ASAP is committed to strengthening the chemical dependency prevention and treatment field through education and the implementation of best management and operating practices.  We offer a number of opportunities for ASAP members, and non-members, to particpate in programs which expose the field to new approaches to organizational operation. ASAP continues to promote workforce and leadership development to ensure quality services and growth in the field.

Substance Abuse News by Join Together Alcohol News Anheuser-Busch Wants to Give Away More Valuable Gifts Tue, 24 Jun 2008 14:13:26 EDT Anheuser-Busch is backing legislation in California that would allow beer companies to give away gifts valued up to $5 each, rather than the .25-cent cap now imposed in the state. Youths Exposed to More Alcohol Ads in 2007 Tue, 24 Jun 2008 14:10:26 EDT Youths ages 12-20 were exposed to an average of 301 TV ads for alcoholic beverages last year, up from 216 in 2001. Delaware Considers Raising Alcohol Tax Tue, 24 Jun 2008 14:04:37 EDT Facing a $217-million budget shortfall, Delaware lawmakers are considering an increase in the state's alcohol tax among a series of proposed remedies for the state's fiscal crisis. Audioconference Series Exploring Recovery-Based Care for Addiction Mon, 23 Jun 2008 16:27:42 EDT State legislators and legislative staff may register now for a free series of web-assisted audioconferences discussing recovery-based care for addiction. Researchers Call for New Classification of Alcohol Misuse Fri, 20 Jun 2008 11:00:00 EDT "Alcohol abuse" and "alcohol dependence" should be joined by "hazardous drinking" in diagnostic criteria, some researchers say. Students Falsely Told Classmates Died as Part of Prevention Stunt Fri, 20 Jun 2008 10:28:09 EDT Students at an Oceanside, Calif. , high school were falsely informed by California Highway Patrol officers that some of their classmates were killed in drunk-driving crashes as part of a prevention program. Busch Board to Meet InBev Officials to Discuss Buyout Thu, 19 Jun 2008 12:06:03 EDT The board of Anheuser-Busch will not flatly reject a buyout bid from Belgian brewing conglomerate InBev and has decided to meet with InBev officials to discuss the proposal. Missouri's Congressional Delegation Opposes Busch Buyout Thu, 19 Jun 2008 12:03:32 EDT Both of Missouri's Senators and at least one House member from the state have announced their opposition to a proposed buyout of Anheuser-Busch by international brewing conglomerate InBev NV . Resveratrol Fights Obesity, Researchers Say Thu, 19 Jun 2008 11:40:00 EDT The antioxidant resveratrol, found in red wine, appears to prevent pre-fat cells called preadipocytes from proliferating and turning into fat cells, German researchers say. NIAAA Publishes Guidelines on Physician Alcohol Interventions Wed, 18 Jun 2008 16:02:00 EDT The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) has published new advice for physicians interested in "Helping Patients Who Drink Too Much." Tobacco News   Mass. Smoking Prevention Campaign Followed by Drop in Smoking, Heart Disease Mon, 23 Jun 2008 16:10:33 EDT Smoking prevalence and coronary heart-disease mortality both declined during the decade following the implementation of the Massachusetts Tobacco Control Program. AMA Says Health Clinics, Tobacco Sales Don't Mix Fri, 20 Jun 2008 10:44:32 EDT Retailers shouldn't be placing health clinics inside their stores if they continue to sell tobacco products, the American Medical Association (AMA) says.  Pa. Smoking Ban Signed into Law Tue, 17 Jun 2008 12:07:59 EDT Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell has signed a statewide ban on indoor smoking into law.  Smoking Reduces Blood Flow, Threatens Hearing Tue, 17 Jun 2008 12:05:25 EDT Smoking and obesity, along with exposure to loud noise in the workplace, can lead to permanent hearing damage, the former by reducing blood flow to the ear, researchers say.  Cigars in 'Incredible Hulk' Enrage Advocates Tue, 17 Jun 2008 11:45:10 EDT The new Marvel Studios film "The Incredible Hulk" includes "gratuitous depictions of smoking" despite its PG-13 rating, according to the AMA Alliance, an advocacy group affiliated with the American Medical Association.  Quitline Calls Spike After NY Cigarette Tax Increase Tue, 17 Jun 2008 11:42:24 EDT Calls to New York's Smoker's Quitline quadrupled in the first week after a new $2.75-per-pack cigarette tax went into effect, according to state health commissioner Richard Daines.  Lung Cancer: Female Smokers as Susceptible as Men Mon, 16 Jun 2008 12:25:59 EDT Male and female smokers get lung cancer at about the same rate, but female nonsmokers appear to be more susceptible to one type of the disease than their male counterparts.  Fewer U.K. Heart Attacks Since Indoor Smoking Banned Mon, 16 Jun 2008 12:22:58 EDT Six out of 10 National Health Service trusts in the report treating fewer patients for heart attacks since a national ban on indoor smoking went into effect last July, and heart attacks are down 3 percent in the same time period nationally.  Drop in U.S. Smoking Countered by Rise in Other Tobacco Use Thu, 12 Jun 2008 17:06:15 EDT Cigarette sales in the U.S. fell 18 percent between 2000 and 2007, but sales of non-cigarette tobacco products increased during the same period, offsetting about 30 percent of the decline in cigarette purchases.  Middle-Aged Smokers Fare Poorly on Memory, Reasoning Tests Tue, 10 Jun 2008 17:11:44 EDT Smokers seem to suffer a mental decline in middle age, performing more poorly on tests of memory, reasoning, vocabulary and verbal fluency than nonsmokers.  ___________________________________________________________________________________________ Mental Health Screening Form  English & Spanish Versions J.F.X. Carroll, Ph.D. & John J. McGinley, M.S., M.S.W., M.A. - Project Return Foundation, Inc.   The Mental Health Screening Form-III (MHSF-III) is a two page tool, with guidelines, designed as a rough screening device for clients seeking admission to substance abuse treatment programs. Preliminary examination of the instrument has shown it to be reliable and valid. The MHSF-III continues to undergo testing and validation and may be reproduced or copied, in entirety, without permission. Citation of the source is appreciated.  For more information contact Dr. Carroll at Project Return. Mental Health Screen Form - III Click here to see and print the form Spanish Version Instructions       Form You will need Adobe Acrobat to view and print the report.  Click here if you do not have Adobe Acrobat Trauma Resource Page A Community That Cares Our prayers and love go out for those in our field who have lost family and friends. Our prayers of thanksgiving go out for all those who are safe and well at home.   If anyone is aware of specific needs of programs (staff or clients) affected by the terrorism which has occurred, please call, fax, or e-mail a brief description of need to ASAP. 1-800-522-5353 Information and referrals for resources (Housing, food, etc.). Operated by The Educational Alliance dedicated by the NYS Office of Alcoholism & Substance Abuse Services. Assistance for Medicare and Medicaid Recipients: If you live in lower Manhattan, and are having trouble getting your health care and social service needs met, you can now call a 24-hour rapid response hotline 1-800-331-7767 Center for Disease Control (CDC) emergency phone numbers: English - (888) 246-2675 Espa�ol - (888) 246-2857 Common Responses to Trauma -- and Coping Strategies (website)   Coping with Tragedy: Tips for Listening and Talking with Children (adobe acrobat file) Critical Incident Stress Information Sheet Response (adobe acrobat file) The Disaster Assistance Process for Individuals Call to Apply for Assistance 1-800-462-9029. For use ONLY by people in designated federal disaster areas. Be prepared to give your Social Security number, describe your losses, provide financial information, and give directions to the damaged property. Disaster Assistance Resource Listings for New York City Non-Profit Organizations EMDR International Association - "The primary objective of EMDRIA is to establish, maintain and promote the highest standards of excellence and integrity in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) practice, research and education..."     Helping a Child Manage Fears After a Traumatic Event (adobe acrobat file) New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services Help for the caregiver and the people you care for. New York State World Trade Center Relief Fund (website) The Trauma Response (adobe acrobat file)