The Edge:  

A Resource for Iowa's Behavioral Health Professionals 

 
2013 Edition, Volume 51                          


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The Edge, a news scan for Behavioral Health Professionals in Iowa distributed by the Iowa Substance Abuse Information Center (ISAIC).     

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


Emily Blomme, ISAIC Program Manager 
[email protected]

Bob Kerksieck, IDPH
[email protected]

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Substance Abuse:
Noteworthy Articles
 and Studies

How Treatment is Different for Women 

Strangely, despite the fact that it's been established for quite some time that there are differences when it comes to treating men and women for addiction and that women from all-female recovery treatment groups relapse less often than women in mixed groups, rehabs have been slow to implement gender-specific treatment.The role hormones play in addiction recovery has been drastically underrated.

  

When Chronic Pain, Addiction and Mental Health Intersect 

The challenge for care providers, as they respond to the national crisis and address the dilemma of people is to more accurately apprehend the interplay of pain, opioids, mental health and addiction. And to help their patients do the same. 

 

How Tobacco Changes the Body 

Ann informational website from the Cancer Society of Finland - very interesting way to show the effects of smoking on your body, inside and out, and available in multiple languages too.   

 

Predictors Of Substance Abuse Identified Among Teens With Bipolar Disorder 

A study published in the issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry found that approximately one in three teens with bipolar disorder developed substance abuse, for the first time, during 4 years of follow-up. The study also identified several risk factors that predicted who among these teens was most likely to develop substance abuse.

 

A Complex Response to an Epidemic

The United States is in the midst of an opioid epidemic. Deaths from drug overdose, driven by the increase in prescription opioid abuse, now outnumber those caused by car accidents. As a result, the opioid epidemic-and the opioid addict-demands a unique, specific, evidence-based solution, one that gives the individual the best chance at long-term recovery. 



Problem Gambling: 
Noteworthy Articles
 and Studies
 

Experts say there are growing numbers of people addicted to their screens, leading to calls for more treatment services, especially in regional and rural areas. Experts say girls in their early teens are finding it difficult to disconnect from social networking sites like Facebook, while boys are more likely to be addicted to video games.

 

Online game addiction law divides South Korea A law under consideration in South Korea's parliament has sparked vociferous debate by grouping popular online games such as "StarCraft" with gambling, drugs and alcohol as an anti-social addiction the government should do more to stamp out.  The bill is winning support from parents, religious groups and doctors but has alarmed the Internet industry and enraged gamers. 

 

Decision threatens Hard Rock Sioux City construction 

A state judge on Tuesday halted -- at least temporarily -- construction of the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Sioux City. The stunning decision sent supporters of the $128.5 million downtown project and state regulators scrambling to decide what to do next.  Polk County District Court Judge Robert Hanson granted a motion by the owner of the Argosy Sioux City riverboat casino to suspend the Hard Rock's state license until the Argosy's litigation against the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission is resolved.

 

Bamboozled: All bets are off! 'Problem gambler' admission required to self-block from online gaming  You may be a "problem gambler" simply because you want to exclude yourself from the state's newly passed online gaming offerings, and you can't - unless you sign off that you're a "problem gambler."

Who wants that on their permanent record?

 

 
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! 

 

Save the Date:  37th Annual Governors' Conference on Substance Abuse
April 22-23, 2014 

Veteran's Memorial Community Choice Credit Union Convention Center,Des Moines, IA

Are you working with professionals in your community regarding SBIRT?  Curious about how Dentistry and how they fit in?  This 1.5 hour self-paced course contains six modules of instruction covering various topics related to the SBIRT Model and its use in the field of Dentistry, including an overview of the problem, why dentists need to understand substance use and abuse, a brief overview of SBIRT, screening, brief interventions, referral to treatment, and common concerns.

 

Online Training: Substance Use in Older Adults: Screening and Treatment Intervention Strategies 

Working with older adults?  Wanting to tlearn more?  This 3-hour self-paced course reviews alcohol and prescription medication use among Older Adults, and highlights the need for routine screening, assessment and specialized interventions for this vulnerable population.

 

Training Resource: Online Training is Available!

Don't forget that Training Resources has many training opportunities available online!  Click to find a list! 

 

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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