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The Department of Family and Protective Services 11th Annual Partners in Prevention Training Conference, Registration open!

Pablo Bastida - noemail@statewidetraining.org — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 22:00:00 GMT

Registration is now open for The Department of Family and Protective Services 11th Annual Partners in Prevention Training Conference. The conference will be held April 11-12, 2012 at the Austin Marriott North in Round Rock, Texas.

The 11th Annual Partners in Prevention Training Conference will cover workshops on the following topics:

· Child Abuse/Neglect Prevention

· Juvenile Delinquency Prevention

· Substance Abuse Prevention

· Mental Health Promotion

· Family Violence Awareness

For more INFORMATION and to REGISTER go to: http://www.dfps.state.tx.us/ /Partners_In_Prevention_Conference/

Direct Registration Link: Click here to Register

Early registration begins February 8, 2012. Registration Fee: $105

Regular registration begins March 2, 2012. Registration Fee: $130

Hotel Information:

Austin Marriott North

2600 La Frontera
Round Rock, Texas 78681

Hotel reservations must be made by March 16^th to receive the conference rate.

To make your hotel reservations: Click Here or Call 1-800-865-0546

DFPS hopes to see you in April!

8-Feb-12 4:00 PM

Researchers quantify the damage of alcohol by timing and exposure during pregnancy

Samantha Thompson - noemail@statewidetraining.org — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 21:00:00 GMT

Prenatal exposure to alcohol is associated with a spectrum of abnormalities in the offspring.
A new study has examined patterns of drinking specific to timing of exposure during pregnancy, collecting the information while the mother was still pregnant instead of after delivery.
Numerous specific associations were found, the most significant ones during the second half of the first trimester of pregnancy.

Prenatal exposure to alcohol is associated with a spectrum of abnormalities, referred to as Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders. Physical features of the more serious Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) include smooth philtrum, thin vermillion border, short palpebral fissures, microcephaly, and growth deficiencies in weight and height. A new study has specified how specific quantities of alcohol exposure, patterns of drinking, and timing of exposure can have an impact on each of these features.

Results will be published in the April 2012 issue of Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research and are currently available at Early View.

"This study was designed to address two challenges in FAS studies," said Haruna Sawada Feldman, a post-doctoral student in the department of pediatrics under the mentorship of professor Christina Chambers at the University of California, San Diego. "The first challenge concerned obtaining accurate alcohol exposure history from maternal reports that might involve social stigma and recall bias. This study collected information during pregnancy when women were unaware of their pregnancy outcome. The data were also collected by trained counseling specialists who had built a rapport with the woman and guaranteed confidentiality while collecting sensitive information. Finally, data were collected with specific details about timing in gestation, dose and pattern."

The second challenge concerned the quality of information on specific physical features of FAS. "These alcohol-related features are often subtle, and a non-expert examiner may miss or misclassify features, and/or can be biased by subjectivity, especially if he/she suspects or knows about prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE)," said Feldman. "This study used an exposure-blinded expert dysmorphologist to look for these features. Furthermore, potential bias due to subjectivity was reduced because these examinations were conducted in the context of a larger study of more than 70 agents of interest, only one of which was alcohol."

"Research that links the quantity, frequency and timing of alcohol consumption during pregnancy among humans is virtually non-existent," added Philip A. May, a research professor in the Gillings School of Global Public Health at The University of North Carolina. "While animal data exist, studies like this one in humans are greatly needed, because extrapolation of concepts from animal models to humans is fraught with complications and problems of translation."

Feldman and her colleagues used data gathered on 992 women and their singleton infants in California between 1978 and 2005, examining patterns of drinking and timing of alcohol exposure in relation to selected FAS features. Structural features were assessed by a dysmorphologist who performed a blinded physical examination of all infants. Patterns of drinking were evaluated by drinks per day, number of binge episodes, and maximum number of drinks. Timing of exposure was evaluated zero to six weeks post-conception, six to 12 weeks post-conception, and during the first, second, and third trimesters.

"Higher PAE in every pattern we examined was significantly associated with an increased risk for having an infant born with reduced birth length or weight or having a smooth philtrum or thin vermillion border or microcephaly," said Feldman. "The most significant associations were seen during the second half of the first trimester; for every one drink increase in the average number of drinks consumed daily, there was a 25 percent increased risk for smooth philtrum, a 22 percent increased risk for thin vermillion border, a 12 percent increased risk for microcephaly, a 16 percent increased risk for reduced birth weight, and an 18 percent increased risk for reduced birth length."

"This paper clearly illustrates that drinking alcohol, especially binge drinking, during the first seven to 12 weeks of gestation is associated with four of the most important facial features characteristic of FAS as well as reductions in birth length and weight that are also characteristic of infants and children with FAS," said May. "This study also illustrates clearly that there is no threshold that triggers these features of FAS. Instead there is variability from woman to woman in the level of drinking that produces these features."

Feldman added that the lack of associations found during first-half of the first trimester between alcohol and outcomes should not be interpreted to mean that alcohol consumption during this time period is somehow safe. "Due to the study design, we were only able to include women who gave birth to live infants," she said. "Therefore, we did not include women who may have had miscarriages or stillbirths. It is important to know that alcohol-exposed infants who would have exhibited alcohol-related minor malformations might also be more likely to be lost to miscarriage following exposure during the first six-week window."

Both Feldman and May believe these findings reinforce the warning that there is no "safe" level of alcohol consumption during pregnancy. "Clinicians should continue to follow the recommendations to encourage women who are planning a pregnancy or have the potential to become pregnant to avoid alcohol, and to advise women who become pregnant to stop alcohol consumption," said Sawada. "These new findings can also help clinicians quantify the importance of discontinuing alcohol as early as possible."

###

Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research (ACER) is the official journal of the Research Society on Alcoholism and the International Society for Biomedical Research on Alcoholism. Co-authors of the ACER paper, "Prenatal Alcohol Exposure Patterns and Alcohol-Related Birth Defects and Growth Deficiencies: A Prospective Study," were: Kenneth Lyons Jones, Kelly Kao, and Smriti Rao of the Department of Pediatrics at the University of California, San Diego; Suzanne Lindsay and Donald Slymen of the Graduate School of Public Health at San Diego State University; Hillary Klonoff-Cohen of the Department of Family and Preventative Medicine, University of California, San Diego; and Christina Chambers of the Departments of Pediatrics, and Family and Preventative Medicine, at the University of California, San Diego. This release is supported by the Addiction Technology Transfer Center Network at http://www.ATTCnetwork.org.

17-Jan-12 3:00 PM

Cigarette and alcohol use at historic low among teens

Samantha Thompson - noemail@statewidetraining.org — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 19:00:00 GMT

Cigarette and alcohol use by eighth, 10th and 12th-graders are at their lowest point since the Monitoring the Future (MTF) survey began polling teenagers in 1975, according to this year's survey results. However, this positive news is tempered by a slowing rate of decline in teen smoking as well as continued high rates of abuse of other tobacco products (e.g., hookahs, small cigars, smokeless tobacco), marijuana and prescription drugs. The survey results, announced today during a news conference at the National Press Club, appear to show that more teens continue to abuse marijuana than cigarettes; and alcohol is still the drug of choice among all three age groups queried.

Audio Cast of the 2011 Monitoring the Future Results.

MTF is an annual survey of eighth, 10th, and 12th-graders conducted by researchers at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, under a grant from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), part of the National Institutes of Health. The survey was conducted in classrooms earlier this year.

"That cigarette use has declined to historically low rates is welcome news, given our concerns that declines may have slowed or stalled in recent years," said NIDA director Dr. Nora D. Volkow. "That said, the teen smoking rate is declining much more slowly than in years past, and we are seeing teens consume other tobacco products at high levels. This highlights the urgency of maintaining strong prevention efforts against teen smoking and of targeting other tobacco products."

The 2011 results showed that 18.7 percent of 12th-graders reported current (past-month) cigarette use, compared to a recent peak rate of 36.5 percent in 1997 and 21.6 percent five years ago. Only 6.1 percent of eighth-graders reported current smoking, compared to a recent peak of 21 percent in 1996 and 8.7 percent five years ago.

"While it is good news that cigarette use has declined to historically low rates, we can and must do more to accelerate that decline," said Howard K. Koh, MD, MPH, assistant secretary for health. "The actual decline is relatively small compared to the sharp declines we witnessed in the late nineties."

For alcohol, 63.5 percent of 12th-graders reported past year use, compared to a recent peak of 74.8 percent in 1997. Similarly, 26.9 percent of eighth-graders reported past year use of alcohol in 2011, compared to a recent peak rate of 46.8 percent in 1994. There also was a five-year decrease in binge drinking, measured as five or more drinks in a row in the past two weeks, across all three grades. Binge drinking was reported by 6.4 percent of eighth-graders, 14.7 percent of 10th-graders, and 21.6 percent of 12th-graders, down from the 2006 rates of 8.7 percent, 19.9 percent and 25.4 percent respectively.

Despite the declines noted in the report, use of marijuana has shown some increases in recent years and remains steady. Among 12th-graders, 36.4 percent reported past year use, and 6.6 percent reported daily use, up from 31.5 and 5 percent, respectively, five years ago. The upward trend in teens' abuse of marijuana corresponded to downward trends in their perception of risk. For example, only 22.7 percent of high school seniors saw great risk in smoking marijuana occasionally, compared to 25.9 percent five years ago. Similarly, 43.4 percent of eighth-graders reported that they saw great risk in smoking marijuana occasionally, compared to 48.9 percent five years ago. In addition, concerns about the use of synthetic marijuana, known as K2 or spice, prompted its inclusion in the survey for the first time in 2011. Surprisingly, 11.4 percent of 12th-graders reported past year use.

"K2 and spice are dangerous drugs that can cause serious harm," said Gil Kerlikowske, director of National Drug Control Policy. "We will continue to work with the public health and safety community to respond to this emerging threat but in the meantime, parents must take action. Parents are the most powerful force in the lives of young people and we ask that all of them talk to their teens today about the serious consequences of using marijuana, K2, or spice."

There was mixed news seen in the non-medical use of prescription drugs. Abuse of the opioid painkiller Vicodin was reported by 8.1 percent of 12th graders -- similar to 2010 and down from 9.7 percent in 2009. There was also a decline reported by 10th graders -- to 5.9 percent from 7.7 percent in 2010. However, no such declines were seen for the opioid painkiller OxyContin.

In 2011, the non-medical use of the ADHD medicines Adderall and Ritalin remained about the same as last year among 12th-graders, at 6.5 and 2.6 percent, respectively. There was, however, a significant decline in the abuse of over-the-counter cough medicine among eighth-graders, down to 2.7 percent in 2011 from 4.2 percent in 2006, when the survey first asked about its abuse. A similar decline in cough medicine abuse was seen among 12th-graders, to 5.3 percent from 6.9 percent five years ago.

"To help educate teens about the dangers of prescription drug abuse, NIDA is launching an updated prescription drug section on our teen website," said Dr. Volkow. "Teens can go to our PEERx pages to find interactive videos and other tools that help them make healthy decisions and understand the risks of abusing prescription drugs. We are also encouraging teens to provide feedback on these resources through NIDA's teen blog, Sara Bellum, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, or email." PEERx can be seen at teens.drugabuse.gov/peerx.

Overall, 46,773 students from 400 public and private schools participated in this year's MTF survey. Since 1975, the survey has measured drug, alcohol, and cigarette use and related attitudes in 12th-graders nationwide. Eighth and 10th graders were added to the survey in 1991. Survey participants generally report their drug use behaviors across three time periods: lifetime, past year, and past month. Questions are also asked about daily cigarette and marijuana use. NIDA has providing funding for the survey since its inception by a team of investigators at the University of Michigan, led by Dr. Lloyd Johnston. Additional information on the MTF Survey, as well as comments from Dr. Volkow, can be found athttp://www.drugabuse.gov/drugpages/MTF.html. To hear the audiocast of the event, visit: Monitoring the Future: Briefing and Press Conference.

MTF is one of three major surveys sponsored by the U.S Department of Health and Human Services that provide data on substance use among youth. The others are the National Survey on Drug Use and Health and the Youth Risk Behavior Survey. The MTF website is: http://monitoringthefuture.org. Follow Monitoring the Future 2011 news on Twitter at @NIDANews, or join the conversation by using: #MTF2011. Additional information on MTF can be found athttp://www.hhs.gov/news; or http://www.whitehouse.gov/ondcp.

The National Survey on Drug Use and Health, sponsored by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, is the primary source of statistical information on substance use in the U.S. population 12 years of age and older. More information is available at:http://www.samhsa.gov/data/NSDUH/2k10NSDUH/2k10Results.htm.

The Youth Risk Behavior Survey, part of HHS' Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System, is a school-based survey that collects data from students in grades 9-12. The survey includes questions on a wide variety of health-related risk behaviors, including substance abuse. More information is available at http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dash/yrbs/index.htm.

Contact:

NIDA Press Office
301-443-6245
media@nida.nih.gov

About the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA): NIDA is a component of the National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NIDA supports most of the world's research on the health aspects of drug abuse and addiction. The Institute carries out a large variety of programs to inform policy and improve practice. Fact sheets on the health effects of drugs of abuse and information on NIDA research and other activities can be found on the NIDA home page at www.drugabuse.gov. To order publications in English or Spanish, call NIDA's new DrugPubs research dissemination center at 1-877-NIDA-NIH or 240-645-0228 (TDD) or fax or email requests to 240-645-0227 ordrugpubs@nida.nih.gov. Online ordering is available at drugpubs.drugabuse.gov. NIDA's media guide can be found at www.drugabuse.gov/publications/media-guide.

17-Jan-12 1:00 PM

Blueprints for Violence Prevention Conference Opens Registration

Trio Solutions - noemail@statewidetraining.org — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 19:00:00 GMT

The San Antonio Marriott Rivercenter in San Antonio, TX, will host the 2012 Blueprints Conference on April 11–13, 2012. This event is geared toward juvenile justice professionals and will disseminate science-based information on effective youth violence, delinquency, and drug prevention programs. Program experts will discuss evidence-based prevention programs and will provide education, guidance, and tools for individuals, communities, and agencies interested in implementation success, sustainability, policy, and effective leadership.

For more information or to register, visit www.blueprintsconference.com.

* For information on Blueprints, the model programs or presentation information, please contact Sharon Mihalic with the Center for the Study & Prevention of Violence at the University of Colorado at (303) 492-2137 or sharon.mihalic@colorado.edu

For information about the 2012 Blueprints Conference, please contact the meeting planners at Trio Solutions at (843) 216-0442 or e-mail jcherock@trio-solutions.com

17-Jan-12 1:00 PM

A family history of alcoholism may make adolescent brains respond differently

Samantha Thompson - noemail@statewidetraining.org — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 18:00:00 GMT

Adolescents with a family history of alcoholism (FHP) are at risk for developing alcohol use disorders.
A new study has compared the brain activity of FHP youth to peers with no family history of alcoholism.
Two areas of the brain – the prefrontal cortex and cerebellum – responded differently during risky decision-making in high-risk youth compared to their lower-risk peers.

Researchers know that adolescents with a family history of alcoholism (FHP) are at risk for developing alcohol use disorders. Some studies have shown that, compared to their peers, FHP adolescents have deficits in behavioral inhibition. A study of the neural substrates of risk-taking in both FHP adolescents and their peers with a negative family history of alcoholism (FHN) has shown that FHP youth demonstrated atypical brain activity while completing the same task as the FHN youth.

Results will be published in the April 2012 issue of Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research and are currently available at Early View.

"We know that a familial history of alcoholism is a significant risk factor for future alcohol abuse," said Bonnie J. Nagel, assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral neuroscience at Oregon Health & Science University as well as corresponding author for the study. "We were interested in determining whether adolescents at heightened risk for alcohol use made more risky decisions during a laboratory task compared to their lower-risk peers. Additionally, we wanted to examine whether differences in brain responses when making risky decisions were present in these two groups. We wanted to investigate pre-morbid neural risk factors during decision making in FHP youth, as opposed to differences in brain response due to heavy alcohol use itself."

"This is the first study to examine the neural substrates of risk-taking in FHP adolescents who are substance naïve," added Megan Herting, a PhD candidate in behavioral neuroscience at Oregon Health & Science University. "A previous study looked at young adults who were drinkers, therefore, it is hard to say if the differences found were purely a pre-existing neural risk factor for alcohol use. Alcohol use may also differentially impact the brains of those with and without a family history of alcoholism. Thus, the current study is a very novel and important piece of work showing that the brain is doing something different during risky decision making in substance-naïve FHP adolescents."

Study authors recruited 31 youth – 18 FHP (12 males, 6 females) and 13 FHN (8 males, 5 females) – between 13 and 15 years of age from the local community. All of the youth had little to no alcohol involvement prior to their participation in the study. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was used to examine brain responses of the youth during a Wheel of Fortune (WOF) decision-making task, which presented risky versus safe probabilities of winning different amounts of money.

"While our study found that FHP adolescents did not perform significantly differently on the WOF task compared to the FHN adolescents," said Nagel, "we found two areas of the brain that responded differently. These areas were in the prefrontal cortex and cerebellum, both of which are important for higher-order day-to-day functioning, such as decision-making. In these brain regions, FHP adolescents showed weaker brain responses during risky decision-making compared to their FHN peers. We believe that weaker activation of these brain areas, known to be important for optimal decision-making, may confer vulnerability towards risky decisions with regards to future alcohol use in adolescents already at risk for alcoholism."

Herting noted that higher-order or executive functioning is also important for things like attention, working memory, and inhibition. "Therefore, differences in brain activity may impact the ability of FHP individuals to make good decisions in many contexts, and in particular may facilitate poor decision-making in regards to alcohol use," she said. "Taken together with other studies on FHP youth, these results suggest that atypical brain structure and function exist prior to any substance use, and may contribute to an increased vulnerability for alcoholism in these individuals."

Both Nagel and Herting believe these findings can help to develop better prevention programs based on familial risk factors. "These findings may suggest a neurobiological marker that helps to explain how family history of alcoholism confers risk," said Nagel. "Furthermore, our research may aid clinicians who work with high-risk youth to develop effective prevention strategies for these adolescents to promote healthy decision-making."

However, they both added, having a familial history of alcoholism is just one of many different factors involved in future alcohol abuse. "While having a family history of alcoholism may put one at greater risk for alcohol abuse, personality and behavioral risk factors are also important to consider," said Nagel. "The combination of genetic and environmental factors is very different for everyone, so some individuals may be at higher risk than others, and certainly there are genetic and environmental factors that can also protect against alcohol abuse. Future research will need to determine the relative influence of these traits on alcohol abuse risk to be able to design specific prevention strategies for different high-risk populations."

###

Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research (ACER) is the official journal of the Research Society on Alcoholism and the International Society for Biomedical Research on Alcoholism. The first co-author of the ACER paper, "Risky Decision-Making: An fMRI Study of Youth at High Risk for Alcoholism," was Anita Cservenka in the Department of Behavioral Neuroscience at Oregon Health & Science University. The study was funded by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, the Portland Alcohol Research Center, and the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. This release is supported by the Addiction Technology Transfer Center Network at http://www.ATTCnetwork.org.

17-Jan-12 12:00 PM

LSUHSC research identifies 'bath salts' as new source of flesh-eating infection

Samantha Thompson - noemail@statewidetraining.org — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 18:00:00 GMT

New Orleans, LA – A study led by Russell R. Russo, MD, a third-year Orthopaedic Surgery resident at LSU Health Sciences Center New Orleans School of Medicine, has identified a new source of life-threatening necrotizing fasciitis – "bath salts." The study, describing the first known case of necrotizing fasciitis from an intramuscular injection of the street drug known as "bath salts," is published in the January 2012 issue of Orthopedics, now available online.

Necrotizing fasciitis is an orthopedic emergency. The ability to quickly and accurately diagnose this rapidly spreading disease can save a patient's life and limb. However, the diagnosis is complex because necrotizing fasciitis usually manifests as a less severe cellulitis or abscess while the majority of the damage rages beneath the surface of the skin. Deep muscular necrosis is often masked by a normal-looking overlying tissue bed. The potential causes and vectors, or carriers, continually change.

"As 'bath salts' gain popularity, medical centers of all disciplines must be prepared to identify not only the signs of intoxication, but the potential side effects including deadly necrotizing fasciitis," notes Dr. Russo.

Dr. Russo and his colleagues treated a 34-year-old woman who presented with forearm pain and redness that began after she attended a party. She did not report other symptoms, but there was also a small red puncture wound on her arm. Treatment for cellulitis with broad-spectrum IV antibiotics dramatically reduced the symptoms, but lingering pain at the injection site led to an ultrasound. She then admitted that she had injected "bath salts" two days before she developed symptoms. When the patient was reexamined, she had rapidly progressing redness, skin sloughing, and drainage. Necrotizing fasciitis was suspected and she immediately underwent emergent surgical debridement and exploration, and more antibiotics were added. The infection moved so fast that pink, healthy tissue was literally dying before the surgeons' eyes. They had to keep removing tissue until they reached clear margins of healthy tissue to stop the progression of disease. By the time they were finished, the patient's arm, shoulder, and collarbone had to be amputated, and a radical mastectomy performed. The patient survived and subsequently underwent skin grafting and rehabilitation. Analysis revealed bacterial isolates including alphahemolytic Streptococcus, Streptococcus viridans, Peptostreptococcus micros, Gemella morbillorum, and Actinomyces odontolyticus.

The researchers note these infections are usually associated with crush traumas and farm injuries, but now physicians must also be prepared and vigilant when presented with a cellulitic patient who has a history of needle use. Even patients with their own clean needles are not immune, as evident in a report of an asthmatic patient who developed necrotizing fasciitis from an injection of subcutaneous epinephrine.

"Despite the drug's legal status, it must be treated as illicit, and one must be suspicious when examining a patient with this clinical history because the diagnosis of flesh-eating bacteria can masquerade as abscesses and cellulitis," says Dr. Russo.

Necrotizing fasciitis has a rapid time-line to tissue destruction and loss of life. A 1995 study found the survival rate of those diagnosed with necrotizing fasciitis to be as low as 50%. However, wide ranges of death exist depending on a multitude of factors.

Treatment for this virulent disease remains a swift diagnosis with extensive surgical debridement to obtain complete control of the organism and prevent death. However, the authors maintain, the best treatment is prevention with public, street-based education and early detection.

"The recent emerging popularity of this highly obtainable, injectable substance may lead to an increase in cases of necrotizing fasciitis," concludes Dr. Russo, "and surgeons must be ready to diagnose and perform extensive debridements in association with general surgeons in some instances to save limbs, preserve function, and prevent death."

###

The study team included Dr. Noah Marks, Dr. Katy Morris, and Associate Professor Dr. Ronald Rooney, in the LSUHSC New Orleans Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, as well as Drs. Heather King, and Angelle Gelvin, MD in the LSUHSC New Orleans Department of Surgery.

LSU Health Sciences Center New Orleans educates Louisiana's health care professionals. The state's academic health leader, LSUHSC consists of a School of Medicine, the state's only School of Dentistry, Louisiana's only public School of Public Health, the only School of Nursing within an academic health center in Louisiana, and Schools of Allied Health Professions, and Graduate Studies. LSUHSC faculty take care of patients in public and private hospitals and clinics throughout the region. In the vanguard of biosciences research in a number of areas in a worldwide arena, the LSUHSC research enterprise generates jobs and enormous economic impact. LSUHSC faculty have made lifesaving discoveries and continue to work to prevent, advance treatment, or cure disease. To learn more, visit http://www.lsuhsc.edu and http://www.twitter.com/LSUHSCHealth.

17-Jan-12 12:00 PM

[firstname], The Connection's Newsletter 13-Jan-12

Joseph Duarte - noemail@statewidetraining.org — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 22:03:01 GMT

One Column With Header

Hello [firstname],

Welcome to the Texas HIV Connection's newsletter of upcoming events, articles, jobs and more from our membership.

Calendar Events
Articles
Job Listings

Calendar Events for 13-Jan-12 to 2-Feb-12

Motivational Interviewing
Sponsor: Center For Health Care Services/Texas HIV Connection
Speaker's Name: Texas HIV Connection
Day: Wednesday 18-Jan-12 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Location: Nelson and Tracy Wolf Center for Adolescent and Child Development 711 E. Josephine St San Antonio, Texas 78206
Summary: ...
Register Mapquest | Add to Calendar
Posted by: Brad Lindgren

HIV Early Intervention Case Mgmt: Connecting Clients to Care
Sponsor: Center For Health Care Services/Texas HIV Connection
Speaker's Name:
Day: Thursday 19-Jan-12 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Location: Nelson and Tracy Wolf Center for Adolescent and Child Development 711 E. Josephine St San Antonio, Texas 78206
Summary: ...
Register Mapquest | Add to Calendar
Posted by: Brad Lindgren

HIV Early Intervention Case Mgmt: Connecting Clients to Care
Sponsor: GDCADA/HIV Connection
Speaker's Name: Texas HIV Connection
Day: Tuesday 31-Jan-12 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Location: Greater Dallas Council On Alcohol and Drug Abuse 1349 Empire Central Drive Suite 800Dallas, TX 75247 Dallas,, TX 75247
Summary: ...
Register Mapquest | Add to Calendar
Posted by: Brad Lindgren

Motivational Interviewing
Sponsor: GDCADA/HIV Connection
Speaker's Name: Texas HIV Connection
Day: Wednesday 1-Feb-12 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Location: Greater Dallas Council On Alcohol and Drug Abuse 1349 Empire Central Drive Suite 800 Dallas,, TX 75247
Summary: ...
Register Mapquest | Add to Calendar
Posted by: Brad Lindgren

Articles for 12-Jan-12 to 13-Jan-12

SAMHSA announces a working definition of “recovery” from mental disorders and substance use disorders

Author: SAMHSA Press Office

Release Date: Friday 13-Jan-12 3:00 PM

A new working definition of recovery from mental disorders and substance use disorders is being announced by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). The definition is the product of a year-long effort by SAMHSA and a wide range of partners in the behavioral health care community and other fields to develop a working definition of recovery that captures the essential, common experiences of those recovering from mental disorders and substance use disorders,... [More Info]
Posted by: Joseph Duarte

Be Prepared to Stay Safe and Healthy in Winter

Author: National Center for Environmental Health

Release Date: Friday 13-Jan-12 3:00 PM

Although winter comes as no surprise, many of us are not ready for its arrival. If you are prepared for the hazards of winter, you will be more likely to stay safe and healthy when temperatures start to fall. Many people prefer to remain indoors in the winter, but staying inside is no guarantee of safety. Take these steps to keep your home safe and warm during the winter months. Winterize your home. Install weather stripping, insulation,... [More Info]
Posted by: Joseph Duarte

A New Year of Healthy Possibilities!

Author: CDC's Office of Women's Health: Family Health

Release Date: Friday 13-Jan-12 3:00 PM

The New Year has long been a time for reflection on the personal changes we want to make as we look forward to a year of healthy possibilities. Health-related goals are popular New Year's resolutions, but sometimes we may not know where to begin. Below, you'll find ways to get and keep a Healthy You, Healthy Family, Healthy Home, Healthy Community, and Healthy Workplace. Take time to make a healthy lifestyle your resolution. Healthy You Make healthy... [More Info]
Posted by: Joseph Duarte

Depression More Common Among Women Than Men Living With HIV

Author: Kellee Terrell

Release Date: Friday 13-Jan-12 3:00 PM

By Kellee Terrell From The Body January 13, 2012 It's not a secret that people living with HIV/AIDS are more likely to suffer from depression than the general population -- they are twice as likely, in fact. But a new study, conducted by researchers who are part of the CRANIum Study, sheds even more light on the issue. Researchers found that women living with HIV are more likely to suffer from depression than HIV-positive men. According to the National AIDS... [More Info]
Posted by: Joseph Duarte

Looking Forward to a Bright New Year in HIV/HCV Treatment

Author: Barbara McGovern, M.D.

Release Date: Friday 13-Jan-12 3:00 PM

By Barbara McGovern, M.D. From The Body January 10, 2012 As we discover a sense of renewal with the beginning of 2012, I find myself more hopeful than I have ever been regarding the outlook for patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, including patients coinfected with HIV. Over the years, we have been aware that treatment responses have been lower in HIV/HCV coinfected patients compared to those with HCV alone. This has been particularly true of those who... [More Info]
Posted by: Joseph Duarte

Jobs for 12-Jan-12 to 13-Jan-12

HIV Training Specialist --new

Company: TX HIV Connection

Date Activated: Friday 13-Jan-12 3:56 PM

Duties/Responsibilities Under the general supervision of the HIV Training Director, will be responsible... [More Info]
Posted by: Joseph Duarte

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13-Jan-12 4:03 PM

Be Prepared to Stay Safe and Healthy in Winter

National Center for Environmental Health - noemail@statewidetraining.org — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 21:00:00 GMT

Many people prefer to remain indoors in the winter, but staying inside is no guarantee of safety. Take these steps to keep your home safe and warm during the winter months.

Winterize your home.
- Install weather stripping, insulation, and storm windows.
- Insulate water lines that run along exterior walls.
- Clean out gutters and repair roof leaks.
Check your heating systems.
- Have your heating system serviced professionally to make sure that it is clean, working properly and ventilated to the outside.
- Inspect and clean fireplaces and chimneys.
- Install a smoke detector. Test batteries monthly.
- Have a safe alternate heating source and alternate fuels available.
- Prevent carbon monoxide (CO) emergencies.
  - Install a CO detector to alert you of the presence of the deadly, odorless, colorless gas.
  - Learn symptoms of CO poisoning: headaches, nausea, and disorientation.
  - Keep grills and generators out of the house and garage. Position generators at least 20 feet from the house.
Be prepared for weather-related emergencies, including power outages.
- Stock food that needs no cooking or refrigeration and water stored in clean containers.
- Keep an up-to-date emergency kit, including:
  - battery-operated devices, such as a flashlight, a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Weather Radio, and lamps;
  - extra batteries;
  - first-aid kit and extra medicine;
  - baby items; and
  - cat litter or sand for icy walkways.

Many people spend time outdoors in the winter working, traveling, or enjoying winter sports. Outdoor activities can expose you to several safety hazards, but you can take these steps to prepare for them:

Wear appropriate outdoor clothing: layers of light, warm clothing; mittens; hats; scarves; and waterproof boots.
Sprinkle cat litter or sand on icy patches.
Learn safety precautions to follow when outdoors.
- Be aware of the wind chill factor.
- Work slowly when doing outside chores.
- Take a buddy and an emergency kit when you are participating in outdoor recreation.
- Avoid traveling when the weather service has issued advisories.
- If you must travel, inform a friend or relative of your proposed route and expected time of arrival.
- Carry a cell phone.
Prepare your car for winter.
- Service the radiator and maintain antifreeze level; check tire tread or, if necessary, replace tires with all-weather or snow tires
- Keep gas tank full to avoid ice in the tank and fuel lines.
- Use a wintertime formula in your windshield washer.
- Keep a winter emergency kit in your car in case you become stranded. Include
  - blankets;
  - food and water;
  - booster cables, flares, tire pump, and a bag of sand or cat litter (for traction);
  - compass and maps;
  - flashlight, battery-powered radio, and extra batteries;
  - first-aid kit; and
  - plastic bags (for sanitation).
- Learn safety rules to follow in case you become stranded in your car.
  - Stay with your car unless safety is no more than 100 yards away, but continue to move arms and legs.
  - Stay visible by putting bright cloth on the antenna, turning on the inside overhead light (when engine is running), and raising the hood when snow stops falling.
  - Run the engine and heater only 10 minutes every hour.
  - Keep a downwind window open.
  - Make sure the tailpipe is not blocked.

Above all, be prepared to check on family and neighbors who are especially at risk from cold weather hazards: young children, older adults, and the chronically ill. If you have pets, bring them inside. If you cannot bring them inside, provide adequate, warm shelter and unfrozen water to drink.

No one can stop the onset of winter. However, if you follow these suggestions, you will be ready for it when it comes.

13-Jan-12 3:00 PM

SAMHSA announces a working definition of “recovery” from mental disorders and substance use disorders

SAMHSA Press Office - noemail@statewidetraining.org — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 21:00:00 GMT

The new working definition of Recovery from Mental Disorders and Substance Use Disorders is as follows:

A process of change through which individuals improve their health and wellness, live a self-directed life, and strive to reach their full potential.

“Over the years it has become increasingly apparent that a practical, comprehensive working definition of recovery would enable policy makers, providers, and others to better design, deliver, and measure integrated and holistic services to those in need,” said SAMHSA Administrator Pamela S. Hyde. "By working with all elements of the behavioral health community and others to develop this definition, I believe SAMHSA has achieved a significant milestone in promoting greater public awareness and appreciation for the importance of recovery, and widespread support for the services that can make it a reality for millions of Americans.”

A major step in addressing this need occurred in August2010 when SAMHSA convened a meeting of behavioral health leaders, consisting of mental health consumers and individuals in addiction recovery. Together these members of the behavioral health care community developed a draft definition and principles of recovery to reflect common elements of the recovery experience for those with mental disorders and/or substance use disorders.

In the months that have followed, SAMHSA worked with the behavioral health care community and other interested parties in reviewing drafts of the working recovery definition and principles with stakeholders at meetings, conferences and other venues. In August 2011, SAMHSA posted the working definition and principles that resulted from this process on the SAMHSA blog and invited comments from the public via SAMHSA Feedback Forums. The blog post received 259 comments, and the forums had over 1000 participants, nearly 500 ideas, and over 1,200 comments on the ideas. Many of the comments received have been incorporated into the current working definition and principles.

Through the Recovery Support Strategic Initiative, SAMHSA has also delineated four major dimensions that support a life in recovery:

Health : overcoming or managing one’s disease(s) as well as living in a physically and emotionally healthy way;
Home: a stable and safe place to live;
Purpose: meaningful daily activities, such as a job, school, volunteerism, family caretaking, or creative endeavors, and the independence, income and resources to participate in society; and
Community : relationships and social networks that provide support, friendship, love, and hope.

Guiding Principles of Recovery

Recovery emerges from hope: The belief that recovery is real provides the essential and motivating message of a better future – that people can and do overcome the internal and external challenges, barriers, and obstacles that confront them.

Recovery is person-driven: Self-determination and self-direction are the foundations for recovery as individuals define their own life goals and design their unique path(s).

Recovery occurs via many pathways: Individuals are unique with distinct needs, strengths, preferences, goals, culture, and backgrounds ? including trauma experiences ? that affect and determine their pathway(s) to recovery. Abstinence is the safest approach for those with substance use disorders.

Recovery is holistic: Recovery encompasses an individual’s whole life, including mind, body, spirit, and community. The array of services and supports available should be integrated and coordinated.

Recovery is supported by peers and allies: Mutual support and mutual aid groups, including the sharing of experiential knowledge and skills, as well as social learning, play an invaluable role in recovery

Recovery is supported through relationship and social networks: An important factor in the recovery process is the presence and involvement of people who believe in the person’s ability to recover; who offer hope, support, and encouragement; and who also suggest strategies and resources for change.

Recovery is culturally-based and influenced : Culture and cultural background in all of its diverse representations ? including values, traditions, and beliefs ? are keys in determining a person’s journey and unique pathway to recovery.

Recovery is supported by addressing trauma : Services and supports should be trauma-informed to foster safety (physical and emotional) and trust, as well as promote choice, empowerment, and collaboration.

Recovery involves individual, family, and community strengths and responsibility: Individuals, families, and communities have strengths and resources that serve as a foundation for recovery.

Recovery is based on respect : Community, systems, and societal acceptance and appreciation for people affected by mental health and substance use problems – including protecting their rights and eliminating discrimination – are crucial in achieving recovery.

For further detailed information about the new working recovery definition or the guiding principles of recovery please visit: http://www.samhsa.gov/recovery/

13-Jan-12 3:00 PM

Depression More Common Among Women Than Men Living With HIV

Kellee Terrell - noemail@statewidetraining.org — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 21:00:00 GMT

By Kellee Terrell
From The Body

January 13, 2012

It's not a secret that people living with HIV/AIDS are more likely to suffer from depression than the general population -- they are twice as likely, in fact. But a new study, conducted by researchers who are part of the CRANIum Study, sheds even more light on the issue. Researchers found that women living with HIV are more likely to suffer from depression than HIV-positive men.

According to the National AIDS Treatment Advocacy Project (NATAP), researchers found the following when analyzing data from more than 2,800 people living with HIV/AIDS:

Roughly 18 percent of the women met the criteria for depression compared to slightly more than 14 percent of men.
The percentage of women who met the criteria for depression did not differ significantly between those who were taking antiretrovirals (17.2 percent) and those who were not (20.8 percent).
There was a significant difference in depression rates, antiretroviral use and gender: 10.6 percent of the men living with HIV who were not on AIDS meds met the criteria for depression versus 20.8 percent of the women living with HIV who were not on treatment.
A higher proportion of women than men screened positive for anxiety (35.3 percent versus 32 percent).
More women than men suffered from both depression and anxiety (13.9 percent versus 11.5 percent).
Four percent of women and 4.4 percent of men who had a negative screen for depression in this study had been prescribed an antidepressant.

Of the 2,863 participants, more than 38 percent were women and nearly 79 percent of them had some history of ARV therapy. Also, 86 percent of the male participants were white, compared to 67 percent of the women, and on average the men in the study had been living with HIV for a shorter period (90 months versus 112 months).

In light of their findings, NATAP wrote that the study's researchers recommend there be a "strategy of regular screening for, and clinical management of, anxiety and depression for all female HIV-infected patients.”

These findings were released this month at the 2nd International Workshop on HIV and Women, held Jan. 9 and 10 in Bethesda, Md.

Kellee Terrell is the news editor for TheBody.com and TheBodyPRO.com.

Follow Kellee on Twitter: @kelleent.

13-Jan-12 3:00 PM

Looking Forward to a Bright New Year in HIV/HCV Treatment

Barbara McGovern, M.D. - noemail@statewidetraining.org — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 21:00:00 GMT

By Barbara McGovern, M.D.
From The Body

January 10, 2012

As we discover a sense of renewal with the beginning of 2012, I find myself more hopeful than I have ever been regarding the outlook for patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, including patients coinfected with HIV.

Over the years, we have been aware that treatment responses have been lower in HIV/HCV coinfected patients compared to those with HCV alone. This has been particularly true of those who had an HCV genotype 1 infection, where response rates have ranged from 25 to 35 percent with pegylated interferon and ribavirin. It has also been discouraging to see patients experience significant side effects with these two medications over months of treatment, only to see their virus rebound after treatment is stopped. I have seen many brave patients continue on despite severe fatigue, nausea, loss of appetite, weight loss and other side effects because they so desperately wanted to be cured of their HCV infection.

Well, I believe it is time to ring a bell of joy because so much progress is being made in the field of HCV therapy. The results of two major trials in HCV-infected patients have led to the approval of two new drugs, telaprevir and boceprevir, in the U.S. and Europe. Both of these drugs are HCV "protease inhibitors." These trials demonstrated that "triple therapy" including pegylated interferon and ribavirin plus a HCV protease inhibitor were much more effective than dual therapy.

This will also be a landmark year because we will see the final results of two trials of triple therapy in HIV/HCV coinfected patients. Both trials are using pegylated interferon plus ribavirin plus a specific HCV protease inhibitor. In one trial the protease inhibitor is telaprevir and in the other it is boceprevir. Drug interactions are being studied carefully as well, because of concerns about interactions with HIV medications. So far, the results are looking good with the specific HIV medications that have been chosen for use in the trial.

And triple therapy is just the beginning. Multiple other drug classes for HCV are being developed including HCV polymerase inhibitors, NS5A inhibitors and other drug classes as well. There are even trials of combination therapy without pegylated interferon. Cure rates without interferon are very encouraging, although we must keep in mind that we are still a few years away from getting any of these drugs in the clinic. Larger trials will also need to demonstrate ongoing safety and efficacy in greater numbers of patients.

Most of these new drugs target different parts of the life cycle of the virus so they are specific for HCV. This is just like all the drug classes for HIV: We have nucleoside analog reverse transcriptase inhibitors, protease inhibitors and many other classes of drugs. When you combine them and target the virus in various stages of growth, you can stop the virus right in its tracks. This approach has led to high rates of viral suppression of HIV. A similar approach with HCV promises not only to suppress the virus, but to eradicate it completely.

So let's go for the cure in 2012. I will be discussing the 24-week results of each trial in future blogs. The preliminary results look very encouraging! Stay tuned!!

With best wishes for a happy new year and a healthy liver!

If you have questions about treating HIV/hepatitis C coinfection, Dr. McGovern is available to answer them!Visit our "Ask the Experts" forum on Hepatitis & HIV Coinfection to ask Dr. McGovern your question or browse her archive of answers.

Barbara McGovern is an associate professor of medicine at the Tufts University School of Medicine and an attending physician in the Division of Infectious Diseases at Lemuel Shattuck Hospital in Boston. She is a widely published researcher and frequent lecturer on issues pertaining to HIV and coinfections with hepatitis B and hepatitis C. More information about Dr. McGovern is available on her bio page.

13-Jan-12 3:00 PM

A New Year of Healthy Possibilities!

CDC's Office of Women's Health: Family Health - noemail@statewidetraining.org — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 21:00:00 GMT

Healthy You

Make healthy food choices. Grab a healthy snack such as fruit, nuts, or low-fat cheese.
Be active. Try simple things such as taking the stairs instead of the elevator. Be active for at least 2 ½ hours a week.
Protect yourself from injury or disease by wearing a helmet,sunscreen, or insect repellent when necessary.
Make an appointment for a check-up, vaccination, or screening. Know where to go for care if you do not have health insurance.
Wash your hands often with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
Be smoke-free. If you think you're ready to quit, call 1-800-QUIT-NOW for free counseling.
Get enough sleep. Remember that sleep is a necessity, not a luxury.
Learn health tips that take 5 minutes or less.

Learn more about Healthy Living.

Healthy Family

Learn how to be healthy before, during, and after pregnancy.
Reduce auto-related injuries by using seat belts, child safety seats, and booster seats that are appropriate for your child's age and weight.
Learn positive parenting tips to keep teens safe on the road.
Develop and enforce rules about acceptable and safe behaviors for all electronic media.
Lower the risk of foodborne illness as you prepare meals for your family.
Serve healthy meals and snacks.
Encourage and support physical activity.
Gather and share family health history.
Encourage family members to get check-ups and screenings. Make sure they know where to go for care if they do not have health insurance.
Get pets vaccinated and keep pets healthy.
Add the 5 Minutes or Less for Health widget to your website to get new health tips each week.

Learn more about Family Health, Kid’s Health, and visit the Parent Portal.

Healthy Home

Install smoke alarms on every floor, including the basement, and particularly near rooms in which people sleep.
Make your home safer to prevent falls among children and seniors.
Keep cleaning products and medications out of the reach of children.
Have an emergency plan and practice it often.
Store meds safely, put every vitamin up and away when you use it.

Learn more about Healthy Homes.

Healthy Community

Know the facts about childhood obesity.
Get your immunizations.
Choose healthier options to prepare for climate change.
Wash your hands often with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
Keep water safe for drinking, recreation, and emergencies.
Get tested and treated for sexually transmitted diseases.
Don't drink and drive or let others drink and drive.
Add a health widget to your website that offers health information to your users.

Learn more about Healthy Communities.

Healthy Workplace

Stay at home if you're sick.
Participate in or help develop healthy workplace programs and policies.
Implement a smoke-free policy at your workplace.
Take steps to prevent job stress.
Lower work injuries and illness among youth.

Learn more about Workplace Safety and Health.

13-Jan-12 3:00 PM

The Connection 16-Dec-11

Joseph Duarte - noemail@statewidetraining.org — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 16:15:14 GMT

One Column With Header

Hello [firstname],

Welcome to the Texas HIV Connection's newsletter of upcoming events, articles, jobs and more from our membership.

Calendar Events
Articles

Calendar Events for 16-Dec-11 to 1-Jan-12

Articles for 13-Dec-11 to 16-Dec-11

New, Simpler Way to Treat Latent TB Infection

Author: National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention, Division of Tuberculosis Eli