bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cigarette advertising and adolescent experimentation with smoking
Authors: Klitzner Michael , Gruenewald Paul J. , Bamberger Elizabeth
Published: January 2006

The extent to which cigarette advertising contributes to increases in smoking has been debated by public health professionals and the tobacco industry. One aspect of this debate has been the degree to which advertising influences smoking among adolescents. Previous research suggests that there are significant relationships between measures of advertising and smoking. However, potential simultaneous relationships between these measures have not been addressed. Observed correlations may arise from the effects of advertising on smoking or from smokers' selective exposure to advertisements. This study examined relationships between cigarette advertising and smoking experimentation. Using environmental and psychological measures of advertising exposure, it was demonstrated that adolescents who experimented with cigarettes were better able to recognize advertised products than those who had not, a selective exposure effect. Conversely, subjects who were better at recognizing advertised brands were more likely to have experimented with cigarettes, an effect due to their exposure to cigarette advertising.
Smoking and smoking cessation in cancer patients
Authors: GRITZ ELLEN R.
Published: January 2006

Persons with malignant disease have been a neglected population for research in smoking cessation. Besides the well‐established role of cigarette smoking in the development of several types of cancers, there are numerous adverse health consequences of continued smoking for the diagnosed cancer patient. These include: increased risk of further neoplasms, poorer survival, and complications of surgery, radiation and chemotherapy; risk of non‐neoplastic smoking‐related diseases; and additional impairment of appetite and nutrition. Smoking prevalence at diagnosis is highest among patients with smoking‐related cancers. Prospective studies of a variety of cancer patient populations are needed to assess patterns of continued smoking and cessation. Systematic quit smoking programs should be integrated into cancer treatment regimens. Currently, two trials testing interventions delivered by medical providers are in progress. Important research issues concerning intervention in cancer patient smoking behavior include: identification of relevant target groups; definition of intervention style and content; delineation of dimensions of treatment; and documentation of beneficial effects. The growing number of long‐term cancer survivors and the complications from other smoking‐related diseases dictate that the smoking cessation needs of this population be addressed.
Smoking cessation and weight gain
Authors: LEISCHOW SCOTT J. , STITZER MAXINE L.
Published: January 2006

Significant progress has been made in the research on smoking cessation and weight gain since the 1988 Surgeon General's Report, particularly on mechanisms and treatment methods. Smoking cessation results in weight gain in most quitters, primarily due to changes in caloric intake and to a lesser extent from changes in energy expenditure. Thus far, pharmacologic treatments appear more efficacious at preventing the weight gain than behavioral methods. And regarding who should receive treatment, preliminary research suggests that females are more concerned about postcessation weight gain than males, and it is the concern about weight gain‐more than the weight gain itself‐that appears to play an important role in relapse to smoking. Given the progress that has been made along the spectrum from mechanisms to treatment, those concerned about postcessation weight now have treatment options for preventing weight gain in the critical period immediately after smoking cessation. However, continued research into mechanisms, treatment methods, and individual differences will surely result in new and more effectively tailored treatment options.
Refining models of dependence: variations across persons and situations
Authors: SHIFFMAN SAUL
Published: January 2006

Having established that tobacco smoking is addictive, research should proceed to refine our models of dependence on nicotine and other drugs. Current theories of addiction do not account for between‐ or within‐subjects variations in addictive behavior. Recent evidence that some people can smoke for decades without developing dependence demonstrates the potential for individual differences in vulnerability to dependence. Study of such anomalous smokers may provide insight into the mechanisms underlying nicotine dependence. Current theory and data also fail to provide adequate accounts of situational variation in addictive behavior and of the developmental progression from initial experimentation to dependence.
Alcohol, social factors and mortality among young men
Authors: ANDRÉASSON SVEN , ROMELSJÖ ANDERS , ALLEBECK PETER
Published: January 2006

In a 20‐year follow‐up the association between alcohol consumption, social and personal background factors and mortality was studied in a cohort of 49464 Swedish conscripts. The relative risk of death among high consumers (those consuming more than 250 g alcohol/week at conscription) was 2.8 (95% confidence interval 2.2–3.7) compared with moderate consumers (1–100 g/week). Deaths caused by direct toxic effects of alcohol were few, less than 5%. Instead suicides and accidents predominated. Abstainers had a slightly lower mortality than moderate consumers, with a relative risk of 0.8 (0.6–1.1), due to a significantly lower risk for traffic deaths. High consumers of alcohol had more than twice as many social and personal risk factors for premature death compared with the cohort as a whole. Yet presence of social risk factors added little to the already increased relative risk of death among high consumers.
Alcohol problems among women in a general hospital ward
Authors: WATSON HAZEL E. , KERSHAW PETER W. , DAVIES JOHN B.
Published: January 2006

This paper reports a study which was conducted to establish the utility of a screening procedure consisting of a structured interview and blood tests (GGT and MCV) to detect early problem drinking in female patients in a short‐stay general hospital ward. The proportion of women identified by the interview schedule was found to be greater than has been reported in general practice and some other studies of female problem drinking. However, most of the blood tests were normal for this group. Excessive alcohol consumption was significantly associated with attempted suicide by drug overdose.
Alcohol and alcohol problems research 17. Malta
Authors: BALDACCHINO ALEXANDER M.
Published: January 2006

This article is an enquiry into the current status of alcohol in Maltese culture. The responses of society to alcoholism depend on the way members of the community perceive the problems incurred by the use and abuse of a dependence producing substance like alcohol. These perceptions and subsequent responses are very much influenced by prevailing attitudes and beliefs. Malta is a melting point of cultures. This factor, together with a high density population and Malta's geopolitical strategic position, combine to make Malta a tolerant society. There is a laissez‐faire response to alcoholism, at least partly due to the present inability to identify the need to take appropriate measures. The police force, medical profession and politicians still do not feel the responsibility or the need to provide effective laws and regulations, specialized treatment services or educative programmes on alcohol‐related issues. A systematic enquiry is needed urgently to determine the severity and degree of the problems posed by alcohol abuse among the Maltese. Such an enquiry should be followed by a well planned national policy which includes local approaches and interventions. Finally, these interventions must be evaluated frequently and developed to achieve better results in the future.
Substance use and problems among Toronto street youth
Authors: SMART REGINALD G. , ADLAF EDWARD M.
Published: January 2006

The extent of substance use and problems among adolescent ‘street’ and homeless populations is largely undocumented. This study describes the prevalence of drug use among a sample of 145 adolescent street youth interviewed during February and March 1990 in Toronto, Canada, and compares these data to those derived from other adolescent street and mainstream populations.
Abstaining for foetal health: The fiction that even light drinking is dangerous
Authors: KNUPFER GENEVIEVE
Published: January 2006

There is a strong ideological and political movement in the USA to convince pregnant women not to drink any alcohol. An examination of the research literature on the results of drinking during pregnancy does not provide any evidence that light drinking is harmful to the foetus. The chief defects in the research that make conclusions about the effects of ‘moderate’ or light' drinking invalid are the ways in which drinking patterns are categorized: a) usually the categories used are ‘average per day’, the different effects of bingeing and light drinking being thus confused; b) often the heaviest drinking category is described as ‘two or more drinks a day’, sometimes even ‘one or more’. Obviously, one cannot tell whether any instances of foetal damage occurring in that group came from women who drank only two drinks each day, which would be light drinking, or from those who drank ten drinks each day since “ten drinks a day” is part of the category “two or more”.
Interpersonal versus technological orientations and alcohol abuse in future physicians
Authors: RICHMAN JUDITH A. , PYSKOTY CHARLENE E.
Published: January 2006

Etiologic research on alcohol‐related impairment in physicians has elucidated various risk factors including family history of alcoholism, symptomatic distress, personality deficits, and high academic achievement. This study of medical students points to the additional salience of future practice orientations involving technological/status versus interpersonal concerns. A cohort of students was surveyed at medical school entrance and again in the second training year. Alcohol abusers (particularly medical school onset cases) manifested significantly higher technological/status and lower interpersonal concerns compared to non‐abusers. Differences across future specialty choices were also found. However, additional longitudinal research is necessary to clarify the causal directionality of these relationships.
Selling private treatment short
Authors: Blume Sheila B.
Published: January 2006

Abstract. The author is in basic disagreement with Dr Curson's editorial. Based on many years experience with in‐patient programs in the USA, in both the public and private sectors, the author considers in‐patient chemical dependency treatment which fits the general discription of the Minnesota Model a valuable component of the continuum of addiction treatment services.
Exaggerating the role of private treatment
Authors: Ditzler Joyce M. , Ditzler James R.
Published: January 2006

Abstract. Curson's analysis of the growth of private for profit treatment of substance abuse is seen as exaggerated. The main growth in the 1980s was over 50% in the voluntary charitable sector. His criticism of lay' counsellors ignores the responsibility of health care professionals, to train and supervise them. Curson's criticism of the effectiveness of treatment in general indicates he is not well informed and his reference to Minnesota Model outcome research and the philosophy of the mutual help movement of AA is misleading.
Toward narrowing differences
Authors: Kidger Tim
Published: January 2006

Abstract. David Curson has spent many years working full time in the private sector, and his analysis of this area of addiction treatment is welcome. Private addiction treatment differs from Health Service treatment in that it seems to favour the Minnesota Model more frequently. There is no absence of reliable outcome studies on the effectiveness of the Minnesota Method, but some form of accreditation of treatment techniques in the private sector seems inevitable.
The effects of co‐dependence on physicians and nurses
Authors: WILLIAMS ETTA , BISSELL LECLAIR , SULLIVAN ELEANOR
Published: January 2006

To evaluate the effect on physicians and nurses of being closely involved with one or more chemical dependent persons, a sample of 67 physicians and 133 nurses with chemical dependent significant others was surveyed. The majority reported that the quality of their work was adversely affected by this association. Reduced ability to concentrate, absenteeism, errors, poor judgment, and patient neglect were reported. Most reported their professional education had not prepared them to recognize and assist people with chemical dependence and half thought their professional education negatively influenced their ability to help. About half had attempted to treat the chemical dependent person (s) themselves, sometimes giving medication and occasionally diverting drugs for this purpose. Most said their self‐esteem and self‐confidence were damaged by these relationships. Over one‐third reported being diagnosed as depressed and 12% had attempted suicide. There were few differences between physicians and nurses on the effects of being in a co‐dependent relationship (s), although nurses and women were more likely to have chemically dependent parents. Implications for professional education are identified.
The tobacco withdrawal syndrome in unaided quitters
Authors: GRITZ ELLEN R. , CARR CLIFFORD R. , MARCUS ALFRED C.
Published: January 2006

Tobacco withdrawal was assessed over a one year follow‐up period in a prospective study of 554 persons stopping smoking on their own on a target quit date, the Great American Smokeout or New Year's Day. Tobacco dependence was related to smoking status as well as to the tobacco withdrawal syndrome through the one month follow‐up. During the first week of follow‐up at least 87% of subjects reported withdrawal symptoms, and craving was reported by at least two‐thirds. There was consistency in the rankings of the four most prevalent short‐ and long‐term symptoms: restless, eating more than usual, anxious/tense and impatient. During the first week, levels of symptom severity and frequency of craving dropped from days 1 and 2 to week 1. Across long‐term follow‐ups the withdrawal syndrome peaked at 1 month and leveled off at 6 and 12 months. Results are discussed in terms of clinical and treatment implications.
Advertising, price, income and publicity effects on weekly cigarette sales in New Zealand supermarkets
Authors: LAUGESEN MURRAY , MEADS CHRIS
Published: January 2006

Total cigarettes (all brands) sold weekly by a panel of 60 New Zealand supermarkets were monitored electronically for 42 weeks, a period when cigarette advertisements were in plain format with strong, varied disease warnings. Real cigarette price, newspaper advertising of old, regular and upmarket brands, and the number of newspaper news items on smoking issues were inversely associated with cigarette sales. Tending to increase total sales (all brands) were: more non‐shopping days in the current week, and in the week following; volume of grocery items purchased, to indicate income and store traffic; and real advertising expenditure in newspapers for new downmarket cigarette brands, particularly one heavily‐advertised brand (Peter Jackson) which was in late 1989 smoked by 4% of teenage smokers. All factors when interacting, explained 93% of changes in weekly cigarette sales. Most of the change occurred in the same week, and was 90% in place after a further 3 weeks. Newspapers, by doubling news coverage of smoking issues or by banning cigarette advertisements, can lower cigarette consumption as much as can a 10% price increase.
Tobacco prevention in hospitals. The British experience From Liz Batten (Department of Psychology, University of Southampton)
Authors: Batten Liz
Published: January 2006

There are three themes in this paper of interest to a UK audience. The first draws attention to the importance of congruity between the hospital environment and education about the harmfulness of smoking. A smoking policy is an integral part of the education process. Secondly, there are clear benefits to accrue from combining several educational elements in one smoking control programme, which has a synergistic effect. Thirdly, hospital staff are health promoters, too, and their training should reflect the importance of their public health role.
Familial history of opium use and reported problems among opium addicts in Pakistan
Authors: CHAUDHRY H. R. , ARRIA AMELIA , TARTER RALPH , CHAUDHRY SHANAZ , CHAUDHRY NAZIR
Published: January 2006

One‐hundred and twenty‐nine opiate addicts on a monthly maintenance regimen were studied. Subjects with a positive family history of opium use had an earlier age of onset than the subjects without a family history of opium use. Self‐reported psychosocial problems resulting from opium use were documented in only seven subjects. Individuals who began opium use after 1979, when it became illegal to use the drug, had a significantly later age of onset than subjects who began before 1979, suggesting that negative legal sanctions can delay initiation of opium consumption.
Treatment of opiate withdrawal on entry to prison
Authors: JEANMONOD ROLF , HARDING TIMOTHY , STAUB CHRISTIAN
Published: January 2006

Forty‐nine opiate‐dependent persons entering remand prison were treated with methadone over 5–10 days in decreasing doses according to standard practice of the prison medical service. The prisoners were mainly young, unmarried men with an average of 5 years regular opiate use and an average of four previous imprisonments; 45% were known to be HIV infected, although routine testing was not carried out. Ten were on methadone maintenance prior to imprisonment. Urine analysis on entry detected an average of three psychoactive substances, principally opiates, benzodiazepines and cannabis. Prescribed starting doses of methadone were not correlated to independently assessed withdrawal severity. Starting doses were related to prisoners' requests and to their age. Withdrawal severity decreased after 4 days treatment but symptom relief was incomplete. Treating withdrawal symptoms on entry to prison poses unsolved ethical and practical problems.
The use of calcium carbimide in relapse prevention counselling: results of a randomized controlled trial
Authors: ANNIS HELEN M. , PEACHEY JOHN E.
Published: January 2006

The effect of combining relapse prevention counselling with use of an alcohol‐sensitizing drug was examined. Fifty‐six alcoholic subjects who participated in a clinical trial of the short‐acting alcohol sensitizing drug, citrated calcium carbimide, were randomly assigned to: (i) a Physician Advice condition in which subjects took the drug within a context designed to reinforce the medical management of their drinking problem; and (ii) a Relapse Prevention condition in which subjects were instructed to pair use of the drug with planned entry into high risk drinking situations and to gradually reduce reliance on the drug by developing alternative coping behaviour patterns. As predicted, subjects receiving carbimide in conjunction with relapse prevention counselling showed significant growth in internal attribution for change; whereas those receiving carbimide under more traditional medical management showed no movement toward internality. On measurement of alcohol consumption at 6, 12 and 18 months follow‐up, there was some indication of superior maintenance of treatment gains at 18 months post‐treatment for subjects who had received relapse prevention counselling, although the effect did not reach a conventional level of significance (F = 2.82; P < 0.06). The findings are interpreted as consistent with a cognitive social‐learning analysis of the maintenance of behaviour change.
Exposure to passive smoking among bar staff
Authors: JARVIS MARTIN J. , FOULDS JONATHAN , FEYERABEND COLIN
Published: January 2006

The median saliva cotinine concentration in 42 non‐smoking bar staff in central London and Birmingham was 7.95 ng/ml, indicating a nicotine intake of about 0.6 mg per day. Pubs appear to give rise to exceptionally heavy exposure to environmental tobacco smoke. Passive smoking in pubs is of concern for its impact both on customers and on those for whom the pub is a place of work.
Risk‐taking behaviour on the decline in intravenous drug users
Authors: RONALD P. J. M. , ROBERTSON J. R. , ROBERTS J. J. K.
Published: January 2006

In order to assess behaviour changes among intravenous drug users we interviewed 51 IVDUs attending a general practice in Edinburgh. The data obtained was compared with equivalent data gathered in 1986. We were able to show that significant changes in injecting behaviour have occurred and have been maintained over time. A decrease in HIV seroprevalence in this group was also found. The primary drugs of abuse are benzodiazepines and pharmacological opiates, a fact which has important implications for the medical authorities.
Systems analysis of a drug dependency service in London: St George's Hospital
Authors: GHODSE A. H. , McCARTNEY J.
Published: January 2006

Elements of a systems approach to analysing service delivery are outlined. A specific example–St George's Hospital Addiction Behaviour Department–is detailed. Dynamics of the system–from the client's perspective and the workers viewpoint–demonstrate some of the ways in which emotional conflict surrounding the task is handled. The conclusions focus on what might constitute adaptive resolution of systems dilemmas as well as highlighting the public‐health concerns relating to AIDS which, we argue, compromise the primary task of an addiction service at the present time.
Temazepam misuse in a group of injecting drug users
Authors: RUBEN SUSAN M. , MORRISON CLIVE L.
Published: January 2006

It is well recognized that many injecting drug users are poly‐drug users. The intravenous use of Temazepam has become popular recently. In response to the ease of misuse, the pharmaceutical industry produced a formulation that would be as ‘resistant’ as possible to injecting. The preparation is a gel‐fitted formulation, one proprietary name being Temazepam Gelthix. General Practitioners have been encouraged to prescribe gel‐filled capsules to potential drug misusers in order to reduce the harm Temasepam can cause by its misuse. This study of 23 Temazepam injectors shows that the group still find the gel‐filled preparation readily injectable. It appears to be more problematic in causing medical complications including superficial thrombophlebitis, abscesses and deep venous thrombosis. Temazepam misuse can cause drug users to become more chaotic. The study group recognize this and suggest there should be stricter control on the supply of Temasepam to drug dependents. General Practitioners, who are the main source of Temazepam prescribing, require additional training in prescribing to drug users.
Types of alcoholics: concurrent and predictive validity of some common classification schemes
Authors: BABOR THOMAS F. , DOLINSKY ZELIG S. , MEYER ROGER E. , HESSELBROCK MICHIE , HOFMANN MICHAEL , TENNEN HOWARD
Published: January 2006

This study evaluated the discriminative power and predictive validity of five common typological schemes used to classify alcoholics for theoretical or clinical purposes. A heterogeneous sample of 321 alcoholics was classified according to primary vs secondary alcoholism, parental alcoholism, Jellinek's gamma‐delta distinction, gender, and subtypes derived from MMP1 profiles. A prospective longitudinal cohort design was employed to compare the relative ability of these typologies to differentiate alcoholics according to natural history, alcohol‐related consequences, response to treatment, and post‐treatment adjustment. The findings indicate that while ‘one‐dimensional’ typologies discriminate subgroups in terms of etiological variables, presenting symptoms, and drinking patterns, none of the classification systems emerges as a strong predictor of outcome status. In addition, these typologies do not discriminate well with respect to the alcoholic's drinking patterns and presenting symptoms, except in areas closely connected with the model (e.g. alcoholics with antisocial personality (ASP) indicate more social problems related to alcohol use than do primary alcoholics). Because there is a great deal of overlap among certain subtypes identified within different typological models (e.g. alcoholics with primary ASP tended to have, a positive family history and a gamma pattern of impaired control), we hypothesize that empirical clustering techniques that search for naturally occurring commonalities among alcoholics may be a better way to identify homogeneous subtypes.
Alcohol placebos: You can only fool some of the people all of the time
Authors: HAMMERSLEY RICHARD , FINNIGAN FRANCES , MILLAR KEITH
Published: January 2006

Some data from three studies of the acute psychological effects of alcohol are presented. After blind administration subjects could often tell that they had consumed alcohol, presumably because of its physiological effects. About 50% of subjects who received placebo alcohol felt slightly drunk and guessed that they had received alcohol. But, subjects who had actually received alcohol rated themselves as more drunk and were much more likely to guess that they had received alcohol. Subjects could also approximately estimate how much alcohol they had drunk. These findings suggest that the effects of unblinding should be considered when alcohol is administered in placebo designs. True blind placebo administration may only be possible when achieved BAL is <40 mg/100 ml.
Social intervention against AIDS among injecting drug users
Authors: FRIEDMAN SAMUEL R. , NEAIGUS ALAN , JARLAIS DON C. DES , SOTHERAN JO L. , WOODS JOYCELYN , SUFIAN MERYL , STEPHERSON BRUCE , STERK CLAIRE
Published: January 2006

Many drug injectors continue to engage in behaviors that lead them to become infected with HIV in spite of a wide variety of public health programs. In addition, many persons have begun to inject drugs in spite of knowing the risks of AIDS. The inadequacy of current efforts to prevent these behaviors suggests that additional forms of intervention should be attempted. We suggest that social interventions be tried to complement current programs (almost all of which have an individual focus). Evidence that social factors such as peer pressure and the social relations of race affect risk behavior is presented. Social interventions that are discussed include organizing drug injectors against AIDS in ways analogous to those in which gays organized against the epidemic, and finding ways to change large‐scale social relationships that predispose people to inject drugs.
Methadone maintenance and the human immunodeficiency virus: current issues in treatment and research
Authors: WARD JEFF , DARKE SHANE , HALL WAYNE , MATTICK RICHARD
Published: January 2006

This paper examines the changes that have occurred in methadone maintenance programmes in response to the advent of HIV and the adoption of harm minimization policies, and the implications of these changes for research. A need for the use of more rigorous research methods is identified and recommendations are made that take into account both the ethical and practical difficulties of conducting research in this area. Both old, unanswered questions that have resurfaced with the recent massive growth in methadone programmes in some countries, and new questions that need to be answered in order to improve the effectiveness of methadone maintenance in the fight against HIV infection are identified as future areas in need of research.
Assessing AIDS prevention for injecting drug users; some methodological considerations
Authors: STIMSON GERRY V. , POWER ROBERT
Published: January 2006

There is an urgent need to develop strategies aimed at reducing the spread of HIV infection amongst injecting drug users. It is essential that any such initiatives are monitored and evaluated. It is the contention of this paper that evaluation should be rigorous, flexible and comparative. To achieve this we need to examine the basic principles of evaluation, both in terms of service delivery and process evaluation, as well as outcome measures. In the evaluation task it is important to distinguish clearly and unequivocally between implementation and impact, aims and objectives. At the practical level, researchers need to give due consideration to liaison with agency staff. Methodologically, issues such as demonstrating impact and rival explanations must be addressed. The paper concludes by proposing and illustrating a model for evaluation that has particular relevance to community‐base initiatives aimed at reducing the spread of HIV infection.
Charting the epidemic: the case study of HIV screening of injecting drug users in San Francisco, 1985–1990
Authors: MOSS A. R. , VRANIZAN K.
Published: January 2006

HIV screening for drug users in treatment began in San Francisco in 1985, and was followed by street screening, community outreach, bleach distribution and other intervention programs. The HIV seroconversion rate fell from 4.5% per year in 1985–86 to 1.7% per year in 1987–88 and has remained stable at about 2% per year since 1988. While this decline cannot be attributed to specific programs, the broad spectrum of interventions in San Francisco appears to be keeping the new infection rate low. Future programs should aim at reducing heterosexual HIV transmission, at intervening with multiply‐diagnosed drug users, and at providing service to homeless and other very poor drug‐using groups.
Family history of alcoholism in the United States: prevalence and demographic characteristics
Authors: HARFORD THOMAS C.
Published: January 2006

The Data Notes Series is edited by Dr Bridget Grant, Chief of Biometry of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism

National estimates of the prevalence of family history for alcoholism in the USA were investigated using a general population sample of 43809 respondents 18 years of age and older. Approximately 38% of the total sample reported a positive history for alcoholism. Positive reports were highest for Native Americans and lowest for Asian Americans.
The effect of a ‘recall‐system’ in the treatment of alcoholic patients
Authors: SCIVOLETTO SANDRA , DE ANDRADE ARTHUR GUERRA , CASTEL SAULO
Published: January 2006

In a service specializing in alcohol and drug abuse in Brazil, a ‘recall system’ was developed in order to decrease the drop out level, which is high in this kind of treatment. The effect of this procedure was measured in two groups: in the 82 patients with the ‘recall system’, the drop out rate after 12 months was 45%. In 227 patients without this system the drop out rate was 84%. The difference in drop out rate was significant (p < 0.01) only during the first 6 months of treatment.
Letter to the Editor
Authors: Wong Michael T. H.
Published: January 2006

The editor welcomes all letters whether they are short case reports, preliminary reports of research, discussion or comments on papers published in the journal. Authors should follow the same guidelines given for the preparation and submission of articles on the inside back cover of each ittue.
Book Reviews
Authors: GOSSOP MICHAEL
Published: January 2006

Books reviewed in this article:

Motivational Interviewing: Preparing People to Change Addictive Behaviour WILLIAM R. MILLER & STEPHEN ROLLNICK

Cocaine, AIDS, and Intravenous Drug Use SAMUEL R. FRIEDMAN, DOUGLAS S. LIPTON & BARRY STIMMEL (Eds)

Drug Addiction and AIDS N. LOIMER, R. SCHMID & A. SPRINGER (Eds)

Growing Up in Smoke LYNN MICHELL

Contributions to the Psychology of Addiction GERARD M. SCHIPPERS, SYLVIA M. M. LAMMERS & CAS P. D. R. SCHAAP (Eds)

Behavioural and Biochemical Issues in Substance Abuse B. STIMMEL (Ed.)
The opening of a high care hostel for problem drinkers
Authors: BRETHERTON HARRIET
Published: January 2006

This paper gives a personal and practice based account by one of the Team Leaders of the opening of a high‐care hostel for problem drinkers in North London. The hostel, Rugby House, was set up to provide detoxification and assessment facilities for thirteen residents. It was pan of the Rugby House Project, an alcohol agency in the voluntary sector. The paper explores the processes involved in setting up a new project; how the new paid employees turn a committee's vision into practice; how a group of individuals become a team; the importance of clarity about boundaries and underlying values and assumptions; the need for openness about negative as well as positive feelings; and the recognition that some of the experiences of staff will resonate with those of the residents for whom giving up drinking is a major life change.
Estimating the trend of the epidemic of drug use in Italy, 1985–89
Authors: REZZA GIOVANNI , DORRUCCI MARIA , FILIBECK UMBERTO , SERAFIN IRINUS
Published: January 2006

We used data from different sources to estimate the extent and the trend of the epidemic of drug use in Italy in the second half of the ‘80s. During the study period, the number of subjects attending drug dependency units increased from 13 905 to 61 689. Mortality and morbidity indicators showed an increase in both drug related deaths (mainly from overdose) and AIDS cases reported in injecting drug users, particularly among older subjects. However, the number of young adults detected as drug users at the army recruitment remained virtually stable from 1986 on. These findings suggest that both demand and availability of treatment increased through the years 1985–89, and that clinical consequences of drug use related behaviour have become an important public health priority.
Socio‐economic versus obstetric risk factors for drug addiction in offspring
Authors: NYBERG KARIN , ALLEBECK PETER , EKLUND GUNNAR , JACOBSON BERTIL
Published: January 2006

Two possible risk factors for drug addiction were weighed against each other: (1) perinatal factors associated with obstetric medication at time of birth; and (2) factors associated with familial socio‐economic conditions at time of birth. The subjects comprised 200 amphetamine addicts and 200 opiate addicts born in Stockholm 1945–1966. In a matched case control study, addicts were compared to their siblings with regard to possible obstetric risk factors by means of conditional logistic regression controlling for socio‐economic level and civil status. Administration of opiates, barbiturates and nitrous oxide to mothers during labour was associated with drug addiction in offspring, hence confirming results from earlier studies. In a cohort study the risk associated with birth at a given hospital and familial socio‐economic level was analysed by means of loglinear analysis using 7100 controls from the general population. For amphetamine addicts, a low socio‐economic level at time of birth might be of importance for the infant subsequently becoming an addict. This could not be demonstrated for the opiate addicts. An uneven distribution of births among the hospitals, most pronounced for the amphetamine addicts, is in agreement with the hypothesis that obstetric practices may be risk factors for adult drug addiction.
Severity of DSM‐III‐R alcohol dependence: United States, 1988
Authors: HASIN DEBORAH S. , CLICK HILLARY
Published: January 2006

One method of subtyping alcohol dependence is according to severity. Over 4000 respondents in a US national survey who met criteria for DSM‐III‐R alcohol dependence were classified as mildly, moderately or severely dependent, and the characteristics of each group were examined. The proportion of males was higher in the moderate and severe groups, and the greatest proportions of cases were concentrated in the younger ages in all three groups. A clear increasing gradient from the mild to severe group was found for early age at first drink, heavy alcohol consumption, family history of alcohol problems, social pressure to reduce drinking, and helpseeking, treatment or AA for drinking. Implications for further analyses are discussed.
Methodological considerations in the diagnosis of coexisting psychiatric disorders in substance abusers
Authors: WEISS ROGER D. , MIRIN STEVEN M. , GRIFFIN MARGARET L.
Published: January 2006

The authors reviewed the diagnostic methodology in 14 studies that examined the prevalence of coexisting psychiatric disorders in substance abusers. There was widespread variation among the studies in the timing of patient interviews, the nature of the interviews themselves, and abstinence criteria required before another psychiatric disorder could be diagnosed. These differences were reflected in some of the study results. The authors describe how variations in methodology can affect the diagnoses patients receive. They also suggest more specific abstinence criteria, based on the substances of abuse and the specific disorders being diagnosed.
Adolescent drug use in Wales
Authors: SMITH CHRISTOPHER , NUTBEAM DON
Published: January 2006

As part of a larger survey of health‐related behaviours, 2239 15–16‐year‐olds in Wales provided information on their use of eight different types of drugs. Key findings indicate that just over a fifth of this age group report to having tried drugs at some time, while a tenth say they have done so within the past month. The most frequently reported substances were marijuana, solvents and glue, and psilocybin. Few of the young people reported multiple or regular drug use. The prevalence of drug use was higher for pupils from single parent families, and more boys than girls reported using psilocybin. The reliability and validity of self‐report data are discussed, and the implications of the findings for health education programmes considered.
Changes in criminal activity after entering methadone maintenance
Authors: BELL JAMES , HALL WAYNE , BYTH KAREN
Published: January 2006

The impact of different approaches to methadone maintenance on the level of crime committed by heroin addicts was examined in a cohort of addicts entering methadone treatment. The cohort comprises three groups: 72 subjects (group 1) who were approved for treatment and referred to a long‐term programme which tolerated continued illicit drug use in treatment; 159 subjects (group 2) who were referred to an abstinence orientated programme from which clients who continued to use heroin were expelled; and 84 subjects who were rejected as unsuitable or failed to complete the assessment process. Official records of convictions were used to calculate conviction rates in thepre‐ and post‐assessment periods. Differences between groups in conviction rates for drug and property crimes were analysed using Poisson regression. Three variables—age, sex and age of first criminal conviction—were significant predictors of conviction rates and all analyses controlled for these variables. Most of the rejected subjects entered treatment during the study period and it was, therefore, not possible to interpret differences between treated and untreated subjects. Among those who entered treatment, property offence rates actually rose, due to a significant increase in conviction rates in group 2. Subjects in group 1 were retained significantly longer in treatment than those in group 2. Among those who remained in treatment less than 12 months, most offences occurred after leaving treatment. When conviction rates were adjusted for time spent in treatment, the differences between the clinics disappeared. Remaining in treatment in either clinic was associated with a progressive reduction in the rate of convictions; for each year of treatment, the adjusted rate of property offences fell by a factor of 0.69 [95% Cl (0.62, 0.78)]. Retention in treatment, rather than entry to treatment, is the key to reducing the criminal involvement of addicts. Programmes with low retention are less effective in achieving this goal. To be most effective, methadone programmes should be orientated towards encouraging clients to remain in treatment.
A method for producing alcohol placebos
Authors: GLAUTIER STEVEN , TAYLOR COLIN , REMINGTON BOB
Published: January 2006

A method for producing placebo drinks that are hard to discriminate from alcoholic drinks is described. Subjects received a series of paired comparisons, each involving a distinctively flavoured alcoholic drink and one of six different placebo versions of it. Following each such comparison, rating scales were used to record the ‘alcoholic strength’ and ‘sensory intensity’ of a placebo drink relative to the alcoholic drink. The procedure was replicated using another distinctive alcoholic drink and another set of placebos. Based upon a multivariate analysis of subjects' ratings, the version of the placebo that was most difficult to discriminate from it's corresponding alcoholic drink was identified for both alcoholic drinks. The method is intended to be a general one for producing placebo versions of alcoholic drinks which do not differ on any dimensions which can be shown to be important in producing a response.
Passive smoking—some further legal issues for employers
Authors: HOWARD GILLIAN
Published: January 2006

In the past year there have been several important developments concerning passive smoking including the publication of two authoritative books;1,2 two important UK cases3,4 which will affect all future personal injury claims for passive smoking and the first successful passive smoking claim for State Accident Disablement Benefit.5 Worldwide, the Australia Federal Court6 confirmed that there is unequivocal scientific evidence that passive smoking is harmful to health. This judgement is particularly significant for the UK as it was the testimony of two leading experts, Professor Nicholas J. Wald and Sir Richard Doll, whose evidence helped convince the Judge about the harmful health effects of passive smoke. Within the European Community several newly‐adopted Directives7 may well require employers to adopt a more rigorous approach to smoking restrictions. In particular, an EC Resolution in 19898 requires Member States to ban smoking in all public places. This has been given important legal backing by the European Court of Justice9 which may force Member States to adopt the Resolution whether they like it or not! Other measures concerning tobacco products are currently being reviewed by the Commission.
Young adult drinking behaviour: a comparison of diary and quantity‐frequency measures
Authors: O'CALLAGHAN FRANCES V. , CALLAN VICTOR J.
Published: January 2006

One hundred and twenty‐two college students over a 2‐week period completed a diary of their drinking habits and reasons for drinking, as well as a structured questionnaire about drinking attitudes and habits. Daily consumption based on the diary was compared with consumption based on a quantity‐frequency measure within the questionnaire. There were no significant differences between estimates of consumption based on the two measures, and both measures were highly correlated. The questionnaire was more accurate in classifying drinkers and non‐drinkers and led to better identification of those classified as hazardous and harmful drinkers. Sex differences in beliefs about drinking, as well as differences according to drinker classification, were found. Unsafe drinkers rated their drinking episodes as significantly more satisfying, comforting and exciting than other drinkers and were more likely to drink in order to get drunk and to relax. Their beliefs, attitudes and intentions also were more favourable towards the consumption of alcohol. Hotels or clubs were the most preferred locations for beer and spirits consumption while wine was consumed mainly at home. Most drinking took place within a mixed group or with close friends. Findings are discussed in terms of the relative advantages of both diary and quantity‐frequency/questionnaire methods.
Development and validation of a multidimensional instrument for assessing outcome of treatment among opiate users: the Opiate Treatment Index
Authors: DARKE SHANE , HALL WAYNE , WODAKI ALEX , HEATHER NICK , WARD JEFF
Published: January 2006

This article presents a new instrument with which to assess the effects of opiate treatment. The Opiate Treatment Index (OTI) is multi‐dimensional in structure, with scales measuring six independently measured outcome domains: drug use; HIV risk‐taking behaviour; social functioning; criminality; health; and psychological adjustment. Psychometric properties of the Index are excellent, suggesting that the OTI is a relatively quick, efficient means of obtaining reliable and valid data on opiate users undergoing treatment over a range of relevant outcome domains.
Book Reviews
Authors: GOSSOP MICHAEL
Published: January 2006

Books reviewed in this article:

Marijuana‐Drug Abuse: A comprehensive Series for Clinicians, Volume 1 MARK S. GOLD

The Clinical Management of Nicotine Dependence J. A. COCORES (Ed.)

Treatment Choices for Alcoholism and Substance Abuse H. B. MILKMAN & L. I. SEDERER

Managing the Dually Diagnosed Patient: Current Issues and Clinical Approaches DAVID F. O'CONNELL (Ed.)

The Effectiveness of Methadone Maintenance Treatment JOHN C. BALL & ALAN ROSS

Understanding Tranquilliser Use: The Role of the Social Sciences JONATHAN GABE (Ed.)
User reports of problems associated with alcohol and marijuana
Authors: BLACK STEVE , CASSWELL SALLY
Published: January 2006

A general population sample of 5126 New Zealanders aged 15–45 in two regions was surveyed to determine their use of alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, and other illicit drugs. Self‐reported problems were recorded on identical scales for alcohol and marijuana in order to make a direct comparison between alcohol and marijuana‐related problems. The results suggest that alcohol‐related problems were more common than marijuana‐related ones in the general population, reflecting the fact that alcohol use was more widespread. Within the 17% of the sample who had used both alcohol and marijuana in the last 12 months more problems were reported from alcohol, once again reflecting differences in amounts consumed. Among heavier users of marijuana both alcohol and marijuana‐related problems were more commonly reported than in the general sample. Problems were reported at similar levels for both drugs and the pattern of problems is somewhat similar.
Elderly vs. younger problem drinker ‘treatment’ and recovery experiences
Authors: FITZGERALD J. L. , MULFORD H. A.
Published: January 2006

To address the question of whether or not elderly problem drinkers experience any treatment contact discrimination or recovery rate disadvantages, the programmme utilization and recovery rate experiences of a representative sample of older and younger persons arrested for drinking and driving (OWI) in Iowa were compared. Subjects were interviewed by phone or mail shortly after their OWI arrest and then again approximately 12 months later. Younger persons (18–54 years old) were compared with elderly persons (55 and over and 65 and over). The elderly subjects were also dichotomized as early onset (at least one problem drinking indicator occurred prior to age 55) or late onset (all problem drinking indicators occurred at age 55 or later). The elderly were as likely as, or more likely than, their younger counterparts to make a treatment contact, to remain in treatment and to recover.