide risk. They also said that any risks associated with varenicline must be balanced against the long-term health benefits of stopping smoking and the drug's effectiveness as a smoking cessation product.

The study, which had no drug company funding, was published online Oct. 1 in BMJ.

More information

The Tobacco Control Research Branch of the U.S. National Cancer Institute has more on quitting smoking

http://www.ajc.com/health/content/shared-auto/healthnews/drug/631560.html

Dr. Andrew Tatarsky on voice America Radio

noreply@blogger.com (Andrew Tatarsky) — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 05:47:00 +0000

Hear Dr. Tatarsky talk about integrative harm reduction psychotherapy and the current state of substance use treatment on Voice America

http://www.andrewtatarsky.com/news.html#airamerica

Download edited version from Dr. Tatarsky's site
http://www.andrewtatarsky.com/harm_reduction.mp3

Listen at Voice America Talk Radio (includes commercials)
http://www.modavox.com/VoiceAmerica/vepisode.aspx?aid=41530

Itunes Podcast - Subscribe & Download (includes commercials)
http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=316281888

Dr. Andrew Tatarsky on Air America Radio - Today!

noreply@blogger.com (Andrew Tatarsky) — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 16:46:00 +0000

Dr. Andrew Tatarsky will be talking about new developments in substance use treatment on Air America at 3 PM today.

Show link: http://www.modavox.com/VoiceAmerica/vshow.aspx?sid=920

WestBridge link: http://www.westbridge.org

Addicts get text overdose advice

noreply@blogger.com (Andrew Tatarsky) — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 23:54:00 +0000

BBC News
September 15 2009

Drug users in Swansea are being asked to sign up to be sent mobile texts on what to do if they overdose and how to reduce their addiction risks.

Messages such as "Overdose: Don't panic. Put them in the recovery position, dial 999" will be sent out.

Project director Ifor Glyn said their ultimate goal for users was complete abstinence, but the texts were a way of keeping drug users engaged with them.

But Tory AM Alun Cairns said any texts should try to get people off drugs.

The Swansea Drugs Project is asking its 700 existing users to sign up to receive the texts.

SDPFAST - the Swansea Drugs Project Free Advice Support Texts - will be free and confidential, and available to any of the users who sign up for it.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/8256406.stm

Drinking by Young Teens May Set Stage for Addiction

noreply@blogger.com (Andrew Tatarsky) — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 22:29:00 +0000

JoinTogether.org
September 25, 2009

Brain changes caused by drinking before age 15 could predispose adolescents to a lifetime of alcohol dependency, HealthDay News reported Sept. 18.

Researcher Arpana Agrawal of the Washington University School of Medicine, who studied alcohol use among twins, said that early drinking "may induce changes in the highly sensitive adolescent brain, which may also modify an individual's subsequent genetic vulnerability" to addiction.

Agrawal found that age of first alcohol use corresponded with a greater number of alcohol dependency symptoms. Those who started drinking later in life were less likely to be dependent even if they were genetically predisposed to addiction, the study found.

The research will be published in the December 2009 issue of the journal Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research.

http://www.jointogether.org/news/research/summaries/2009/drinking-by-young-teens-may.html

The Women's Therapy Centre Institute - 6 Week Eating and Body Image Groups Starting soon

noreply@blogger.com (Andrew Tatarsky) — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 07:22:00 +0000

Dear Colleague,

I want to tell you about some wonderful groups that The Women's Therapy Centre Institute runs on eating and body image problems. In a therapist led supportive environment, participants are introduced to the process of relating more comfortably to food and their bodies.

They look at the meanings of fat and thin, obsessive thinking, how to feed oneself when hungry and stop when full, as well as how to eliminate binge eating. Through our psychodynamic self attuned model, participants begin to identify the psychological issues that affect the woman's compulsive or restrictive eating and her troubled body image. These groups are a wonderful adjunct to ongoing therapy.

All of the groups are led by experienced clinicians, run for 6 weeks and cost $200. Please call me if you have any questions or would like to refer someone to a group. We have a group starting soon.

Sincerely,

Wendy Miller PhD
212-475-3151

For more information about the groups and other activities please visit the Women's Therapy Centre Institute at www.wtci-nyc.org

Benefit for Howard Lotsof – Ibogaine Pioneer and Activist

noreply@blogger.com (Andrew Tatarsky) — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 19:00:00 +0000

Please join us Saturday evening, September 26th, for a very special evening in honor of Howard Lotsof, ibogaine pioneer and activist (to be held at the Judson Memorial Church during the Horizons: Perspectives on Psychedelics conference – www.horizonsnyc.org).

Many of you are aware of the dedication and devotion Howard has brought to his work with ibogaine for over four decades. Working tirelessly in support of safe and effective treatment for those suffering under the yoke of opiate addiction, Howard has been a beacon of light and hope, and has had incalculable positive effect on innumerable lives. Known affectionately as “The Father of the Modern Ibogaine Movement,” Howard was the first to discover the addiction-interrupting effect of ibogaine. Since 1962, Howard's mission has been to make ibogaine legal, available, and safe - and to encourage further research into this remarkable substance. Howard and his muse, partner, and loving wife Norma have continued this important work for decades, making many personal sacrifices along the way.

As many of his friends know, Howard is quite ill with advanced stage liver cancer and now we want to give something back. With his innate fighting spirit, Howard continues his work on behalf of a growing and grateful ibogaine community. Yet his medical expenses are mounting and we are now asking you to help. Our benefit event in celebration of Howard and his life's work will be held 7-9PM at Judson Memorial Church, 55 Washington Square South, New York, NY (A, C, E, B, D, F, V to W. 4th St); a light dinner will be provided, followed by a discussion of the current state of ibogaine research and Howard's work by Rick Doblin, President and Founder of MAPS, the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (www.maps.org), psychologist Neal Goldsmith, and others sharing anecdotes supporting ibogaine and celebrating Howard’s life. We are asking for a one-hundred dollar donation, but please feel free to give whatever you can to help ease the financial burden on this great man and his family. Howard's noble work has allayed so much pain and saved so many lives, we are honored to have this opportunity to be of service to him now.

Please RSVP to John Harrison at jakaileb@hotmail.com, as soon as possible, so we can gauge how much food to provide. Thank you for your support – we look forward to seeing you Saturday, September 26th!

Any Drinking Raises Risk of Traffic Accidents, Researchers Say

noreply@blogger.com (Andrew Tatarsky) — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 07:33:00 +0000

JoinTogether.org
September 17 2009
Research Summary

Even one or two alcoholic drinks can increase the risk of getting into an automobile accident, even if it's not technically drunk driving, according to Italian researchers.

Reuters reported Sept. 10 that individuals who consumed one or two drinks within 2-6 hours of driving more than doubled their risk of getting into an accident. Having more than two drinks tripled the risk of a crash.

Researcher Stefano Di Bartolomeo of the Università degli Studi di Udine and colleagues drew their conclusions from interviews of emergency-room patients who had been in car crashes; drivers were asked about their alcohol and food consumption prior to the crash, as well as how much sleep they had gotten.

The study also found that drinking combined with sleep depravation greatly increased the risk of a crash.

The study was published in the Sept. 1, 2009 issue of the journal BMC Public Health.

http://www.jointogether.org/news/research/summaries/2009/any-drinking-raises-risk-of.html

Impact of Supportive Housing for Chronically Homeless People with High Use of Alcohol-Related Crisis Services

noreply@blogger.com (Andrew Tatarsky) — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 03:47:00 +0000

JoinTogether.org
September 2009
Research Summary

Housing First supportive housing programs do not make admission contingent on sobriety or treatment attendance and target chronically homeless people who are high users of publicly funded health and criminal-justice resources. The goal of these programs is to reduce safety-net system costs while improving quality of life for chronically homeless individuals by reducing acute care visits, hospital admissions, length of stay, incarceration, and shelter use and providing housing. Researchers studied the use and cost of services before and after program admission among 95 participants in a Housing First program in Seattle, Washington, and compared them with 39 wait-listed participants. All had severe alcohol problems.

Monthly median costs among admitted participants decreased from $4066 in the year before admission to $1492 after 6 months in housing and $958 after 12 months in housing.
Even after accounting for housing program costs, total mean monthly spending on housed participants compared with wait-listed participants was $2449 lower at 6 months.
Both costs and crisis-services use decreased with longer time in housing.
The number of drinks per day among housed participants decreased from 15.7 prior to housing to 14.0 at 6 months, 12.5 at 9 months, and 10.6 at 12 months.

Comments by James Harrison, MHS, CADC
This study provides compelling evidence that supportive housing for chronically homeless individuals can substantially reduce the cost of and burden on health and criminal justice services. It is important to note that both costs and alcohol consumption further decreased the longer participants were in supportive housing. Counselors, recognizing the high mortality rate among homeless individuals who drink heavily, should not make sobriety a prerequisite for supportive housing or other services.

Reference:
Larimer ME, Malone DK, Garner MD, et al. Health care and public service use and costs before and after provision of housing for chronically homeless persons with severe alcohol problems. JAMA. 2009;301(13):1349–1357. http://www.jointogether.org/news/research/tprb/sept09/harrison-larimer.html

Do Racial and Ethnic Minority Drinkers Have More Alcohol Consequences than White Drinkers?

noreply@blogger.com (Andrew Tatarsky) — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 23:00:00 +0000

JoinTogether.org
Research Summary
September 2009

Researchers analyzed National Alcohol Survey data from 4080 current drinkers (69% white, 19% black, and 12% Hispanic) to assess racial differences in alcohol dependence symptoms and social consequences and to determine whether self-reported social disadvantages (e.g., poverty, unfair treatment, and racial/ethnic stigma) explained any observed racial differences. Heavy drinking* was stratified into the following categories: none/low (69%), moderate (21%), and high (10%).

More black (11%) and Hispanic (12%) than white (6%) participants had 2 or more alcohol dependence symptoms.
More black (13%) and Hispanic (15%) than white (9%) participants had 1 or more alcohol-related social consequences (accidents; arguments/fights; or health, legal, and workplace problems).
In separate adjusted analyses, black and Hispanic participants were significantly more likely than white participants to have 2 or more alcohol dependence symptoms (if they reported "none/low" or "moderate" heavy drinking), and to have 1 or more alcohol-related social consequences (the "none/low" category only).
Adding social disadvantages to the models did not change the results.

*In this study, a composite variable was used to define past-year heavy drinking based on 3 indicators: frequency of 5+ drinks in a single day, frequency of subjective drunkenness, and maximum number of standard drinks in a single day.

Comments by Tom Delaney, MSW, MPA
Those involved in program planning and clinical services for black and Hispanic populations will find this study a useful reference. The authors strongly suggest the need for additional investigations to support these results, but they are an important reminder of the need to factor in biological markers and sociologic and cultural factors in treatment.

Reference:
Mulia N, Ye Y, Greenfield TK, et al. Disparities in alcohol-related problems among white, black, and Hispanic Americans. Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2009;33(4):654–662.

http://www.jointogether.org/news/research/tprb/sept09/delaney.html

Trauma-Focused Group Therapy Reduces HIV Sexual Risk Behaviors in Women with PTSD and Substance Use Disorders

noreply@blogger.com (Andrew Tatarsky) — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 19:57:00 +0000

JoinTogether.org
Research Summary
September 2009

Studies indicate the frequent co-occurrence of trauma histories and substance use disorders in women, which may increase HIV sexual risk behaviors. Researchers studied the impact of 2 group therapy interventions to reduce unprotected sexual occasions (USO) among women with co-occurring posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and substance use disorders: Seeking Safety (SS), a cognitive behavioral intervention addressing substance use and PTSD symptoms, and Women's Health Education (WHE), a psycho-educational intervention focused on health, nutrition, and sexual behavior including sessions on HIV risk and transmission. A total of 346 women from 6 community-based drug treatment programs participating in the NIDA Clinical Trials Network were randomized to receive 1 of the 2 interventions. Forty-six percent of the total sample reported at least one USO in the 30 days prior to intake. Most had experienced physical or sexual violence in their lifetime (94% and 90%, respectively), and all met DSM-IV criteria for either full (80%) or subthreshold (20%) PTSD.

Women in the SS group with the highest sexual risk at baseline (at least 12 USO per month) had significantly fewer USO at 12-month follow-up compared with women with the highest baseline sexual risk in the WHE group (4.97 versus 8.60 USO per month, respectively).
There was no difference in USO between groups at 12 months among women with the lowest baseline sexual risk (≤2 USO per month).

Comments by Norma Finkelstein, PhD
Findings from this randomized controlled trial show that SS, which emphasizes coping skills and reducing unsafe behavior and treats PTSD and substance misuse concurrently, may be more effective than traditional sexual risk reduction interventions in high-risk women with co-occurring PTSD and addictive disorders. Addressing trauma and improving women's coping and behavior skills may also prove effective in HIV education services. It would be interesting to know whether SS combined with HIV-specific education would have further reduced USO among high-risk women in this study.

Reference:
Hien DA, Campbell AN, Killeen T, et al. The impact of trauma-focused group therapy upon HIV sexual risk behaviors in the NIDA Clinical Trials Network "Women and Trauma" multi-site study. AIDS Behav. May 19, 2009 (Epub ahead of print).

http://www.jointogether.org/news/research/tprb/sept09/finkelstein.html

MDMA/PTSD Research Goes to Vancouver - MAPS News: September 2009

noreply@blogger.com (Andrew Tatarsky) — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 16:00:00 +0000

Dear MAPS’ Supporters and Friends,

We are gearing up for our newest study of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in Vancouver. On October 24, we will be hosting a benefit dinner in downtown Vancouver and we hope that if you are in the area you will join us and that you will encourage your friends to be there too. MAPS Executive Director Rick Doblin, Ph.D. and our Vancouver research team will give presentations about the project over a light tapas dinner. More information about the benefit dinner is below.

We have more news below about Psychedelic Science in the 21st Century, the conference we are hosting in San Jose, California, from April 15-18, 2010. We have opened a call for proposals for presentations at the conference. In the coming weeks we will be sending you an email about ticket sales and hotel registration.

This is a robust newsletter this month with an abundance of information about our research projects. You will also find lots of opportunities for you to get involved with MAPS and our sister organizations. Don’t forget, we rely on your support in order to conduct our research and to perform our educational objectives.

Sincerely,

Randolph Hencken, M.A.
Director of Marketing and Communication

CLICK HERE TO VIEW ENTIRE MAPS NEWSLETTER ONLINE

Problem Schools Make Little Progress Against Student Drinking

noreply@blogger.com (Andrew Tatarsky) — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 05:34:00 +0000

JoinTogether.org
September 16 2009

Frequent binge drinking has increased over the last decade at colleges with the biggest drinking problems, demonstrating the lack of progress these schools have made in addressing underage and excessive alcohol use, Science Daily reported Sept. 11.

Researchers focused on 18 colleges identified in 1993 as having especially bad problems with student drinking. A 2005 followup found that frequent binge drinking at the schools rose from 28 percent of students in 1993 to 32 percent in 2005. Overall binge-drinking rates declined over the decade, but only slightly -- from 58 percent to 56 percent.

In both 1993 and 2005, the overwhelming majority of students said they drank alcohol, and rates of consumption, drunk driving, unprotected sex after drinking, and alcohol-related injuries barely budged over the study period.

The findings appear in the September 2009 issue of the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs.

http://www.jointogether.org/news/research/summaries/2009/problem-schools-make-little.html

Multiple factors impact adolescent smoking risk

noreply@blogger.com (Andrew Tatarsky) — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 20:32:00 +0000

Reuters
Sepetember 11 2009
By Joene Hendry

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - There is no one-size-fits-all explanation for why teenagers take up smoking, hint findings of a Canadian study.

Therefore, focusing on one single risk factor is not likely to help adolescents resist peer pressure to smoke, or help advance the understanding of why young people smoke, Dr. Jennifer O'Loughlin and colleagues report in the American Journal of Epidemiology.

O'Loughlin, at the University of Montreal in Quebec, therefore suggests that efforts to prevent smoking should take into account "individual-level factors such as age, self-esteem, alcohol use, and academic success." Those involved should also bear in mind "contextual factors such as smoking in parents and friends, and school smoking policies," she told Reuters Health in email correspondence.

Her group investigated how numerous factors altered smoking initiation among 877 students (half male), who were pushing 13 years of age at the start of the study and had never smoked.

Every 3 months for the next 5 years, the researchers surveyed students' smoking habits and other factors potentially linked with starting to smoke. During this period, 421 (48 percent) of the students started smoking, and 87 (21% of these) took up daily smoking.

Living in a single-parent family and poor academic performance in school all increased smoking risk. Using alcohol and other tobacco products upped risk nearly 3- and 5-fold.

Having siblings and friends who smoked raised an adolescent's risk for smoking about 2- and 3-fold. Having a parent or teachers and school staff who smoked increased the risk of beginning to smoke by about half or more.

Feeling the need for a cigarette raised smoking risk 6-fold. Adolescents who felt stressed, acted impulsively, and showed susceptibility to tobacco advertising were also more likely to begin smoking.

By contrast, gender, parents' education, feelings of depression, worry about weight or being overweight, seeking novel experiences, physical activity or playing sports, and television watching were some of the factors not linked with increased risk.

Prevention and cessation programs that target social, home, and school smoking, as well as tobacco advertising, may have a positive impact on adolescent smoking, O'Loughlin and colleagues surmise. They call for further investigations into factors linking alcohol use and smoking, and genetic variables tied to smoking risk.

SOURCE: American Journal of Epidemiology, September 1, 2009.

http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSTRE58A5H720090911

Half of U.S. Prisons Fail to Adequately Treat Opiate Addiction

noreply@blogger.com (Andrew Tatarsky) — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 21:54:00 +0000

JoinTogether.org
September 11 2009

Opiate-replacement therapy (ORT) such as methadone and buprenorphine are available in only about half of all federal and state prison systems, and just 23 states provide referrals to addiction treatment upon release from prison, according to new research.

Medical News Today reported Sept. 9 that researchers from Miriam Hospital, Brown University and the Center for Prisoner Health and Human Rights said that both the World Health Organization and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend that prisoners be offered ORT, which the study authors described as a proven and cost-effective intervention.

"Improving correctional policies for addiction treatment could dramatically improve prisoner and community health as well as reduce both taxpayer burden and reincarceration rates," said lead study author Amy Nunn of Brown University.

Researchers surveyed the medical directors of all 50 state corrections systems as well as the District of Columbia and their counterparts in the federal prison system. They found that 55 percent of systems offer methadone to some degree, although only to certain populations in some cases, and 45 percent offer post-release linkages to community-based methadone programs. Only 14 percent of prison systems provide buprenorphine, while 29 percent link to post-release buprenorphine treatment.

Most health officials at prison systems that didn't offer ORT said they preferred drug-free detoxification, while others cited security concerns. Significant numbers also admitted ignorance about the efficacy of methadone and buprenorphine. "Our interviews with prison medical directors suggest that changing these policies may require an enormous cultural shift within correctional systems," said Nunn.

The report was published in the journal Drug and Alcohol Dependence.

http://www.jointogether.org/news/research/summaries/2009/half-of-us-prisons-fail-to.html

Announcement from Purple Ribbons for Overdose Prevention

noreply@blogger.com (Andrew Tatarsky) — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 05:00:00 +0000

Dear Friends and Colleagues:

Please read and support the following announcement regarding a documentary film being made about the importance of passing the Good Samaritan 9-1-1 laws. These laws provide legal protection for people who call for medical help in the event of a drug overdose. They save lives! The filmmaker is looking for family members in Southern California who have lost a loved one to overdose and would be willing to speak about the experience in the film.

This is just one other way that we can use our experience and relationships to support the paradigm shift taking place toward a more humane, just, compassionate social response to the problems associated with drug use in the country. Please be an active part in moving the paradigm forward.

Thank you for all that you do.

Andrew Tatarsky, PhD
Harm Reduction Psychotherapy and Training Associates
303 Fifth Avenue, Suite 1403
New York, NY 10016
212-633-8157
www.andrewtatarsky.com

*************************************************************************************

Announcement from Purple Ribbons for Overdose Prevention

Dear Friends,

I know many of you have lost children and spouses to accidental drug overdose, and I know many of you believe that a call to 911 or a shot of naloxone could have saved your loved one. A documentary filmmaker approached me, asking if I could help him locate a family member in Southern California to interview for his upcoming film about international drug policies.

He would like to interview a family member who believes that the US needs uniform Good Samaritan 9-1-1 laws, to protect & encourage people to call for help if they witness someone overdosing. We know that many people hesitate or fail to call for help because of fear of arrest for drug possession and that Good Samaritan 9-1-1 laws would put an end to that.

If you lost your son, daughter or spouse to overdose and believe that no one should ever be punished or penalized for calling 911 to save a life--and that naloxone should be made readily available to people at risk of opiate overdose--and you are willing to be interviewed for this important new film, please contact me immediately. This is an incredible project, involving some of the most important political voices from around the world!

If you aren't available to be interviewed for the film, but would be interested in telling your story to other members of the press, please let me know.

Email me: mralston@drugpolicy or send a message to me on Facebook. Visit www.drugpolicy.org/overdose to learn more about the issues & get involved. Thank you!

Meghan Ralston
Cause Creator

New Developments in Integrative Harm Reduction Psychotherapy (IHRP)

noreply@blogger.com (Andrew Tatarsky) — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 03:49:00 +0000

Talk Presented to The Harm Reduction and Mental Health Project
By Andrew Tatarsky, PhD

September 25, 2009
3:00-4:30 PM

New York University
6 Washington Place
Room 551, NYC

Since my last writing I have been doing an increased amount of training around the US and overseas in Poland, Austria, Chile and Ukraine. These experiences have facilitated the evolution of my thinking about IHRP and well as introduced me to some amazing like-minded colleagues around the world.

In this meeting I will share some of these experiences to give participants an update on the state of harm reduction therapy around the world. I will also share with you recent developments in my own thinking and work.

This workshop will outline my approach to Integrative Harm Reduction Psychotherapy. IHRD is based on a multifaceted view of problem substance use as reflecting the interplay of biology, personal and interpersonal dynamics and social context. IHRD integrates a relational psychoanalytic approach with
active skills building to support positive changes in substance use and related issues.

We will explore:

A psychobiosocial process view of addiction
The multiple meanings of substance use as points of engagement
How to use these ideas to create a collaborative, negotiated therapeutic alliance
IHRD’s 7 therapeutic tasks with emphasis on process and technique

I look forward to a spirited sharing of experiences….

Dr. Andrew Tatarsky has specialized in the field of substance use treatment for over 25 years as supervisor, program director, trainer and author. He holds a doctorate in clinical psychology from the City University of New York and is a candidate in New York University’s Post-doctoral program. Co-Director of Harm Reduction Psychotherapy and Training Associates; founding board member, Division on Addictions of NYSPA, and founding board member, Association for Harm Reduction Therapy. His book, Harm Reduction Psychotherapy: A New Treatment for Drug and Alcohol Problems, has been published in the United States and Poland. Dr. Tatarsky is in private practice in New York City and trains nationally and internationally.

When: September 25, 2009; 3:00-4:30 PM

Where: New York University, 6 Washington Place, Room 551, NYC

The members of the Harm Reduction and Mental Health Project organizing committee are: Michele Stocknoff, LMSW (mstocknoff@hotmail.com), Kathryn Grooms, LMSW
(kathryn@kathryngrooms.com), and Scott Kellogg, PhD (scott.kellogg@nyu.edu)

Scott Kellogg, PhD
Department of Psychology
Faculty of Arts and Sciences
New York University
6 Washington Place, Room 403
New York, NY 10003

http://www.psych.nyu.edu/kellogg

http://transformationalchairwork.com

http://therapists.psychologytoday.com/rms/67134

Smoking Three Cigarettes a Day Can Kill You

noreply@blogger.com (Andrew Tatarsky) — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 17:00:00 +0000

JoinTogether.org
September 9, 2009

A new study from the American Heart Association finds that smoking as few as three cigarettes daily raises the risk of cardiovascular disease by 65 percent, WVNS-TV reported Sept. 1.

Secondhand-smoke exposure raises the risk of dying from cardiovascular disease 20-30 percent, the study also found.

Researchers from Brigham Young University also looked at the risk of illness from other forms of air pollution, WebMD reported Sept. 1.

"It doesn't require extreme exposure to have significant cardiovascular effects. Even passive exposures to ambient air pollution and secondhand smoke contribute to significant increases in cardiovascular mortality," said study author C. Arden Pope III, Ph.D. "A critical finding of our study is that smoking is unhealthy even at small amounts. Reducing the amount one smokes does some good, but the biggest benefits come from stopping completely."

Smoking half a pack of cigarettes raised the risk of dying from heart disease by 79 percent, the researchers found, while smoking a pack a day increased the risk 100 percent.

The study appears in the August 2009 issue of the journal Circulation.

http://www.jointogether.org/news/research/summaries/2009/smoking-three-cigarettes-a.html