Riverton isn't the only community struggling with alcohol abuse. Peter O'Dowd spoke with reporters from Casper and Jackson who are covering the issue. © Copyright 2008, wpr

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Social Norming activity

Youth 4 Justice On Sunday, February 24, 2008, The Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services Division and the Wyoming First Lady’s Initiative put on a Youth for Justice Summit in Cheyenne. Approximately 100 students from around Wyoming traveled to Cheyenne to take part in the event. Speakers included MHSASD Deputy Director, Rodger McDaniel, Representative Colin Simpson (HD-24), Superintendent of Public Instruction Dr. McBride, and Representative Lori Millin (HD-8). The purpose of this summit is to bring Legislators and the youth of Wyoming together for a night of information, education, and a chance to be heard. Legislators took time to discuss current issues and listen to the voice of the youth.

First-Of-Its-Kind National Online Survey Uncovers Obstacles to Comprehensive Healthcare for People with Schizophrenia 
Click here for the entire article

Majority of Wyoming Voters Support a Statewide Smoking Ban.

Key survey findings

Detailed survey information

Information on the dangers of secondhand smoke

Information on the economic impact of smoke-free laws

 Join Wyoming in taking action against cough medicine Abuse. 

Understanding Relapse

If you want to be able to help loved ones who have addiction problems, you need to understand relapse and why it happens. What leads to relapse? Why is drug addiction a chronic, relapsing disease? Hear experts explain that relapse is not the failure of treatment but part of the disorder. Click here for more Information

 

 

 

New Data Show Significant Disruptions In U.S. Methamphetamine, Cocaine Markets

Director Walters credited State and local law enforcement officials, as

well as the Mexican government, with much of the progress.

You can read the full story at this URL:

 http://newsblaze.com/story/20071113055545tsop.nb/newsblaze/TOPSTORY/Top-

The abuse of cough syrup by Wyoming teenagers is a dangerous, but often overlooked problem, according to a Wyoming Department of Health official.

Listen to this December 2005 report from NPR about what some communities are doing to better serve juveniles in their court system:

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5069717

Quality substance abuse treatment programs include smoking cessation. Use of tobacco has been demonstrated to be a strong trigger for relapse and so tobacco cessation should be a part of any addiction treatment.

Recovering alcoholics who quit smoking perform better on mental tests than those who continue to smoke, according to a study by San Francisco researchers. For more information read this article from Join Together:

http://www.jointogether.org/news/research/summaries/2007/quitting-smoking-aids.html

Experts: Pills becoming the new marijuana on campus - CNN.com

http://www.cnn.com/2007/HEALTH/07/05/drug.use/index.html?eref=rss_topstories

"SUSAN DENTZER, NewsHour Health Correspondent: Behind the slaughter at Virginia Tech last April was the troubled history of the shooter, Seung-Hui Cho. As with one-in-five Americans, he had a mental disorder such as depression. And like one in 20, he may have had a serious mental illness, like schizophrenia.Of course, only a tiny minority of people with mental illness become violent. All the same, the tragic shootings reflect a major problem, says David Shern. He's president and CEO of the nonprofit group Mental Health America.z

DAVID SHERN, CEO, Mental Health America: We don't have a system of mental health in this country. It's a series of disjointed efforts that sometimes tragically fail. (MORE)

Nature as a Form of Therapy

Doctors wrote 190 million prescriptions for antidepressants in 2006. For some people, these medications are lifesavers, though many critics question whether some psychiatrists are handing out the most commonly prescribed antidepressants- selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI’s)-like candy to any patient going through a rough time. New research indicates there’s an alternative treatment for mild depression that is cheaper an just as effective: spending time engaged in vigorous activity in the outdoors. Researchers at Britain’s Essex University asked 20 people suffering from depression to take a 30-minute walk-some in a wooded park and others in an indoor shopping center. After the country walk, 71 percent said they felt less depressed, and 90 percent said it made them feel better about themselves. After the shopping-center walk, on the other hand, only 45 percent felt less depressed, and 22 percent said they felt more depressed. Another 44 percent said their self-esteem had fallen. In a second study on “ecotherapy,”108 people went cycling or walking, or took part in outdoor conservation projects. Afterward, 94 percent said such “green” exercise had improved their mental health.

The Week Magazine, June 15, 2007

Wyoming Expertise in Washington

 
   Rodger McDaniel testifying during the Senate hearing.

May 8, 2007 - Senator Mike Enzi called on Rodger McDaniel, Deputy Director of the Wyoming Department of Health Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services Division, to testify at the hearing of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee. Mr. McDaniel testified on how to improve care for those suffering from mental health problems and substance addiction.

“We are beginning to see signs of success of the combined state, federal and local community efforts. First time meth use among Wyoming high school students has declined,” said McDaniel.

McDaniel offered the committee three recommendations to help Wyoming and the nation for increased prevention and treatment of substance abuse and addiction.

             
“The first involves strategies to replace the myths with the science in order to promote more effective prevention and treatment and more relevant public policy. The second is that Congress give states and local communities the flexibility they need to make the best use of their resources and community leadership to address their own unique substance abuse problem. Finally, I recommend that we stay the course on accountability, recognizing the progress that has been made working together on a continual quest to improve client outcomes,” said McDaniel.

To see a video of Rodger McDaniel's testimony, click here.