Health Tips ... from UPI

COLLEGE STUDENT DRINKING HARD TO CURB

A new study shows anti-alcohol marketing techniques did not reduce student drinking at colleges and in some cases, the number of students who drank increased. The research, done by the Harvard School of Public Health, will be published in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and examines the newly popular social norms marketing approach. This type of marketing promotes healthy norms, and in the case of alcohol consumption, assumes most students think their classmates drink more than they do. The marketing compensates for this by sending a message to students that says how much students really drink at a given school. The authors said further research is needed on social norms alcohol programs, which have been adopted widely despite a lack of evidence showing their effectiveness. "We urge college administrators and health educators to base their prevention programs on scientific evidence instead of the perception of promise," said Henry Wechsler, director of the College Alcohol Studies at the Harvard School of Public Health.

COMMISSION FINDS MENTAL HEALTH SYSTEM POOR

A presidential commission on mental health has reported that treatment and support programs for the mentally ill are in disarray. The commission said in a report that agencies are providing only fragmentary help to patients, and many slip through the cracks. The National Alliance for the Mentally Ill, an advocacy group, also issued a report that found 71 percent of its members with serious mental illnesses earned $20,000 or less a year. Two-thirds of those surveyed were unemployed, and about 44 percent said they had been arrested or detained by police. Charles Curie, a member of the presidential commission, told a NAMI audience, "The system fails if people don't achieve a life" -- that is, a safe place to live, a job, and meaningful relationships. He said the commission's priorities are to use research to improve service programs; to support newer, more cost-effective treatment; and to eliminate the use of the criminal justice system as a substitute for mental health services.

WOMEN'S SEX BEHAVIOR SIMILAR TO MEN'S

New research suggests that women behave sexually more like men than previously thought. The misconception could be due to dishonesty in reporting. Men typically report engaging in sex at an earlier age, more often and with more partners in surveys. However, in an Ohio State University study, when women thought they were connected to a lie detector machine, their answers were closer to the men's. "Women are sensitive to social expectations for their sexual behavior and may be less than totally honest when asked about their behavior in some survey conditions," said Terri Fisher, associate professor of psychology at Ohio State University. More than 200 unmarried, heterosexual college students participated in the study. Women who answered a questionnaire without privacy reported an average of 2.6 sexual partners. The average went up to 4.4 for those who thought they were monitored by a lie detector, and those who had privacy reported 3.6. Men's answers did not vary as widely.

DEBATE CONTINUES OVER ARTHRITIS TREATMENT

Researchers said large studies are needed to see how effective hand surgeries are in treating rheumatoid arthritis, but entrenched attitudes slow progress. "Since this is a debilitating, chronic condition that affects so many, it's very concerning that we don't have a consensus or communication among providers," said Dr. Amy Alderman, a resident in Plastic and Reconstructive surgery at the University of Michigan. Alderman led a team of researchers in surveying nearly 1,000 doctors. The survey found dramatic differences of opinion and practice regarding arthritis treatment. Part of the problem is that the two groups that tended to differ the most -- the surgeons and the rheumatologists -- do not communicate enough. Medications have long been used to reduce the inflammation of rheumatoid arthritis, and hand surgery has been seen as an option. But, the researchers said, "We don't know yet what will work best for individual patients."

(Editors: For more information on COLLEGE, Amanda Franks at 301-652-1558. For COMMISSION, Bob Carolla at 513-784-6033. For SEX, Terri Fisher at 419-755-4280 or Fisher.16@osu.edu. For ARTHRITIS, Kara Gavin at 734-764-2220 or kegavin@umich.edu)