Majority Of Schools Increased Social, Emotional Supports For Students Affected By Coronavirus, But Fewer Schools Provided Treatment, Diagnosis Of Mental Health Disorders, 2021-2022 Data Show

The Washington Post (1/17, Meckler , Natanson ) reports, “In the year following George Floyd’s murder in 2020, the number of school resource officers fell as districts responded to calls for limits on police, according to data released…by the U.S. Education Department.” Additionally, “the report found that the overwhelming majority of schools increased social and emotional supports for students affected by the coronavirus, but fewer schools provided treatment and diagnosis of mental health disorders.” The new report examined “the state of safety and security on campuses in 2021-22.”

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— “The Washington Post (requires login and subscription)

Research Finds No Link Between Marijuana Use, Illicit Opioid Use

HealthDay (1/16, Thompson ) reports there is “no link at all between weed use and a person’s use of illicit opioids, one way or the other, a new review concludes.” The research found that cannabis is not “a gateway drug that can spark a person’s desire to try narcotics.” The study also found marijuana is not “effective in helping wean” people with substance use disorder off opioids. The findings were published in the American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse.

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— “Marijuana Has No Role in Taking Up or Quitting Opioids: Study,” Dennis Thompson, HealthDay, January 16, 2024

US Counties Where Mental Health Resources Are Low Face Telehealth Barriers, Research Suggests

mHealth Intelligence (1/16, Vaidya ) reports, “Though telehealth can help expand mental healthcare access, United States counties where mental health resources are low tend to also lack broadband internet access, hampering telehealth use, according to recent research.”

The study found that “US counties with low broadband access had reduced densities of mental health services, with an average of 3.63 mental healthcare physicians, 2.86 non-physician mental health practitioners, 1.33 psychiatric and substance abuse hospitals, 0.94 inpatient psychiatric and substance abuse treatment facilities, and 11.28 outpatient facilities available per 100,000 members of the population.” The findings were published in Nature Mental Health.

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— “Counties with Urgent Mental Healthcare Needs Face Telehealth Barriers,” Anuja Vaidya, mHealth Intelligence, January 16, 2024

Reduced Stimulant Use Tied To Lower Levels Of Craving, Other Stimulant-Related Problems Among People With Stimulant Use Disorder, Study Suggests

Healio (1/16, Rhoades) reports “reduced drug use was linked to lower levels of craving, depression and other drug-related problems among individuals with stimulant use disorder, even if they did not achieve abstinence, according to a study.” The researchers involved in the study “said they also observed improvements in the severity of drug-related symptoms and psychosocial functioning.” The findings were published in Addiction.

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— “Reducing drug use improves clinical outcomes in patients with stimulant use disorder,” Andrew Rhodes, Healio, January 16, 2024

Exposure Therapy To Overcome One Phobia Can Help Reduce Fear Of Other Things, Study Finds

HealthDay (1/12, Thompson ) reported that individuals “who use exposure therapy to overcome one phobia can find themselves less afraid of other things, according to the results of a study.” Investigators found that “people who underwent exposure therapy for spiders wound up experiencing an average 15% reduction in their fear of heights.” The findings were published in Translational Psychiatry.

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— “Overcoming One Phobia Might Ease Other Fears, Study Finds,” Dennis Thompson, HealthDay, January 12, 2024

Degree Of Cognitive Impairment After 6 Months Is Dependent On Severity Of TBI, Study Finds

Healio (1/12, Herpen) reported, “In a cohort of adults with traumatic brain injury, level of impairment for those who exhibited cognitive impairment after 6 months was directly correlated to TBI severity, according to” a study.

The findings were published in JAMA Network.

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— “Degree of cognitive impairment after 6 months dependent on TBI severity,” Robert Herpen, MA, Healio, January 12, 2024

Study Suggests Taking Vacation Time, Avoiding Work While On Vacation Could Help Avoid Physician Burnout

HCP Live (1/12, Campbell ) reported, “Looking to avoid physician burnout? A new study suggests taking vacation time and avoiding work while on vacation could be a good place to start.” Conducted by American Medical Association scientists, the study results “suggest more than 50%” of physicians “were taking 15 or fewer vacation days per year, with 1 in 5 taking 5 or fewer, and 70% reporting performing work on the typical vacation day.” The results were published in JAMA Network.

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— “Physicians Who Take Vacation Time, Avoid Working on Vacation Less Likely to Suffer Burnout,” Patrick Campbell, HCP Live, January 12, 2024

Physical Activity Could Help Prevent Depression In Older Adults, Research Finds

HCP Live (1/12, Derman) reported, “Physical activity could help prevent depression in older adults, according to new research.” Investigators came to this conclusion after looking at “data from 3 studies: Health and Retirement Study, Survey of Health Ageing and Retirement in Europe, and Korean Longitudinal Study.” The findings were published in Sports Medicine.

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— “Physical Activity Linked to Decreased Risk of Depression in Older Adults,” Chelsie Derman, HCP Live, January 12, 2024

FDA review finds no evidence linking weight-loss drugs with suicidal thoughts or actions

The AP (1/11, Aleccia ) reports, “A preliminary review of side effects from popular drugs used to treat diabetes and obesity shows no link with suicidal thoughts or actions, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said Thursday.” However, the agency “also said officials cannot definitively rule out that ‘a small risk may exist’ and that they’ll continue to look into reports regarding more than a dozen drugs, including Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro.”

Reuters (1/11, Satija, Sunny) reports that health care professionals “should monitor their patients for new or worsening depression, suicidal thoughts, or any unusual changes in mood or behavior, consistent with the prescribing information for the drugs, the FDA said,” adding that the agency will “announce its final recommendations after completing its review.”

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— “Drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy show no link with suicide, FDA says,” Jonel Aleccia, Associated Press, January 11, 2024

Substance Use Disorders Are More Prevalent Among Survivors Of Certain Types Of Cancer, Study Finds

Healio (1/11, Friedman) reports, “Substance use disorders are more prevalent among survivors of certain types of cancer, according to study results.” Approximately “4% of cancer survivors had substance use disorders…but they occurred significantly more in” survivors of “esophageal and gastric cancers and head and neck cancers.” Meanwhile, survivors of “cervical cancer or melanomas also had moderately higher rates.” The findings were published in JAMA Oncology.

Related Links:

— “Substance use disorder varies among survivors depending on type of cancer,” Josh Friedman, Healio, January 11, 2024