For Professionals

Prescription Drug Abuse, Addiction, and Recovery

February 21, 2012

Entertainment news reports during the past week have centered the Nation’s attention on substance abuse, addiction, and the vital need for recovery by millions of Americans. Positive stories of recovery are all around us in everyday life, but it’s always tragic when someone’s life is cut short.

Environmental Strategies to Prevent Alcohol Problems on College Campuses

This document describes strategies that are used to create healthier campus environments in which alcohol is less available, more responsibly promoted and served, and poses less of a threat to the health, safety, and well-being of all students. This is an updated (2011) version of the original report from 2000.

Get Connected! Linking Older Adults with Medication, Alcohol and Mental Health Resources

This toolkit was developed in partnership with the National Council on Aging (NCOA) and supported by the Administration on Aging (AoA). This kit provides health and social services providers in the aging services field with health promotion and health education activities to prevent substance abuse and mental health problems in older adults. The toolkit also provides strategies to link providers with substance abuse and mental health experts/organizations in their area. Contained in the kit is a program coordinators guide, fact sheets, self-screening tools, resource list, video on how to talk to older adults about alcohol and medication problems, brochures, and the promising practices publication Promoting Older Adult Health: Aging Network Partnerships to Address Medication, Alcohol and Mental Health Problems and Substance Abuse Among Older Adults: A Guide for Social Services Providers. (Updated 2003).

Aging, Medicines and Alcohol (Spanish version)

Provee información acerca del uso de los medicamentos de prescripción y el alcohol. Lista las señales de alerta de un problema con el alcohol u otras sustancias. Ofrece sugerencias para hablar con los proveedores de atención médica y para leer las etiquetas. Da la línea de referencia de tratamiento de SAMHSA.

Aging, Medicines, and Alcohol (Cambodian Version)

Aging, Medicines and Alcohol consumer brochure in Cambodian language contains information for older adults on alcohol use and medication-related problems and steps older adults can take to avoid problems resulting from mixing medications and alcohol. Link will download PDF. (Updated 2010).

Bringing the Power of Science to Bear on Drug Abuse and Addiction (Teaching Packet)

The fifth in a 5-part series, summarizes the science behind drug abuse and addiction, reviews the harmful consequences of drug use, and poses the question of whether it is worth the risk.

The Neurobiology of Ecstasy (MDMA) (Teaching Packet)

The fourth in a 5-part series, explores the biology behind ecstasy use in the brain and discusses both short- and long-term effects of its use.

Understanding Drug Abuse and Addiction: What Science Says (Teaching Packet)

The third in a 5-part series, reviews the science behind drug abuse and addiction and introduces the topics of prevention and treatment.

The Neurobiology of Drug Addiction (Teaching Packet)

The second in a 5-part series, explores the science behind addiction, describing the brain and reward center, and the action of heroin and cocaine.

The Brain & the Actions of Cocaine, Opiates, and Marijuana (Teaching Packet)

The first in a 5-part series, offers an understanding of the brain, how the reward center works, and what happens in the brain when a person uses cocaine, opiates (heroine), or marijuana.

Teaching Self-Regulation May be the Best Way to Influence Drug-Taking Decisions by Kids

February 7, 2012

Acknowledging that ongoing brain development during adolescence is linked to self-regulation is an important perspective for youth-serving professionals and parents as they address teenage substance use/dependence – including prescription drug diversion.

RFA for 2012 Drug Free Communities Program Released

January 24, 2012

The Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), in partnership with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), has released the FY2012 Drug Free Communities Request for Applications (RFA).

Digital Alcohol Marketing

In this four-part YouTube video series, Dr. David Jernigan, director of the Center on Alcohol Marketing and Youth, walks us through the issues surrounding alcohol marketing in the digital age.

CDC-TV: Binge Drinking

The video explores the health risks of binge drinking − including unintended pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, injury, car crashes, violence and HIV/AIDS − and discusses effective community prevention strategies such as increasing alcohol excise taxes. The video also features experts who debunk common myths including the belief that binge drinking is only a problem among youth.

How the brain can make quitting alcohol harder

January 16, 2012

If you like to drink but want to stop and don't seem to have to willpower to do so, it may be because chemicals in your brain are telling you to order another pint, new research suggests

National Bullying Prevention Center

PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center unites, engages and educates communities nationwide to address bullying through creative, relevant and interactive resources.

Spring ATOD Forums

Bullying in Schools: An Overview

Researchers from the National Center for School Engagement conducted a series of studies to explore the connections between bullying in schools, school attendance and engagement, and academic achievement. This bulletin pro vides an overview of the OJJDP-funded studies, a summary of the researchers’ findings, and recommendations for policy and practice.

Family-Centered Program Reduces Substance Use Problems in Rural African-American Teens

December 16, 2011

NIDA-funded researchers have demonstrated that a family-centered program, the Strong African American Families-Teens, reduced substance use, conduct problems, and symptoms of depression among African-American adolescents in a geographically rural area by more than 30 percent across nearly two years.

MPRC Fact Sheet: Bath Salts

This fact sheet provides basic information regarding bath salts. Updated November, 2011.

MPRC Marijuana Fact Sheet

The use of marijuana can produce adverse physical, mental, emotional, and behavioral effects. It can impair short-term memory and judgment and distort perception.

MPRC Alcohol Fact Sheet

Alcohol affects every organ in the body. It is a central nervous system depressant that is rapidly absorbed from the stomach and small intestine into the bloodstream.

MPRC Fact Sheet: Prescription Drugs

This fact sheet provides basic information regarding prescription drugs. Updated November, 2011.

Presidential Proclamation -- National Impaired Driving Prevention Month, 2011

December 5, 2011

Though we have made progress in the fight to reduce drunk driving, our Nation continues to suffer an unacceptable loss of life from traffic accidents that involve drugs, alcohol, and distracted driving. To bring an end to these heartbreaking outcomes, we must take action by promoting rigorous enforcement measures and effective substance abuse prevention programs.

CADCA-NIAAA College Drinking Video

November 28, 2011

Watch a video from CADCA and NIAAA about college drinking.

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