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Latest News Around the Web

Trajectory Of Sports Gambling Over Past Several Years Exhibits Strong Ties To Trends Related To Alcohol Use Disorders, Study Suggests

Healio (3/17, Rhoades) reports, “The trajectory of sports gambling over the past several years exhibits strong ties to trends related to alcohol use disorders, results from a cross-sectional survey study showed.” Investigators “reported a highly positive correlation between sports gambling and alcohol use disorders and, as a result, individuals who increase their sports gambling over time ‘would be at substantial risk for also increasing problems related to alcohol,’ they wrote.” The findings were published in JAMA Psychiatry.

Related Links:

— “‘Part of the sports culture’: Gamblers ‘especially at risk’ for alcohol-related problems,” Andrew Rhoades, Healio, March 17, 2025

APA Voices Disapproval Of Possible SAMHSA Personnel Cuts

Psychiatric News (3/17) reports that in a statement released on Monday, “APA voiced its disapproval of the possible personnel cuts to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) that have been reported in multiple news outlets.” The APA said, “SAMHSA’s programs have contributed to the advances our nation has made in fighting the mental health and addiction crises. Its impact across the nation is widespread and crucial.” The statement concluded, “Before taking any executive actions that will affect our nation’s mental health, the APA calls on the Administration and Congressional leadership to work with us and our partner organizations to thoughtfully pursue the best path forward to ensure people with mental health and substance use disorder do not lose services they desperately need.”

Related Links:

— “APA Expresses Concern Over Reported Cuts to SAMHSA,” Psychiatric News, March 17, 2025

FDA Tracking Rise In Injuries Tied To Misuse Of Nitrous Oxide

The AP (3/14, Perrone ) reported, “U.S. health officials are tracking a rise in injuries tied to the misuse of nitrous oxide, or laughing gas, including some brands that are sold in small canisters containing flavors like blueberry, strawberry and watermelon.” The FDA “on Friday warned consumers that inhaling the gas for its euphoric effects can cause dangerously low blood pressure, leading to loss of consciousness and injuries.” The FDA “flagged a number products sold in colorful packaging at gas stations, vape shops and online including Cosmic Gas, Galaxy Gas and MassGass.”

Reuters (3/14, Sunny) reported similarly that “the FDA cautioned against the improper use of these products in any canister, tank, or charger size, as misuse could result in severe health issues, including blood clots, loss of consciousness, paralysis, psychiatric disorders, and even death.” The FDA “said that it is monitoring reports of adverse events following the inhalation of nitrous oxide products and will take appropriate actions, although it did not provide specific details.”

Related Links:

— “FDA warns of misuse of laughing gas sold in colorful, flavored canisters,” Matthew Perrone, Associated Press, March 14, 2025

Study Identifies Barriers To Taking Medications For AUD

Psychiatric News (3/14) reported, “Patients cite stigma, lack of knowledge, and concerns over side effects as the biggest barriers to taking medications for alcohol use disorder (AUD), according [to] a study.” Researchers found that “for some patients, medications did not align with their treatment goals because they wanted to reduce their alcohol use rather than eliminate it completely.” The findings were published in Alcohol: Clinical & Experimental Research.

Related Links:

— “Stigma, Unfamiliarity Identified as Patient Barriers to Medications for AUD,” Psychiatric News, March 14, 2025

Concussion damage remains visible in athletes’ brains for up to a year after being cleared to play

HealthDay (3/13, Thompson ) reports a new study suggests that “concussed college athletes had brain changes that remained visible in brain scans up to a year after they’d been cleared to return to play.” Athletes participating in the study “had MRI scans taken before their seasons began, as well as five days, one to three months, and a year after returning to play following a concussion. Concussed players still showed signs of brain injury in MRI scans taken an average five days after concussion, when they’d been cleared to resume play, results show.” Researchers noted “those signs of brain injury lasted for up to one year later.” In addition, “players with concussion had significantly reduced blood flow in their brain’s fronto-insular cortex, a region that helps control thinking, memory, emotion and social behavior.” While researchers said “this lower blood flow diminished over time,” it was “still detectable a year after their concussion.” The study was published in Neurology.

Related Links:

— “Concussion Damage Lingers In Athletes’ Brains Up To A Year,” Dennis Thompson, HealthDay, March 13, 2025

Foundation News

Schuster to Receive Anti-Stigma Advocacy Award

Janice Lynch Schuster will be awarded the 2020 Maryland Foundation for Psychiatry (MFP) Anti-Stigma Advocacy Prize for her op-ed, “People are not defined by their diseases” in the October 14, 2019 Baltimore Sun. The MFP Board unanimously felt that her article very effectively portrayed not only how hurtful stigma can be, but that health care providers themselves may be the culprits thoughtlessly participating in stigmatizing people – particularly when people are abusing drugs. Her statement inspires others to seek and give help, and to reframe substance abuse as a disease that must be treated scientifically and empathically.

The Anti-Stigma Advocacy Award, which carries a $500 prize, will be formally presented at the Maryland Psychiatric Society annual meeting on October 8.

The Foundation established this annual prize for a worthy piece published in a major newspaper (preferably local or regional) that accomplishes one or more of the following:
Shares with the public their experience with mental illness in themselves, a family
member, or simply in the community.
Helps others to overcome their inability to talk about mental illness or their own mental
illness.
Imparts particularly insightful observations on the general subject of mental illness.

Click here for information about past winners.

New Radio Ad Explores Racial Inequities and Mental Health in Current Crises

Institutional and structural racism are major factors in these times of pandemic and civil unrest. The African American community is particularly hit hard by the coronavirus, police brutality, and the economic burdens that come with them. The ad explains how there is hope and help available.

Racial Inequities and Current Crises in AmericaRacial Inequities and Current Crises in America, MP3, 712KB

You can listen to the ad using the player in the upper right of the website’s homepage. All past public service spots are also available for listening or to download on our Radio Advertisements page.

The Foundation Strongly Condemns All Forms of Racism

A Message from the Maryland Foundation for Psychiatry Board of Directors:

The Maryland Foundation for Psychiatry strongly condemns all forms of racism.  The Foundation calls on all Americans and all levels of government to actively oppose racism, and all related violence and brutality. The Foundation recognizes that there are wide disparities in treatment of mental illness and access to care related to race. Consistent with our mission to fight stigma associated with mental illness and to promote awareness and access to care for all individuals regardless of race, the Foundation pledges to support programs which combat racism.

The Maryland Foundation for Psychiatry stands in solidarity with the agendas of the American Psychiatric Association, Maryland Psychiatric Society, and the Black Psychiatrists of America.  We endorse the following action items outlined by the Black Psychiatrists of America:

• Declare racism a public health problem and establish national goals for addressing this as a health equity issue. Give priority to addressing the issues of health care disparities including the mental health needs of historically marginalized communities across the US.
 
• Provide adequate funding for the clinical care, training, and research needed to eliminate health disparities and require racism impact statements for all government funded services and research. 
 
• Establish a governmental multidisciplinary and ethnically diverse commission with representatives from the major health care professional associations in medicine, nursing, psychiatry, public health, psychology, social work, etc., and the faith-based community to provide recommendations to Congress regarding policies on how best to improve the health and well-being of our nation’s Black citizens.
 
• Declare “Civic Mental Health” a national priority and incorporate it into the educational curriculum from K-college, as well as in the training of local, state and national officials, law enforcement, and the criminal justice system. 
 
• Establish police community review boards with power to take action in areas of police misconduct pending formal review by the appropriate authorities. This will offer a level of empowerment when communities feel they have a voice that can be heard. 
 
• Assure adequate insurance coverage for mental disorders and emotional distress that are the outgrowth of racism, police brutality, discrimination of all kinds and violence. 

The Maryland Psychiatric Society has also put out a statement on their website.

The American Psychiatric Association (APA) also condemns racism and has published their statement, too.

New Radio Ad Explores Mental Health in the Wake of the Coronavirus

A recent poll shows that more than half the people in the United States are feeling extremely worried by the coronavirus. They find they aren’t sleeping properly, are distracted, or being driven into depression. The ad explains how there is hope and help available.

The Coronavirus and Your State of MindThe Coronavirus and Your State of Mind, MP3, 721KB

You can listen to the ad using the player in the upper right of the website’s homepage. All past public service spots are also available for listening or to download on our Radio Advertisements page.