Drug News You Can Use
Kids with ADHD much more likely to develop substance abuse problems as they age
Children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder are two to three times more likely than children without the disorder to develop serious substance abuse problems in adolescence and adulthood, according to a study by UCLA psychologists and colleagues at the University of South Carolina.
“This greater risk for children with ADHD applies to boys and girls, it applies across race and ethnicity — the findings were very consistent,” said Steve S. Lee, a UCLA assistant professor of psychology and lead author of the study. “The greater risk for developing significant substance problems in adolescence and adulthood applies across substances, including nicotine, alcohol, marijuana, cocaine and other drugs.”
http://newsroom.ucla.edu/portal/ucla/children-with-adhd-much-more-likely-192085.aspx
Teen Substance Abuse Often Continues into Middle Age
Young people who misuse drugs and alcohol are at a greater risk for continuing this behavior into their middle-aged years, according to research by Yasmina Molero Samuelson at Sweden’s Center for Psychiatric Research (CPF), Karolinska Institutet.
They are also more likely to suffer from physical, financial and mental health problems and experience more accidents, suicide attempts and premature death.
Support needed to help nurses tackle substance abuse
An estimated 10 percent to 20 percent of nurses and nursing students in the United States may have substance abuse, misuse, dependency or addiction problems.
http://news.vanderbilt.edu/2011/02/help-nurses-tackle-substance-abuse/
Drug use at work soaring
An alarming number of companies in Cape Town are seeking help for employees who use -and in some cases even sell – drugs in the workplace.
“More companies are asking for assistance. More employees are using drugs at work, and even selling them there, using the workplace as a marketplace.”
Peter Schultz, chairman of the SA Association of Social Workers in Private Practice, said he had worked with firms from six sectors that were dealing with employees who took and sold drugs at work. He said telltale signs of drug use were frequent bathroom breaks, frequent latecoming, unexplained ailments and generally erratic behaviour, where the employee seemed “out of control”.
http://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/western-cape/drug-use-at-work-soaring-1.1032409
Study Tracks Drug-Related Teen Suicides
Teenage girls are about three times as likely as boys to attempt suicide for drug-related reasons, according to an analysis of emergency-room visits. A government study also found boys are far more likely to attempt drug-related suicide in the month of December, while the suicide rate for girls stays fairly steady throughout the year.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703313304576132672563248028.html
