College students,sexual activity,and binge drinking

College is a time when some young people start to drink, or drink more and have sex more. The peak age range for binge drinking is 18–25. But in college, sexual activity is also starting for many.     

The best and worst of 2018, and hopes and fears for 2019

With public understanding growing every day about the need to address substance use disorders (SUDs) with the full array of health responses our nation deploys for other major illnesses, we hope to see great progress in the coming year. Progress should include dramatic expansion of all quality prevention, treatment services and medications, and recovery supports, with financial investment increased sufficiently to meet the need; full coverage of all SUD treatment services and medications by every state's Medicaid program and by Medicare; much stronger enforcement of federal and state requirements for parity in commercial insurance and Medicaid, including prohibitions on prior authorization, fail‐first, overly burdensome utilization review and inadequate reimbursement for care; availability of all effective and quality SUD treatment and medications at every level of the criminal justice system and throughout the child welfare system; and elimination of discriminatory barriers facing people still suffering or in recovery from SUD, including those with criminal histories, as they seek employment, housing, government benefits, the right to vote and other necessities of life.     

Study finds MAT combined with 12‐Step residential treatment is effective

To those who might assume a federal lawsuit seeking class status for treatment providers wronged by insurance company actions would be receiving immediate and universal acclaim in the provider community, a little caution may be in order. While the latest lawsuit against United Behavioral Health (UBH) certainly will be interpreted by some addiction treatment providers as an opportunity to recover payments that were inappropriately denied (see ADAW, Sept. 23), the case also could launch a broader discussion of how best to guarantee that insured patients receive the care to which they are entitled.     

FDA: Avoid THC‐containing vaping products

Last week, as respiratory illnesses linked to vaping spread, some resulting in deaths, the Food and Drug Administration on Sept. 6 issued an alert focusing on tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)‐containing products (see story, page 1).