Maryland lawmakers are considering a tax hike of "a dime a drink" - a move that could reduce alcohol consumption by 4.8%, raise $214.4 million in new revenues for the state, and result in a savings of an additional $249 million in alcohol-related costs, according to researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Maryland hasn't raised taxes on alcohol in more than 35 years and the state has some of the lowest alcohol taxes in the nation.

New York's beer tax hasn't changed since 1967 and currently sits at .11/gallon, far less than the national average of .278/gallon. Our wine tax is .19/gallon versus a national average of .79. Modernizing New York's alcohol tax rates would help state lawmakers fund the growing demand for addiction prevention, treatment and recovery services at a time when discretionary resources are scarce.

The Johns Hopkins study is linked here.

Heroin Use in the Workplace Skyrockets

Oral drug test analysis has found approximately five times more heroin use in the U.S. workforce than previously believed, says Quest Diagnostics Incorporated. Test results from 320,000 samples collected from January to June 2010 revealed that oral fluid testing detected a marker for heroin use at a rate of 0.04% compared to the 0.008% positivity rate in urine testing.

The oral fluid data findings align with early data from more than 350,000 urine samples tested from October 1 to December 31 2010 showing that new, federally-mandated urine drug testing rules succeeded in finding 20% more positives for the heroin marker 6-acetylmorphine, or 6-AM, among transportation workers tested.

"Oral fluid testing is helping employers find more heroin users," said Dr. Barry Sample, director of science and technology for Quest Diagnostics Employer Solutions. "In addition, while findings are preliminary, new federal requirements appear to be weeding out more heroin users from safety sensitive roles -- where impairment from heroin use can cause particularly grave impact."

Both oral fluid testing and the new federally-mandated urine testing process for safety-sensitive workers involve sensitive initial testing for the 6-AM heroin marker. In the past, safety-sensitive worker urine testing for heroin was performed only after a positive morphine test result, because heroin metabolizes to 6-AM, and then to morphine.

As of October 1, 2010, in addition to lowering the cutoffs for amphetamines and cocaine, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) joined the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to require urine testing for the heroin marker specifically. Among those transportation workers subject to the new rule, the newly mandated testing process for the heroin marker revealed a nearly 20% jump in positive results - 0.011%, in the fourth quarter of 2010, vs. 0.009%, in the same period in 2009 - as compared to the previous heroin detection program. The government also required testing for ecstasy (MDMA). During the first three months of testing under the new requirements, the additional test for ecstasy yielded a positivity rate (0.004%) consistent with expected rates based on historical non-regulated testing data.

New Family Support Group on Saturdays 

Addiction is a family disease. Having a family member - a son, daughter, spouse, parent, brother or sister - who is struggling with alcoholism or drug addiction can be frightening, frustrating, depressing and all-consuming as you join them in a virtual roller coaster ride of highs and lows. LICADD's new Family Support Group helps families get grounded, learn some facts about addiction, and come up with strategies that will help give them some peace of mind. It is an opportunity to gain perspective, new insights and walk away with fresh resources for coping with the disease of addiction. Most importantly, members will be able to connect with other families, and understand they are not alone.

Local residents with an addicted family member are welcome to attend, regardless of whether their loved one is in treatment, has begun the recovery process or is still actively using drugs or alcohol. The group is professionally facilitated, completely confidential and meets every Saturday from 10:00 to 11:30AM at LICADD's Ronkonkoma offices, located at 2805 Veterans Highway, Suite 26. A $20 donation per person per week is suggested, but not mandatory.

Angel Ball Kick-Off

Thursday, March 10