More on Drug-Only Treatment
The number of patients entering treatment for both alcohol and drug abuse problems has declined, but the number of patients getting substance abuse treatment alone has increased, according to data from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. The National Survey of Substance Abuse Treatment Services: 2004 found that of the 1.07 million people enrolled in substance abuse treatment on March 31, 2004, 46% were receiving both drug and alcohol abuse treatment, down from 49% in 1998. Another 34% were in treatment for drug abuse alone, up from 27% in 1998, while 20% were in treatment only for alcohol abuse, down from 24% in 1998. “These data will assist SAMHSA and state and local governments assess the nature and extent of service provided in state-supported and other treatment facilities, and forecast treatment resource requirements,” said SAMHSA Administrator Charles Curie.
Autism and Genetics
Five institutes at the National Institutes of Health and three private organizations have formed a consortium to identify genes that may contribute to the development of autism and autism spectrum disorders. The consortium has funded five grants totaling $10.8 million, to be given out over a 5-year period. “This initiative seeks to expand our knowledge of the genetic factors involved in this disorder that affects so many families,” said Thomas R. Insel, director of the National Institute of Mental Health, one of the consortium members. The other members from NIH are the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, and the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. The private organizations are the National Alliance for Autism Research, Cure Autism Now, and the Southwest Autism Research and Resource Center.
Schizophrenia Research Forum
The National Alliance for Research on Schizophrenia and Depression (NARSAD) has introduced the Schizophrenia Research Forum, an Internet site that allows researchers to discuss new findings on schizophrenia and related disorders, as well as check out online resources and share reagents and other specialized lab materials. The site, which can be found online at
Imaging Accreditation
The Intersocietal Commission for the Accreditation of Magnetic Resonance Laboratories (ICAMRL) has expanded its program to include accreditation for body, cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, and neurologic imaging. The revised accreditation process, which went into effect Nov. 1, was instituted because of widespread interest from neurologists, cardiologists, orthopedic surgeons, radiologists, and others. “It is crucial to the future of this imaging modality that all specialties have access to a fair and equitable accreditation program that enables them to receive peer-review of their work and to document to insurers that they are providing quality magnetic resonance studies consistent with established clinical guidelines,” ICAMRL President Edward T. Martin, M.D., said in a statement. Labs can apply in any or all of the specialty areas. In addition, the ICAMRL process enables labs using extremity-only magnets to apply for accreditation.
HHS Mulls Investigation
The Department of Health and Human Services' Office of Inspector General is looking into the circumstances surrounding the resignation of former Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Lester M. Crawford, D.V.M., Ph.D., to determine whether an investigation should be opened, an OIG spokeswoman said. In a response to a query from Rep. Maurice Hinchey (D-N.Y.), HHS Inspector General Daniel R. Levinson said the OIG is doing an initial review of the facts, not an investigation in any regulatory sense, according to the spokeswoman. “After reviewing the facts, the OIG will determine if an investigation is formally launched,” she said. “Dr. Crawford's departure, a mere 2 months after confirmation to his position, raises significant questions,” Rep. Hinchey and several fellow members of Congress wrote in their request. Dr. Crawford had resigned his position after a 30-year career with the agency, serving as its deputy commissioner and director of the Center for Veterinary Medicine, among other posts.
Alternative Medicine Centers
The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine is funding five new research centers to study complementary and alternative approaches to HIV/AIDS, arthritis, asthma, and pain. Three of the new centers will focus on therapies used in traditional Chinese medicine, such as acupuncture and Chinese herbal mixtures. The other centers will study millimeter wave therapy–a type of energy medicine–and botanical therapies used by traditional healers in Africa.