NPR (3/23, Aubrey) reports in its “Shots” blog on new research that suggests that the “black and white” thinking that there are “alcoholics and everyone else” is being challenged. Dr. John Mariani, a Columbia University researcher, “says that the thinking has evolved, and that the field of psychiatry recognizes there’s a spectrum.” Furthermore, “the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism has a whole list of tips aimed at cutting down — everything from drinking tracker cards that you can keep in your wallet to help you track your drinking when you go out, to strategies for handling urges.”

Related Links:

— “Rethinking Alcohol: Can Heavy Drinkers Learn To Cut Back?,”Allison Aubrey, NPR, March 23, 2015.

The CBS News (3/23) website reported that today’s marijuana is “more potent by far than the weed sold a generation ago, according to new data being presented Monday at the national meeting of the American Chemical Society (ACS).” Charas Scientific researcher Andy LaFrate, PhD, said, “I would say the average potency of marijuana has probably increased by a factor of at least three. We’re looking at average potencies right now of around 20 percent THC.” The National Institute on Drug Abuse “says the potency of marijuana has been steadily increasing over the past few decades, but a level of 20 or 30 percent THC is even greater than the institute has reported in the past.”

Related Links:

— “Marijuana far more potent than it used to be, tests find, The CBS News, March 23, 2015.

The Boston Globe (3/27, Schworm, Rocheleau) reports that a statement “by authorities that the copilot of a Germanwings flight deliberately crashed the airliner into the French Alps on Tuesday is renewing questions about whether the aviation industry does enough to screen for mental illness.” Some experts now “argue for a more rigorous system,” given “the enormous stress of the job and the hundreds of lives at stake.” Most airlines “conduct psychological testing during the hiring process, experts said, and applicants that show signs of instability are quickly weeded out,” but once pilots have been hired, they “undergo yearly medical exams that do not include psychological tests.”

Related Links:

— “US system has scant mental health scrutiny,”Peter Schworm and Matt Rocheleau, The Boston Globe , March 26, 2015.

The Hill (3/21, Marcos) “Floor Action” blog reported that the Medical Evaluation Parity for Service Members Act, introduced in the House of Representatives last week, “would require new military recruits to undergo a mental health assessment.” The two sponsors of the measure, Rep. Glenn Thompson (R-PA) and Rep. Tim Ryan (D-OH), “said it would help the military identify behavior issues early before they manifest into serious psychological problems like Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).” Companion legislation has been introduced into the Senate by Sen. Pat Toomey (R-PA).

Related Links:

— “Bill would require mental health evaluations of new military recruits,”Cristina Marcos, The Hill, March 20, 2015.

The AP (3/20, Warren) reports that across the US, “as police face increased scrutiny for violent encounters…many of which involve people with mental illnesses, law enforcement and advocacy groups are pointing to how the nation treats” people with mental health disorders, noting “a revolving door of emergency room visits and incarceration that they say is ineffective and costly.” While “police crisis intervention efforts and diversion courts are helpful in stemming the violence,” mental health professionals “on the front lines say states need innovative programs and more must be done to” provide preventive “care to curtail explosive moments of crisis.”

Related Links:

— “Police Shootings of Mentally Ill Reveal Gaps in Care,”David Warren, AP, March 19, 2015.