Highlights

BEHAVIORAL HEALTH

Preventing Psychosis

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation is expanding a groundbreaking program that helps prevent young people from developing psychotic illnesses, such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. First tested in Portland, Maine, the program educates teachers, social workers, police officers and others to recognize the early signs of psychotic illness in young people ages 12 to 25. Those who are found to be at high risk receive evidence-based support and medication. Those at much lower risk get monitoring, support and referrals as needed. In Portland, 86 percent of young people found to be at risk for psychosis had not experienced a full-blown psychotic episode a year later. Normally, 50 to 60 percent of those youngsters would have experienced psychosis within that time period. The RWJF is awarding a total of $12.4 million in four-year grants to Sacramento, California; Ypsilanti, Michigan; and Salem, Oregon. About 2 to 3 percent of youth and young adults develop schizophrenia or a severe psychotic mood disorder. The program is timely: spending on medications for mental health disorders increased by 150 percent between 1997 and 2004, according to a new report from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

Bringing Order to Disarray

A variety of drug and alcohol treatment services exist in New Hampshire, but those organizations rarely communicate with each other, according to a new report ( from a task force of state agencies. Alcohol and/or drugs have been found to be a factor in at least half of all sexual assault cases; it is estimated that 80 to 85 percent of all prisoners have alcohol or other drug problems; and alcohol was involved in 36 percent of New Hampshire’s fatal automobile accidents. One task force recommendation is that the state work with research institutions to incorporate best practices into programs to prevent and treat substance use disorders. It is unknown how much the recommended changes will cost, although the House of Representatives’ budget for next year would increase funds for alcohol treatment by $3 million. “I have been working on the problems associated with substance use for over 30 years and this is the first time that the state as a whole, not just a single department, will have a guiding document in tackling substance use problems,” said Joe Diament, chairman of the Governor's Commission on Drug Abuse Prevention, Intervention and Treatment.

PUBLIC HEALTH

HIV Reporting

The federal government is using a financial carrot to persuade all states to record HIV cases using names rather than alphanumeric codes. Beginning this fiscal year, the funding formula used by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to calculate Ryan White Program grants will include HIV data only from states that use names-based systems. Thus, the three states that still use alphanumeric codes—Hawaii, Maryland ,and Vermont—will lose out on funding if they don’t switch to names. Syphilis, tuberculosis and AIDS cases are all already tracked by names. Many HIV/AIDS advocates remain concerned that names-based systems discourage some people from seeking HIV tests or treatment, and that security breaches could lead to the names of HIV-positive people being released, according to the AP/Journal Register. But proponents of named reporting say it is the only effective means of tracking HIV and AIDS. In addition, such reporting assists officials with partner notification, an important part of AIDS prevention. In an effort to protect patient privacy, Illinois in 2006 began requiring staff members who have access to the database to take an oath of confidentiality and undergo special training. A Vermont bill (SB 192) would prohibit the storage or processing of any information that could identify HIV-positive people on network computers or laptops. The bill also allows civil lawsuits for malicious disclosures of such information.

MEDICAL MARIJUANA

California, New Mexico Act

The California Board of Equalization is now requiring sellers of medical marijuana to pay taxes on sales of their product. Notices sent out by the Board in February said, “If you sell medical marijuana, your sales in California are generally subject to tax and you are required to hold a seller's permit.” The Board decided that sales taxes could be levied since marijuana is not approved by the Food and Drug Administration as a medicine. Some medical marijuana advocates fear the decision will open the door to more federal prosecutions, while others believe it will give sellers more legitimacy. Medical marijuana has been available in California since voters passed Proposition 215 in 1996, and an estimated 150 to 200 sellers operate in the state. Meanwhile, New Mexico has become the fourth state to legislatively legalize marijuana for medicinal purposes. Gov. Bill Richardson signed into law SB 523; the act charges the Department of Health with developing a system to distribute medical marijuana to authorized patients. The state will be solely responsible for growing and distributing all medical marijuana. The bill was passed after an amendment was added stating that the product could not be distributed within 300 feet of a church, school or day-care center.