Story Archives of 'drug abuse'

Drug and alcohol addiction can be devastating no matter who you are. But when you’re a doctor, you’re responsible for many lives, not just your own. Statistics show that healthcare workers become addicted and depressed at the same rates as the general population, but the risks can be far higher.

Public radio station KUOW in Seattle recently took a closer look at the issue of addiction and depression among physicians. Reporter Patricia Murphy produced a three-part series on the topic called Troubled Doctors. Today on Word of Mouth, we hear part of that series.

(Photo by Michael Fajardo)

A new bill proposes to reduce penalties for possessing a small amount of marijuana in the state. Supporters call it more just punishment for an infraction many already commit, but opponents warn it would send the wrong message about drug use. The bill has passed the House but faces a tough time in the Senate and a veto threat from the Governor. We’ll look at current marijuana law, the new proposals and New Hampshire's attitudes around this drug.

Guests

• Matt Simon, Executive Director for the New Hampshire Coalition for Common Sense Marijuana Policy
• Richard Crate, Police Chief for the town of Enfield and Executive Board Member for the Police Chiefs Association of New Hampshire

We'll also hear from

• Jeff Fontas, Democratic Representative from Nashua and primary sponsor of HB 1623
• Lou D’Allesandro, Democratic State Senator from Manchester
• Richard Van Wickler, Superintendent of Cheshire County Law Enforcement and member of the Law Enforcement Against Prohibition

While illegal drug use among teens seems to be dropping, perfectly legal medicines like Oxycontin, Ritalin and Methadone are increasingly being misused, sometimes with serious consequences. We’ll look at the trends and how the health care system might change in response.

Guests

• Jacqui Abikoff, Executive Director of the Horizons Counseling Center
• Dr. Thomas Andrew, Chief Medical Examiner for the New Hampshire Department of Justice
• Ira Byock, Professor of Anesthesiology and Community and Family Medicine, Chair of Palliative Medicine at Dartmouth Medical School, Director of Palliative Medicine at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center and a Member of the Steering Committee for the NH Pain Initiative

The latest on an old habit... A major conference in the Granite State this week looks at the research & trends on today’s teens and the drugs they use. We’ll learn more about these findings and how they differ in many ways from a generation ago. Jon's guests are Maria Gagnon, Assistant Director of the Adolescent Treatment Initiative at New Futures, the past Director of the Reclaiming Futures project and a clinical social worker who spent four years working at New Hampshire’s Division for Children, Youth and Families; and Eileen Fiori, Program Supervisor of Child and Family Services’ Adolescent Substance Abuse Treatment program, licensed social worker and licensed alcohol and drug counselor. We'll also hear from Michael Nerney, Expert on adolescent brain development and a Consultant in substance abuse prevention and education. He is the featured speaker at an upcoming Child and Family Services seminar on adolescent substance abuse & risk behavior.

While this drug is best known for treating heroin addiction, a new report says Methadone is the leading cause of drug-related deaths in New Hampshire. The information has state officials taking another look at Methadone...how it’s used and abused and what the response should be. Laura's guests are Joe Harding, NH State Methadone Authority and Director of the NH Office of Alcohol and Drug Policy and Dr. Alan Dayno, Medical Director of Merrimack River Medical Services, an out-patient opioid treatment center. We'll also hear from Ed, someone who is going through a methadone treatment program right now for addiction to pain-killers.