"Marijuana is the first illegal drug that many young people use and teens
don't view it as a serious drug, and when children are exposed only to advice
from kids like themselves, the risks seem meaningless. (AMEX:HTM), a healthcare services management company
that delivers to treatment providers both proprietary administrative
services and physiological protocols designed to treat addiction ,
announced today that it has signed a licensing and services agreement
to offer its HANDS(TM) Protocols to Ardent Health Services, a leading
network of behavioral hospitals and one of the largest providers of
inpatient and outpatient mental health services.

inpatient abnormally

D.P.
-- A British study found that as many as one in four people may have a
genetic profile that makes marijuana five times more likely to trigger
psychotic disorders.D., President of the Institute for Behavior and Health, Inc., and a leading
advocate for the power of parents in preventing drug use." The letter highlights
some of the new research about the serious consequences of teen marijuana use
on mental health and is signed by ONDCP and 12 of the Nation's leading mental
health, behavioral health and addiction treatment organizations: American
Psychiatric Association; American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry;
American Society of Addiction Medicine; Asian Community Mental Health
Services; Association for Medical Education and Research in Substance Abuse;
Institute for Behavior and Health , Inc.

pornography televised

Hoisington, Psy. Walters,
and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
Administrator, Charles G. As a result, the HANDS
Protocols represent a comprehensive approach to managing substance
dependence that is designed to address both the physiological and
psychological aspects of the disease, thereby offering patients an
opportunity to transition into a healthier lifestyle.

About Hythiam, Inc.

pornography pathological

The Concerned Persons Group is based on the Community Reinforcement and
Family Training (CRAFT) model developed by Robert J. Meyers
spent ten years developing this multi-faceted program that uses supportive,
non-confrontational methods of intervention.

White House Drug Czar Research and Mental Health Communities Warn Parents That Marijuana Use Can Lead to Depression Suicidal Thoughts and Schizophrenia

Curie, joined with scientists and experts from the
leading mental health organizations today to alert parents about the danger
marijuana poses to their teens' mental health.S.

addiction dependency

Parents and teens alike must realize the long-term effects
marijuana can have on the brain. "Tell your
teens the facts and tell them not to use marijuana," said Robert L.sec.

An addiction or dependency is the state of being abnormally dependent on something that is psychologically or physically habit-forming.

pornography enotalone

"
"Mental health disorders such as depression and schizophrenia contribute
to the mortality of our citizens, and suicide is one of the leading
preventable causes of death ," said U.A.

discussed televised

CENTER CITY, Minn.D.D.
For more information on the ONDCP National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign,
visit http://www.gov

pornography individualized

Meyers, Ph. A vital part of your job as a parent is
helping your teen grow up drug-free. "Ardent Health Services is a leader in dealing with
behavioral diseases and their expertise in this area, combined with
their commitment to comprehensive, innovative approaches to ending the
cycle of dependency, creates an ideal environment for incorporation of
our HANDS(TM) Protocols.

enotalone inpatient

com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050525/CGTH007LOGO )
"This therapy group is for significant others, parents, relatives or
friends who are concerned about a loved one's use, and are looking for
support," said Susan M."
Several recent studies have linked youth marijuana use with depression ,
suicidal thoughts and schizophrenia:

-- Young people who use marijuana weekly have double the risk of
developing depression.
"The nonchalance about marijuana in Europe and the U.com ,
adults can learn more about how marijuana affects the developing teen brain,
including the links between marijuana and depression, suicidal thoughts and
schizophrenia.

Hythiam Announces Licensing Agreement to Offer HANDS Protocols Through Ardent Health Services Facilities

"
"The HANDS(TM) Protocol, especially because of its emphasis on
addressing both the physiological and psychological causes of the
disease of addiction, lends itself to the outpatient services approach
of our facilities ," said Harry Silsby, M.

About Ardent Health Services

Ardent Health Services is a provider of healthcare services to
communities throughout the United States.

discussed keystone

This is yet another
reason that parents must stay closely involved with their teens and ensure
that they are not smoking marijuana . We're starting to see
marijuana in a new light given recent research into the connection between
marijuana and mental illness.; National Asian American Pacific
Islander Mental Health Association; National Association of Addiction
Treatment Providers; National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare;
National Latino Behavioral Health Association; National Medical Association;
and the Partnership for a Drug-Free America.

Hythiam, Inc.

addicted habit

"
A number of prominent studies have recently identified a direct link
between marijuana use and increased risk of mental health problems . Carmona,
M., Professor of Drug Misuse Research and Director,
Centre for Drug Misuse Research , University of Glasgow, Glasgow, Scotland.
The agreement calls for licensing of the HANDS(TM) Protocols
initially into five Ardent Health Services behavioral hospitals - BHC
Alhambra Hospital, a full service psychiatric hospital that offers
inpatient, partial hospitalization, eating disorder and substance
abuse treatment, located in California's San Gabriel Valley;
Intermountain Hospital , a full service psychiatric hospital and
residential treatment center located in Boise, Idaho; Montevista
Hospital, a full service psychiatric hospital offering inpatient and
outpatient services for behavioral , chemical detox and rehabilitation,
located in Las Vegas, Nevada; West Hills Hospital, a behavioral health
care services facility offering inpatient hospitalization, chemical
detox and rehabilitation , and intensive outpatient psychiatric and
chemical dependency treatment, located in Reno, Nevada; and Fairfax
Hospital, a full-service psychiatric hospital located in Kirkland,
Washington, a suburb of Seattle, that provides treatment services for
adults, adolescents, and children through inpatient and partial
hospitalization. Peizer, Hythiam's
Chairman and CEO. Additionally, the location of Ardent Health
Services facilities in rural and suburban environments greatly
enhances our reach in providing these protocols to diverse
communities. is a healthcare services management company , focused
on delivering solutions for those suffering from alcoholism and
addiction.
For further information please visit www.

outpatient addictive

Surgeon General Richard H.

addiction televised

Dr.C.
-- Teens aged 12 to 17 who smoke marijuana weekly are three times more
likely than non-users to have suicidal thoughts. Parents can also view
responses from a qualified psychiatrist on the most common questions regarding
marijuana and mental health. Hythiam researches, develops, licenses and commercializes
innovative physiological treatment protocols.

psychologically prescott

, and co-
author of Get Your Loved One Sober (Hazelden Publishing, 2004).
Hazelden Foundation, founded in 1949, is an internationally known
nonprofit organization based in Center City, Minn.

"A growing body of evidence now demonstrates that smoking marijuana can
increase the risk of serious mental health problems," said Walters, Director
of National Drug Control Policy. "New research being conducted here and abroad
illustrates that marijuana use, particularly during the teen years, can lead
to depression, thoughts of suicide, and schizophrenia. The letter begins appearing next
week in USA Today and newspapers in the 25 largest cities nationwide,
including The New York Times and The Washington Post, and will also run in The
Nation, The National Journal , The National Review, The New Republic, Newsweek,
Time and The Weekly Standard.D. The HANDS(TM) Protocols include medically
supervised procedures designed to target receptor sites in the brain
that regulate neurotransmitters implicated in brain processes of
substance dependency. Changes in the neurochemistry of the brain
underlie the hallmarks of substance dependency, including craving,
tolerance, withdrawal symptoms and relapse.

pornography outpatient

, The Concerned Persons Group is
a new outpatient therapy group offered by Hazelden, but it's not for people
using drugs or alcohol -- it's for those people who are concerned about loved
ones who are abusing substances.
A report released today from SAMSHA found that adults who first used
marijuana before age 12 were twice as likely as adults who first used
marijuana at age 18 or older to be classified as having serious mental illness
in the past year than were adults who first used marijuana at age 18 or older.
On the Media Campaign's Web site for parents, http: //TheAntiDrug., national Medical Director
for behavioral services at Ardent Health Services.

abnormally prescott

, L.S .
-- Marijuana use in some teens has been linked to increased risk for
schizophrenia in later years.D.

pathological keystone

(Logo: http://www.P. During the past three
years, these studies have strengthened that association and further found that
the age when marijuana is first smoked is a crucial risk factor in later
development of mental health problems.
"Kids today are using marijuana at younger ages, putting them at greater
risk," said Charles G. Visitors can take a virtual tour of a human brain to learn how
marijuana impairs, and even changes, the functionality of the centers
responsible for maintaining overall mental health. The HANDS(TM) Protocols
also provide for a maintenance program that includes medications and
incentives for patients to continue with the recovery process through
individualized continuing care programs. Additionally, Hythiam
provides proprietary administrative services to assist physicians and
facilities with staff education, clinical services , marketing and
sales support, and outcomes tracking methodologies for data analysis.

stossel compulsivity

org/concerned . Serious Psychiatric Impact of Marijuana Use Evident in Growing Body of
Research

WASHINGTON, The Nation's Drug Czar, John P. is worrisome,"
said Neil McKeganey, Ph."
This new evidence comes with a warning to parents, as they are the most
important influence in their teens' lives when it comes to drugs.

addictions keystone

Recent
research makes a stronger case that cannabis smoking itself is a causal agent
in psychiatric symptoms, particularly schizophrenia . "We have found that the
younger a person starts smoking marijuana, the greater the likelihood they
have of developing an addiction and serious mental illness later in life.

pathological outpatient

, Executive Director of
Hazelden's Mental Health Centers in Minnesota.MediaCampaign.

About HANDS(TM)

Hythiam 's HANDS(TM) Protocols are designed for use by healthcare
providers to treat those diagnosed with dependencies to alcohol,
cocaine, methamphetamine and other addictive stimulants, as well as
combinations of these drugs.

conflicting passive

hazelden.H.

keystone psychologically

Paul.
Individuals can register by calling 866-359-6425 or find additional
information online at http://www. For instance, a major study out of the Netherlands concluded
that use of the drug "moderately increases" the risk of psychotic symptoms in
young people but has "a much stronger effect" in those with evidence of
predisposition. DuPont,
M.

addiction impulse

"As a society we must do everything we can to promote
mental health and prevent mental illness - and that includes keeping our kids
drug-free.

Evidence has recently emerged that some people's genetic make-up may
predispose them to be particularly vulnerable to the effects of marijuana on
mental health. "Take meaningful
actions to see that they do not.hythiam.

discussed habit

Hazelden Offers New Outpatient Therapy Group on How to Get Your Loved Ones Sober

newscom.
Mental health professionals with expertise in family counseling and
chemical dependency will lead the group at Hazelden Fellowship Club in St. The group will meet for two hours on Thursday evenings for six weeks., that provides a wide range
of published materials, training, research, and treatment services on
addiction and recovery. Curie, SAMHSA Administrator., M., F.S."
As part of the Office of National Drug Control Policy's (ONDCP) National
Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign, this outreach effort features a compendium of
recent research linking marijuana and mental illness and an Open Letter to
parents on "Marijuana and Your Teen's Mental Health.org .

Business Editors/Healthcare Editors

LOS ANGELES-- --

Leading Behavioral Hospital Network to
Deploy Protocols in Five Initial Sites

Hythiam, Inc. These risk factors include, among
others, limited operating history and lack of statistically
significant formal research studies, difficulty in developing,
exploiting and protecting proprietary technologies, intense
competition and substantial regulation in the healthcare industry; and
additional risks factors as discussed in the reports filed by the
company with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which are
available on its website at http: //www.

televised individualized

The first group, which will be forming this fall, will offer education,
emotional support , and guidance on how to present the loved one with options
for recovery, such as treatment and therapy , according to Hoisington.
"This agreement represents a milestone for Hythiam in that Ardent
Health Services is the first network of behavioral hospitals to
license the HANDS(TM) Protocols," said Terren S. Ardent currently operates 35
hospitals in 14 states, providing a full range of medical/surgical ,
psychiatric and substance abuse services to patients ranging from
children to adults.com

Forward-Looking Statements

Except for statements of historical fact, the matters discussed in
this press release are forward looking and made pursuant to the Safe
Harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995. These forward-looking statements reflect numerous assumptions
and involve a variety of risks and uncertainties, many of which are
beyond the company 's control that may cause actual results to differ
materially from stated expectations.