Federal Mental Health Focus
Six federal agencies–including the departments of Education, Health and Human Services, Justice, and Labor–have come together to provide resources to mental health patients and families. The agencies' report, called “Transforming Mental Health Care in America. The Federal Action Agenda: First Steps,” outlines ways in which the agencies are working to help mental health patients. Measures include reducing suicides by implementing the National Strategy for Suicide Prevention developed by HHS, helping states develop the infrastructures needed for comprehensive state mental health plans, developing plans for a mental health workforce that is better qualified to be culturally sensitive, and expanding a program to develop tool kits on evidence-based mental health care for distribution to providers and consumers.
Meth Crisis Continues
The methamphetamine crisis has meant major problems for law enforcement and child welfare workers, according to two new surveys by the National Association of Counties. The first survey, which included responses from 500 local law enforcement agencies, found that 87% reported an increase in methamphetamine-related arrests beginning 3 years ago. More than half the counties said methamphetamine was their largest drug problem, with an estimated one-fifth of jail inmates incarcerated because of meth-related crimes. In the second survey, which involved child welfare officials in more than 300 counties, 40% of respondents reported increased out-of-home placements because of methamphetamine addiction in the past year, and nearly two-thirds of officials agreed that the nature of the meth-using parent increased the difficulty of family reunification.
Merck Loses First Vioxx Lawsuit
A jury in Texas last month awarded $253 million to the widow of a man who died after taking Vioxx (rofecoxib). The plaintiff charged that the drug maker Merck & Co. failed to warn physicians about the danger posed by Vioxx, that the drug was improperly designed, and that the company's negligence caused the death of the plaintiff's husband, Robert Ernst. Merck executives plan to appeal the verdict on the grounds that the jury was allowed to hear testimony that was both irrelevant and not based on reliable science, the company said. “While we are disappointed with the verdict, this decision should be put in its appropriate context,” Kenneth C. Frazier, Merck's senior vice president and general counsel, said in a statement. “This is the first of many trials. Each case has a different set of facts. Regardless of the outcome in this single case, the fact remains that plaintiffs have a significant legal burden in proving causation.” The award included $24 million in actual damages and $229 million in punitive damages. But the punitive damages could be reduced to about $2 million, according to Merck, since punitive damages are limited under Texas law.
New Buprenorphine Program
A new program is available to assist physicians who prescribe or dispense buprenorphine to opioid-addicted patients, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration has announced. The Physician Clinical Support System, which is cosponsored by SAMHSA and by the American Society of Addiction Medicine, is a national network of 45 trained physician mentors who have expertise in addiction treatment. They are supported by a medical director and five physician experts in buprenorphine use. The network's physicians provide services via telephone, e-mail, and in person. Information about the network, which provides its services for free, is available by e-mailing the network staff at
Guide to Alcoholism for Clinicians
Physicians have a new tool to help them identify and care for patients with heavy drinking and alcohol use disorders. About 3 in 10 U.S. adults drink at levels that increase their risk for physical, mental health, and social problems. Of those heavy drinkers, about one in four currently has alcohol dependence problems that often go undetected in medical and mental health care settings. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism recently released a new guide called “Helping Patients Who Drink Too Much: A Clinician's Guide,” which offers guidance for conducting brief interventions and managing patient care. If a patient drinks heavily (five or more drinks in a day for men or four or more for women), the guide shows physicians how to look for symptoms of alcohol abuse or dependence. The guide is at
High Cost of Smoking Deaths
Smoking deaths cost the country $92 billion in lost productivity on an annual basis, from 1997 to 2001, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported. This reflects an increase of about $10 billion from the annual mortality losses for the years 1995 through 1999. An estimated 438,000 premature deaths occurred each year from 1997 to 2001 as a result of smoking and exposure to secondhand smoke. At its annual meeting, the American Medical Association's House of Delegates took measures to discourage tobacco use. It also voted to support increases in federal, state, and local excise taxes on tobacco. Such increases in the excise taxes should be used to fund the treatment of those with tobacco-related illnesses and to support counteradvertising efforts, the resolution stated.