bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Low Alcohol Beers and Wines: attitudes of problem drinkers to their use and their effect on craving
Authors: Long Clive G. , Cohen Esther M.
Published: January 2006

Thirty‐one inpatient and 67 expatient problem drinkers’use of low alcohol drinks and their attitudes towards them were assessed using questionnaire measures. Self ratings of craving for alcohol were made before and after exposure to and optional tasting of low alcohol drinks. Problem drinkers were found to have a generally favourable view of low alcohol drinks, and they claimed that use of these drinks did not contribute to relapse. However, craving for alcohol was found to be significantly raised over baseline after exposure to low alcohol drinks. A significant correlation was found between this increase in craving and severity of dependence as assessed by the SADQ.
Patterns of Consumption of Alcohol in Seville, Spain. Results of a General Population Survey
Authors: GILI M. , GINER J. , LACALLE J. R. , FRANCO D. , PEREA E. , DIEGUEZ J.
Published: January 2006

The results of a general population survey of the patterns of consumption of alcohol in a representative sample of the province of Seville, Spain, are analysed in this article. The proportions of drinkers and abstainers and distribution by age, by sex and by urban‐rural residency are discussed. Frequency of consumption declines as age increases in both sexes but the negative slope is more marked in females. Analysis of the results on quantity of alcohol consumed during the week prior to the interview shows that men drink more heavily than women in all age‐groups and young people drink more heavily than other age‐groups. The combination of data on frequency of consumption and maximum quantity of alcohol reportedly consumed on the highest drinking occasion shows that the majority of men belong to the High Frequency‐Low Quantity typology, followed by High Frequency‐Medium Quantity, but in women nearly 60% belong to the Low Frequency‐Low Quantity typology, followed by High Frequency‐Low Quantity. The highest proportions of both abstainers and heavy drinkers are found in the group of people with the lowest income.
Alcohol‐related Admissions to a Psychiatric Hospital: a comparison of Asians and Europeans
Authors: MATHER H. M. , MARJOT D. H.
Published: January 2006

The prevalence of alcohol‐related problems in the British Asian community is unknown. We obtained details of all patients living in Southall who had been admitted with a primary alcohol‐related diagnosis to a psychiatric hospital from 1980 to 1987. We used 1981 census data to calculate overall and age‐specific incidence rates for Asian and European men and woman, expressed per 10,000 subjects over the 7‐year period. The overall incidence in Asian men (105.8) was markedly higher than in European men (54.3) (p<0.001). The overall incidence in Asian women was markedly lower than in European women (4.1 versus 18.6, p<0.001). Proportionately more Asian than European men were married (82% versus 34%, p<0.001). This pilot study suggests that alcohol‐related problems severe enough to warrant inpatient treatment are unduly common in Southall Asian men, especially in married subjects. Further community‐based studies are needed to ascertain the prevalence of alcoholism in this and other British Asian communities.
The Experience of Opioid Abstinence: the relevance of motivation and history
Authors: MURPHY PHILIP N. , BENTALL RICHARD P. , OWENS R. GLYNN
Published: January 2006

Questionnaire measures relating to a recent episode of unmodified heroin withdrawal (the target episode) were obtained from 70 subjects. The duration of the target episode, but not reported distress during the episode, correlated with the amount of heroin consumed in the previous 3 months. Data from scales measuring motivation during the target episode were factor analysed and two factors emerged, one relating to motivation concerning private affairs and the other relating to motivation derived from public sources. High scores for private affairs motivation were correlated with success in the target episode whilst there was a trend for public affairs based motivation to be associated with failure. Private affairs motivation was negatively correlated with length of heroin use but positively correlated with the number of coping strategies employed in withdrawal. The implications of these findings for the treatment of heroin users are discussed.
Heroin Users' Careers and Perceptions of Drug Use: a comparison of smokers and injectors in the Mersey region
Authors: COUSINS PAUL , BENTALL RICHARD P.
Published: January 2006

To date few studies have compared heroin users who smoke heroin with those who inject it. In the present study a sample of 38 heroin users, half smokers and half injectors, was investigated using several drugs career indices. Results showed that users display preferences, with the use of some drugs being favoured over time. Injectors used all drugs more frequently than smokers. Although there was much variability in frequency of use the trend over the initial 3 years of use showed no increase in heroin use for either smokers or injectors. Although the majority of smokers had injected heroin there was no evidence that this group favoured injecting over time; rather the data suggested that smoking became the increasingly preferred method of consumption. Smokers were more likely than injectors to use other drugs post‐heroin. Contrary to expectation, few periods of abstinence were reported by the subjects in either group.
HIV‐related Risk Behaviour Among a Non‐clinic Sample of Injecting Drug Users
Authors: McKEGANEY NEIL , BARNARD MARINA , WATSON HARRY
Published: January 2006

This paper focusses upon HIV‐related risk behaviour among a sample of injecting drug users purchasing injecting equipment at a retail pharmacy in Glasgow. It is shown that the majority of the individuals interviewed were concerned about HIV/AIDS and that many were optimistic about their chances of avoiding contracting the virus. However, it is shown that the shared use of injecting equipment was continuing and that many individuals were prepared to provide their own injecting equipment to others, even if they were unprepared to re‐use it again themselves. We also consider here the possibility of encouraging drug injectors to switch to non‐injecting drug use and the potential basis for any sexual transmission between drug injectors and others. The paper concludes with a consideration of some of the policy implications of this work.
Alcohol histories in hospital: does the age and sex of the patient make a difference?
Authors: Awad Ibrahim , Wattis John P.
Published: January 2006

The Editor welcomes all letters whether they are case reports, preliminary reports of research, discussion or comments on papers published in the journal. Letters commenting on a paper may be sent to the authors of that paper so that their reply may appear in the same issue.

There is no rigid limit to length but in general the shorter the letter the better the chance of publication. Authors should follow the same guidelines given for the preparation and submission of articles on the inside back cover of each issue, especially that regarding tables or illustrations. Letters should be signed by all authors.
The relationship between alcohol dependence and alcohol–related problems in a clinical population
Authors: DRUMMOND D. COLIN
Published: January 2006

The relationship between alcohol dependence and alcohol–related problems was studied in a group of 103 problem drinkers. Responses to a 46–item Alcohol Problems Questionnaire (APQ) were compared with the Severity of Alcohol Dependence Questionnaire (SADQ), alcohol consumption and demographic data. A strongly positive correlation was found between aggregate problems and dependence scores (r= 0.63; p = 0.001) which existed independently of the quantity of alcohol consumed. Analysis of questionnaire subscales revealed that certain problem domains were more closely related to particular aspects of dependence than others. A higher level of problems was found in subjects of younger age and lower socio‐economic class. No significant sex differences were found. The implications of these findings are discussed.
Sexual partners of injecting drug users: the risk of HIV infection
Authors: KLEE HILARY , FAUGIER JEAN , HAYES CATH , BOULTON TOM , MORRIS JULIE
Published: January 2006

The sexual mediation of HIV infection by injecting drug users to the heterosexual population has become a major issue in AIDS prevention. Infection that is acquired through sharing contaminated injecting equipment can be passed on to non–injecting drug using partners and to non–drug using partners through sexual intercourse. A study of risk behaviour among injecting drug users in the North West of England focused, interalia, upon aspects of their sexual activity and attitudes that have relevance for HIV transmission. It was found that in those respondents with regular partners, the level of sexual activity was related to the partner's use of drugs. The use of condoms was low in the sample as a whole, including those who reported having casual sexual contacts and sharing others’ injecting equipment. These data confirm the need for concern and the advisability of targetting safer–sex education on drug users.
Book Reviews
Authors: GOSSOP MICHAEL
Published: January 2006

Book reviewed in this article:

Drinking to Your Health: the Allegations and the Evidence DIGBY ANDERSON (Ed.)

Women, Alcohol and Drugs in the Nordic Countries ELINA HAAVIO‐MANNILA (Ed.)

Perspectives on Controlled Drinking FANNY DUCKERT, ANJA KOSKI‐JANNES & STEN RONNBERG (Eds)

Alcoholism and Drug Dependency: the Professional's Master Guide T. T. RANGANATHAN

Addiction to Alcohol and Drugs: Illustrated Guide for Community Workers

Drug Use and Abuse JAMES WILLIS

Addiction: Substance Abuse and Dependency NORMAN IMLAH

Drugs and Addictive Behaviour: a Guide to Treatment HAMID GHODSE

Psychological, Neuropsychiatric, and Substance Abuse Aspects of AIDS T. PETER BRIDGE, ALLAN F. MIRSKY & FREDERICK K. GOODWIN (Eds)
Alcohol problems, prevention and epidemiology: looking for the next questions★
Authors: Mann Robert E. , Smart Reginald G.
Published: January 2006

The epidemiology and prevention of alcohol problems were advanced significantly by the discovery of the important relationships among alcohol availability, per capita consumption and alcohol‐related problems such as cirrhosis. Recently, however, alcohol‐related problems have declined in some areas more than would be predicted by changes in consumptions. These declines may represent important opportunities for understanding the prevention of alcohol problems. For example, in recent work we have observed associations between declines in cirrhosis rates and increases in treatment for alcohol abuse and AA membership. The opportunities and challenges in examining the effects of various prevention measures on aggregate problem data are discussed.
Drinking games adolescents play
Authors: PEDERSEN WILLY
Published: January 2006

In a study of 1230 Norwegian adolescents aged 14–19, the prevalence of participation in ‘drinking games’ and the consequences thereof were investigated. The findings indicate that drinking games are very common among Norwegian youth. Further, there is a substantially higher alcohol consumption among those who participate in these games than among other youth, even when we ‘control’ for other indicators of network ‘wetness’. In particular, a high consumption of beer among the boys seems to be connected with these games. It seems reasonable to assume that the drinking games are of importance for many young people, in particular as a means of being accepted by social groups of the same age. The games provide an organized, yet exciting frame around the interaction. It seems reasonable to assume that the participants usually take part in the games as a result of an intention to drink. Even so, it might be argued that the games are probably often more than ‘neutral tools’ to fulfil this intention: first of all, the games involve intense contact precisely in connection with alcohol consumption. Secondly, we know from previous studies that match rates and role modelling in connection with consumption increase with an increase in the intensity of group member contact. Finally, the individual member loses control and steering of his/her own consumption to a large extent: consumption becomes to a large degree a function of other people's actions and the rules of the game in question.
The Mortimer‐Filkins test of problem drinking: a review of psychometric properties
Authors: WEBB GLORIA R.
Published: January 2006

This paper contains a literature review of the psychometric properties of the Mortimer–Filkins test of problem drinking. The test was devised initially to identify problem drinkers from among drink‐driving offenders. It was initially validated against a general population, and has since been used with worksite populations. The test demonstrates high degrees of internal‐consistency reliability, test‐retest reliability and concurrent validity. It has been shown to be predictive of drink‐driver racidivism and the occurrence of work injuries and injury‐related absences.
Anatomical distribution of soft tissue sepsis sites in intravenous drug misusers attending an accident and emergency department
Authors: STONE M. H. , STONE D. H. , MacGREGOR HELEN A. R.
Published: January 2006

Of 77,686 case records of attendance at an accident and emergency department during 1986, 48S (0.6%) contained documented evidence of intravenous drug misuse (IDM). Clinical examination had revealed signs of soft tissue sepsis in 150 (31%) of these, the commonest sites being the wrist and forearm (31% of lesions), the antecubital fossa (19%), fingers and hand (14%) and thigh and groin (11%). These data highlight the anatomical areas to which medical and nursing staff should pay particular attention when examining patients with a background of IDM. Conversely, the presentation of soft tissue sepsis in these sites should alert clinicians to the possibility of underlying IDM.
The criminality of new drug users in Glasgow
Authors: HAMMERSLEY RICHARD , FORSYTH ALASDAIR , LAVELLE TARA
Published: January 2006

The drug use and crime of 210 teenage licit and illict drug users were examined. Over 90% of the sample, including non‐users, soft drug users, opioid users and injectors, were obtained via the same ‘snowball’ of friends and acquaintances. None had been injecting for more than 2 years. It was found that the frequency of use of all licit and illict drugs and the frequency of all crimes were intercorrelated. However, even many of the opioid injectors in this sample were not near‐daily users and ‘addiction’ did not explain the results of regression equations predicting crime and drug use; crime explained drug use more than drug use explained crime and drug use was not a major unique predictor of theft. The criminal drug‐using teenagers in this sample were better regarded as ‘delinquents’ than as ‘drug‐abusers’ or ‘drug addicts’. Delinquent behaviour of all kinds appeared to be increased by prior criminal experience, having delinquent friends and lack of conventional social support (notably including having spent time in care). Implications of these findings for theories of delinquency and the practice of treatment and prevention are discussed.
Trends in alcohol consumption in Spain, Portugal, France and Italy from the 1950s until the 1980s
Authors: PYÖRÄLÄ EEVA
Published: January 2006

This paper compares trends in alcohol consumption in Spain, Portugal, France and Italy starting from the beginning of the I9SO's and extending until the 1980's and examines the modernization and internationalization of beverage preferences in these countries. The total consumption of alcohol has declined in Spain, France and Italy and the consumption of wine has shown a declining trend in all the countries studied. The traditional beverage, wine, has in Spain, Portugal and Italy been substituted by a new beverage with lower alcohol content, beer. In France the decline in wine consumption has not been substituted by the use of other alcoholic beverages. No noticeable internationalization in beverage preferences has taken place in Spain, Portugal or Italy, whereas imported beverages have gained some ground in France.
Alcohol use and its control in Finnish and Soviet marriages
Authors: HOLMILA MARJA , MUSTONEN HELI , RANNIK ERKKI
Published: January 2006

The paper reports the results of a comparative study conducted in Finland and in Estonia. A representative sample of young couples were interviewed in both countries. Husbands in both countries usually drink more often than their wives and are less dependent on their spouses' drinking company. Wives are more likely to attempt to control their spouses' drinking. Drinking and its control are associated with the emotional relationship between the spouses, and the attempts to control are logically associated with the controlled person's frequency of drinking. The wife's attempts to control the husband's drinking are more a blue collar than a white collar phenomenon. Finnish women and men drink more often than their Estonian counterparts. Maybe as a result of the greater frequency of drinking, drinking in Finland is more family‐oriented than in Estonia. The Estonian culture seems more prone to informal control of the family members' drinking. These differences may be at least partly caused by differing alcohol policy climate in the two countries.
Effects of a 24‐hour fast on cigarette smoking in humans
Authors: ZACNY JAMES P. , DE WIT HARRIET
Published: January 2006

The effects of 24 hours of food deprivation on cigarette consumption, smoke exposure and mood were studied in seven research ‐volunteers. A within‐subjects design was used in which subjects smoked low‐yield (0.1 mg nicotine) and high‐yield (0.7–1.1 mg nicotine) cigarettes in both a fed and a fasting state. Each of the four experimental conditions–FED/LOW‐YIELD, FED/HIGH‐YIELD, FAST/LOW‐YIELD, FAST/HIGH‐YIELD–was enacted twice according to a randomized block design. Cigarette consumption was measured during the 24‐h period before experimental sessions. The session included a 60‐min smoking period, in which number of puffs per cigarette, number of cigarettes smoked, carbon monoxide (CO) exposure and mood were assessed. Although cigarette consumption during the 24 h prior to sessions did not vary as a function of feeding condition, CO levels at the end of this 24‐h time period were slightly, but significantly, higher in the FAST condition (mean CO level: 30.3 ppm) than in the FED condition (mean CO level: 28.1 ppm). During the laboratory session, amount of smoking and CO exposure were similar across feeding conditions. Interactions between feeding condition and dose were obtained on several mood measures that reflected sedation and arousal: in the high‐yield condition, subjects were more sedated after fasting, whereas in the low‐yield condition, they reported being less sedated after fasting. We conclude that fasting does not alter cigarette consumption but may increase smoke exposure during ad libitum smoking, perhaps via a change in some aspect of smoking behaviour not measured in the present study (e.g. puff volume).
Comparing distributions of alcohol consumption: empirical probability plots
Authors: LEMMENS P. H. H. M. , TAN E. S. , KNIBBE R. A.
Published: January 2006

Parametric approaches to the problem of the distribution of alcohol consumption have not been very successful. In this article, it is shown that regularity in distribution can be studied without making assumptions about a distribution model underlying the data. For this purpose, a method u used with which distributions are compared graphically in so‐called probability plots. It appears that, up to a proper linear transformation on a logarithmic scale, a surprisingly large regularity over time can be observed between distributions taken from Dutch samples in 1970, 1981 and 1985. Equally, distributions from male and female sub‐samples do not appear to differ up to a linear shift. The finding of a relative equality in distributional form is in accordance with the Ledermann model. However, the difference with the Ledermann's model is that no assumptions about the exact shape of the distributions are being made.
The 1990s: decade of the stimulants?
Authors: DAVIES JOHN BOOTH , DITTON JASON
Published: January 2006

Does the media fan fake panics, forecast possible issues, create real problems, or detect problems at an earlier stage than treatment resources? A study of the relationship of tabloid news coverage of MDMA (Ecstasy) to drug treatment service demand found that treatment agencies were more concerned about amphetamine use but conversely tabloid coverage centred on ecstasy. Casual enquiries to a few drug agencies one year later discovered reports of increased numbers of clients presenting for ecstasy and reports of the drug's increased availability. The relationship between media coverage and changing drug availability and drug use is unclear. Short‐term studies are unreliable, and interpretation of the relationship between drug use and media coverage runs a permanent risk of generating contradictory conclusions. The need for long‐term serious study of the relationship between the media and drug use u stressed.
Specialized addictions assessment/referral services in Ontario: a review of their characteristics and roles in the addiction treatment system
Authors: OGBORNE ALAN C. , RUSH BRIAN R.
Published: January 2006

During the past nine years many specialized addiction assessment/referral services have been established in Ontario. These services are expected to receive referrals from all sources, to conduct thorough socio‐behavioural assessments, to refer clients to appropriate community resources and to provide case management services appropriate to client needs. Although definitive statements concerning the assessment/referral services are considered premature, the available data suggests that they are generally similar to other types of addiction services with respect to referral sources and client characteristics. However, assessment/referral services are less likely to be restricted to particular types of clients, more likely to use structured assessment procedures and to make referrals to other services. There are significant differences between individual assessment/referral services, particular with respect to referral sources, client characteristics and operating procedures and the extent to which they also provide treatment. These differences partly reflect differences in operating environments. Most communities with assessment/referral services lack generally accessible outpatient services and it remains to be seen how assessment/referral services will evolve as more outpatient services become available. Data from a 1986 survey showed that assessment/referral services saw about 10% of all cases seen within Ontario's specialized addiction treatment system but they were not significant points of entry into this system.
Comparative value of self‐report and blood tests in assessing outcome amongst alcoholics
Authors: KESO LAURI , SALASPURO MIKKO
Published: January 2006

The study group consisted of 73 employed alcoholics, who were directed to inpatient treatment. They were evaluated (structured interview, GGT, and MCV) before the treatment period and 8 months after the termination of the treatment. Patients with diseases or medications influencing the laboratory tests were not included in the study group. According to the structured interview 72.6% of the patients were drinking in a controlled manner (less than 40 g/d ethanol) during the 2‐month period prior to the follow‐up evaluation. According to the laboratory data 52.1% of the patients had been drinking in a controlled manner (i.e. both GGT and MCV values were normal). With the interview and laboratory data combined 39.7% of the patients had been drinking in a controlled manner. Thus the drinking outcome was strongly influenced by the selection of the variables used to measure the outcome. It is recommended that no studies should be carried out about the drinking outcome of alcoholism treatment without the use of laboratory markers as a pan of the evaluation.
Liver cirrhosis with and without mention of alcohol as cause of death
Authors: HABERMAN PAUL W. , WEINBAUM DONALD F.
Published: January 2006

Changes in the estimated proportion of liver cirrhosis deaths attributable to alcoholism in the United States from 1940 to 1980 are reviewed. The value of this proportion from 1940 in the original Jellinek Alcoholism Estimation Formula, through Formula modifications, to 1980 use are presented; the rationale for various changes in its value are discussed. Essex County, New Jersey, USA decedents in 1984, aged 25‐years or older, whose underlying cause of death was specified alcoholic cirrhosis and those who died of cirrhosis without mention of alcohol are analyzed for differences in background and post‐mortem characteristics. Some appreciable proportion of cirrhosis deaths without mention of alcohol is considered to be attributable to alcoholism. Background and post‐mortem differences between persons whose underlying cause of death is certified as cirrhosis with and without mention of alcohol suggest some bases for the under‐reporting of specified alcoholic cirrhosis mortality.
Alcohol or tobacco research versus alcohol and tobacco research
Authors: SOBELL LINDA C. , SOBELL MARK B. , KOZLOWSKI LYNN T. , TONEATTO TONY
Published: January 2006

Despite the frequent co‐occurrence of tobacco and alcohol use, little is known about relationships between alcohol and nicotine. This paper reviews similarities and differences between tobacco and alcohol use, offers speculation about why a marriage of the two fields has been so long in coming, and discusses the multiple scientific and therapeutic benefits that could derive from the study of individuals who use both drugs.
Familial transmission of alcohol use, III. Impact of imitation non‐imitation of parent alcohol use (1960) on the sensible/problem drinking of their offspring (1977)
Authors: HARBURG ERNEST , GLEIBERMAN LILLIAN , DiFRANCEISCO WAYNE , SCHORK ANTHONY , WEISSFELD LISA
Published: January 2006

Imitation/non‐imitation by adult offspring of alcohol‐related parent behavior was examined in the context of the fall‐off effect’ and of sensible/problem alcohol use, two processes which tend to constrain drinking. Evidence indicates there is more imitation by adult offspring of abstemious parents (both abstainer and low volume) than of high volume parents. Adult offspring drink significantly less, on the average, than their high volume parents, a phenomenon here termed‘fall‐off effect’ for both men and women with respect to either their fathers or mothers. This fall‐off among social drinkers appears when the mother approaches or the father consumes at or more than a typical daily drinking level (≥1 drink per day). More sensible drinking occurs among adult offspring when (I) the parent has no drinking problem‐signs than when the parent has drinking problems (this pattern appears at all levels of offspring consumption), and (2) when parents drink at high volume and have no problems for those offspring who do not imitate parent volume. Drinking “sensibly’ appears to be associated directly with the level of parent alcohol use and offsprings’ own drinking levels (considered as imitation or non‐imitation of parents), and indirectly with offspring recall of problematic intake by parents. Drinking sensibly is a medical, education and public health issue.
Hot‐headed or impulsive?
Authors: KENNEDY H. G. , GRUBIN D. H.
Published: January 2006

A sample of men in prison was interviewed and rated for the presence of six behaviours commonly thought to be impulsive: alcohol abuse (CAGE positive), sedative dependence, other drug abuse, pathological gambling, repeated aggression and self‐harm. They were also asked to complete the EPQ and 15 questionnaires. Out of 61 men on a special protection, wing, 51 agreed to take part. We found that the score on the Impulsiveness scale of the 15 correlated with the number of disorders present in individuals, even when corrected for age. Pathological gambling and self‐harm did not correlate with the presence of any of the other behaviours.
The experiencing of positive consequences of drinking in four Scandinavian countries1
Authors: HAUGE RAGNAR , IRGENS‐JENSEN OLAV
Published: January 2006

Based on data from a comparative survey of drinking in four Scandinavian countries (Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden), the experiencing of positive consequences of drinking was studied in relation to alcohol consumption, intoxication frequency and the experiencing of negative consequences of drinking. In all four countries a substantial portion–both of the men and of the women–reported having experienced various positive effects of drinking during the last 12 months. The positive consequences clearly correlated with yearly alcohol consumption and even more with intoxication frequency. A strong link between the experiencing of positive and negative consequences of drinking was also found. The study also indicates that there are national differences in the experiencing of positive consequences of drinking which do not reflect the national differences in total alcohol consumption.
Links between drug misuse and crime
Authors: BENNETT TREVOR
Published: January 2006

The paper argues that there may be benefits from combining the efforts of criminologists and drug researchers in the study of the nature of the relationship between drug/alcohol use and crime. The available evidence suggests that the relationship is probably not a simple one. In particular, the research shows that social, cultural, and environmental factors may all play some part in explaining the relationship. It is suggested that something might be gained by focusing on the various situational factors which link drug/alcohol use and crime. Some help might be forthcoming for this endeavour from criminology which has in recent years developed a body of knowledge on the role of situational determinants of crime. Research from within this perspective has been helpful in informing strategies for intervention over a wide range of crimes and crime settings. In particular, attention is drawn to the wealth of crime prevention ideas that has arisen out of situational analyses of alcohol–related public disorder. It is proposed that further research is conducted which draws on this approach in an attempt to increase our understanding of the micro social processes involved.
Could Britain inherit the American nightmare?
Authors: MACGREGOR SUSANNE
Published: January 2006

The article offers a critical review of the debate on policy towards illegal drugs in the United States and demonstrates how discussion of the ‘drugs’ issue there is linked to perceptions of the condition of African‐American people and to the contentious concept of the ‘underclass’. Alternatives to the Reagan‐Bush policies include the extension of treatment options, possibly compulsorily, and pro‐legalization arguments. The links between these perspectives and wider social philosophies and programmes are indicated. Ripples of the legalization debate are now felt in Britain and Europe. The paper concludes that understanding of the social problem of ‘drugs’ cannot be divorced from judgements about wider socio‐cultural conditions and appropriate policies. US definitions of the problem and views of policy are not as yet the only options for Britain. A ‘third way’ is possible between neo‐conservative and free‐market approaches, that of a ‘new public health’.
The cognitive effects of alcohol abuse: a controlled study
Authors: WILLIAMS CHRISTINE M. , SKINNER ADRIAN E. G.
Published: January 2006

It is now well established that there is an association between excessive alcohol consumption and psychological impairment. However, there has been some difficulty in the interpretation of results as the majority of studies have relied on reporting correlations in large subject samples. It was felt therefore that if subjects were matched by variables which had been found to be confounding in previous research, a clearer picture of the effects of alcohol on cognitive functioning could be drawn. Subjects in this study were therefore divided into a ‘high’ alcohol group (over 50 units per week), and a ‘low’ alcohol group (under 20 units per week). No patients who had previously been reported as suffering from cognitive impairment were included in this study as the purpose of this research was to examine the effects of alcohol on those heavy drinkers with no obvious impairment. They were matched by age, sex, socio‐economic status and educational background. Heavy drinkers showed significant deficits on a number of cognitive tests compared with their matched controls. Furthermore, the subjects in the lower educational group showed a greater decrease in scores on several sub tests than those in the higher group.
Influence of negative affect on smoking cessation treatment outcome: a pilot study
Authors: RAUSCH JEFFREY L. , NICHINSON RAD , LAMKE CELIA , MATLOFF JEFFREY
Published: January 2006

In order to determine whether baseline depression was related to initial success or failure in smoking cessation, we prospectively examined mood self‐ratings in a pilot study of 43 unselected smokers attempting to quit smoking in an outpatient program. Mean pretreatment POMS depression scores in the subjects who were unable to quit were significantly higher compared to those successful in initially relinquishing smoking. These preliminary results suggest that a negative‐affect group at high risk for failure in nicotine dependence treatment might be identified in advance by an assessment of mood done prior to treatment.
A meta‐analysis of depressive symptomatology and alcohol consumption over time*
Authors: HARTKA ELIZABETH , JOHNSTONE BRYAN , LEINO E. VICTOR , MOTOYOSHI MICHELLE , TEMPLE MARK T. , FILLMORE KAYE MIDDLETON
Published: January 2006

Meta‐analysis (eight general population longitudinal studies) describes the relationships (regressions) between quantity per occasion and depressive symptomatology over time. Quantity and depression are the strongest and most consistent predictors of final levels of themselves in all data sets. Age significantly and consistently predicts quantity for both sexes combined (the general pattern is replicated among males only). Depression significantly predicts quantity and quantity significantly predicts depression for females. Controlling for interval between measurements produces stronger prediction (more consistent over shorter intervals) for males. Depression only predicts quantity over longer intervals and quantity only predicts depression over shorter intervals for females. Explicit control for age found stronger relationships between initial and final measurement quantity, and depression for males. Quantity and depression significantly predict quantity and depression among young females. The relationship between quantify and depression among females illustrates the importance of controlling for age and sex. Methodological considerations are discussed.
A scale for estimating the health status of opioid users
Authors: DARKE SHANE , WARD JEFF , ZADOR DEBORAH , SWIFT GARY
Published: January 2006

The health status of injecting drug users has both clinical and research relevance. In order to evaluate the impact of treatments for opiate dependence on drug users' health status we need valid and reliable instruments which are short and easily administered by non‐medical personnel. This paper describes the construction of a brief interviewer administered scale for assessing the current health status of injecting drug users. Data evaluating its reliability and validity are presented which indicate that the scale has excellent psychometric properties.
Tobacco advertising restrictions, price, income and tobacco consumption in OECD countries, 1960–1986
Authors: LAUGESEN MURRAY , MEADS CHRIS
Published: January 2006

Factors affecting tobacco consumption per adult in 22 countries of the OECD between 1960 and 1986, were studied using pooled cross‐section time‐series analysis. The resulting log‐linear model was estimated using Generalized Least Squares. The severity of tobacco advertising restrictions in each country and year was scored from published legislation and information from health agencies. Tobacco advertising restrictions have since 1973 increasingly been associated with lower tobacco consumption. Lower consumption levels were also associated with higher real tobacco prices, and with increased female labour force participation. Higher levels of consumption were associated with higher per capita real income and with a larger fraction of tobacco consumed as manufactured cigarettes. The model explains 99.5% of the variance in the average annual level of tobacco consumption across these countries. Ten‐fold differences in purchasing power for tobacco products were found across the countries and years studied. In all countries tobacco products became more affordable between 1960 and 1986. In 1986 either a 36% inflation‐indexed increase in real tobacco prices, or legislation to end tobacco promotion in those countries without a total ban, would have lowered average consumption by 6.8% and both together, by 13.5. Across the OECD, if in 1986 all governments had raised tobacco product prices relative to income to Irish levels, and had banned all tobacco promotion, tobacco products consumption per adult would have fallen by 40% in that year.
History of abuse liability testing in humans
Authors: JASINSKI DONALD R.
Published: January 2006

Clinical testing for drug abuse liability began as part of a collaborative effort to develop non‐addicting substitutes for morphine. Physical dependence capacity and euphorigenic potential were identified as the potent effects of morphine leading to abuse; quantitative measures were developed for these effects. Drugs were evaluated for morphine‐like effects using principles of bioassay. In recent years, the alterations in mood, feeling, thinking, and perception induced by drugs (subjective effects) are viewed as the effects leading to reinforcement of drug‐taking behavior and to abuse. The same procedures and methods developed for assessing these effects with opioids have subsequently been applied to other classes of drugs. At present, human drug abuse liability testing methods exist for opioids, stimulants, sedative hypnotics, serotonin agonist and antagonists, nicotine, alcohol, and caffeine.
Preference procedures for testing the abuse liability of drugs in humans
Authors: DE WIT HARRIET
Published: January 2006

Drug preference procedures may be used to assess the abuse liability of drugs in human volunteers. These procedures usually measure subjects' choice of a drug versus a placebo, under controlled, double‐blind conditions. Depending upon the conditions of the studies (e.g. subject population, environmental conditions of testing), drugs that are known to be abused are also preferred in these laboratory procedures. To assess the abuse liability of an unknown test drug, the frequency of choice of the test drug is compared to choice of a standard drug with known abuse potential: preference for the test drug, relative to the standard, is then taken as an indicator of its relative potential for abuse. A number of methodological variables must be considered when designing and interpreting choice studies, including the characteristics of the subjects, the range of doses tested, whether choices were spaced widely apart (e.g. one a day) or closely together (e.g. one immediately after another), and whether the study was conducted under controlled laboratory conditions or in the subjects' normal daily environments. The conditions for testing the abuse liability of an unknown compound must be selected based on the existing literature with similar, known drugs of abuse.
Human drug abuse liability assessment: opioids and analgesics
Authors: BIGELOW GEORGE E.
Published: January 2006

Methods are described for assessment of the abuse liability of opioids and analgesics. The methods developed by the USPHS Addiction Research Center for assessment of opioid abuse liability have served as the prototype for most currently used abuse liability assessment approaches. The general method is that of comparing the profile of effects of a test drug to the profiles of placebo and of a known drug of abuse. Drugs with profiles of activity similar to the known drug of abuse are considered pharmacologically equivalent and of similar abuse liability. Specific methods, including the Addiction Research Inventory, adjective‐ and visual analog rating scales, are described, as are methodological developments that have been introduced to improve the sensitivity of the procedures and to adapt them to modem circumstances. It is concluded that the profile‐of‐effects methodology has proven extremely useful and should remain a basic element in abuse liability assessments.
Anxiolytics and sedative/hypnotics dependence
Authors: BUSTO USOA E. , SELLERS EDWARD M.
Published: January 2006

Anxiolytics and sedative/hypnotics are commonly used drugs. Benzodiazepines have largely replaced barbiturate and non‐barbiturate anxiolytics and sedative/hypnotics as they are as effective and safer. Experiments in laboratory animals have shown that chronic administration of benzodiazepines tested to date can induce physical dependence. The severity of the withdrawal syndrome is clearly related to the dose, duration of administration and elimination rate of the drugs. It is now also clear that high doses of barbiturates and benzodiazepines can induce physical dependence in humans. In addition, a withdrawal syndrome after discontinuation of chronic benzodiazepine therapeutic treatment, with and without tolerance, has been well characterized. Symptoms may resemble those of anxiety or ‘rebound’ phenomena but some are typical of withdrawal. A relationship between benzodiazepine discontinuation and self‐administration has been well documented. Negative reinforcement associated with a reduction of withdrawal symptoms may play a role supporting persistent benzodiazepine use.
Mental health, sensation seeking and drug use patterns: a longitudinal study
Authors: PEDERSEN WILLY
Published: January 2006

To examine the longitudinal stability of mental health and sensation seeking, a sample of 553 adolescents aged 16–18 years, was followed over a period of 20 months. Further, the predictive power of the two constructs with regard to future drug use was investigated. The stability of reported mental health was relatively low. Accordingly, the variable was a poor predictor of future drug use. Sensation seeking, however, had a relatively high degree of stability. In addition, the different subdimensions of the trait were strong predictors of future drug use: ‘Disinhibition’ (DIS) was a general drug use factor in both sexes. ‘Thrill and adventure seeking’ (TAS) predicted moderate alcohol consumption in boys. ‘Experience seeking’ (ES) predicted cannabis use in boys. A separate analysis of those who seek a milieu highly exposed to cannabis, without themselves using the substance, revealed interesting sex differences: the boys in this situation had sensation seeking scores and mental health which were not different from other adolescents. However, the girls had high DIS and ES scores and also poor mental health. Possible interpretations of this finding are discussed.
Change in HIV‐antibody seroprevalence rates in i.v. drug dependent prisoners
Authors: SPERNER‐UNTERWEGER BARBARA , FUCHS DIETMAR , FLEISCHHACKER W. WOLFGANG , HAUSEN ARNO , MILLER CARL , MÖST JOHANNES , REIBNEGGER GILBERT , WERNER ERNST R. , DIERICH MANFRED , WACHTER HELMUT , HINTERHUBER HARTMANN
Published: January 2006

In 1985 a high HIV‐seroprevalence (44.2%) was found in a cohort of parenteral drug addicted prisoners in Innsbruck, Austria. In a longitudinal study from March 1985 to March 1989 we investigated the epidemiology of HIV‐infection as well as possible changes in the drug taking behaviour of this defined population at risk. During the study HIV‐seroprevalence rates in drug dependent prisoners showed a statistical decrease to 30%. A concomitant increase in admission to any kind of therapy programmes as well as an increasing change from ‘heavy use’ (mainly taking heroin i.v.) to ‘non‐heavy use’ (mainly taking drugs orally) could be noted. The influence of preventive measures, such as comprehensive AIDS‐information, special therapy programmes including the methadone substitution programme, and the unrestricted availability of needles and syringes is discussed.
Pharmacodynamics of nicotine: implications for rational treatment of nicotine addiction
Authors: BENOWITZ NEAL L.
Published: January 2006

Rational treatment of the pharmacologic aspects of tobacco addiction includes nicotine substitution therapy. Understanding the pharmacodynamics of nicotine and its role in the addiction process provides a basis for rational therapeutic intervention. Pharmacodynamic considerations are discussed in relation to the elements of smoking cessation therapy: setting objectives, selecting appropriate medication and dosing form, selecting the optimal doses and dosage regimens, assessing therapeutic outcome, and adjusting therapy to optimize benefits and minimize risks.
Rehabilitating a genetic perspective in the study of tobacco and alcohol use
Authors: KOZLOWSKI LYNN T.
Published: January 2006

Despite comparable estimates of ‘heritability’ for tobacco smoking and alcohol drinking, the human genetics of drinking has been a fashionable topic for research, while the human genetics of smoking has been neglected or viewed with suspicion. The differing course of genetic themes in the alcohol and tobacco areas is discussed in relation to (a) different historical pressures which promoted disease models of alcoholism and ‘bad habit’ models of heavy smoking and (b) possible fundamental differences in the nature of cigarette and alcohol use. This topic is further complicated by the substantial co‐occurrence of heavy smoking and heavy drinking, so that the genetic determinants may well over‐lap. ‘Cross‐cultural’ comparison of these contrasting interests in genetics is argued to be an important topic for future research.
Biobehavioral research on nicotine use in women
Authors: POMERLEAU CYNTHIA S. , POMERLEAU OVIDE F. , GARCIA ANNE WEINSTEIN
Published: January 2006

More American women are taking up smoking than men and fewer are quitting; if current trends continue, rates for women will surpass those for men by the mid‐1990's. But ironically, much of what is known about the biobehavioural aspects of smoking is based on research using male subjects. The present paper reviews evidence suggesting that: (1) women may differ from men with regard to nicotine intake and/or effects; (2) nicotine intake and effects may be influenced by menstrual cycle phase; (3) oral contraceptive use and estrogen replacement therapy may affect intake and effects of nicotine; (4) the effects of chronic nicotine use on female reproductive endocrinology may have implications for the reinforcement of smoking; and (5) pharmacological agents used to treat smoking may have different effects in women than in men. Guidelines and suggestions are presented by future biobehavioural research in women, including standardization of assessment procedures, attention to the use of appropriate controls, and use of pharmacological probes.
Individual differences in difficulty quitting smoking
Authors: HAJEK PETR
Published: January 2006

This essay comments on the main approaches to studying individual differences in ability to quit smoking, and suggests complementing them with a concept of ‘difficulty of quitting’. Several areas of research into determinants of ability to quit smoking are discussed, including measures of dependence, reactivity to nicotine, severity of withdrawal symptoms, endurance of discomfort, and psychological well being. A number of correlates of inability to quit may have a common denominator in stress and neuroticism. If these are the primary obstacles to quitting, changes in the composition of the smoking population and in the image of smoking can be expected which could lead to smoking losing some of its appeal for potential new recruits.