bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Hispanic drinking in the US: thinking in new directions
Authors: Caetano Raul 
Published: January 2006

AbstractUntil recently, alcohol research with US Hispanics had focused on deviant drinking and alcoholism, suggesting that these phenomena resulted from stress due to socioeconomic disadvantage or acculturation, or ‘machismo”. These explanations, however, are too simple to account for the complexity of drinking behavior and alcohol problems among this ethnic group. Recent research suggests that a full understanding of these problems will only be achieved by taking into account the sociodemographic and socioeconomic characteristics of US Hispanics as well as the culture and history that characterizes their life in the US.
What happens to drug misusers? A medium‐term follow‐up of subjects new to treatment
Authors: OPPENHEIMER EDNA , SHEEHAN MARGARET , TAYLOR COLIN 
Published: January 2006

AbstractIn a 2.5–5 year follow‐up study of 150 drug misusers who were new to treatment at three London Drug Treatment agencies, a 77% follow‐up rate was obtained. High rates of self‐reported abstinence from opiates and other drugs were found. Some 37% of those followed‐up were totally drug free at follow‐up. Seventy‐one per cent were living in the community and of those 73% were opiate free and 35% were totally drug free. Only 18% had injected in the 4 weeks prior to follow‐up. Thirteen per cent were in prison and 12% were resident in a therapeutic community. Being told about the dangers of HIV had persuaded some people to give up using drugs.
An analysis of the abstinence violation effect in a sample of illicit drug users
Authors: BIRKE SIMON A. , EDELMANN ROBERT J. , DAVIS PAUL E. 
Published: January 2006

AbstractStudies using samples of alcoholics and cigarette smokers show that the occurrence of the abstinence violation effect predicts the likelihood of a full‐blown relapse following an initial slip from voluntary abstinence. The present study investigated this process in a sample of 31 illicit drug users. The attributional styles of abstainers and relapsers were examined in addition to the types of initial slip situations for the relapse group. No significant differences were found in attributional styles, although relative to the relapse group there was a tendency for abstainers to score higher on intemality and stability of attribution for negative events, but lower on globality. Both negative affect and interpersonal conflict, but not social pressure, were found to be important precipitants for relapse. Demographic differences between the groups are discussed in addition to the implications of the results for models of relapse, prediction of relapse and cognitive therapy in relapse prevention.
Discordance of physiological and biochemical response to smoking and to psychological stress
Authors: POMERLEAU CYNTHIA S. , POMERLEAU OVIDE F. , MCPHEE KATHLEEN , MORRELL ERIC M. 
Published: January 2006

AbstractBoth smoking and psychological stress produce marked effects upon cardiovascular function, and several studies have demonstrated that in combination they produce additive or potentiating effects. More recently, it has been reported that individuals strongly reactive to psychological stress are also strongly reactive to nicotine. In an attempt to replicate and extend those findings, we examined reactivity to smoking and competitive mental arithmetic across several physiological and biochemical variables. Despite stable responding across mental arithmetic trials, we were unable to demonstrate significant correlations between reactivity to smoking and to a psychological stressor. We further observed that anxiety level, when low, was a poor predictor of desire to smoke and of withdrawal, whereas higher anxiety levels were more tightly linked to these measures. These findings have implications for the iDentification of individuals at risk of cardiovascular disease as well as for the design of smoking treatment and relapse prevention programs.
The Drug Advisory Service of England and Wales—the first 2 years
Authors: STRANG JOHN , YOUNG ANNETTE 
Published: January 2006

AbstractAn historical account is presented of the introduction and subsequent work of the Drug Advisory Service (DAS) of England and Wales since 1986. Data are presented from an analysis of the recommendations contained within the first 11 reports. The structural and operational strengths and weaknesses of the present approach are considered, and alternative approaches which might constitute constructive modifications or supplements to the present system are discussed.
Combining insights from epidemiological and ethnographic data to investigate substance use in Truk, Federated States of Micronesia
Authors: MARSHALL MAC 
Published: January 2006

AbstractThere has been a recent concern in medical anthropology to combine quantitative epidemiological survey methods with qualitative ethnographic fieldwork methods as a means for drawing on the strengths of both approaches. This article shows the advantages of doing this by examining data on substance use and abuse from Truk, Federated States of Micronesia. Ethnographic research in 1976 based solely on qualitative methods is compared with a second study by the same investigator on the same island 9 years later that combined ethnographic fieldwork with an epidemiological general population survey of substance use by 1000 adults. The survey data were found to support many of the ethnographic conclusions, provide some new information not revealed by use of the qualitative methods and call into question a few interpretations of Trukese drinking based on qualitative data alone. This buttresses the argument that these methods are complementary, provide a cross‐check on one another and yield more information when used together than either does by itself.
Cultural background and drinking patterns in problem drinkers in Northern Norway
Authors: LARSEN SVEIN , NERGÅRD RAGNHILD 
Published: January 2006

AbstractIt was hypothesized that drinking patterns, treatment goals and psycho‐social consequences of drinking (as measured by the MAST) would be different in Saami (‘Lapp’) and Norwegian in‐patient problem drinkers, due to differences in cultural background. Drinking patterns and treatment goals differed significantly, implying that Saami clients demonstrated a more periodic drinking pattern and, to a smaller extent, tended to prefer total abstinence or a large reduction in alcohol consumption as their treatment goal compared to Norwegian clients. Furthermore, the Saami clients obtained significantly lower scores on the MAST than the Norwegian clients. No differences in degree of physical dependence and self‐reported alcohol consumption were observed. These findings indicate that the drinking culture in the two groups is different. Furthermore, the results imply that the MAST yields different problem scores in Saami and Norwegian clients, probably due to differences in ways of living in the two ethnic groups.
Providing health care for drug users?
Authors: DATT NEELAM , FEINMANN CHARLOTTE 
Published: January 2006

In this specially commissioned BJA series experienced clinicians will be giving their personal and frontline views as to how the practical business of treating people with substance problems is best handled.AbstractThe majority of drug users neglect their health and have limited access to primary and preventative health care services. A health care team was developed in an attempt to provide health care for drug users, to prevent the spread of HIV and provide health education to the drug users. The health problems were related to injecting drugs, comprising abscesses, peripheral neuropathy and poor peripheral circulation. A high level of past infection with hepatitis B virus was noted, indicating the need for hepatitis B vaccination for drug users.
Serum levels of methadone in maintenance clients who persist in illicit drug use
Authors: BELL JAMES , BOWRON PETER , LEWIS JOHN , BATEY ROBERT 
Published: January 2006

AbstractThis study examined pharmacological factors contributing to persisting drug abuse by methadone maintenance clients. Three groups of clients, drawn from one treatment programme, were studied: persistent heroin users, persistent benzodiazepine users, and control subjects who were not using illicit drugs in addition to methadone. Persistent abusers mostly had high trough serum methadone levels, and their ongoing drug use appears to reflect a preference for a different drug effect rather than inadequate methadone dose. Several clients did have the expectation that methadone should prevent them from using other drugs; such expectations may diminish the effectiveness of treatment.
Alcohol consumption, problem drinking and antisocial behaviour in a sample of college students
Authors: WEST ROBERT , DRUMMOND COLIN , EAMES KATE 
Published: January 2006

AbstractA total of 125 male and 145 female students completed a written questionnaire (response rate 68%) on their consumption levels and patterns, problem drinking and vandalism and assaults associated with drinking. Prevalence of heavy drinking was broadly similar to that found in other college student samples in the UK with 25.6% of male students and 14.5% of female students drinking more than their safe limits of 35 and 21 units per week respectively. Six percent of male and one percent of female students exceeded the problem drinking threshold on the MAST. Twenty percent of the male students and 6% of the females admitted having caused at least some damage to property after having been drinking in the past 12 months. Four percent of males and 5% of females admitted ‘minor’ assaults. Fifty percent of males and 36% of females had witnessed damage to property and 19% of males and 10% of females had experienced some kind of assault. Vandalism and assaults were positively and independently associated with higher levels of consumption, reasons for drinking and patterns of drinking; in particular morning drinking appeared to play a role. Taking amount of drinking into account, males were more likely to commit acts of vandalism but females were more likely to commit assaults. The results reveal that alcohol‐related, anti‐social behaviour among students is a significant problem and that, while heavy drinking per se plays a role, other factors are also important.
Employment and drinking in early adulthood: a longitudinal perspective
Authors: POWER C. , ESTAUGH V. 
Published: January 2006

AbstractThe relationship between drinking and employment was examined in a large, national representative longitudinal sample of young adults in Britain. Teenage drinking did not emerge as a strong influence upon subsequent employment experience: few associations were significant for either sex. However, early employment experiences did appear to be relevant to drinking in young adults, since unemployment of six months or more in total was significantly associated with heavier drinking in men (odds ratio=1.38, CI 1.14–1.64). Respondents ratings of overall job satisfaction were not generally associated with either previous drinking or with that in early adulthood.
The effect of alcohol consumption on recency discrimination ability: an early screening test for alcohol‐induced cognitive impairment
Authors: ALDERDICE FIONA A. , DAVIDSON ROBIN 
Published: January 2006

AbstractIn this short study the relationship between recency discrimination ability and a measure of alcohol intake was examined using a series of regression analyses. Semi‐partial correlations were extracted in order to evaluate which variables (level of alcohol consumption, age and IQ) best predicted recency discrimination performance on both verbal and non‐verbal tasks. Results showed that while IQ best predicted performance on the verbal task both IQ and alcohol intake were significant predictors on the non‐verbal task. The results are discussed in relation to current findings and the continuity hypothesis.
Drug problems and patterns of service use amongst illicit drug users in Edinburgh
Authors: MORRISON VALERIE , PLANT MARTIN 
Published: January 2006

AbstractSome results are presented from a continuing prospective study of patterns of illicit drug use in the community. A study group of 115 illicit drug users in Edinburgh were contacted by a non‐random method known as ‘snowballing’. These were interviewed using a standardized schedule that related to over 200 variables. The use of drugs services are discussed and it is noted that reasons for making contact with such services are complex and not directly associated with any one factor. Extent of illicit substance use and adverse consequences experienced as a result of illicit substance use, are seen to be associated with agency contact, although it is suggested that many other reasons such as social pressure have a role to play. Some individuals, including opiate users, reported that their drug use had not led to any adverse consequences, others had experienced a variety of adverse consequences yet had had no contact with a drugs agency. The implications of these results are discussed.
Consistency of alcohol self‐report measures in a male young offender population
Authors: McMURRAN MARY , HOLLIN CLIVE R. , BOWEN ANGHARAD 
Published: January 2006

SummaryThe consistency among a number of measures of self‐report of alcohol consumption in imprisoned male young offenders was studied by asking 56 young offenders to report, based on a ‘typical week’, how many days they had consumed alcohol, how many days they were drunk and how much alcohol they had consumed. They were asked to rate their confidence in the accuracy of their self‐report and to complete the short EPQ‐R, which contains a Lie Scale. Results show that self‐report in this population is reliable over time and that different indices of alcohol consumption correlate significantly with each other. Young offenders report a moderate degree of confidence in their accuracy of self‐report and the mean EPQ‐R Lie Scale score is within 1 standard deviation of the norm for a comparable sample.
Licit and illicit drug policies: a typology
Authors: WARNER Kenneth E. , CITRIN TOBY , PICKETT GEORGE , RABE BARRY G. , WAGENAAR ALEXANDER , STRYKER JEFF 
Published: January 2006

SummaryTo foster comparison of policy interventions across the various categories of licit and illicit drugs, we develop a typology of policies intended to address drug abuse problems. The principal dimensions of the typology are policy type and intervention channel. While the typology has important limitations, as a mechanism to organize information and stimulate thought it holds the potential to improve understanding of commonalities and distinctions among policies applying to widely discrepant drug problems, both within and across cultures. As such, it could contribute to the development of more effective approaches to grappling with a diverse set of drug policy issues.
Statistical control in research on alcohol and tobacco: an example from research on alcohol and mortality
Authors: KOZLOWSKI LYNN T. , FERRENCE ROBERTA G. 
Published: January 2006

SummaryMany of the major studies of deaths related to alcohol use report evidence for a U‐shaped relationship between mortality and consumption, with abstainers having higher mortality than moderate drinkers. Some have suggested that this indicates a protective effect of moderate drinking; others have argued that pre‐existing health problems and demographic and lifestyle differences explain the finding. In this report, we present evidence that the U‐shaped function is largely an artefact of inadequate controls for smoking and drinking intake and history. Never smoking abstainers die at about the same rate as never smoking moderate drinkers. We stress the importance of using precise measures of drug use history and drug use status and make the point that, given the strong interaction between smoking and drinking, controlling for smoking may produce misleading results.
Being positive: drug injectors' experiences of HIV infection
Authors: McKEGANEY NEIL 
Published: January 2006

AbstractThere is a growing concern within Britain, Europe and North America that injecting drug users may pose the greatest risk of transmit‐ting HIV infection to the wider heterosexual non‐drug injecting population. However, we know very little about the reactions of injecting drug users to the knowledge of being HIV positive and thus are hampered in our attempts at estimating the actual risks such individuals pose to others. This paper is based upon interviews with 26 seropositive injecting drug users and examines their experiences in relation to the following areas: (1) hearing the news; (2) communicating the diagnosis to others; (3) current drug use and sexual behaviour, and (4) perceptions of the future. It is shown that injecting drug users have a wide range of responses in relation to each of these areas and while the implications for their care and counselling are drawn out it is suggested that the fact of this variability undermines any single approach to patient or client management.
Assisted natural recovery from alcohol problems: effects of a self‐help manual with and without supplementary telephone contact
Authors: HEATHER NICK , KISSOON‐SINGH JEAN , FENTON GEORGE W. 
Published: January 2006

AbstractOne hundred and seven problem drinkers responding to a newspaper advertisement were randomly assigned to groups receiving: (1) a general advice and information booklet; (2) a behaviourally‐based self‐help manual; (3) in addition to the manual, an opportunity to make progress reports to a telephone answering service; and (4) in addition to the manual, an opportunity to make telephoned progress reports to an interviewer. Eighty‐seven (81.3%) respondents were successfully followed‐up and collateral information was available for 54 (61.1%) of these. Results showed a higher proportion drinking above recommended limits at six months follow‐up in the control group (78%) than in the groups receiving the manual (53%). There were no significant differences due to presence or type of telephone contact and poor use was made of the opportunity for telephone contact. Findings justify the widespread promotion of self‐help materials as a means of assisting the natural recovery process among problem drinkers.
Alcoholism and drug abuse—some legal issues for employers
Authors: HOWARD GILLIAN 
Published: January 2006

AbstractThree specific areas of the law concern employers faced with problems of addiction at the workplace. At common law an employer may be guilty of negligence where a person has suffered personal injuries or economic loss as a result of an act of negligence committed in the course of employment by an employee. An example would be an employee with a serious addiction to alcohol or drugs who caused an accident in the company car whilst on company business. Employers may also be guilty of a criminal offence for breach of a statutory duty. One such duly is to have a ‘safe system of work’. Other statutory rights guarantee employees a right not to be unfairly dismissed and this includes employees with addiction problems. Lastly, employers must be careful not to break the contract of employment if, for example, an employee with an addiction problem were to be suspended from duty or have his company car withdrawn, even if this was a temporary measure only.
The prevalence of minor psychopathology in opioid users seeking treatment
Authors: SWIFT WENDY , WILLIAMS GERRY , NEILL OLWYN , GRENYER BRIN 
Published: January 2006

AbstractStudies have consistently reported a relationship between psychopathology and opioid use, with the former cited as a powerful predictor of treatment outcome. Scores on the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ–28), a non‐diagnostic measure of minor psychopathology, were obtained from the randomly selected files of 150 opioid users presenting for treatment at an inner city drug advisory service. Approximately 61% of the sample qualified as ‘cases’, indicating some degree of psychological and social dysfunction. Clients with current legal charges had lower test scores than those without pending legal action, while GHQ scores were unrelated to the remaining 10 demographic and drug use variables investigated. The prevalence of minor psychopathology reported in this sample has implications for the provision of appropriate and effective interventions, and points to the further investigation of the GHQ as a tool in the assessment of psychological dysfunction in this population.
Drug research: a comparison of ongoing research and perceived research priorities
Authors: REDMAN SELINA , WEBB GLORIA R. , OAK STEPHANIE , SANSON‐FISHER ROBERT W. 
Published: January 2006

SummarySince drug abuse results in high costs to the community, it is vital that research funding be allocated in a way which ensures a maximum improvement in health for the money spent. This study explores the extent to which current research into drug and alcohol abuse in Australia reflects perceived research priorities. Two hundred and seventy–four ongoing research projects into drug and alcohol misuse were identified. Researchers currently working in this area were surveyed to ascertain perceived research priorities in terms of the drug studied, the type of data collected and the setting in which the study occurred. A comparison of ongoing projects with perceived research priorities indicated considerable discrepancies. Fewer intervention projects and more studies in laboratory and clinical settings were being undertaken than was perceived as desirable by the researchers. The findings are discussed in terms of their implications for strategies for distributing research funds.
Coherence of the dependence syndrome in cocaine users
Authors: BRYANT KENDALL J. , ROUNSAVILLE BRUCE J. , BABOR THOMAS F. 
Published: January 2006

AbstractThe method of diagnosing drug dependence introduced in DSM‐III‐R is largely untested for drugs other than alcohol. Cocaine, unlike alcohol, lacks clearly identifiable withdrawal symptoms, yet is also considered highly addictive. Can criteria derived from the dependence syndrome concept be generally applied to treatment seeking cocaine users? To evaluate the coherence of the dependence syndrome elements for cocaine, factor analysis models are applied to the nine dichotomous DSM‐III‐R drug‐dependence criteria derived from structured clinical interviews with 399 cocaine users. A single factor model, in which both the centrality and severity of each criteria were assessed, adequately describes the criteria and supports the coherence of the dependence syndrome concept for cocaine. Pre‐occupation was the most central criterion in defining cocaine dependence. However, avoiding withdrawal through the use of other drugs measured the most severe level of drug dependence. Inability to stop using the tolerance were only minimally related to the measurement of cocaine dependence.
Social and cultural preconditions of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and factors associated with the strength of AA
Authors: MÄKELÄ KLAUS 
Published: January 2006

AbstractIn 1986, AA activities (a minimum of five groups) typically occurred in non‐socialist, non‐Islamic countries with a GNP per capita above US$ 1000. From 1965 to 1986, the share of English speaking and Scandinavian countries of all AA groups diminished, and the share of Central and Southern European, and particularly of Latin America, increased. Correlation analysis of countries fulfilling the typical preconditions of AA indicates changes in the relationships of AA to social background factors. In 1965, AA was strongest in the wealthiest countries, but no such correlation was observed in 1986. The rate of growth of AA has been higher in Roman Catholic countries. Wine consumption is negatively and beer consumption positively correlated to the strength of AA. Cross‐sectional strength of AA is not related to spirits consumption, but its rate of growth has been higher in countries where spirits are consumed. The first wave of diffusion brought AA to the Anglo‐Saxon and Protestant world. The second wave covered American and European Catholic countries, and bridgeheads have been established in newly industrialized nations. Still, AA remains a phenomenon of developed and wealthy societies.