Stigma: how it affects the substance use disorder patient.

The stigma surrounding individuals who have substance use disorders is a pervasive phenomenon that has had detrimental effects on treatment outcomes, health care providers, treatments, research, policies, and society as a whole (Kelly JF, Dow SJ, Westerhoff C , J Drug Issues_40:805-818, Kelly JF, Westerhoff, Int J Drug Policy_21:202-207, 2010). Stigma can be cultivated by various sources, but this article specifically focuses on the impact words have. Individuals influence each other through dynamic language processes.

Trends in telemedicine use in addiction treatment.

Introduction: Telemedicine use in addiction treatment and recovery services is limited. Yet, because it removes barriers of time and distance, telemedicine offers great potential for enhancing treatment and recovery for people with substance use disorders (SUDs). Telemedicine also offers clinicians ways to increase contact with SUD patients during and after treatment.

A Longitudinal Study of State Strategies and Policies to Accelerate Evidence-Based Practices in the Context of Systems Transformation.

Objective: To profile state agency efforts to promote implementation of three evidence-based practices (EBPs): screening and brief intervention (SBIRT), psychosocial interventions, and medication-assisted treatment (MAT).

Data Sources/study Setting: Primary data collected from representatives of 50 states and the District of Columbia's Single State Authorities from 2007 to 2009.

Study Design/data Collection: The study used mixed methods, in-depth, semistructured interviews and quantitative surveys.

Drug and alcohol treatment services effective for methamphetamine abuse.

Background: Methamphetamine abuse has become a major public health problem as demonstrated by increases in the number of emergency room visits, substance abuse treatment episodes, and arrests attributable to methamphetamine manufacture and abuse. We examine the effectiveness of conventional substance abuse treatment in the recovery of individuals seeking voluntary treatment for methamphetamine abuse.

Methods: At the request of the Iowa Department of Public Health, the Iowa Consortium for Substance Abuse Research and Evaluation contacted clients who had been admitted to voluntary treatment for methamphetamine abuse.

Association among outcomes in a naturalistic statewide assessment of substance user treatment.

Substance user treatment outcome measurement is important for research and policy questions, yet little literature has addressed the relationships among outcome measures of treatment success. Ideally, treatment outcomes would correlate to at least a moderate degree. The Iowa Department of Public health requires substance user treatment programs receiving public funds to provide client information.