NEWS

Unknown risks of psychosis and addiction with delta-8-THC: A call for research, regulation, and clinical caution

Delta-8-THC is a largely unregulated psychoactive isomer of traditional delta-9-THC. Until more information is available, clinicians should especially advise adolescents and patients with psychotic disorders or a clinical high-risk state for psychosis to abstain from delta-8-THC in addition to delta-9-THC.

TikTok's Troubling Portrayal of Vaping

Watch videos on TikTok and you're likely to see plenty of positive portrayals of vaping, a new study shows.

Stanford-Lancet Commission on the North American Opioid Crisis

The Stanford-Lancet Commission on the North American Opioid Crisis was formed in response to the soaring opioid-related morbidity and mortality that the United States and Canada have experienced over the past 25 years. The Commission is supported by Stanford University and brings together diverse Stanford scholars with other leading experts around the USA and Canada with the goal of understanding the opioid crisis and proposing solutions to it domestically while attempting to stop its spread internationally.

Supporting our Educators: Sharing Struggles and Solutions

Dr. Stuart Ablon, iDECIDE Advisory Board member and Director of Think:Kids, a program at Massachusetts General Hospital's Department of Psychiatry, convened educators and administrators to discuss the growing concern around and potential solutions to children's post-pandemic challenging behaviors and lagging skills in school.

Advocates fear suspensions could add to pandemic pain for vulnerable students

Administrators say they’re navigating difficult choices about school safety and student discipline in a year when children are reeling and acting out.

Our Children are Suffering, We Must Help Them

In the past few months, my patients and I were just starting to interact again in person. This laid bare the damage caused by Covid, as their emotional pain seemed all the more poignant in three dimensions as opposed to on Zoom. This reality was recently highlighted in a surgeon general’s advisory about pediatric mental health and emergency declarations by the two major medical organizations that oversee the care of children.

Suspended students more likely to get caught up in juvenile justice system, and vice versa

Researchers found that for every suspension a student faces, they are 7% more likely to have contact with the juvenile justice system. Once those students return to school, they are 20% more likely to be suspended.

State AGs open investigation into Instagram's effect on teens

Officials want to know if Instagram is hurting its youngest users.

FCC Approves Texting to 988 to Contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-800-273-8255) text message line, 988 three-digit dialing code, will take effect by July 16, 2022.

If you're struggling and need someone to listen, please, call 1-800-273-8255 (TALK).

Advisory: Prescription Stimulant Misuse Among Youth and Young Adults

This Advisory reviews the evidence on prescription stimulant misuse among youth and young adults. It establishes prescription stimulant misuse as a public health problem, identifies associated risk and protective factors, and provides programs and action steps for stakeholders to prevent misuse.

SBIRT in Schools | Massachusetts Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment (MASBIRT)

See the iDECIDE Overview featured on the MA SBIRT website!

As school activity shut down amid COVID, 911 drug calls for youth skyrocketed

As teenagers lost structure amid online schooling and the cancellation of activities, the number of 911 calls involving the young and drugs rose dramatically, records show.

Drug overdose deaths hit highest number ever recorded, CDC data shows

Drug overdose deaths rose by close to 30% in the United States in 2020, hitting the highest number ever recorded, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported Wednesday.