Frances Correa

WASHINGTON – An investigation undertaken by members of the House Ways and Means Committee accuses AARP of abusing its tax-exempt, nonprofit status, according to the congressmen who issued the report March 30.

Rep. Wally Herger (R-Calif.) and Rep. Dave Reichert (R-Wash.) along with Rep. Charles Boustany (R-La.) said they were referring to their findings and their report (pdf) to the Internal Revenue Service.

"We believe that the information that’s been brought forward in this report is very troubling and calls into question that tax-exempt status," said Rep. Boustany, chairman of the Ways and Means Committee’s Subcommittee on Oversight. "The bottom line now is we’re going to turn this over to the IRS and let them make that determination."

AARP maintains 501(c)(4) nonprofit status by virtue of its advocacy on behalf of senior citizens, but it also collects revenues through royalty agreements with a number organizations, including a company that is one of the largest insurers in the supplemental Medicare – or Medigap – insurance market.

In response to allegations, AARP leaders said the organization’s profits don’t differ from any other nonprofit organization. "We report to the IRS yearly and work closely with them and have had no negative response," said AARP president Lee Hammond.

The members of Congress did not say what prompted the investigation.

Rep. Reichert, who spent several decades in law enforcement before joining the House, said that politics played no role. "When I see something I think smells, I’m going to investigate," he said, adding, "This has nothing to do with trying to politicize the heath care bill." Rep. Herger, chairman of the Ways and Means Committee’s Subcommittee on Health, authored the report along with Rep. Reichert.

The congressmen did say their investigation found that AARP, which was a significant supporter of the Affordable Care Act, stood to gain financially from the law. They said that if the private Medicare Advantage program is reduced, millions of seniors might have to buy supplemental Medicare policies – policies that are sold by AARP’s partners.

"Seniors deserve to know where their dues are going and deserve to know what AARP is all about," said Rep. Boustany.

As a tax-exempt organization, AARP is required to promote social welfare. But, according to the congressional report, AARP’s royalty-related business is overshadowing the organization’s social welfare activities. Royalties from for-profit endeavors accounted for 46% of AARP’s revenue in 2009, while dues made up 17% of revenues. Those royalty payments have been rising at a faster rate than are dues, according to the report. AARP reported revenues of more than $1.4 billion in 2009.

AARP said royalties have allowed them to keep dues affordable and have funded social welfare programs including a campaign to end hunger, a tax-aid program, and its numerous publications. The organization posted documents outlining its finances in response to the congressional report.

The congressional report outlined what it called a pattern of excessive spending, such as a commitment by AARP to spend $14 million over the next 3 years to sponsor NASCAR driver Jeff Gordon. The report also called into question AARP’s executive compensation. For example, in 2009 then–AARP CEO William Novelli received a compensation package of $1,647,419 and a severance of $350,657.

The Oversight and Health subcommittees of the House Ways and Means Committee have called a joint hearing to examine the report in depth on April 1.

Alicia Ault, senior writer, also contributed to this report.

WASHINGTON – An investigation undertaken by members of the House Ways and Means Committee accuses AARP of abusing its tax-exempt, nonprofit status, according to the congressmen who issued the report March 30.

Rep. Wally Herger (R-Calif.) and Rep. Dave Reichert (R-Wash.) along with Rep. Charles Boustany (R-La.) said they were referring to their findings and their report (pdf) to the Internal Revenue Service.

"We believe that the information that’s been brought forward in this report is very troubling and calls into question that tax-exempt status," said Rep. Boustany, chairman of the Ways and Means Committee’s Subcommittee on Oversight. "The bottom line now is we’re going to turn this over to the IRS and let them make that determination."

AARP maintains 501(c)(4) nonprofit status by virtue of its advocacy on behalf of senior citizens, but it also collects revenues through royalty agreements with a number organizations, including a company that is one of the largest insurers in the supplemental Medicare – or Medigap – insurance market.

In response to allegations, AARP leaders said the organization’s profits don’t differ from any other nonprofit organization. "We report to the IRS yearly and work closely with them and have had no negative response," said AARP president Lee Hammond.

The members of Congress did not say what prompted the investigation.

Rep. Reichert, who spent several decades in law enforcement before joining the House, said that politics played no role. "When I see something I think smells, I’m going to investigate," he said, adding, "This has nothing to do with trying to politicize the heath care bill." Rep. Herger, chairman of the Ways and Means Committee’s Subcommittee on Health, authored the report along with Rep. Reichert.

The congressmen did say their investigation found that AARP, which was a significant supporter of the Affordable Care Act, stood to gain financially from the law. They said that if the private Medicare Advantage program is reduced, millions of seniors might have to buy supplemental Medicare policies – policies that are sold by AARP’s partners.

"Seniors deserve to know where their dues are going and deserve to know what AARP is all about," said Rep. Boustany.

As a tax-exempt organization, AARP is required to promote social welfare. But, according to the congressional report, AARP’s royalty-related business is overshadowing the organization’s social welfare activities. Royalties from for-profit endeavors accounted for 46% of AARP’s revenue in 2009, while dues made up 17% of revenues. Those royalty payments have been rising at a faster rate than are dues, according to the report. AARP reported revenues of more than $1.4 billion in 2009.

AARP said royalties have allowed them to keep dues affordable and have funded social welfare programs including a campaign to end hunger, a tax-aid program, and its numerous publications. The organization posted documents outlining its finances in response to the congressional report.

The congressional report outlined what it called a pattern of excessive spending, such as a commitment by AARP to spend $14 million over the next 3 years to sponsor NASCAR driver Jeff Gordon. The report also called into question AARP’s executive compensation. For example, in 2009 then–AARP CEO William Novelli received a compensation package of $1,647,419 and a severance of $350,657.

The Oversight and Health subcommittees of the House Ways and Means Committee have called a joint hearing to examine the report in depth on April 1.

Alicia Ault, senior writer, also contributed to this report.

WASHINGTON – An investigation undertaken by members of the House Ways and Means Committee accuses AARP of abusing its tax-exempt, nonprofit status, according to the congressmen who issued the report March 30.

Rep. Wally Herger (R-Calif.) and Rep. Dave Reichert (R-Wash.) along with Rep. Charles Boustany (R-La.) said they were referring to their findings and their report (pdf) to the Internal Revenue Service.

"We believe that the information that’s been brought forward in this report is very troubling and calls into question that tax-exempt status," said Rep. Boustany, chairman of the Ways and Means Committee’s Subcommittee on Oversight. "The bottom line now is we’re going to turn this over to the IRS and let them make that determination."

AARP maintains 501(c)(4) nonprofit status by virtue of its advocacy on behalf of senior citizens, but it also collects revenues through royalty agreements with a number organizations, including a company that is one of the largest insurers in the supplemental Medicare – or Medigap – insurance market.

In response to allegations, AARP leaders said the organization’s profits don’t differ from any other nonprofit organization. "We report to the IRS yearly and work closely with them and have had no negative response," said AARP president Lee Hammond.

The members of Congress did not say what prompted the investigation.

Rep. Reichert, who spent several decades in law enforcement before joining the House, said that politics played no role. "When I see something I think smells, I’m going to investigate," he said, adding, "This has nothing to do with trying to politicize the heath care bill." Rep. Herger, chairman of the Ways and Means Committee’s Subcommittee on Health, authored the report along with Rep. Reichert.

The congressmen did say their investigation found that AARP, which was a significant supporter of the Affordable Care Act, stood to gain financially from the law. They said that if the private Medicare Advantage program is reduced, millions of seniors might have to buy supplemental Medicare policies – policies that are sold by AARP’s partners.

"Seniors deserve to know where their dues are going and deserve to know what AARP is all about," said Rep. Boustany.

As a tax-exempt organization, AARP is required to promote social welfare. But, according to the congressional report, AARP’s royalty-related business is overshadowing the organization’s social welfare activities. Royalties from for-profit endeavors accounted for 46% of AARP’s revenue in 2009, while dues made up 17% of revenues. Those royalty payments have been rising at a faster rate than are dues, according to the report. AARP reported revenues of more than $1.4 billion in 2009.

AARP said royalties have allowed them to keep dues affordable and have funded social welfare programs including a campaign to end hunger, a tax-aid program, and its numerous publications. The organization posted documents outlining its finances in response to the congressional report.

The congressional report outlined what it called a pattern of excessive spending, such as a commitment by AARP to spend $14 million over the next 3 years to sponsor NASCAR driver Jeff Gordon. The report also called into question AARP’s executive compensation. For example, in 2009 then–AARP CEO William Novelli received a compensation package of $1,647,419 and a severance of $350,657.

The Oversight and Health subcommittees of the House Ways and Means Committee have called a joint hearing to examine the report in depth on April 1.

Alicia Ault, senior writer, also contributed to this report.

WASHINGTON – An investigation undertaken by members of the House Ways and Means Committee accuses AARP of abusing its tax-exempt, nonprofit status, according to the congressmen who issued the report March 30.

Rep. Wally Herger (R-Calif.) and Rep. Dave Reichert (R-Wash.) along with Rep. Charles Boustany (R-La.) said they were referring to their findings and their report (pdf) to the Internal Revenue Service.

"We believe that the information that’s been brought forward in this report is very troubling and calls into question that tax-exempt status," said Rep. Boustany, chairman of the Ways and Means Committee’s Subcommittee on Oversight. "The bottom line now is we’re going to turn this over to the IRS and let them make that determination."

AARP maintains 501(c)(4) nonprofit status by virtue of its advocacy on behalf of senior citizens, but it also collects revenues through royalty agreements with a number organizations, including a company that is one of the largest insurers in the supplemental Medicare – or Medigap – insurance market.

In response to allegations, AARP leaders said the organization’s profits don’t differ from any other nonprofit organization. "We report to the IRS yearly and work closely with them and have had no negative response," said AARP president Lee Hammond.

The members of Congress did not say what prompted the investigation.

Rep. Reichert, who spent several decades in law enforcement before joining the House, said that politics played no role. "When I see something I think smells, I’m going to investigate," he said, adding, "This has nothing to do with trying to politicize the heath care bill." Rep. Herger, chairman of the Ways and Means Committee’s Subcommittee on Health, authored the report along with Rep. Reichert.

The congressmen did say their investigation found that AARP, which was a significant supporter of the Affordable Care Act, stood to gain financially from the law. They said that if the private Medicare Advantage program is reduced, millions of seniors might have to buy supplemental Medicare policies – policies that are sold by AARP’s partners.

"Seniors deserve to know where their dues are going and deserve to know what AARP is all about," said Rep. Boustany.

As a tax-exempt organization, AARP is required to promote social welfare. But, according to the congressional report, AARP’s royalty-related business is overshadowing the organization’s social welfare activities. Royalties from for-profit endeavors accounted for 46% of AARP’s revenue in 2009, while dues made up 17% of revenues. Those royalty payments have been rising at a faster rate than are dues, according to the report. AARP reported revenues of more than $1.4 billion in 2009.

AARP said royalties have allowed them to keep dues affordable and have funded social welfare programs including a campaign to end hunger, a tax-aid program, and its numerous publications. The organization posted documents outlining its finances in response to the congressional report.

The congressional report outlined what it called a pattern of excessive spending, such as a commitment by AARP to spend $14 million over the next 3 years to sponsor NASCAR driver Jeff Gordon. The report also called into question AARP’s executive compensation. For example, in 2009 then–AARP CEO William Novelli received a compensation package of $1,647,419 and a severance of $350,657.

The Oversight and Health subcommittees of the House Ways and Means Committee have called a joint hearing to examine the report in depth on April 1.

Alicia Ault, senior writer, also contributed to this report.

WASHINGTON – An investigation undertaken by members of the House Ways and Means Committee accuses AARP of abusing its tax-exempt, nonprofit status, according to the congressmen who issued the report March 30.

Rep. Wally Herger (R-Calif.) and Rep. Dave Reichert (R-Wash.) along with Rep. Charles Boustany (R-La.) said they were referring to their findings and their report (pdf) to the Internal Revenue Service.

"We believe that the information that’s been brought forward in this report is very troubling and calls into question that tax-exempt status," said Rep. Boustany, chairman of the Ways and Means Committee’s Subcommittee on Oversight. "The bottom line now is we’re going to turn this over to the IRS and let them make that determination."

AARP maintains 501(c)(4) nonprofit status by virtue of its advocacy on behalf of senior citizens, but it also collects revenues through royalty agreements with a number organizations, including a company that is one of the largest insurers in the supplemental Medicare – or Medigap – insurance market.

In response to allegations, AARP leaders said the organization’s profits don’t differ from any other nonprofit organization. "We report to the IRS yearly and work closely with them and have had no negative response," said AARP president Lee Hammond.

The members of Congress did not say what prompted the investigation.

Rep. Reichert, who spent several decades in law enforcement before joining the House, said that politics played no role. "When I see something I think smells, I’m going to investigate," he said, adding, "This has nothing to do with trying to politicize the heath care bill." Rep. Herger, chairman of the Ways and Means Committee’s Subcommittee on Health, authored the report along with Rep. Reichert.

The congressmen did say their investigation found that AARP, which was a significant supporter of the Affordable Care Act, stood to gain financially from the law. They said that if the private Medicare Advantage program is reduced, millions of seniors might have to buy supplemental Medicare policies – policies that are sold by AARP’s partners.

"Seniors deserve to know where their dues are going and deserve to know what AARP is all about," said Rep. Boustany.

As a tax-exempt organization, AARP is required to promote social welfare. But, according to the congressional report, AARP’s royalty-related business is overshadowing the organization’s social welfare activities. Royalties from for-profit endeavors accounted for 46% of AARP’s revenue in 2009, while dues made up 17% of revenues. Those royalty payments have been rising at a faster rate than are dues, according to the report. AARP reported revenues of more than $1.4 billion in 2009.

AARP said royalties have allowed them to keep dues affordable and have funded social welfare programs including a campaign to end hunger, a tax-aid program, and its numerous publications. The organization posted documents outlining its finances in response to the congressional report.

The congressional report outlined what it called a pattern of excessive spending, such as a commitment by AARP to spend $14 million over the next 3 years to sponsor NASCAR driver Jeff Gordon. The report also called into question AARP’s executive compensation. For example, in 2009 then–AARP CEO William Novelli received a compensation package of $1,647,419 and a severance of $350,657.

The Oversight and Health subcommittees of the House Ways and Means Committee have called a joint hearing to examine the report in depth on April 1.

Alicia Ault, senior writer, also contributed to this report.

WASHINGTON – An investigation undertaken by members of the House Ways and Means Committee accuses AARP of abusing its tax-exempt, nonprofit status, according to the congressmen who issued the report March 30.

Rep. Wally Herger (R-Calif.) and Rep. Dave Reichert (R-Wash.) along with Rep. Charles Boustany (R-La.) said they were referring to their findings and their report (pdf) to the Internal Revenue Service.

"We believe that the information that’s been brought forward in this report is very troubling and calls into question that tax-exempt status," said Rep. Boustany, chairman of the Ways and Means Committee’s Subcommittee on Oversight. "The bottom line now is we’re going to turn this over to the IRS and let them make that determination."

AARP maintains 501(c)(4) nonprofit status by virtue of its advocacy on behalf of senior citizens, but it also collects revenues through royalty agreements with a number organizations, including a company that is one of the largest insurers in the supplemental Medicare – or Medigap – insurance market.

In response to allegations, AARP leaders said the organization’s profits don’t differ from any other nonprofit organization. "We report to the IRS yearly and work closely with them and have had no negative response," said AARP president Lee Hammond.

The members of Congress did not say what prompted the investigation.

Rep. Reichert, who spent several decades in law enforcement before joining the House, said that politics played no role. "When I see something I think smells, I’m going to investigate," he said, adding, "This has nothing to do with trying to politicize the heath care bill." Rep. Herger, chairman of the Ways and Means Committee’s Subcommittee on Health, authored the report along with Rep. Reichert.

The congressmen did say their investigation found that AARP, which was a significant supporter of the Affordable Care Act, stood to gain financially from the law. They said that if the private Medicare Advantage program is reduced, millions of seniors might have to buy supplemental Medicare policies – policies that are sold by AARP’s partners.

"Seniors deserve to know where their dues are going and deserve to know what AARP is all about," said Rep. Boustany.

As a tax-exempt organization, AARP is required to promote social welfare. But, according to the congressional report, AARP’s royalty-related business is overshadowing the organization’s social welfare activities. Royalties from for-profit endeavors accounted for 46% of AARP’s revenue in 2009, while dues made up 17% of revenues. Those royalty payments have been rising at a faster rate than are dues, according to the report. AARP reported revenues of more than $1.4 billion in 2009.

AARP said royalties have allowed them to keep dues affordable and have funded social welfare programs including a campaign to end hunger, a tax-aid program, and its numerous publications. The organization posted documents outlining its finances in response to the congressional report.

The congressional report outlined what it called a pattern of excessive spending, such as a commitment by AARP to spend $14 million over the next 3 years to sponsor NASCAR driver Jeff Gordon. The report also called into question AARP’s executive compensation. For example, in 2009 then–AARP CEO William Novelli received a compensation package of $1,647,419 and a severance of $350,657.

The Oversight and Health subcommittees of the House Ways and Means Committee have called a joint hearing to examine the report in depth on April 1.

Alicia Ault, senior writer, also contributed to this report.

WASHINGTON – An investigation undertaken by members of the House Ways and Means Committee accuses AARP of abusing its tax-exempt, nonprofit status, according to the congressmen who issued the report March 30.

Rep. Wally Herger (R-Calif.) and Rep. Dave Reichert (R-Wash.) along with Rep. Charles Boustany (R-La.) said they were referring to their findings and their report (pdf) to the Internal Revenue Service.

"We believe that the information that’s been brought forward in this report is very troubling and calls into question that tax-exempt status," said Rep. Boustany, chairman of the Ways and Means Committee’s Subcommittee on Oversight. "The bottom line now is we’re going to turn this over to the IRS and let them make that determination."

AARP maintains 501(c)(4) nonprofit status by virtue of its advocacy on behalf of senior citizens, but it also collects revenues through royalty agreements with a number organizations, including a company that is one of the largest insurers in the supplemental Medicare – or Medigap – insurance market.

In response to allegations, AARP leaders said the organization’s profits don’t differ from any other nonprofit organization. "We report to the IRS yearly and work closely with them and have had no negative response," said AARP president Lee Hammond.

The members of Congress did not say what prompted the investigation.

Rep. Reichert, who spent several decades in law enforcement before joining the House, said that politics played no role. "When I see something I think smells, I’m going to investigate," he said, adding, "This has nothing to do with trying to politicize the heath care bill." Rep. Herger, chairman of the Ways and Means Committee’s Subcommittee on Health, authored the report along with Rep. Reichert.

The congressmen did say their investigation found that AARP, which was a significant supporter of the Affordable Care Act, stood to gain financially from the law. They said that if the private Medicare Advantage program is reduced, millions of seniors might have to buy supplemental Medicare policies – policies that are sold by AARP’s partners.

"Seniors deserve to know where their dues are going and deserve to know what AARP is all about," said Rep. Boustany.

As a tax-exempt organization, AARP is required to promote social welfare. But, according to the congressional report, AARP’s royalty-related business is overshadowing the organization’s social welfare activities. Royalties from for-profit endeavors accounted for 46% of AARP’s revenue in 2009, while dues made up 17% of revenues. Those royalty payments have been rising at a faster rate than are dues, according to the report. AARP reported revenues of more than $1.4 billion in 2009.

AARP said royalties have allowed them to keep dues affordable and have funded social welfare programs including a campaign to end hunger, a tax-aid program, and its numerous publications. The organization posted documents outlining its finances in response to the congressional report.

The congressional report outlined what it called a pattern of excessive spending, such as a commitment by AARP to spend $14 million over the next 3 years to sponsor NASCAR driver Jeff Gordon. The report also called into question AARP’s executive compensation. For example, in 2009 then–AARP CEO William Novelli received a compensation package of $1,647,419 and a severance of $350,657.

The Oversight and Health subcommittees of the House Ways and Means Committee have called a joint hearing to examine the report in depth on April 1.

Alicia Ault, senior writer, also contributed to this report.

WASHINGTON – An investigation undertaken by members of the House Ways and Means Committee accuses AARP of abusing its tax-exempt, nonprofit status, according to the congressmen who issued the report March 30.

Rep. Wally Herger (R-Calif.) and Rep. Dave Reichert (R-Wash.) along with Rep. Charles Boustany (R-La.) said they were referring to their findings and their report (pdf) to the Internal Revenue Service.

"We believe that the information that’s been brought forward in this report is very troubling and calls into question that tax-exempt status," said Rep. Boustany, chairman of the Ways and Means Committee’s Subcommittee on Oversight. "The bottom line now is we’re going to turn this over to the IRS and let them make that determination."

AARP maintains 501(c)(4) nonprofit status by virtue of its advocacy on behalf of senior citizens, but it also collects revenues through royalty agreements with a number organizations, including a company that is one of the largest insurers in the supplemental Medicare – or Medigap – insurance market.

In response to allegations, AARP leaders said the organization’s profits don’t differ from any other nonprofit organization. "We report to the IRS yearly and work closely with them and have had no negative response," said AARP president Lee Hammond.

The members of Congress did not say what prompted the investigation.

Rep. Reichert, who spent several decades in law enforcement before joining the House, said that politics played no role. "When I see something I think smells, I’m going to investigate," he said, adding, "This has nothing to do with trying to politicize the heath care bill." Rep. Herger, chairman of the Ways and Means Committee’s Subcommittee on Health, authored the report along with Rep. Reichert.

The congressmen did say their investigation found that AARP, which was a significant supporter of the Affordable Care Act, stood to gain financially from the law. They said that if the private Medicare Advantage program is reduced, millions of seniors might have to buy supplemental Medicare policies – policies that are sold by AARP’s partners.

"Seniors deserve to know where their dues are going and deserve to know what AARP is all about," said Rep. Boustany.

As a tax-exempt organization, AARP is required to promote social welfare. But, according to the congressional report, AARP’s royalty-related business is overshadowing the organization’s social welfare activities. Royalties from for-profit endeavors accounted for 46% of AARP’s revenue in 2009, while dues made up 17% of revenues. Those royalty payments have been rising at a faster rate than are dues, according to the report. AARP reported revenues of more than $1.4 billion in 2009.

AARP said royalties have allowed them to keep dues affordable and have funded social welfare programs including a campaign to end hunger, a tax-aid program, and its numerous publications. The organization posted documents outlining its finances in response to the congressional report.

The congressional report outlined what it called a pattern of excessive spending, such as a commitment by AARP to spend $14 million over the next 3 years to sponsor NASCAR driver Jeff Gordon. The report also called into question AARP’s executive compensation. For example, in 2009 then–AARP CEO William Novelli received a compensation package of $1,647,419 and a severance of $350,657.

The Oversight and Health subcommittees of the House Ways and Means Committee have called a joint hearing to examine the report in depth on April 1.

Alicia Ault, senior writer, also contributed to this report.

WASHINGTON – An investigation undertaken by members of the House Ways and Means Committee accuses AARP of abusing its tax-exempt, nonprofit status, according to the congressmen who issued the report March 30.

Rep. Wally Herger (R-Calif.) and Rep. Dave Reichert (R-Wash.) along with Rep. Charles Boustany (R-La.) said they were referring to their findings and their report (pdf) to the Internal Revenue Service.

"We believe that the information that’s been brought forward in this report is very troubling and calls into question that tax-exempt status," said Rep. Boustany, chairman of the Ways and Means Committee’s Subcommittee on Oversight. "The bottom line now is we’re going to turn this over to the IRS and let them make that determination."

AARP maintains 501(c)(4) nonprofit status by virtue of its advocacy on behalf of senior citizens, but it also collects revenues through royalty agreements with a number organizations, including a company that is one of the largest insurers in the supplemental Medicare – or Medigap – insurance market.

In response to allegations, AARP leaders said the organization’s profits don’t differ from any other nonprofit organization. "We report to the IRS yearly and work closely with them and have had no negative response," said AARP president Lee Hammond.

The members of Congress did not say what prompted the investigation.

Rep. Reichert, who spent several decades in law enforcement before joining the House, said that politics played no role. "When I see something I think smells, I’m going to investigate," he said, adding, "This has nothing to do with trying to politicize the heath care bill." Rep. Herger, chairman of the Ways and Means Committee’s Subcommittee on Health, authored the report along with Rep. Reichert.

The congressmen did say their investigation found that AARP, which was a significant supporter of the Affordable Care Act, stood to gain financially from the law. They said that if the private Medicare Advantage program is reduced, millions of seniors might have to buy supplemental Medicare policies – policies that are sold by AARP’s partners.

"Seniors deserve to know where their dues are going and deserve to know what AARP is all about," said Rep. Boustany.

As a tax-exempt organization, AARP is required to promote social welfare. But, according to the congressional report, AARP’s royalty-related business is overshadowing the organization’s social welfare activities. Royalties from for-profit endeavors accounted for 46% of AARP’s revenue in 2009, while dues made up 17% of revenues. Those royalty payments have been rising at a faster rate than are dues, according to the report. AARP reported revenues of more than $1.4 billion in 2009.

AARP said royalties have allowed them to keep dues affordable and have funded social welfare programs including a campaign to end hunger, a tax-aid program, and its numerous publications. The organization posted documents outlining its finances in response to the congressional report.

The congressional report outlined what it called a pattern of excessive spending, such as a commitment by AARP to spend $14 million over the next 3 years to sponsor NASCAR driver Jeff Gordon. The report also called into question AARP’s executive compensation. For example, in 2009 then–AARP CEO William Novelli received a compensation package of $1,647,419 and a severance of $350,657.

The Oversight and Health subcommittees of the House Ways and Means Committee have called a joint hearing to examine the report in depth on April 1.

Alicia Ault, senior writer, also contributed to this report.

WASHINGTON – An investigation undertaken by members of the House Ways and Means Committee accuses AARP of abusing its tax-exempt, nonprofit status, according to the congressmen who issued the report March 30.

Rep. Wally Herger (R-Calif.) and Rep. Dave Reichert (R-Wash.) along with Rep. Charles Boustany (R-La.) said they were referring to their findings and their report (pdf) to the Internal Revenue Service.

"We believe that the information that’s been brought forward in this report is very troubling and calls into question that tax-exempt status," said Rep. Boustany, chairman of the Ways and Means Committee’s Subcommittee on Oversight. "The bottom line now is we’re going to turn this over to the IRS and let them make that determination."

AARP maintains 501(c)(4) nonprofit status by virtue of its advocacy on behalf of senior citizens, but it also collects revenues through royalty agreements with a number organizations, including a company that is one of the largest insurers in the supplemental Medicare – or Medigap – insurance market.

In response to allegations, AARP leaders said the organization’s profits don’t differ from any other nonprofit organization. "We report to the IRS yearly and work closely with them and have had no negative response," said AARP president Lee Hammond.

The members of Congress did not say what prompted the investigation.

Rep. Reichert, who spent several decades in law enforcement before joining the House, said that politics played no role. "When I see something I think smells, I’m going to investigate," he said, adding, "This has nothing to do with trying to politicize the heath care bill." Rep. Herger, chairman of the Ways and Means Committee’s Subcommittee on Health, authored the report along with Rep. Reichert.

The congressmen did say their investigation found that AARP, which was a significant supporter of the Affordable Care Act, stood to gain financially from the law. They said that if the private Medicare Advantage program is reduced, millions of seniors might have to buy supplemental Medicare policies – policies that are sold by AARP’s partners.

"Seniors deserve to know where their dues are going and deserve to know what AARP is all about," said Rep. Boustany.

As a tax-exempt organization, AARP is required to promote social welfare. But, according to the congressional report, AARP’s royalty-related business is overshadowing the organization’s social welfare activities. Royalties from for-profit endeavors accounted for 46% of AARP’s revenue in 2009, while dues made up 17% of revenues. Those royalty payments have been rising at a faster rate than are dues, according to the report. AARP reported revenues of more than $1.4 billion in 2009.

AARP said royalties have allowed them to keep dues affordable and have funded social welfare programs including a campaign to end hunger, a tax-aid program, and its numerous publications. The organization posted documents outlining its finances in response to the congressional report.

The congressional report outlined what it called a pattern of excessive spending, such as a commitment by AARP to spend $14 million over the next 3 years to sponsor NASCAR driver Jeff Gordon. The report also called into question AARP’s executive compensation. For example, in 2009 then–AARP CEO William Novelli received a compensation package of $1,647,419 and a severance of $350,657.

The Oversight and Health subcommittees of the House Ways and Means Committee have called a joint hearing to examine the report in depth on April 1.

Alicia Ault, senior writer, also contributed to this report.

WASHINGTON – An investigation undertaken by members of the House Ways and Means Committee accuses AARP of abusing its tax-exempt, nonprofit status, according to the congressmen who issued the report March 30.

Rep. Wally Herger (R-Calif.) and Rep. Dave Reichert (R-Wash.) along with Rep. Charles Boustany (R-La.) said they were referring to their findings and their report (pdf) to the Internal Revenue Service.

"We believe that the information that’s been brought forward in this report is very troubling and calls into question that tax-exempt status," said Rep. Boustany, chairman of the Ways and Means Committee’s Subcommittee on Oversight. "The bottom line now is we’re going to turn this over to the IRS and let them make that determination."

AARP maintains 501(c)(4) nonprofit status by virtue of its advocacy on behalf of senior citizens, but it also collects revenues through royalty agreements with a number organizations, including a company that is one of the largest insurers in the supplemental Medicare – or Medigap – insurance market.

In response to allegations, AARP leaders said the organization’s profits don’t differ from any other nonprofit organization. "We report to the IRS yearly and work closely with them and have had no negative response," said AARP president Lee Hammond.

The members of Congress did not say what prompted the investigation.

Rep. Reichert, who spent several decades in law enforcement before joining the House, said that politics played no role. "When I see something I think smells, I’m going to investigate," he said, adding, "This has nothing to do with trying to politicize the heath care bill." Rep. Herger, chairman of the Ways and Means Committee’s Subcommittee on Health, authored the report along with Rep. Reichert.

The congressmen did say their investigation found that AARP, which was a significant supporter of the Affordable Care Act, stood to gain financially from the law. They said that if the private Medicare Advantage program is reduced, millions of seniors might have to buy supplemental Medicare policies – policies that are sold by AARP’s partners.

"Seniors deserve to know where their dues are going and deserve to know what AARP is all about," said Rep. Boustany.

As a tax-exempt organization, AARP is required to promote social welfare. But, according to the congressional report, AARP’s royalty-related business is overshadowing the organization’s social welfare activities. Royalties from for-profit endeavors accounted for 46% of AARP’s revenue in 2009, while dues made up 17% of revenues. Those royalty payments have been rising at a faster rate than are dues, according to the report. AARP reported revenues of more than $1.4 billion in 2009.

AARP said royalties have allowed them to keep dues affordable and have funded social welfare programs including a campaign to end hunger, a tax-aid program, and its numerous publications. The organization posted documents outlining its finances in response to the congressional report.

The congressional report outlined what it called a pattern of excessive spending, such as a commitment by AARP to spend $14 million over the next 3 years to sponsor NASCAR driver Jeff Gordon. The report also called into question AARP’s executive compensation. For example, in 2009 then–AARP CEO William Novelli received a compensation package of $1,647,419 and a severance of $350,657.

The Oversight and Health subcommittees of the House Ways and Means Committee have called a joint hearing to examine the report in depth on April 1.

Alicia Ault, senior writer, also contributed to this report.

WASHINGTON – An investigation undertaken by members of the House Ways and Means Committee accuses AARP of abusing its tax-exempt, nonprofit status, according to the congressmen who issued the report March 30.

Rep. Wally Herger (R-Calif.) and Rep. Dave Reichert (R-Wash.) along with Rep. Charles Boustany (R-La.) said they were referring to their findings and their report (pdf) to the Internal Revenue Service.

"We believe that the information that’s been brought forward in this report is very troubling and calls into question that tax-exempt status," said Rep. Boustany, chairman of the Ways and Means Committee’s Subcommittee on Oversight. "The bottom line now is we’re going to turn this over to the IRS and let them make that determination."

AARP maintains 501(c)(4) nonprofit status by virtue of its advocacy on behalf of senior citizens, but it also collects revenues through royalty agreements with a number organizations, including a company that is one of the largest insurers in the supplemental Medicare – or Medigap – insurance market.

In response to allegations, AARP leaders said the organization’s profits don’t differ from any other nonprofit organization. "We report to the IRS yearly and work closely with them and have had no negative response," said AARP president Lee Hammond.

The members of Congress did not say what prompted the investigation.

Rep. Reichert, who spent several decades in law enforcement before joining the House, said that politics played no role. "When I see something I think smells, I’m going to investigate," he said, adding, "This has nothing to do with trying to politicize the heath care bill." Rep. Herger, chairman of the Ways and Means Committee’s Subcommittee on Health, authored the report along with Rep. Reichert.

The congressmen did say their investigation found that AARP, which was a significant supporter of the Affordable Care Act, stood to gain financially from the law. They said that if the private Medicare Advantage program is reduced, millions of seniors might have to buy supplemental Medicare policies – policies that are sold by AARP’s partners.

"Seniors deserve to know where their dues are going and deserve to know what AARP is all about," said Rep. Boustany.

As a tax-exempt organization, AARP is required to promote social welfare. But, according to the congressional report, AARP’s royalty-related business is overshadowing the organization’s social welfare activities. Royalties from for-profit endeavors accounted for 46% of AARP’s revenue in 2009, while dues made up 17% of revenues. Those royalty payments have been rising at a faster rate than are dues, according to the report. AARP reported revenues of more than $1.4 billion in 2009.

AARP said royalties have allowed them to keep dues affordable and have funded social welfare programs including a campaign to end hunger, a tax-aid program, and its numerous publications. The organization posted documents outlining its finances in response to the congressional report.

The congressional report outlined what it called a pattern of excessive spending, such as a commitment by AARP to spend $14 million over the next 3 years to sponsor NASCAR driver Jeff Gordon. The report also called into question AARP’s executive compensation. For example, in 2009 then–AARP CEO William Novelli received a compensation package of $1,647,419 and a severance of $350,657.

The Oversight and Health subcommittees of the House Ways and Means Committee have called a joint hearing to examine the report in depth on April 1.

Alicia Ault, senior writer, also contributed to this report.

A combination exercise and diet regimen may reduce frailty and increase physical performance for elderly adults who suffer from obesity, according to a study published March 30 in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Participants in the diet-exercise group showed greater improvement in a mean physical performance test score (5.4, compared with a mean score of 3.4 for those in the diet group and 4.0 for those in the exercise group).

Photo credit: Dave/Fotolia.com

"For obese older adults, a combination of weight loss and regular exercise provides the greatest benefit on physical function," Dr. Dennis T. Villareal said in an interview. Dr. Villareal was one of the leading researchers in the 1-year randomized, controlled trial. The study included 107 participants (age, 65 years or older; body mass index, 30 kg/m² or greater) with mild to moderate frailty who were randomized and included in intention-to-treat analyses. In all, 93 participants completed the study, which was conducted from April 2005 to August 2009 at Washington University, St. Louis. Participants were placed in a diet group, an exercise group, a diet-exercise group, or a control group.

Participants in the diet group were prescribed a balanced diet including 1 g of high-quality protein per kilogram of body weight per day. They also met with dieticians weekly, set weekly goals, and kept food diaries.

Participants in the exercise group were given general information about healthy dieting and participated in three 90-minute group exercises per week.

The diet-exercise group participated in both diet and exercise programs, and the control group was given general information about healthy diet and exercise in monthly meetings.

All participants took 1,500-mg calcium supplements and 1,000 IU of vitamin D daily (N. Eng. J. Med. 2011;364:1218-29).

As a baseline assessment, the physical performance test included seven tasks: walking 50 feet; picking up a penny; standing up from a chair; putting on and removing a coat; lifting a book; climbing a flight of stairs; and performing a Romberg’s test. In addition, participants were asked to climb up and down four flights of stairs and to perform a 360-degree turn. Participants were scored on a 4-point scale for each task, with a maximum total of 36 points. To assess quality of life, participants also completed a Medical Outcomes Study 36-item short-form health survey (SF-36) questionnaire concerning their ability to perform daily tasks. An MRI was performed to check bone mineral density (BMD), and participants’ peak oxygen consumption was measured. Baseline assessments were repeated at 6 months and 12 months.

In addition to an increased score for physical performance, participants also improved in their scores for quality of life as well as body composition, strength, and gait speed. Participants who followed the combined exercise and diet regimen increased their SF-36 scores by 8.6 points, compared with 8.4 points for dieting participants and 5.7 points for exercising participants. Those who followed the combined regimen also had the highest increase (35%) for the number of exercises performed during one repetition, compared with the diet participants (a 3% increase) and the exercise participants (a 34% increase).The diet-exercise participants also improved their obstacle course times by 12%, compared with diet participants (10%) and exercise participants (13%).

However, some adverse effects were decreased lean body mass (3% for the diet-exercise group; 5% for the diet group; 2% for the exercise group) and a drop in BMD at the hip in the diet groups (1.1% for the diet-exercise group; 2.6% in the diet group), whereas BMD increased in the exercise group (1.5%). Regardless, researchers said, these results show the benefit of a weight-loss regimen for elderly obese adults, as there have been few clinical trials that have investigated these benefits for the elderly and obese.

"Further studies are needed to clarify the clinical significance of the modest bone loss," Dr. Villareal said. "It is possible that the improvement in physical function in response to weight loss and exercise will decrease their risk for falls and fractures."

For future studies, the researchers noted that results could be improved with prescriptions of higher doses of vitamin D and calcium, and with having participants perform either endurance or resistance exercising, rather than both.

The study was supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health. Coinvestigator Dr. Tiffany Hilton was supported by a postdoctoral fellowship from the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development and a New Investigator Fellowship Initiative grant from the Foundation for Physical Therapy.

A combination exercise and diet regimen may reduce frailty and increase physical performance for elderly adults who suffer from obesity, according to a study published March 30 in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Participants in the diet-exercise group showed greater improvement in a mean physical performance test score (5.4, compared with a mean score of 3.4 for those in the diet group and 4.0 for those in the exercise group).

Photo credit: Dave/Fotolia.com

"For obese older adults, a combination of weight loss and regular exercise provides the greatest benefit on physical function," Dr. Dennis T. Villareal said in an interview. Dr. Villareal was one of the leading researchers in the 1-year randomized, controlled trial. The study included 107 participants (age, 65 years or older; body mass index, 30 kg/m² or greater) with mild to moderate frailty who were randomized and included in intention-to-treat analyses. In all, 93 participants completed the study, which was conducted from April 2005 to August 2009 at Washington University, St. Louis. Participants were placed in a diet group, an exercise group, a diet-exercise group, or a control group.

Participants in the diet group were prescribed a balanced diet including 1 g of high-quality protein per kilogram of body weight per day. They also met with dieticians weekly, set weekly goals, and kept food diaries.

Participants in the exercise group were given general information about healthy dieting and participated in three 90-minute group exercises per week.

The diet-exercise group participated in both diet and exercise programs, and the control group was given general information about healthy diet and exercise in monthly meetings.

All participants took 1,500-mg calcium supplements and 1,000 IU of vitamin D daily (N. Eng. J. Med. 2011;364:1218-29).

As a baseline assessment, the physical performance test included seven tasks: walking 50 feet; picking up a penny; standing up from a chair; putting on and removing a coat; lifting a book; climbing a flight of stairs; and performing a Romberg’s test. In addition, participants were asked to climb up and down four flights of stairs and to perform a 360-degree turn. Participants were scored on a 4-point scale for each task, with a maximum total of 36 points. To assess quality of life, participants also completed a Medical Outcomes Study 36-item short-form health survey (SF-36) questionnaire concerning their ability to perform daily tasks. An MRI was performed to check bone mineral density (BMD), and participants’ peak oxygen consumption was measured. Baseline assessments were repeated at 6 months and 12 months.

In addition to an increased score for physical performance, participants also improved in their scores for quality of life as well as body composition, strength, and gait speed. Participants who followed the combined exercise and diet regimen increased their SF-36 scores by 8.6 points, compared with 8.4 points for dieting participants and 5.7 points for exercising participants. Those who followed the combined regimen also had the highest increase (35%) for the number of exercises performed during one repetition, compared with the diet participants (a 3% increase) and the exercise participants (a 34% increase).The diet-exercise participants also improved their obstacle course times by 12%, compared with diet participants (10%) and exercise participants (13%).

However, some adverse effects were decreased lean body mass (3% for the diet-exercise group; 5% for the diet group; 2% for the exercise group) and a drop in BMD at the hip in the diet groups (1.1% for the diet-exercise group; 2.6% in the diet group), whereas BMD increased in the exercise group (1.5%). Regardless, researchers said, these results show the benefit of a weight-loss regimen for elderly obese adults, as there have been few clinical trials that have investigated these benefits for the elderly and obese.

"Further studies are needed to clarify the clinical significance of the modest bone loss," Dr. Villareal said. "It is possible that the improvement in physical function in response to weight loss and exercise will decrease their risk for falls and fractures."

For future studies, the researchers noted that results could be improved with prescriptions of higher doses of vitamin D and calcium, and with having participants perform either endurance or resistance exercising, rather than both.

The study was supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health. Coinvestigator Dr. Tiffany Hilton was supported by a postdoctoral fellowship from the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development and a New Investigator Fellowship Initiative grant from the Foundation for Physical Therapy.

A combination exercise and diet regimen may reduce frailty and increase physical performance for elderly adults who suffer from obesity, according to a study published March 30 in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Participants in the diet-exercise group showed greater improvement in a mean physical performance test score (5.4, compared with a mean score of 3.4 for those in the diet group and 4.0 for those in the exercise group).

Photo credit: Dave/Fotolia.com

"For obese older adults, a combination of weight loss and regular exercise provides the greatest benefit on physical function," Dr. Dennis T. Villareal said in an interview. Dr. Villareal was one of the leading researchers in the 1-year randomized, controlled trial. The study included 107 participants (age, 65 years or older; body mass index, 30 kg/m² or greater) with mild to moderate frailty who were randomized and included in intention-to-treat analyses. In all, 93 participants completed the study, which was conducted from April 2005 to August 2009 at Washington University, St. Louis. Participants were placed in a diet group, an exercise group, a diet-exercise group, or a control group.

Participants in the diet group were prescribed a balanced diet including 1 g of high-quality protein per kilogram of body weight per day. They also met with dieticians weekly, set weekly goals, and kept food diaries.

Participants in the exercise group were given general information about healthy dieting and participated in three 90-minute group exercises per week.

The diet-exercise group participated in both diet and exercise programs, and the control group was given general information about healthy diet and exercise in monthly meetings.

All participants took 1,500-mg calcium supplements and 1,000 IU of vitamin D daily (N. Eng. J. Med. 2011;364:1218-29).

As a baseline assessment, the physical performance test included seven tasks: walking 50 feet; picking up a penny; standing up from a chair; putting on and removing a coat; lifting a book; climbing a flight of stairs; and performing a Romberg’s test. In addition, participants were asked to climb up and down four flights of stairs and to perform a 360-degree turn. Participants were scored on a 4-point scale for each task, with a maximum total of 36 points. To assess quality of life, participants also completed a Medical Outcomes Study 36-item short-form health survey (SF-36) questionnaire concerning their ability to perform daily tasks. An MRI was performed to check bone mineral density (BMD), and participants’ peak oxygen consumption was measured. Baseline assessments were repeated at 6 months and 12 months.

In addition to an increased score for physical performance, participants also improved in their scores for quality of life as well as body composition, strength, and gait speed. Participants who followed the combined exercise and diet regimen increased their SF-36 scores by 8.6 points, compared with 8.4 points for dieting participants and 5.7 points for exercising participants. Those who followed the combined regimen also had the highest increase (35%) for the number of exercises performed during one repetition, compared with the diet participants (a 3% increase) and the exercise participants (a 34% increase).The diet-exercise participants also improved their obstacle course times by 12%, compared with diet participants (10%) and exercise participants (13%).

However, some adverse effects were decreased lean body mass (3% for the diet-exercise group; 5% for the diet group; 2% for the exercise group) and a drop in BMD at the hip in the diet groups (1.1% for the diet-exercise group; 2.6% in the diet group), whereas BMD increased in the exercise group (1.5%). Regardless, researchers said, these results show the benefit of a weight-loss regimen for elderly obese adults, as there have been few clinical trials that have investigated these benefits for the elderly and obese.

"Further studies are needed to clarify the clinical significance of the modest bone loss," Dr. Villareal said. "It is possible that the improvement in physical function in response to weight loss and exercise will decrease their risk for falls and fractures."

For future studies, the researchers noted that results could be improved with prescriptions of higher doses of vitamin D and calcium, and with having participants perform either endurance or resistance exercising, rather than both.

The study was supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health. Coinvestigator Dr. Tiffany Hilton was supported by a postdoctoral fellowship from the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development and a New Investigator Fellowship Initiative grant from the Foundation for Physical Therapy.

A combination exercise and diet regimen may reduce frailty and increase physical performance for elderly adults who suffer from obesity, according to a study published March 30 in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Participants in the diet-exercise group showed greater improvement in a mean physical performance test score (5.4, compared with a mean score of 3.4 for those in the diet group and 4.0 for those in the exercise group).

Photo credit: Dave/Fotolia.com

"For obese older adults, a combination of weight loss and regular exercise provides the greatest benefit on physical function," Dr. Dennis T. Villareal said in an interview. Dr. Villareal was one of the leading researchers in the 1-year randomized, controlled trial. The study included 107 participants (age, 65 years or older; body mass index, 30 kg/m² or greater) with mild to moderate frailty who were randomized and included in intention-to-treat analyses. In all, 93 participants completed the study, which was conducted from April 2005 to August 2009 at Washington University, St. Louis. Participants were placed in a diet group, an exercise group, a diet-exercise group, or a control group.

Participants in the diet group were prescribed a balanced diet including 1 g of high-quality protein per kilogram of body weight per day. They also met with dieticians weekly, set weekly goals, and kept food diaries.

Participants in the exercise group were given general information about healthy dieting and participated in three 90-minute group exercises per week.

The diet-exercise group participated in both diet and exercise programs, and the control group was given general information about healthy diet and exercise in monthly meetings.

All participants took 1,500-mg calcium supplements and 1,000 IU of vitamin D daily (N. Eng. J. Med. 2011;364:1218-29).

As a baseline assessment, the physical performance test included seven tasks: walking 50 feet; picking up a penny; standing up from a chair; putting on and removing a coat; lifting a book; climbing a flight of stairs; and performing a Romberg’s test. In addition, participants were asked to climb up and down four flights of stairs and to perform a 360-degree turn. Participants were scored on a 4-point scale for each task, with a maximum total of 36 points. To assess quality of life, participants also completed a Medical Outcomes Study 36-item short-form health survey (SF-36) questionnaire concerning their ability to perform daily tasks. An MRI was performed to check bone mineral density (BMD), and participants’ peak oxygen consumption was measured. Baseline assessments were repeated at 6 months and 12 months.

In addition to an increased score for physical performance, participants also improved in their scores for quality of life as well as body composition, strength, and gait speed. Participants who followed the combined exercise and diet regimen increased their SF-36 scores by 8.6 points, compared with 8.4 points for dieting participants and 5.7 points for exercising participants. Those who followed the combined regimen also had the highest increase (35%) for the number of exercises performed during one repetition, compared with the diet participants (a 3% increase) and the exercise participants (a 34% increase).The diet-exercise participants also improved their obstacle course times by 12%, compared with diet participants (10%) and exercise participants (13%).

However, some adverse effects were decreased lean body mass (3% for the diet-exercise group; 5% for the diet group; 2% for the exercise group) and a drop in BMD at the hip in the diet groups (1.1% for the diet-exercise group; 2.6% in the diet group), whereas BMD increased in the exercise group (1.5%). Regardless, researchers said, these results show the benefit of a weight-loss regimen for elderly obese adults, as there have been few clinical trials that have investigated these benefits for the elderly and obese.

"Further studies are needed to clarify the clinical significance of the modest bone loss," Dr. Villareal said. "It is possible that the improvement in physical function in response to weight loss and exercise will decrease their risk for falls and fractures."

For future studies, the researchers noted that results could be improved with prescriptions of higher doses of vitamin D and calcium, and with having participants perform either endurance or resistance exercising, rather than both.

The study was supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health. Coinvestigator Dr. Tiffany Hilton was supported by a postdoctoral fellowship from the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development and a New Investigator Fellowship Initiative grant from the Foundation for Physical Therapy.

A combination exercise and diet regimen may reduce frailty and increase physical performance for elderly adults who suffer from obesity, according to a study published March 30 in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Participants in the diet-exercise group showed greater improvement in a mean physical performance test score (5.4, compared with a mean score of 3.4 for those in the diet group and 4.0 for those in the exercise group).

Photo credit: Dave/Fotolia.com

"For obese older adults, a combination of weight loss and regular exercise provides the greatest benefit on physical function," Dr. Dennis T. Villareal said in an interview. Dr. Villareal was one of the leading researchers in the 1-year randomized, controlled trial. The study included 107 participants (age, 65 years or older; body mass index, 30 kg/m² or greater) with mild to moderate frailty who were randomized and included in intention-to-treat analyses. In all, 93 participants completed the study, which was conducted from April 2005 to August 2009 at Washington University, St. Louis. Participants were placed in a diet group, an exercise group, a diet-exercise group, or a control group.

Participants in the diet group were prescribed a balanced diet including 1 g of high-quality protein per kilogram of body weight per day. They also met with dieticians weekly, set weekly goals, and kept food diaries.

Participants in the exercise group were given general information about healthy dieting and participated in three 90-minute group exercises per week.

The diet-exercise group participated in both diet and exercise programs, and the control group was given general information about healthy diet and exercise in monthly meetings.

All participants took 1,500-mg calcium supplements and 1,000 IU of vitamin D daily (N. Eng. J. Med. 2011;364:1218-29).

As a baseline assessment, the physical performance test included seven tasks: walking 50 feet; picking up a penny; standing up from a chair; putting on and removing a coat; lifting a book; climbing a flight of stairs; and performing a Romberg’s test. In addition, participants were asked to climb up and down four flights of stairs and to perform a 360-degree turn. Participants were scored on a 4-point scale for each task, with a maximum total of 36 points. To assess quality of life, participants also completed a Medical Outcomes Study 36-item short-form health survey (SF-36) questionnaire concerning their ability to perform daily tasks. An MRI was performed to check bone mineral density (BMD), and participants’ peak oxygen consumption was measured. Baseline assessments were repeated at 6 months and 12 months.

In addition to an increased score for physical performance, participants also improved in their scores for quality of life as well as body composition, strength, and gait speed. Participants who followed the combined exercise and diet regimen increased their SF-36 scores by 8.6 points, compared with 8.4 points for dieting participants and 5.7 points for exercising participants. Those who followed the combined regimen also had the highest increase (35%) for the number of exercises performed during one repetition, compared with the diet participants (a 3% increase) and the exercise participants (a 34% increase).The diet-exercise participants also improved their obstacle course times by 12%, compared with diet participants (10%) and exercise participants (13%).

However, some adverse effects were decreased lean body mass (3% for the diet-exercise group; 5% for the diet group; 2% for the exercise group) and a drop in BMD at the hip in the diet groups (1.1% for the diet-exercise group; 2.6% in the diet group), whereas BMD increased in the exercise group (1.5%). Regardless, researchers said, these results show the benefit of a weight-loss regimen for elderly obese adults, as there have been few clinical trials that have investigated these benefits for the elderly and obese.

"Further studies are needed to clarify the clinical significance of the modest bone loss," Dr. Villareal said. "It is possible that the improvement in physical function in response to weight loss and exercise will decrease their risk for falls and fractures."

For future studies, the researchers noted that results could be improved with prescriptions of higher doses of vitamin D and calcium, and with having participants perform either endurance or resistance exercising, rather than both.

The study was supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health. Coinvestigator Dr. Tiffany Hilton was supported by a postdoctoral fellowship from the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development and a New Investigator Fellowship Initiative grant from the Foundation for Physical Therapy.

A combination exercise and diet regimen may reduce frailty and increase physical performance for elderly adults who suffer from obesity, according to a study published March 30 in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Participants in the diet-exercise group showed greater improvement in a mean physical performance test score (5.4, compared with a mean score of 3.4 for those in the diet group and 4.0 for those in the exercise group).

Photo credit: Dave/Fotolia.com

"For obese older adults, a combination of weight loss and regular exercise provides the greatest benefit on physical function," Dr. Dennis T. Villareal said in an interview. Dr. Villareal was one of the leading researchers in the 1-year randomized, controlled trial. The study included 107 participants (age, 65 years or older; body mass index, 30 kg/m² or greater) with mild to moderate frailty who were randomized and included in intention-to-treat analyses. In all, 93 participants completed the study, which was conducted from April 2005 to August 2009 at Washington University, St. Louis. Participants were placed in a diet group, an exercise group, a diet-exercise group, or a control group.

Participants in the diet group were prescribed a balanced diet including 1 g of high-quality protein per kilogram of body weight per day. They also met with dieticians weekly, set weekly goals, and kept food diaries.

Participants in the exercise group were given general information about healthy dieting and participated in three 90-minute group exercises per week.

The diet-exercise group participated in both diet and exercise programs, and the control group was given general information about healthy diet and exercise in monthly meetings.

All participants took 1,500-mg calcium supplements and 1,000 IU of vitamin D daily (N. Eng. J. Med. 2011;364:1218-29).

As a baseline assessment, the physical performance test included seven tasks: walking 50 feet; picking up a penny; standing up from a chair; putting on and removing a coat; lifting a book; climbing a flight of stairs; and performing a Romberg’s test. In addition, participants were asked to climb up and down four flights of stairs and to perform a 360-degree turn. Participants were scored on a 4-point scale for each task, with a maximum total of 36 points. To assess quality of life, participants also completed a Medical Outcomes Study 36-item short-form health survey (SF-36) questionnaire concerning their ability to perform daily tasks. An MRI was performed to check bone mineral density (BMD), and participants’ peak oxygen consumption was measured. Baseline assessments were repeated at 6 months and 12 months.

In addition to an increased score for physical performance, participants also improved in their scores for quality of life as well as body composition, strength, and gait speed. Participants who followed the combined exercise and diet regimen increased their SF-36 scores by 8.6 points, compared with 8.4 points for dieting participants and 5.7 points for exercising participants. Those who followed the combined regimen also had the highest increase (35%) for the number of exercises performed during one repetition, compared with the diet participants (a 3% increase) and the exercise participants (a 34% increase).The diet-exercise participants also improved their obstacle course times by 12%, compared with diet participants (10%) and exercise participants (13%).

However, some adverse effects were decreased lean body mass (3% for the diet-exercise group; 5% for the diet group; 2% for the exercise group) and a drop in BMD at the hip in the diet groups (1.1% for the diet-exercise group; 2.6% in the diet group), whereas BMD increased in the exercise group (1.5%). Regardless, researchers said, these results show the benefit of a weight-loss regimen for elderly obese adults, as there have been few clinical trials that have investigated these benefits for the elderly and obese.

"Further studies are needed to clarify the clinical significance of the modest bone loss," Dr. Villareal said. "It is possible that the improvement in physical function in response to weight loss and exercise will decrease their risk for falls and fractures."

For future studies, the researchers noted that results could be improved with prescriptions of higher doses of vitamin D and calcium, and with having participants perform either endurance or resistance exercising, rather than both.

The study was supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health. Coinvestigator Dr. Tiffany Hilton was supported by a postdoctoral fellowship from the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development and a New Investigator Fellowship Initiative grant from the Foundation for Physical Therapy.

WASHINGTON – Adults represent more than half of the patients admitted to substance abuse treatment programs for using inhalants, new data show.

The survey, released in March and conducted by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), also shows that in 2008, 32% of the adults who had treatment admissions involving inhalants were aged 30-44 years, and 16% were 45 and older.

The National Inhalant Prevention Coalition announced the findings at a press conference in collaboration with SAMHSA. The press conference was held in recognition of the annual National Inhalants and Poisons Awareness Week.

Harvey Weiss, executive director of the coalition, suggested that it might be time to broaden the traditional focus on inhalant prevention among children and adolescents. "The frequency of e-mails and calls on our toll-free hotline from people needing help for spouses, older siblings and friends, parents, and even grandparents has led us to understand that people of all ages are at risk" and might need help, he said.

The latest numbers support demographic figures found in SAMHSA’s most recent National Survey on Drug Use and Health. That survey showed that 1.1 million adults aged 18 years and older reported past-year use of inhalants.

That compares with 988,000 adults who used crack in the past year, 637,000 who use LSD, 571,000 who used heroin, and 75,000 who used phencyclidine (PCP).

Dr. Jennifer N. Caudle, an osteopathic family physician representing the American Osteopathic Association who attended the press conference, said that adults can be drawn to use inhalants for reasons similar to those cited by adolescents: Inhalants are inexpensive, easy to find, and legal.

When it comes to treatment, Dr. Caudle said the only definitive way to know whether patients are addicted to inhalants is to ask. "If you don’t, you won’t know, and if you don’t know, you can’t help," Dr. Caudle said. "So if you ask and you get a positive answer, you can start counseling." She encouraged physicians to provide the necessary resources to their patients so they can get the treatment they need.

Howard C. Wolfe, an inhalant expert and director of the New England Inhalant Abuse Coalition, said another reason inhalant abusers are not getting the treatment they need is that programs do not think they are equipped to treat them, although inhalant abusers exhibit most of the same needs as people with other addictions. "The result is that inhalant users are turned away from treatment programs or are not adequately treated," Mr. Wolfe said, adding that many inhalant abusers also are turned away from treatment because of rages caused by neurological damage.

Dr. Mark S. Gold, an expert on drugs and the brain, also expressed concern about the central nervous system and brain damage caused by inhalant abuse. "We do not take much comfort from the reported decline in the use of heroin and other drugs. Clearly, prescription drug misuse, abuse, and dependence are the major opioid problems today," Dr. Gold, Distinguished Professor of Psychiatry & Neuroscience and chairman of the psychiatry department at the University of Florida, Gainesville, said in an interview.

For his part, Dr. Robert L. DuPont said in an interview that the latest study underlines two widely overlooked facts about biology and availability. First, the study shows that "chemicals that produce the brain reward of substance abuse can be taken by many routes of administration, including through the lungs – by smoking and in this case by inhalation or ‘huffing.’ " Second, drugs of abuse are not only the traditional drugs such as marijuana, cocaine, and heroin but also chemicals that are commonly available in the home and office.

"The simple truth is that, as the saying goes, ‘There is no problem so bad that drugs and alcohol won’t make worse,’ "said Dr. DuPont, who was the first director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse and founding president of the Institute for Behavior and Health Inc. in Rockville, Md.

"Physicians now need to include inhalant abuse in their routine screen of adults for substance abuse – and not just for youth."

WASHINGTON – Adults represent more than half of the patients admitted to substance abuse treatment programs for using inhalants, new data show.

The survey, released in March and conducted by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), also shows that in 2008, 32% of the adults who had treatment admissions involving inhalants were aged 30-44 years, and 16% were 45 and older.

The National Inhalant Prevention Coalition announced the findings at a press conference in collaboration with SAMHSA. The press conference was held in recognition of the annual National Inhalants and Poisons Awareness Week.

Harvey Weiss, executive director of the coalition, suggested that it might be time to broaden the traditional focus on inhalant prevention among children and adolescents. "The frequency of e-mails and calls on our toll-free hotline from people needing help for spouses, older siblings and friends, parents, and even grandparents has led us to understand that people of all ages are at risk" and might need help, he said.

The latest numbers support demographic figures found in SAMHSA’s most recent National Survey on Drug Use and Health. That survey showed that 1.1 million adults aged 18 years and older reported past-year use of inhalants.

That compares with 988,000 adults who used crack in the past year, 637,000 who use LSD, 571,000 who used heroin, and 75,000 who used phencyclidine (PCP).

Dr. Jennifer N. Caudle, an osteopathic family physician representing the American Osteopathic Association who attended the press conference, said that adults can be drawn to use inhalants for reasons similar to those cited by adolescents: Inhalants are inexpensive, easy to find, and legal.

When it comes to treatment, Dr. Caudle said the only definitive way to know whether patients are addicted to inhalants is to ask. "If you don’t, you won’t know, and if you don’t know, you can’t help," Dr. Caudle said. "So if you ask and you get a positive answer, you can start counseling." She encouraged physicians to provide the necessary resources to their patients so they can get the treatment they need.

Howard C. Wolfe, an inhalant expert and director of the New England Inhalant Abuse Coalition, said another reason inhalant abusers are not getting the treatment they need is that programs do not think they are equipped to treat them, although inhalant abusers exhibit most of the same needs as people with other addictions. "The result is that inhalant users are turned away from treatment programs or are not adequately treated," Mr. Wolfe said, adding that many inhalant abusers also are turned away from treatment because of rages caused by neurological damage.

Dr. Mark S. Gold, an expert on drugs and the brain, also expressed concern about the central nervous system and brain damage caused by inhalant abuse. "We do not take much comfort from the reported decline in the use of heroin and other drugs. Clearly, prescription drug misuse, abuse, and dependence are the major opioid problems today," Dr. Gold, Distinguished Professor of Psychiatry & Neuroscience and chairman of the psychiatry department at the University of Florida, Gainesville, said in an interview.

For his part, Dr. Robert L. DuPont said in an interview that the latest study underlines two widely overlooked facts about biology and availability. First, the study shows that "chemicals that produce the brain reward of substance abuse can be taken by many routes of administration, including through the lungs – by smoking and in this case by inhalation or ‘huffing.’ " Second, drugs of abuse are not only the traditional drugs such as marijuana, cocaine, and heroin but also chemicals that are commonly available in the home and office.

"The simple truth is that, as the saying goes, ‘There is no problem so bad that drugs and alcohol won’t make worse,’ "said Dr. DuPont, who was the first director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse and founding president of the Institute for Behavior and Health Inc. in Rockville, Md.

"Physicians now need to include inhalant abuse in their routine screen of adults for substance abuse – and not just for youth."

WASHINGTON – Adults represent more than half of the patients admitted to substance abuse treatment programs for using inhalants, new data show.

The survey, released in March and conducted by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), also shows that in 2008, 32% of the adults who had treatment admissions involving inhalants were aged 30-44 years, and 16% were 45 and older.

The National Inhalant Prevention Coalition announced the findings at a press conference in collaboration with SAMHSA. The press conference was held in recognition of the annual National Inhalants and Poisons Awareness Week.

Harvey Weiss, executive director of the coalition, suggested that it might be time to broaden the traditional focus on inhalant prevention among children and adolescents. "The frequency of e-mails and calls on our toll-free hotline from people needing help for spouses, older siblings and friends, parents, and even grandparents has led us to understand that people of all ages are at risk" and might need help, he said.

The latest numbers support demographic figures found in SAMHSA’s most recent National Survey on Drug Use and Health. That survey showed that 1.1 million adults aged 18 years and older reported past-year use of inhalants.

That compares with 988,000 adults who used crack in the past year, 637,000 who use LSD, 571,000 who used heroin, and 75,000 who used phencyclidine (PCP).

Dr. Jennifer N. Caudle, an osteopathic family physician representing the American Osteopathic Association who attended the press conference, said that adults can be drawn to use inhalants for reasons similar to those cited by adolescents: Inhalants are inexpensive, easy to find, and legal.

When it comes to treatment, Dr. Caudle said the only definitive way to know whether patients are addicted to inhalants is to ask. "If you don’t, you won’t know, and if you don’t know, you can’t help," Dr. Caudle said. "So if you ask and you get a positive answer, you can start counseling." She encouraged physicians to provide the necessary resources to their patients so they can get the treatment they need.

Howard C. Wolfe, an inhalant expert and director of the New England Inhalant Abuse Coalition, said another reason inhalant abusers are not getting the treatment they need is that programs do not think they are equipped to treat them, although inhalant abusers exhibit most of the same needs as people with other addictions. "The result is that inhalant users are turned away from treatment programs or are not adequately treated," Mr. Wolfe said, adding that many inhalant abusers also are turned away from treatment because of rages caused by neurological damage.

Dr. Mark S. Gold, an expert on drugs and the brain, also expressed concern about the central nervous system and brain damage caused by inhalant abuse. "We do not take much comfort from the reported decline in the use of heroin and other drugs. Clearly, prescription drug misuse, abuse, and dependence are the major opioid problems today," Dr. Gold, Distinguished Professor of Psychiatry & Neuroscience and chairman of the psychiatry department at the University of Florida, Gainesville, said in an interview.

For his part, Dr. Robert L. DuPont said in an interview that the latest study underlines two widely overlooked facts about biology and availability. First, the study shows that "chemicals that produce the brain reward of substance abuse can be taken by many routes of administration, including through the lungs – by smoking and in this case by inhalation or ‘huffing.’ " Second, drugs of abuse are not only the traditional drugs such as marijuana, cocaine, and heroin but also chemicals that are commonly available in the home and office.

"The simple truth is that, as the saying goes, ‘There is no problem so bad that drugs and alcohol won’t make worse,’ "said Dr. DuPont, who was the first director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse and founding president of the Institute for Behavior and Health Inc. in Rockville, Md.

"Physicians now need to include inhalant abuse in their routine screen of adults for substance abuse – and not just for youth."

WASHINGTON – Adults represent more than half of the patients admitted to substance abuse treatment programs for using inhalants, new data show.

The survey, released in March and conducted by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), also shows that in 2008, 32% of the adults who had treatment admissions involving inhalants were aged 30-44 years, and 16% were 45 and older.

The National Inhalant Prevention Coalition announced the findings at a press conference in collaboration with SAMHSA. The press conference was held in recognition of the annual National Inhalants and Poisons Awareness Week.

Harvey Weiss, executive director of the coalition, suggested that it might be time to broaden the traditional focus on inhalant prevention among children and adolescents. "The frequency of e-mails and calls on our toll-free hotline from people needing help for spouses, older siblings and friends, parents, and even grandparents has led us to understand that people of all ages are at risk" and might need help, he said.

The latest numbers support demographic figures found in SAMHSA’s most recent National Survey on Drug Use and Health. That survey showed that 1.1 million adults aged 18 years and older reported past-year use of inhalants.

That compares with 988,000 adults who used crack in the past year, 637,000 who use LSD, 571,000 who used heroin, and 75,000 who used phencyclidine (PCP).

Dr. Jennifer N. Caudle, an osteopathic family physician representing the American Osteopathic Association who attended the press conference, said that adults can be drawn to use inhalants for reasons similar to those cited by adolescents: Inhalants are inexpensive, easy to find, and legal.

When it comes to treatment, Dr. Caudle said the only definitive way to know whether patients are addicted to inhalants is to ask. "If you don’t, you won’t know, and if you don’t know, you can’t help," Dr. Caudle said. "So if you ask and you get a positive answer, you can start counseling." She encouraged physicians to provide the necessary resources to their patients so they can get the treatment they need.

Howard C. Wolfe, an inhalant expert and director of the New England Inhalant Abuse Coalition, said another reason inhalant abusers are not getting the treatment they need is that programs do not think they are equipped to treat them, although inhalant abusers exhibit most of the same needs as people with other addictions. "The result is that inhalant users are turned away from treatment programs or are not adequately treated," Mr. Wolfe said, adding that many inhalant abusers also are turned away from treatment because of rages caused by neurological damage.

Dr. Mark S. Gold, an expert on drugs and the brain, also expressed concern about the central nervous system and brain damage caused by inhalant abuse. "We do not take much comfort from the reported decline in the use of heroin and other drugs. Clearly, prescription drug misuse, abuse, and dependence are the major opioid problems today," Dr. Gold, Distinguished Professor of Psychiatry & Neuroscience and chairman of the psychiatry department at the University of Florida, Gainesville, said in an interview.

For his part, Dr. Robert L. DuPont said in an interview that the latest study underlines two widely overlooked facts about biology and availability. First, the study shows that "chemicals that produce the brain reward of substance abuse can be taken by many routes of administration, including through the lungs – by smoking and in this case by inhalation or ‘huffing.’ " Second, drugs of abuse are not only the traditional drugs such as marijuana, cocaine, and heroin but also chemicals that are commonly available in the home and office.

"The simple truth is that, as the saying goes, ‘There is no problem so bad that drugs and alcohol won’t make worse,’ "said Dr. DuPont, who was the first director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse and founding president of the Institute for Behavior and Health Inc. in Rockville, Md.

"Physicians now need to include inhalant abuse in their routine screen of adults for substance abuse – and not just for youth."

WASHINGTON – Adults represent more than half of the patients admitted to substance abuse treatment programs for using inhalants, new data show.

The survey, released in March and conducted by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), also shows that in 2008, 32% of the adults who had treatment admissions involving inhalants were aged 30-44 years, and 16% were 45 and older.

The National Inhalant Prevention Coalition announced the findings at a press conference in collaboration with SAMHSA. The press conference was held in recognition of the annual National Inhalants and Poisons Awareness Week.

Harvey Weiss, executive director of the coalition, suggested that it might be time to broaden the traditional focus on inhalant prevention among children and adolescents. "The frequency of e-mails and calls on our toll-free hotline from people needing help for spouses, older siblings and friends, parents, and even grandparents has led us to understand that people of all ages are at risk" and might need help, he said.

The latest numbers support demographic figures found in SAMHSA’s most recent National Survey on Drug Use and Health. That survey showed that 1.1 million adults aged 18 years and older reported past-year use of inhalants.

That compares with 988,000 adults who used crack in the past year, 637,000 who use LSD, 571,000 who used heroin, and 75,000 who used phencyclidine (PCP).

Dr. Jennifer N. Caudle, an osteopathic family physician representing the American Osteopathic Association who attended the press conference, said that adults can be drawn to use inhalants for reasons similar to those cited by adolescents: Inhalants are inexpensive, easy to find, and legal.

When it comes to treatment, Dr. Caudle said the only definitive way to know whether patients are addicted to inhalants is to ask. "If you don’t, you won’t know, and if you don’t know, you can’t help," Dr. Caudle said. "So if you ask and you get a positive answer, you can start counseling." She encouraged physicians to provide the necessary resources to their patients so they can get the treatment they need.

Howard C. Wolfe, an inhalant expert and director of the New England Inhalant Abuse Coalition, said another reason inhalant abusers are not getting the treatment they need is that programs do not think they are equipped to treat them, although inhalant abusers exhibit most of the same needs as people with other addictions. "The result is that inhalant users are turned away from treatment programs or are not adequately treated," Mr. Wolfe said, adding that many inhalant abusers also are turned away from treatment because of rages caused by neurological damage.

Dr. Mark S. Gold, an expert on drugs and the brain, also expressed concern about the central nervous system and brain damage caused by inhalant abuse. "We do not take much comfort from the reported decline in the use of heroin and other drugs. Clearly, prescription drug misuse, abuse, and dependence are the major opioid problems today," Dr. Gold, Distinguished Professor of Psychiatry & Neuroscience and chairman of the psychiatry department at the University of Florida, Gainesville, said in an interview.

For his part, Dr. Robert L. DuPont said in an interview that the latest study underlines two widely overlooked facts about biology and availability. First, the study shows that "chemicals that produce the brain reward of substance abuse can be taken by many routes of administration, including through the lungs – by smoking and in this case by inhalation or ‘huffing.’ " Second, drugs of abuse are not only the traditional drugs such as marijuana, cocaine, and heroin but also chemicals that are commonly available in the home and office.

"The simple truth is that, as the saying goes, ‘There is no problem so bad that drugs and alcohol won’t make worse,’ "said Dr. DuPont, who was the first director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse and founding president of the Institute for Behavior and Health Inc. in Rockville, Md.

"Physicians now need to include inhalant abuse in their routine screen of adults for substance abuse – and not just for youth."

WASHINGTON – Adults represent more than half of the patients admitted to substance abuse treatment programs for using inhalants, new data show.

The survey, released in March and conducted by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), also shows that in 2008, 32% of the adults who had treatment admissions involving inhalants were aged 30-44 years, and 16% were 45 and older.

The National Inhalant Prevention Coalition announced the findings at a press conference in collaboration with SAMHSA. The press conference was held in recognition of the annual National Inhalants and Poisons Awareness Week.

Harvey Weiss, executive director of the coalition, suggested that it might be time to broaden the traditional focus on inhalant prevention among children and adolescents. "The frequency of e-mails and calls on our toll-free hotline from people needing help for spouses, older siblings and friends, parents, and even grandparents has led us to understand that people of all ages are at risk" and might need help, he said.

The latest numbers support demographic figures found in SAMHSA’s most recent National Survey on Drug Use and Health. That survey showed that 1.1 million adults aged 18 years and older reported past-year use of inhalants.

That compares with 988,000 adults who used crack in the past year, 637,000 who use LSD, 571,000 who used heroin, and 75,000 who used phencyclidine (PCP).

Dr. Jennifer N. Caudle, an osteopathic family physician representing the American Osteopathic Association who attended the press conference, said that adults can be drawn to use inhalants for reasons similar to those cited by adolescents: Inhalants are inexpensive, easy to find, and legal.

When it comes to treatment, Dr. Caudle said the only definitive way to know whether patients are addicted to inhalants is to ask. "If you don’t, you won’t know, and if you don’t know, you can’t help," Dr. Caudle said. "So if you ask and you get a positive answer, you can start counseling." She encouraged physicians to provide the necessary resources to their patients so they can get the treatment they need.

Howard C. Wolfe, an inhalant expert and director of the New England Inhalant Abuse Coalition, said another reason inhalant abusers are not getting the treatment they need is that programs do not think they are equipped to treat them, although inhalant abusers exhibit most of the same needs as people with other addictions. "The result is that inhalant users are turned away from treatment programs or are not adequately treated," Mr. Wolfe said, adding that many inhalant abusers also are turned away from treatment because of rages caused by neurological damage.

Dr. Mark S. Gold, an expert on drugs and the brain, also expressed concern about the central nervous system and brain damage caused by inhalant abuse. "We do not take much comfort from the reported decline in the use of heroin and other drugs. Clearly, prescription drug misuse, abuse, and dependence are the major opioid problems today," Dr. Gold, Distinguished Professor of Psychiatry & Neuroscience and chairman of the psychiatry department at the University of Florida, Gainesville, said in an interview.

For his part, Dr. Robert L. DuPont said in an interview that the latest study underlines two widely overlooked facts about biology and availability. First, the study shows that "chemicals that produce the brain reward of substance abuse can be taken by many routes of administration, including through the lungs – by smoking and in this case by inhalation or ‘huffing.’ " Second, drugs of abuse are not only the traditional drugs such as marijuana, cocaine, and heroin but also chemicals that are commonly available in the home and office.

"The simple truth is that, as the saying goes, ‘There is no problem so bad that drugs and alcohol won’t make worse,’ "said Dr. DuPont, who was the first director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse and founding president of the Institute for Behavior and Health Inc. in Rockville, Md.

"Physicians now need to include inhalant abuse in their routine screen of adults for substance abuse – and not just for youth."

WASHINGTON – Adults represent more than half of the patients admitted to substance abuse treatment programs for using inhalants, new data show.

The survey, released in March and conducted by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), also shows that in 2008, 32% of the adults who had treatment admissions involving inhalants were aged 30-44 years, and 16% were 45 and older.

The National Inhalant Prevention Coalition announced the findings at a press conference in collaboration with SAMHSA. The press conference was held in recognition of the annual National Inhalants and Poisons Awareness Week.

Harvey Weiss, executive director of the coalition, suggested that it might be time to broaden the traditional focus on inhalant prevention among children and adolescents. "The frequency of e-mails and calls on our toll-free hotline from people needing help for spouses, older siblings and friends, parents, and even grandparents has led us to understand that people of all ages are at risk" and might need help, he said.

The latest numbers support demographic figures found in SAMHSA’s most recent National Survey on Drug Use and Health. That survey showed that 1.1 million adults aged 18 years and older reported past-year use of inhalants.

That compares with 988,000 adults who used crack in the past year, 637,000 who use LSD, 571,000 who used heroin, and 75,000 who used phencyclidine (PCP).

Dr. Jennifer N. Caudle, an osteopathic family physician representing the American Osteopathic Association who attended the press conference, said that adults can be drawn to use inhalants for reasons similar to those cited by adolescents: Inhalants are inexpensive, easy to find, and legal.

When it comes to treatment, Dr. Caudle said the only definitive way to know whether patients are addicted to inhalants is to ask. "If you don’t, you won’t know, and if you don’t know, you can’t help," Dr. Caudle said. "So if you ask and you get a positive answer, you can start counseling." She encouraged physicians to provide the necessary resources to their patients so they can get the treatment they need.

Howard C. Wolfe, an inhalant expert and director of the New England Inhalant Abuse Coalition, said another reason inhalant abusers are not getting the treatment they need is that programs do not think they are equipped to treat them, although inhalant abusers exhibit most of the same needs as people with other addictions. "The result is that inhalant users are turned away from treatment programs or are not adequately treated," Mr. Wolfe said, adding that many inhalant abusers also are turned away from treatment because of rages caused by neurological damage.

Dr. Mark S. Gold, an expert on drugs and the brain, also expressed concern about the central nervous system and brain damage caused by inhalant abuse. "We do not take much comfort from the reported decline in the use of heroin and other drugs. Clearly, prescription drug misuse, abuse, and dependence are the major opioid problems today," Dr. Gold, Distinguished Professor of Psychiatry & Neuroscience and chairman of the psychiatry department at the University of Florida, Gainesville, said in an interview.

For his part, Dr. Robert L. DuPont said in an interview that the latest study underlines two widely overlooked facts about biology and availability. First, the study shows that "chemicals that produce the brain reward of substance abuse can be taken by many routes of administration, including through the lungs – by smoking and in this case by inhalation or ‘huffing.’ " Second, drugs of abuse are not only the traditional drugs such as marijuana, cocaine, and heroin but also chemicals that are commonly available in the home and office.

"The simple truth is that, as the saying goes, ‘There is no problem so bad that drugs and alcohol won’t make worse,’ "said Dr. DuPont, who was the first director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse and founding president of the Institute for Behavior and Health Inc. in Rockville, Md.

"Physicians now need to include inhalant abuse in their routine screen of adults for substance abuse – and not just for youth."

WASHINGTON – Adults represent more than half of the patients admitted to substance abuse treatment programs for using inhalants, new data show.

The survey, released in March and conducted by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), also shows that in 2008, 32% of the adults who had treatment admissions involving inhalants were aged 30-44 years, and 16% were 45 and older.

The National Inhalant Prevention Coalition announced the findings at a press conference in collaboration with SAMHSA. The press conference was held in recognition of the annual National Inhalants and Poisons Awareness Week.

Harvey Weiss, executive director of the coalition, suggested that it might be time to broaden the traditional focus on inhalant prevention among children and adolescents. "The frequency of e-mails and calls on our toll-free hotline from people needing help for spouses, older siblings and friends, parents, and even grandparents has led us to understand that people of all ages are at risk" and might need help, he said.

The latest numbers support demographic figures found in SAMHSA’s most recent National Survey on Drug Use and Health. That survey showed that 1.1 million adults aged 18 years and older reported past-year use of inhalants.

That compares with 988,000 adults who used crack in the past year, 637,000 who use LSD, 571,000 who used heroin, and 75,000 who used phencyclidine (PCP).

Dr. Jennifer N. Caudle, an osteopathic family physician representing the American Osteopathic Association who attended the press conference, said that adults can be drawn to use inhalants for reasons similar to those cited by adolescents: Inhalants are inexpensive, easy to find, and legal.

When it comes to treatment, Dr. Caudle said the only definitive way to know whether patients are addicted to inhalants is to ask. "If you don’t, you won’t know, and if you don’t know, you can’t help," Dr. Caudle said. "So if you ask and you get a positive answer, you can start counseling." She encouraged physicians to provide the necessary resources to their patients so they can get the treatment they need.

Howard C. Wolfe, an inhalant expert and director of the New England Inhalant Abuse Coalition, said another reason inhalant abusers are not getting the treatment they need is that programs do not think they are equipped to treat them, although inhalant abusers exhibit most of the same needs as people with other addictions. "The result is that inhalant users are turned away from treatment programs or are not adequately treated," Mr. Wolfe said, adding that many inhalant abusers also are turned away from treatment because of rages caused by neurological damage.

Dr. Mark S. Gold, an expert on drugs and the brain, also expressed concern about the central nervous system and brain damage caused by inhalant abuse. "We do not take much comfort from the reported decline in the use of heroin and other drugs. Clearly, prescription drug misuse, abuse, and dependence are the major opioid problems today," Dr. Gold, Distinguished Professor of Psychiatry & Neuroscience and chairman of the psychiatry department at the University of Florida, Gainesville, said in an interview.

For his part, Dr. Robert L. DuPont said in an interview that the latest study underlines two widely overlooked facts about biology and availability. First, the study shows that "chemicals that produce the brain reward of substance abuse can be taken by many routes of administration, including through the lungs – by smoking and in this case by inhalation or ‘huffing.’ " Second, drugs of abuse are not only the traditional drugs such as marijuana, cocaine, and heroin but also chemicals that are commonly available in the home and office.

"The simple truth is that, as the saying goes, ‘There is no problem so bad that drugs and alcohol won’t make worse,’ "said Dr. DuPont, who was the first director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse and founding president of the Institute for Behavior and Health Inc. in Rockville, Md.

"Physicians now need to include inhalant abuse in their routine screen of adults for substance abuse – and not just for youth."

WASHINGTON – Adults represent more than half of the patients admitted to substance abuse treatment programs for using inhalants, new data show.

The survey, released in March and conducted by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), also shows that in 2008, 32% of the adults who had treatment admissions involving inhalants were aged 30-44 years, and 16% were 45 and older.

The National Inhalant Prevention Coalition announced the findings at a press conference in collaboration with SAMHSA. The press conference was held in recognition of the annual National Inhalants and Poisons Awareness Week.

Harvey Weiss, executive director of the coalition, suggested that it might be time to broaden the traditional focus on inhalant prevention among children and adolescents. "The frequency of e-mails and calls on our toll-free hotline from people needing help for spouses, older siblings and friends, parents, and even grandparents has led us to understand that people of all ages are at risk" and might need help, he said.

The latest numbers support demographic figures found in SAMHSA’s most recent National Survey on Drug Use and Health. That survey showed that 1.1 million adults aged 18 years and older reported past-year use of inhalants.

That compares with 988,000 adults who used crack in the past year, 637,000 who use LSD, 571,000 who used heroin, and 75,000 who used phencyclidine (PCP).

Dr. Jennifer N. Caudle, an osteopathic family physician representing the American Osteopathic Association who attended the press conference, said that adults can be drawn to use inhalants for reasons similar to those cited by adolescents: Inhalants are inexpensive, easy to find, and legal.

When it comes to treatment, Dr. Caudle said the only definitive way to know whether patients are addicted to inhalants is to ask. "If you don’t, you won’t know, and if you don’t know, you can’t help," Dr. Caudle said. "So if you ask and you get a positive answer, you can start counseling." She encouraged physicians to provide the necessary resources to their patients so they can get the treatment they need.

Howard C. Wolfe, an inhalant expert and director of the New England Inhalant Abuse Coalition, said another reason inhalant abusers are not getting the treatment they need is that programs do not think they are equipped to treat them, although inhalant abusers exhibit most of the same needs as people with other addictions. "The result is that inhalant users are turned away from treatment programs or are not adequately treated," Mr. Wolfe said, adding that many inhalant abusers also are turned away from treatment because of rages caused by neurological damage.

Dr. Mark S. Gold, an expert on drugs and the brain, also expressed concern about the central nervous system and brain damage caused by inhalant abuse. "We do not take much comfort from the reported decline in the use of heroin and other drugs. Clearly, prescription drug misuse, abuse, and dependence are the major opioid problems today," Dr. Gold, Distinguished Professor of Psychiatry & Neuroscience and chairman of the psychiatry department at the University of Florida, Gainesville, said in an interview.

For his part, Dr. Robert L. DuPont said in an interview that the latest study underlines two widely overlooked facts about biology and availability. First, the study shows that "chemicals that produce the brain reward of substance abuse can be taken by many routes of administration, including through the lungs – by smoking and in this case by inhalation or ‘huffing.’ " Second, drugs of abuse are not only the traditional drugs such as marijuana, cocaine, and heroin but also chemicals that are commonly available in the home and office.

"The simple truth is that, as the saying goes, ‘There is no problem so bad that drugs and alcohol won’t make worse,’ "said Dr. DuPont, who was the first director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse and founding president of the Institute for Behavior and Health Inc. in Rockville, Md.

"Physicians now need to include inhalant abuse in their routine screen of adults for substance abuse – and not just for youth."

WASHINGTON – Adults represent more than half of the patients admitted to substance abuse treatment programs for using inhalants, new data show.

The survey, released in March and conducted by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), also shows that in 2008, 32% of the adults who had treatment admissions involving inhalants were aged 30-44 years, and 16% were 45 and older.

The National Inhalant Prevention Coalition announced the findings at a press conference in collaboration with SAMHSA. The press conference was held in recognition of the annual National Inhalants and Poisons Awareness Week.

Harvey Weiss, executive director of the coalition, suggested that it might be time to broaden the traditional focus on inhalant prevention among children and adolescents. "The frequency of e-mails and calls on our toll-free hotline from people needing help for spouses, older siblings and friends, parents, and even grandparents has led us to understand that people of all ages are at risk" and might need help, he said.

The latest numbers support demographic figures found in SAMHSA’s most recent National Survey on Drug Use and Health. That survey showed that 1.1 million adults aged 18 years and older reported past-year use of inhalants.

That compares with 988,000 adults who used crack in the past year, 637,000 who use LSD, 571,000 who used heroin, and 75,000 who used phencyclidine (PCP).

Dr. Jennifer N. Caudle, an osteopathic family physician representing the American Osteopathic Association who attended the press conference, said that adults can be drawn to use inhalants for reasons similar to those cited by adolescents: Inhalants are inexpensive, easy to find, and legal.

When it comes to treatment, Dr. Caudle said the only definitive way to know whether patients are addicted to inhalants is to ask. "If you don’t, you won’t know, and if you don’t know, you can’t help," Dr. Caudle said. "So if you ask and you get a positive answer, you can start counseling." She encouraged physicians to provide the necessary resources to their patients so they can get the treatment they need.

Howard C. Wolfe, an inhalant expert and director of the New England Inhalant Abuse Coalition, said another reason inhalant abusers are not getting the treatment they need is that programs do not think they are equipped to treat them, although inhalant abusers exhibit most of the same needs as people with other addictions. "The result is that inhalant users are turned away from treatment programs or are not adequately treated," Mr. Wolfe said, adding that many inhalant abusers also are turned away from treatment because of rages caused by neurological damage.

Dr. Mark S. Gold, an expert on drugs and the brain, also expressed concern about the central nervous system and brain damage caused by inhalant abuse. "We do not take much comfort from the reported decline in the use of heroin and other drugs. Clearly, prescription drug misuse, abuse, and dependence are the major opioid problems today," Dr. Gold, Distinguished Professor of Psychiatry & Neuroscience and chairman of the psychiatry department at the University of Florida, Gainesville, said in an interview.

For his part, Dr. Robert L. DuPont said in an interview that the latest study underlines two widely overlooked facts about biology and availability. First, the study shows that "chemicals that produce the brain reward of substance abuse can be taken by many routes of administration, including through the lungs – by smoking and in this case by inhalation or ‘huffing.’ " Second, drugs of abuse are not only the traditional drugs such as marijuana, cocaine, and heroin but also chemicals that are commonly available in the home and office.

"The simple truth is that, as the saying goes, ‘There is no problem so bad that drugs and alcohol won’t make worse,’ "said Dr. DuPont, who was the first director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse and founding president of the Institute for Behavior and Health Inc. in Rockville, Md.

"Physicians now need to include inhalant abuse in their routine screen of adults for substance abuse – and not just for youth."

WASHINGTON – Adults represent more than half of the patients admitted to substance abuse treatment programs for using inhalants, new data show.

The survey, released in March and conducted by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), also shows that in 2008, 32% of the adults who had treatment admissions involving inhalants were aged 30-44 years, and 16% were 45 and older.

The National Inhalant Prevention Coalition announced the findings at a press conference in collaboration with SAMHSA. The press conference was held in recognition of the annual National Inhalants and Poisons Awareness Week.

Harvey Weiss, executive director of the coalition, suggested that it might be time to broaden the traditional focus on inhalant prevention among children and adolescents. "The frequency of e-mails and calls on our toll-free hotline from people needing help for spouses, older siblings and friends, parents, and even grandparents has led us to understand that people of all ages are at risk" and might need help, he said.

The latest numbers support demographic figures found in SAMHSA’s most recent National Survey on Drug Use and Health. That survey showed that 1.1 million adults aged 18 years and older reported past-year use of inhalants.

That compares with 988,000 adults who used crack in the past year, 637,000 who use LSD, 571,000 who used heroin, and 75,000 who used phencyclidine (PCP).

Dr. Jennifer N. Caudle, an osteopathic family physician representing the American Osteopathic Association who attended the press conference, said that adults can be drawn to use inhalants for reasons similar to those cited by adolescents: Inhalants are inexpensive, easy to find, and legal.

When it comes to treatment, Dr. Caudle said the only definitive way to know whether patients are addicted to inhalants is to ask. "If you don’t, you won’t know, and if you don’t know, you can’t help," Dr. Caudle said. "So if you ask and you get a positive answer, you can start counseling." She encouraged physicians to provide the necessary resources to their patients so they can get the treatment they need.

Howard C. Wolfe, an inhalant expert and director of the New England Inhalant Abuse Coalition, said another reason inhalant abusers are not getting the treatment they need is that programs do not think they are equipped to treat them, although inhalant abusers exhibit most of the same needs as people with other addictions. "The result is that inhalant users are turned away from treatment programs or are not adequately treated," Mr. Wolfe said, adding that many inhalant abusers also are turned away from treatment because of rages caused by neurological damage.

Dr. Mark S. Gold, an expert on drugs and the brain, also expressed concern about the central nervous system and brain damage caused by inhalant abuse. "We do not take much comfort from the reported decline in the use of heroin and other drugs. Clearly, prescription drug misuse, abuse, and dependence are the major opioid problems today," Dr. Gold, Distinguished Professor of Psychiatry & Neuroscience and chairman of the psychiatry department at the University of Florida, Gainesville, said in an interview.

For his part, Dr. Robert L. DuPont said in an interview that the latest study underlines two widely overlooked facts about biology and availability. First, the study shows that "chemicals that produce the brain reward of substance abuse can be taken by many routes of administration, including through the lungs – by smoking and in this case by inhalation or ‘huffing.’ " Second, drugs of abuse are not only the traditional drugs such as marijuana, cocaine, and heroin but also chemicals that are commonly available in the home and office.

"The simple truth is that, as the saying goes, ‘There is no problem so bad that drugs and alcohol won’t make worse,’ "said Dr. DuPont, who was the first director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse and founding president of the Institute for Behavior and Health Inc. in Rockville, Md.

"Physicians now need to include inhalant abuse in their routine screen of adults for substance abuse – and not just for youth."

WASHINGTON – Adults represent more than half of the patients admitted to substance abuse treatment programs for using inhalants, new data show.

The survey, released in March and conducted by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), also shows that in 2008, 32% of the adults who had treatment admissions involving inhalants were aged 30-44 years, and 16% were 45 and older.

The National Inhalant Prevention Coalition announced the findings at a press conference in collaboration with SAMHSA. The press conference was held in recognition of the annual National Inhalants and Poisons Awareness Week.

Harvey Weiss, executive director of the coalition, suggested that it might be time to broaden the traditional focus on inhalant prevention among children and adolescents. "The frequency of e-mails and calls on our toll-free hotline from people needing help for spouses, older siblings and friends, parents, and even grandparents has led us to understand that people of all ages are at risk" and might need help, he said.

The latest numbers support demographic figures found in SAMHSA’s most recent National Survey on Drug Use and Health. That survey showed that 1.1 million adults aged 18 years and older reported past-year use of inhalants.

That compares with 988,000 adults who used crack in the past year, 637,000 who use LSD, 571,000 who used heroin, and 75,000 who used phencyclidine (PCP).

Dr. Jennifer N. Caudle, an osteopathic family physician representing the American Osteopathic Association who attended the press conference, said that adults can be drawn to use inhalants for reasons similar to those cited by adolescents: Inhalants are inexpensive, easy to find, and legal.

When it comes to treatment, Dr. Caudle said the only definitive way to know whether patients are addicted to inhalants is to ask. "If you don’t, you won’t know, and if you don’t know, you can’t help," Dr. Caudle said. "So if you ask and you get a positive answer, you can start counseling." She encouraged physicians to provide the necessary resources to their patients so they can get the treatment they need.

Howard C. Wolfe, an inhalant expert and director of the New England Inhalant Abuse Coalition, said another reason inhalant abusers are not getting the treatment they need is that programs do not think they are equipped to treat them, although inhalant abusers exhibit most of the same needs as people with other addictions. "The result is that inhalant users are turned away from treatment programs or are not adequately treated," Mr. Wolfe said, adding that many inhalant abusers also are turned away from treatment because of rages caused by neurological damage.

Dr. Mark S. Gold, an expert on drugs and the brain, also expressed concern about the central nervous system and brain damage caused by inhalant abuse. "We do not take much comfort from the reported decline in the use of heroin and other drugs. Clearly, prescription drug misuse, abuse, and dependence are the major opioid problems today," Dr. Gold, Distinguished Professor of Psychiatry & Neuroscience and chairman of the psychiatry department at the University of Florida, Gainesville, said in an interview.

For his part, Dr. Robert L. DuPont said in an interview that the latest study underlines two widely overlooked facts about biology and availability. First, the study shows that "chemicals that produce the brain reward of substance abuse can be taken by many routes of administration, including through the lungs – by smoking and in this case by inhalation or ‘huffing.’ " Second, drugs of abuse are not only the traditional drugs such as marijuana, cocaine, and heroin but also chemicals that are commonly available in the home and office.

"The simple truth is that, as the saying goes, ‘There is no problem so bad that drugs and alcohol won’t make worse,’ "said Dr. DuPont, who was the first director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse and founding president of the Institute for Behavior and Health Inc. in Rockville, Md.

"Physicians now need to include inhalant abuse in their routine screen of adults for substance abuse – and not just for youth."