A smartphone app designed by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) texts teens to help them quit smoking. The text messaging program is called SmokefreeTXT and lasts about eight weeks. The messages (written in “teen speak”), and their timing, are based on texts sent by the participating teens, describing their tobacco cravings and moods. One text says, “Smoking 1 […]
Treatment
Sparx: 3D Animated Fantasy Game Effective in Treating Depression in Adolescents
A study by Dr Sally Merry, an associate professor of child and adolescent psychiarty at New Zealand’s Auckland University School of Medicine found that a 3D animated fantasy game, called “Sparx,” proved more effective in treating depression in adolescents than face-to-face therapy. A randomized clinical trial showed that the remission rate among adolescents with mild […]
Incorporating Community Groups into Depression Care Can Improve Coping among Low-Income Patients
Improving care for depression in low-income communities — places where such help is frequently unavailable or hard to find — provides greater benefits to those in need when community groups such as churches and even barber shops help lead the planning process, according to a study published online by the Journal of General Internal Medicine. […]
Center for Healthy Independence
NNEDLearn 2013 Participant: Asian American for Community Involvement Description: The Center for Healthy Independence (CHI) is a self-help center focused on the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) population offering culturally and linguistically appropriate services. The center is built on Wellness and Recovery concepts, with emphasis on collectivistic, group activities to promote interdependence as well […]
Disparities in Substance Abuse Outpatient Treatment Completion Rates for Minorities
A state-by-state analysis of substance abuse treatment programs finds that in many states, minorities are less likely than whites to successfully complete substance abuse programs. The analysis found significant disparities among states with regard to racial and ethnic differences. The study appears in the journal Drug and Alcohol Dependence. It included data from 940,058 participants […]
Substance Use Disorders in Child Welfare: What Works for Children and Families
On June 6, 2013, First Focus, along with the National Council for Behavioral Health and 13 other organizations, cosponsored a congressional briefing on “Substance Use Disorders in Child Welfare: What Works for Children and Families.” The briefing was intended to spark a dialogue with Congressional members, national partners, and others about the need for public policy changes that […]