The Edge:  

A Resource for Iowa's Behavioral Health Professionals 

 
2013 Edition, Volume 31                          


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Greetings! 

The Edge, a news scan for Behavioral Health Professionals in Iowa  strives to provide a glimpse of new trends, changes on the horizon in the field of substance abuse and problem gambling, and opportunities to increase your knowledge! 

This week, August 5-9, 2013 is Responsible Gaming Education Week.  You can find more information by going to the AGA website. This year's RGEW theme - "How Do You Say Responsible Gaming?" - embraces the diversity of both patrons and employees in the gaming industry while encouraging everyone to make a personal connection to responsible gaming. No matter what language you speak, every casino employee and visitor should speak responsible gaming.

We hope you enjoy this edition of The Edge!  Please continue to forward it to colleagues you think would be interested! 

The Edge is a weekly media scan that is distributed by the Iowa Substance Abuse Information Center (ISAIC).  If you have articles of value that you'd like to share with others across the state, or feedback regarding the content, format, or method of distribution, please email them to Emily at the address below.

Emily Blomme, ISAIC Program Manager 
[email protected]

Bob Kerksieck, IDPH
[email protected]

Binge Drinking
Substance Abuse:
Noteworthy Articles
 and Studies

Substance abuse on work sites costly, difficult to stamp out 

The issue of random alcohol and drug testing has come into the spotlight in recent months with two highprofile cases and it's a subject that has many employers wondering if their policies are legal, effective and will reduce accidents.

 

Blog: Childhood economic status affects self-control, substance abuse

Children in poverty more likely to smoke cigarettes as adults, wealthier children to binge drink.

Treatment for Alcohol Abuse Drops in Pregnant Women, While Drug Treatment Rises 

The percentage of pregnant women in substance abuse treatment programs who were being treated for alcohol abuse decreased between 2000 and 2010, according to a new government report. During the same decade, the percentage of pregnant women in these programs being treated for drug abuse rose.

 

Europe-wide report on youth attitudes to drugs

 5% of young Europeans say they have used psychoactive substances. The figures are the highest in Ireland (16%), followed by Poland (9%), Latvia (9%), and the UK (8%). The Eurobarometer report reveals that the main sources for the drugs were through friends (54%), at parties or in clubs (37%), in specialist shops (33%), or over the internet (7%). However, a large majority of 15 to 24 year-olds across all 27 EU Member States are in favour of banning these substances and most young people support regulation of alcohol and tobacco. Media campaigns, school drug education and the internet were the three top sources of drug information. This accessible EC report makes interesting reading.

  



Problem Gambling: 
Noteworthy Articles
 and Studies
 
RGEW, held annually during the first full week of August, was created by the AGA in 1998 to increase awareness of problem gambling among gaming industry employees and customers and to promote responsible gaming nationwide.  The AGA and the entire gaming industry realize that education is essential to promoting responsible play and increasing awareness of gambling disorders, and RGEW provides gaming companies with an opportunity to expand on work they do every day educating employees and patrons about the issue.
 
Rhode Island has stopped funding a 12-year-old treatment program for compulsive gamblers - less than a month after gambling in the state expanded when the Twin River Casino began offering Las Vegas-style table games.
 
A CONFRONTING world-first ad campaign tracking the crippling battles of real-life problem gamblers has inspired 120 gamblers a week to try and beat their addiction.

The majority of callers to Ohio's problem-gambling help line called because they had problems gambling, rather than gambling problems.
 
 
 
Upcoming Trainings and Materials 

 

 ISAIC Training Calendar
Trainings around the state in the field of Behavioral Health, including national webinars and online train

ISAIC's new page for Professionals includes links to online libraries and databases, open positions in the field, and statewide training calendar.  Check back often for updates and submit open positions and upcoming trainings to be posted!

 

Dr. Mee Lee Presentation: Updated ASAM Criteria  In case you missed it -- What's New in the ASAM Criteria. 

 

Presentation: Prevention in Problem Gambling by Williams et al

Prevention of Problem Gambling: A Comprehensive Review of the Evidence and Best Practices.

 

Motivational Interviewing: Building Clinical Proficiency in Iowa 

Holiday Inn Downtown at Mercy Campus.   

Part I:  July 18-19, 2013 from 8:00am -5:00pm (past)

Part II:  September 19-20, 2013 from 8:00am -5:00pm

 Registration fee is $200 which includes four days of training, IBC CEUs, materials, lunch, afternoon breaks, and Certificate of Completion. You  must attend both sessions!
 
ATTC Webwise Lunch Series:  Wednesdays -  12-1pm.  Best Practices: 

Three Sessions:

July 31 -- Treatment Planning MATRS

August 14 -- Medication Assisted Treatment

August 28 -- Motivational Incentives

 

IHELP Workshops (Formally Summer School for Helping Professionals)

July 31-August 2, 2013 The IHELP workshops offer CEU-credit classes for community, agency, and education practitioners working with or interested in helping individuals, groups, families, and organizations. Click here to get the Schedule of Workshops.

 

6th Annual National Rural Substance Abuse Prevention Conference 

August 7-9, 2013, Lancaster, SC. $150 for the three day event, includes breakfasts and working lunches.  Buy two registrations and get the third for free.  

Prevention of Youth Substance Abuse in Rural Communities is the only national conference that focuses on the unique challenges of prevention from a rural context.  The three day annual conference includes nationally recognized keynote speakers, breakout sessions, and optional evening activities.  The theme of this year's conference will focus on exploring future trends in prevention, including environmental prevention strategies and use of technology. 

 

Save the Date!  Iowa Prevention Conference: November 13, 2013 

 

Did you miss a NCRG Webinar?  You can view archived webinars here.

Interested in getting Certified?  Click to find information about Iowa Problem Gambling Certification  or National Problem Gambling Certification 
 




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