June 2005

ACPM to host web-based conference on adolescent binge drinking

Washington, D.C. – The American College of Preventive Medicine (ACPM) will host a web-based conference to discuss the significant and growing public health problem of adolescent binge drinking. Adolescents and Binge Drinking: A Clinical Approach, developed under a cooperative agreement with the Health Resources and Services Administration's Maternal and Child Health Bureau, will be held June 14, 2005, from 3:00 – 4:00 p.m. ET at Medscape from WebMD.

Two of the nation's leading experts on substance abuse, Dr. Robin B. McFee of Emergistics US, Inc., and Dr. Michael M. Miller of the NewStart Alcohol/Drug Treatment Program at Meriter Hospital, will deliver presentations and answer audience questions. Dr. George Lundberg, Editor-in-Chief of Medscape General Medicine, will moderate this session. The free conference will provide critical information for practicing physicians, public health officials, and other front-line health providers who provide primary care and addiction treatment services to adolescents.

The conference will feature an overview of the epidemiology of binge drinking, including identifying use patterns and trends, and the risks associated with this type of substance use. The speakers will explain the biological substrates that make adolescents uniquely susceptible to alcohol and how underage binge drinking can occur independent of alcohol addiction. Participants of this conference will learn how to ask adolescents about their alcohol use behavior and know what to ask, how to build trust with their adolescent patients, and the health consequences of adolescent binge drinking.

According to ACPM President, Neal Kohatsu, MD, MPH, FACPM, "Binge drinking is a dangerous pastime for many of our nation's youth. It is a harmful behavior that, in too many instances, leads to tragedy. Clinicians should be able to recognize and provide appropriate treatment for the adolescent who may be engaging in this risky behavior."

Information on how to participate in the June 14th web-based conference will be available starting June 3rd. Go to www.medscape.com, register and log in as a free Medscape user, and search the continuing medical education (CME) Public Health and Prevention section.

The American College of Preventive Medicine is the national professional society for physicians whose expertise and interest lie in disease prevention and health promotion (www.acpm.org). ACPM's more than 2,000 members are engaged in preventive medicine practice, teaching and research. Medscape from WebMD is the leading provider of online information and educational services for physicians and health care professionals (www.medscape.com).

The American College of Preventive Medicine (ACPM) is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians. ACPM designates this educational activity for a maximum of 1.5 category 1 credits towards the AMA Physician's Recognition Award. Each physician should claim only those credits that he/she actually spent in the activity.