Healio (5/18, Gramigna) reports, “Stigmatization surrounding alcohol use disorder is high compared with most other mental health conditions,” researchers posited in a systematic review that “updated findings of a prior systematic review conducted in 2011 that evaluated attitudes toward individuals with alcohol use disorder.” The findings were published online May 10 in the journal Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research.

“We identified 20,561 records, of which 24 met the inclusion criteria, reporting results from 16 unique studies conducted in 9 different countries. Compared to substance‐unrelated mental disorders, persons with AUD were generally less likely to be considered mentally ill, while they were perceived as being more dangerous and responsible for their condition. Further, the public desire for social distance was consistently higher for people with AUD. We found no consistent differences in the public stigma toward persons with AUD in comparison with other substance use disorders.

Related Links:

— “Alcohol use disorder has more stigma surrounding it than do other mental health conditions “Joe Gramigna, Healio, May 18, 2021

Clinical Psychiatry News (5/17, Anderson) reports researchers conducted a literature review and an expert survey and concluded that “medications typically used to treat opioid use disorder may also be effective for the growing public health problem of” kratom use disorder. During an interview, Dr. Saeed Ahmed, medical director of West Ridge Center at Rutland Regional Medical Center in Rutland, Vermont, said that based on his research, buprenorphine, methadone, and naloxone are effective for the treatment of patients with kratom use disorder. The findings were presented at the APA’s virtual annual meeting.

Related Links:

— “Opioid addiction meds may curb growing problem of kratom dependence “Pauline Anderson, Clinical Psychiatry News, May 17, 2021

HealthDay (5/17, Reinberg) reports researchers surveyed “203 pediatricians who screened more than 59,400 infants or toddlers [for autism] at their 12-, 18- and 24-month check-ups” and found that “only 39% of toddlers who had failed a screening looking for autism signs were then referred to additional expert evaluation.” Karen Pierce, the study’s lead researcher, said in a press release, “The lack of referral follow-through was because pediatricians thought that the results of the screen were wrong.” However, Pierce added that “if a parent noted that they were concerned, the referral rate increased to 70%.” The findings were published in The Journal of Pediatrics.

Related Links:

— “Parents’ Input Key When Screening Toddlers for Autism “Steven Reinberg, HealthDay, May 17, 2021

HealthDay (5/17, Reinberg) reports researchers found “gender-diverse youths are three times more likely to be bullied and victimized than those who identify as male or female.” The findings were published in Pediatrics.

Related Links:

— “Bullying, Violence Common for Gender-Diverse Youth “Steven Reinberg, HealthDay , May 17, 2021

HealthDay (5/14, Mann) reported researchers found that the increase in drinking during the pandemic is leading to “a serious spike in alcohol-related diseases.” The findings are “scheduled to be presented May 21at the virtual Digestive Disease Week meeting.”

MedPage Today (5/14, Swift) reported in the study, the researchers found that “inpatient consults for alcohol-related GI and liver diseases surged after the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and remained elevated.”

Related Links:

— “Is Rise in Liver Damage Tied to More Drinking During Lockdowns? ” Denise Mann, HealthDay , May 14, 2021