Entries for March 2011

Maryland state senators have approved a three-percent alcohol tax increase, which, if also passed by the House and signed by governor, would be the first increase since 1973.
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The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) will once again review the effectiveness of the alcohol industry's voluntary marketing guidelines, and is seeing public comment until April 26.
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Americans 50 and over are more likely to end up in the emergency room seeking treatment for adverse reactions to medication.
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Emergency room visits related to use of the illicit drug ecstasy rose 74.8 percent between 2004 and 2008, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
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People with a specific genetic makeup experience greater loss of brain function when dependent on drugs.
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Requiring parity for substance abuse disorders in health insurance plans results in identifying more people who need alcohol and drug treatment and lowers plan participants' out-of-pocket costs, but has 'little impact on utilization, costs for plans, or quality of care,' according to a new study.
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A new bill put forward in the U.S. Senate would allow mental health and substance abuse treatment providers to receive incentive funding from Medicare and Medicaid for using electronic health records.
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A new analysis of federal data shows that most people who are treated for abusing inhalants are adults, not adolescents.
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Another lawsuit has been filed against Phusion Projects, LLC, maker of Four Loko alcoholic beverages.
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A Florida congressman has introduced a bill in the U.S. House of Representatives intended to curb prescription drug abuse and eliminate pain clinics that illegally dispense narcotic pain medications, even as legislators in his home state fight over a similar initiative.
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