MedPage Today (3/16, Walker) reports that research indicated the likelihood “that an opioid-naive patient would become a chronic opioid user increased sharply after as little as 5 days of use.” Additionally, researchers found that “a second opioid prescription or refill and a cumulative dose of 700 morphine-milligram equivalents also led to the sharpest increases in probability of continued opioid use among commercially insured, opioid-naive, cancer-free adults.” The findings were published in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

Related Links:

— “Longer Initial Opioid Prescription Ups Risk of Chronic Use,”Molly Walker, MedPage Today, March 16, 2017.

Reuters (3/16, Tagaris, Konstantinidis) reports that “Greece Refugees and migrants stuck in Greek camps, including children…are cutting themselves, attempting suicide and using drugs to cope with the ‘endless misery,’ international charities said” this week. Reuters adds, “In reports marking” a “year since the European Union struck a deal with Turkey to stem the flow of refugees and migrants to Greece, Save the Children and Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) found anxiety, depression and aggression were” increasing.

Related Links:

— “Migrant mental health crumbles in Greece: rights groups,”Karolina Tagaris, Reuters, March 16 , 2017.

The New York Times (3/15, Bakalar, Subscription Publication) reports, “Background checks and waiting periods for gun purchases are associated with lower suicide rates,” investigators found. The findings were published in the April issue of the American Journal of Public Health.

Related Links:

— “Some Gun Laws Tied to Lower Suicide Rates,”Nicholas Bakalar, The New York Times , March 15, 2017.

Reuters (3/8, Singh) reports that on March 8, the US Department of Veterans Affairs announced “it intends to expand mental health care to former service members with other-than-honorable (OTH) administrative discharges.” Under the proposal, “former OTH service members will be able to seek treatment at a VA emergency department, Vet Center or contact Veterans Crisis Line, the department said in a statement.” Currently, “veterans who do not receive an honorable discharge are not eligible for many” VA benefits, Reuters points out.

According to the AP (3/8, Yen), the department intends to begin implementing the changes in June or July as part of its expanded suicide prevention initiative. Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin said he could not wait for legislation because “this is a national emergency that requires bold action.”

Related Links:

— “U.S. to expand mental health care for some veterans,”Kanishka Singh, Reuters, March 08, 2017.

HealthDay (3/10, Preidt) reported that middle-aged adults who suffer from orthostatic hypotension “may be at increased risk for dementia when they’re older,” researchers found after analyzing “data from more than 11,500 adults, average age 54, who were followed for 20 or more years.” The findings were scheduled for presentation at the American Heart Association meeting.

Related Links:

— “Dizzy Spells in Middle-Age Tied to Dementia Risk Later,” Robert Preidt, HealthDay, March 10, 2017.

Reuters (3/10, Rapaport) reported, “Adults who were born prematurely at a very low birth weight may be more likely to experience mental health problems like depression and anxiety,” researchers found after examining “data from previously published studies of mental health in 747 adults who were underweight preemies and 1,512 who were full-term infants in five different countries.” The findings of the meta-analysis were published online March 10 in Pediatrics.

Related Links:

— “Adults who were preemies may face more mental health risks,” Lisa Rapaport, Reuters, March 10, 2017.

Reuters (3/8, Singh) reports that on March 8, the US Department of Veterans Affairs announced “it intends to expand mental health care to former service members with other-than-honorable (OTH) administrative discharges.” Under the proposal, “former OTH service members will be able to seek treatment at a VA emergency department, Vet Center or contact Veterans Crisis Line, the department said in a statement.” Currently, “veterans who do not receive an honorable discharge are not eligible for many” VA benefits, Reuters points out.

According to the AP (3/8, Yen), the department intends to begin implementing the changes in June or July as part of its expanded suicide prevention initiative. Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin said he could not wait for legislation because “this is a national emergency that requires bold action.”

Related Links:

— “U.S. to expand mental health care for some veterans,”Kanishka Singh, Reuters, March 08, 2017.

Healio (3/7, Oldt) reports, “Exposure to maternal depression during preschool years was more harmful to children’s psychological development than perinatal exposure,” researchers found after analyzing “data for 11,599 families, including 17,830 siblings, from the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort study.” The findings were published online Feb. 23 in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry.

Related Links:

— “Postpartum depression more harmful to offspring than prenatal depression, Healio, March 07, 2017.

On its website, CNN (3/7, Lamotte) reports the Alzheimer’s Association released its annual World Alzheimer’s Report (pdf) on Tuesday, which estimates that there are currently 47 million people around the world with the disease. The report also estimates that the number of people diagnosed with the disease will triple by 2050.

Related Links:

— “Alzheimer’s: The disease that could bankrupt Medicare,”Sandee LaMotte, CNN, March 07, 2017.

The NPR (3/6, Hobson) “Shots” blog reports that among young adults, “heavy use of platforms such as Facebook, Snapchat and Instagram was associated with feelings of social isolation,” researchers found after surveying “1,787 US adults ages 19 to 32” and asking “them about their usage of 11 social media platforms outside of work.” The findings were published online March 6 in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.

Related Links:

— “Feeling Lonely? Too Much Time On Social Media May Be Why,” KATHERINE HOBSON, National Public Radio, March 6, 2017.