Violent Offenders Increase in Army, New Behavioral Report Says WASHINGTON— Violent felony offenders in the Army increased by 24% from FY2006‐11, according to a new behavioral health report. That report, Army 2020 Generating the Health and Discipline of the Force, also noted that non‐violent felony and misdemeanor offenders have decreased since FY2008. The Army called the report a “valuable roadmap for leaders, commanders and service providers,” because it identifies and addresses gaps in policy, programs and procedures relating to soldier health and discipline. More
More Veterans Serving on Ships Qualify For Agent Orange Presumption WASHINGTON—VA has announced that it has updated the list of U.S. Navy and Coast Guard ships that operated in Vietnam, adding 47 more vessels to the list and expanding information for others. That list can be used by veterans to potentially qualify for benefits for Agent Orange-related illnesses. Agent Orange presumption has been a contentious matter of debate for many years for veterans who served on ships that operated in the rivers of Vietnam or near the coastline. More
DOD Tackles Sexual Assault with New Measures WASHINGTON—The number of sexual assaults in the military is “unacceptable,” DoD Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta said in announcing new efforts to tackle these crimes in the military. Panetta said that there were 3,191 reports of sexual assault last year, but that, because it is an underreported crime, the estimate is closer to 19,000 cases of sexual assault. One new program is a DoD sexual assault advocate certification program for care providers.More
Specialty Update: Addiction/Smoking Cessation
Smoking Cessation Efforts Battling Entrenched Tobacco Culture in Military “Smoke ’em if you got ’em.” For generations of military personnel, that phrase originating in World War II was the signal to take a break or at least to cool their heels while waiting. So ingrained was tobacco use in military culture, it was reasonable to assume that cigarettes would be an integral part of relaxing or, ironically, taking a breather. So, persuading military personnel to give up smoking and creating a smoke-free military is a considerable challenge.More
New Drugs Revolutionize Opioid Addiction Treatment at VA The problem of prescription opioid addiction is nothing new for U.S. military forces. It stretches back to the mid-800s, when many wounded Civil War veterans became hooked on narcotics used to control their pain. Addiction therapy didn’t improve much for the next 100 years. Finally, in the last few decades, highly effective medications have become available and VA now has the tools to help veterans control addiction and return to functional lives.More
Specialty Update: Men's Health
Low Risk Prostate Cancer Often Is Over Treated BETHESDA, MD — Many men are receiving curative therapy for prostate cancer who would be better served by more passive, observational treatment, according to a panel of experts convened by the NIH. After examining the available research — much of which came from an unpublished study of VA patients — the panel suggested that the paradigm for prostate cancer needs to change, especially for patients whose cancers are shown to be low or intermediate risk. More http://www.usmedicine.com/articles/low-risk-prostate-cancer-often-is-over-treated.html
Imaging Guidelines Not Followed in Prostate Cancer NEW YORK--Clinicians are not adhering to imaging guidelines for men with incident prostate cancer, a recent study concluded. VA researchers found that, of 18,491 men at low risk for prostate cancer, 45% received inappropriate imaging, while only 66% of 10,562 men at high risk received appropriate imaging.More
Specialty Update: Cardiology
Heart Study Looks At Generations of African-Americans JACKSON, MS--NIH researchers are enrolling multiple generations of patients in a landmark study designed to identify the early warning signs of heart disease among African-Americans. The new feasibility study will enroll children and grandchildren of African-American adults participating in the ongoing Jackson Heart Study in Jackson, MS. The 200 children, ages 12 to 19, who will eventually be enrolled in the study, will be carefully monitored as they grow into adulthood. More
Brenda L. Mooney Editorial Director, U.S. Medicine mooney@usmedicine.com 39 York Street Lambertville, NJ 08530
