bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Brief coping skills treatment for cocaine abuse: substance use outcomes at three months
Authors: MONTI PETER M. , ROHSENOW DAMARIS J. , MICHALEC ELIZABETH , MARTIN ROSEMARIE A. , ABRAMS DAVID B. 
Published: January 2006

Abstract Aims. Coping skills training, a promising treatment approach for alcoholics, was adapted for use with cocaine abusers and effects on outcome were investigated. Design. A cocaine‐specific coping skills training (CST) package was compared to an attention placebo control when both were added to a comprehensive treatment program. Setting. The sites were two private substance abuse treatment facilities, one residential and rural, and one an urban partial hospital. Participants. Substance abusers in treatment with cocaine abuse or dependence were selected. Intervention. The CST intervention was conducted in individual sessions. It involved functional analysis of high risk situations and coping skills training based on the functional analysis. Findings. Clients who received CST had significantly fewer cocaine use days and the length of their longest binge was significantly shorter during the 3‐month follow‐up period compared to clients in the control condition. CST did not affect relapse rates or use of other substances. Conclusions. Results support the notion that cocaine‐specific CST is a promising adjunct to treatment for cocaine abusers.
HIV prevention and drug treatment services for drug misusers: a national study of community pharmacists' attitudes and their involvement in service specific training
Authors: SHERIDAN JANIE , STRANG JOHN , TAYLOR COLIN , BARBER NICK 
Published: January 2006

Abstract Aims. To investigate the attitudes of community pharmacists towards HIV prevention services for drug misusers and the relationship between these and their involvement in service provision. Design. Postal survey of a one in four random sample of community pharmacies (N = 2654) in England and Wales, stratified by Family Health Service Authority, in 1995, using up to four mailshots. Setting. Community pharmacies in England and Wales. Participants. The community pharmacist in charge of the dispensary at the random sample of community pharmacies. Measurements. Information on attitudes and behaviour were collected through self‐completion and postal return of structured questionnaires using questions with both category responses and Likert scales. Findings. A 74.8% response rate was achieved. Community pharmacists were positive about their role in HIV prevention and the provision of clean injecting equipment to injecting drug users—positive attitudes that were more evident among those pharmacists already providing these services. However, they had concerns over the effect drug misusers may have on business and indicated a need for more training and for more role support. Only a minority had taken pan in training on drug misuse and HIV prevention (34.7% and 21.3%, respectively). Many community pharmacists supported the proposal that there should be extensions of their involvement, to include services such as supervising the consumption of methadone in the pharmacy (38.6%) and collecting used prescribed ampoules front patients (33.8%). Positive relationships were identified between training and attitude, and between attitude and service provision. Changes in attitude responses between this 1995 survey and the earlier 1988 survey are also presented. Conclusions. Recommendations are made for further training and greater communication between prescriber/carer and the community pharmacists, for involvement of community pharmacies in new possible forms of service provision, and for there to be greater attention to the value of role support.
Abuse of codeine‐containing cough syrups: a report from India
Authors: MATTOO S. K. , BASU D. , SHARMA A. , BALAJI M. , MALHOTRA A. 
Published: January 2006

Abstract Aim. To study the socio‐demographic and clinical profile of patients seeking treatment for abuse of codeine‐containing cough syrups (CCS). Design. Observational; case series. Setting. An addiction clinic in North India. Participants. Forty‐six consecutive treatment‐seeking patients of DSM‐III‐R‐diagnosed dependence on CCS, from January 1994 to June 1995. Measurements. Semi‐structured interview schedule for patients and their family covering socio‐demographic and clinical variables. Findings. All patients were male. Many were young (mean age 27 years), with completed school education (85%) and from urban backgrounds (80%). The mean age of starting CCS use was 23 years. Initiated commonly through friends (89%) and often for curiosity (63%), 89% of the patients progressed to daily use of CCS in less than 6 months (54% in less than a month), and in quantities much higher than prescribed limits. Opioid‐like withdrawal was reported by 92%. Concurrent use of other substances, psychiatric co‐morbidity and HIV‐related risk behaviour were present in 72%, 24% and 45%, respectively. Most of the patients reported a ‘stimulant’ effect of CCS (‘alert’, 96%; ‘more active’, 94%). Conclusions. The combination of an opioid and a sympathomimetic agent in the CCS may cause a special, distinct euphoretic effect. This effect, along with the low price, easy availability and ‘pure’ preparation of CCS, may be responsible for the rapidly rising popularity of the CCS as drugs of abuse in India.
The impact of law enforcement activity on a heroin market
Authors: WEATHERBURN DON , LIND BRONWYN 
Published: January 2006

AbstractIt may be argued that seizing large quantities of heroin being imported into the country should decrease its supply and hence increase its price, resulting in a reduction in the quantity of the drug being purchased or consumed. To date, however, there has been no empirical evidence that heroin seizures in Australia have any effect on the price of heroin at street level. This article describes a 2‐year research study during which the price and purity of street‐level heroin were regularly monitored. It was found that heroin seizures had no effect on the price, purity or perceived availability of heroin at street level, it was further found that admissions to methadone treatment were not affected by the price or perceived availability of heroin or by local arrests for heroin use/possession, nor was any relationship found between these arrests and the price of street‐level heroin. Nevertheless, two‐thirds of those who sought entry to local methadone programmes indicated the price as a reason for slopping using heroin. This paper argues that supply‐side law enforcement should only be used as a strategy for maintaining high heroin prices if the demand for heroin can be shown to be price‐elastic and, further, that the costs of such a strategy need to be weighed against the benefits.
Alcohol policy and aviation safety
Authors: HOLLAND COOK CHRISTOPHER CHARLES 
Published: January 2006

AbstractAviation provides an environment which is almost uniquely unforgiving of mistakes. Accordingly, impairment of aircrew performance by alcohol can, and occasionally does, lead to catastrophic mistakes. That such disasters are rare, is a credit to the responsibility of aircrew themselves and to the effectiveness of aviation industry policies. Similarly, maintenance of this exemplary record depends upon continued attention to alcohol policy in the future. The aviation industry thus provides a useful model for the study of alcohol policies within a safety critical environment. Surprisingly, this model appears not to have been subjected to critical research and evaluation. Based upon previous research on alcohol and aviation, and in consideration of findings from the wider field of alcohol policy, suggestions are made here as to a promising framework for future alcohol policy formation in the aviation environment.
Mood and cognitive effects of ± 3,4‐methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, ‘ecstasy’): week‐end ‘high’ followed by mid‐week low
Authors: CURRAN H. VALERIE , TRAVILL ROSS A. 
Published: January 2006

Abstract Aims. Recreational use of ± 3,4‐methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, ‘ecstasy’) is widespread. The present study aimed to examine both the acute and residual effects of this drug on users' mood and cognitive Junction. Design and participants. A parallel group design was used to compare 12 participants who reported having taken MDMA with 12 participants who reported having consumed only alcohol, on the relevant night (day 1). These same participants were then re‐assessed the following day (day 2) and again mid‐week (day 5). Findings. Acute effects of MDMA broadly replicated previous findings. MDMA users rated elevated mood on day 1 but significantly low mood on day 5, at which point some participants scored within the range for clinical depression. In contrast, the alcohol group showed less pronounced changes, which followed a U‐shaped curve over days with the lowest point being day 2. The MDMA group also showed significant impairments on an attentional/working memory task, compared with alcohol users. Conclusions. Weekend use of MDMA may lead to depressed mood mid‐week. Possible mechanisms underlying the findings are discussed in terms of temporary depletion of serotonin, serotonergic neurotoxity and psychological aspects of mood change.
Choosing a cut‐off on the Severity of Dependence Scale (SDS) for amphetamine users
Authors: TOPP LIBBY , MATTICK RICHARD P. 
Published: January 2006

AbstractIn order to ascertain a cut‐off score on the Severity of Dependence Scale (SDS) which is indicative of clinically significant amphetamine dependence, 327 regular amphetamine users were administered the SDS, along with the “Disorders resulting from the use of psychoactive substances” section of the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI) for DSM‐III‐R. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was used in order to determine which cut‐off score on the SDS allowed the best trade‐off between sensitivity and specificity, when calibrated against the presence or absence of a DSM‐III‐R diagnosis of severe amphetamine dependence. Results suggest that the SDS has high diagnostic utility, and that a score of greater than four on the scale is indicative of problematic amphetamine use.
New drug treatments for alcohol problems: a critical appraisal
Authors: MONCRIEFF JOANNA , DRUMMOND D. COLIN 
Published: January 2006

AbstractThis review considers the novel drug treatments that have been suggested to help prevent relapse or attenuate drinking in people with alcohol problems. The evidence from randomized controlled trials for the efficacy of some of the main candidates: acamprosate, naltrexone, bromocriptine, selective serotonin re‐uptake inhibitors and buspirone, was examined. Important methodological problems which may have introduced bias were detected in many of the trials. These included failure to test the integrity of the double blind, excluding or estimating outcome in early withdrawals and the comparison of groups on multiple outcome measures with selective reporting of results. In addition, the generalizability of some studies was limited by the procedures used for sample selection. In view of the potential adverse effects of drug treatment it is concluded that the evidence is not strong enough to support the introduction of any of these substances into routine clinical practice at present. The review also emphasizes the importance of methodological rigour to maximize objectivity in treatment evaluation research.
Media advocacy in community prevention: news as a means to advance policy change
Authors: HOLDER HAROLD D. , TRENO ANDREW J. 
Published: January 2006

AbstractMedia advocacy within the Community Trials Project refers to the strategic use of news media to advance a social or public policy initiative. First, this paper presents a conceptual model that guided analyses of media advocacy. Secondly, it documents increases in alcohol‐related news coverage. Thirdly, it compares changes in perceived risk of arrest after drinking and driving that can be linked to increased DUI news coverage. Fourthly, it examines community awareness of enforcement efforts in terms of both media advocacy efforts and traditional public information campaigns. Results indicate that: (1) framing in media advocacy can increase coverage of news events generated by local community members including volunteers, (2) increased news coverage can be generated for both electronic (television) and print media, (3) increased news coverage did focus public attention on specific issues in support of prevention components, (4) while there are differential audiences/readers for the print (newspaper) and electronic (TV) media, both audiences are affected and (5) media advocacy can be more effective than a paid public information campaign in increasing public awareness of alcohol issues.
Preventing sales of alcohol to minors: results from a community trial
Authors: GRUBE JOEL W. 
Published: January 2006

AbstractThis paper reports an evaluation of a community‐based approach to prevent underage sales of alcohol. The interventions focused on (a) enforcement of underage sales laws, (b) responsible beverage service (RBS) training and (c) media advocacy. The interventions were implemented in three experimental communities located in California and South Carolina. Purchase survey data were obtained before and after the interventions in each experimental community and in three matched comparison communities. Logistic regression analyses of the purchase survey data for the individual community pain and for the combined communities showed that sales to apparent minors were significantly reduced in the experimental sites. The findings indicate that these environmental interventions are promising prevention tools for communities that seek to reduce underage drinking.
Application of local policy to prevent alcohol problems: experiences from a community trial
Authors: HOLDER HAROLD D. , REYNOLDS ROBERT I. 
Published: January 2006

AbstractAlcohol policy conventionally has been established at the national or regional, state and provincial levels. Alcohol policy at any level is not actually limited to the regulation and control of alcohol production, wholesale distribution, and retail sales. There are a number of alternatives for setting alcohol policies within a local community. Building upon existing national and state/provincial laws, policy makers at the community level can set priorities for allocating resources and enforcing laws related to drinking and driving, underage alcohol sales, alcohol serving practices of bars and restaurants and geographical density of alcohol outlets in the community. This paper concludes from the Community Trials Project that policies established at the local level can reduce alcohol problems.
Assessing the generalizability of smoking studies
Authors: HUGHES JOHN R. , GIOVINO GARY A. , KUEVENS R. MONINA , FIORE MICHAEL C. 
Published: January 2006

AbstractWe used data from the 1986 Adult Use of Tobacco Survey, 10 studies of self‐quitters and seven studies of treatment seekers, to illustrate how subpopulations of smokers might differ; e.g. treatment seekers vs. self‐quitters and research volunteers vs. smokers in the general population. Smoking researchers may wish to use our results to determine whether their sample is similar to the population of interest.
Why has alcohol consumption declined in countries of southern Europe?
Authors: GUAL ANTONI , COLOM JOAN 
Published: January 2006

AbstractAlcohol consumption seems to be decreasing in the traditional wine countries of southern Europe. This paper describes the evolution of alcohol consumption over the last 30 years in France, Greece, Italy, Portugal and Spain. For this purpose, data on alcohol production and per capita alcohol consumption in southern Europe are examined, and their reliability discussed. To analyse alcohol‐related mortality, liver cirrhosis death rates are also reviewed. Since 1980 overall alcohol production has increased by 10%, while wine production has decreased by 13%. The consumption of pure alcohol equivalent per capita has continually decreased, from a peak of 14 litres per year in 1974 to 10.4 litres in 1992. The reduction is dramatic for wine (42.3%) and slight for spirits (4.7%), while beer consumption has grown by 36.6%. These data seem to confirm a European trend towards the homogenization of drinking patterns. Marketing factors, public health policies, the evolution of prices and taxation, European Union agricultural policies, a growing awareness of public opinion about the toxicity of alcohol and competition from non‐alcoholic drinks are all factors that may partially explain these observed changes.
The economics of alcohol
Authors: LEHTO JUHANI 
Published: January 2006

AbstractThe use of economic arguments with regard to four aspects of alcohol policy is described and discussed. The first aspect is the impact of a potential reduction in alcohol consumption on employment by alcohol production and trade. It is shown that employment is quite independent of the level of consumption. The second aspect is the opportunity for serving the public health and state finance interests at the same time by developing alcohol taxation. The third aspect is the relationship between the public revenue from alcohol and the public costs for alcohol‐related problems. A “polluter pays” principle with regard to alcohol would mean higher taxation of alcoholic beverages. The fourth aspect is the need for cost‐effectiveness analyses to support the choices by the decision makers between different alcohol policy options. It is concluded that such analyses could have impact on the priorities in public health policy on alcohol.
Regulating unregulated markets
Authors: ŚWIĄTKIEWICZ GRAŻAYNA 
Published: January 2006

AbstractOngoing political and economic changes in the ex‐socialist countries have proved to be very expensive socially. The sudden transition from a centrally planned to a market economy had led to an increase of social problems. One commonly observed danger is the rapid increase in alcohol consumption. The rates of total alcohol consumption are particularly high in those countries where spirit consumption dominates. Considerable pressure is being applied to liberate the alcohol market from all restrictions. Inadequate legislation in the new economic situation, modifications in value systems, and the general rejection of all legislative solutions developed under the previous regime have created a climate conducive to the development of an unregulated alcohol market. State administrations have lost control of the alcohol market. Previous data on consumption have ceased to be reliable sources of information. The dynamic increase in alcohol‐related problems is dangerous for public health. If this situation is to be corrected, the first step must be regulation of the alcohol market.
Situational norms for drinking and drunkenness: trends in the US adult population, 1979–1990
Authors: GREENFIELD THOMAS K. , ROOM ROBIN 
Published: January 2006

AbstractDrinking depends on time, place, situation and personal characteristics. Patterns and trends in situational drinking norms (subjective levels of acceptable consumption for various situations) for US adults are reported. Results are based on eight comparable normative questions from national household surveys conducted in 1979 (n = 1772), 1984 (n = 5221 including Hispanic and black oversamples) and 1990 (n = 2058). Across years and population subgroups, a correspondence in ordering of situations on acceptability of drinking and of drunkenness was found. There were contrasting secular trends in the acceptability of drunkenness in different situations: drinking “enough to feel the effects” became more acceptable when at home but less acceptable in several other situations, particularly for men at a bar. For a decreasing percentage of respondents of both genders, it remains more acceptable for men than women to drink in bars, but gender norms in such “wetter” situations were converging by 1990. Men remain more accepting of drinking (but not drunkenness) for “dryer” situations such as when driving, but the trend is towards reduced acceptance. Multiple regression models predicting “acceptance of drinking” and “acceptance of drunkenness” scores showed fair stability in explanatory variables over time, with drinking level and conservative Protestant affiliation (drinking) or age (drunkenness) the major contributors.
Life‐time problem drinking and psychiatric co‐morbidity among Ontario women1
Authors: ROSS HELEN , SHIRLEY MARIELA 
Published: January 2006

AbstractWomen problem drinkers in the community, aged 15–64 years, with and without life‐time psychiatric co‐morbidity were compared to examine the association of this co‐morbidity with alcohol consumption patterns, course and chronicity of problem drinking, treatment service utilization and other substance use and misuse. The women problem drinkers were also compared with non‐problem drinkers on substance use patterns and utilization of services. The study employs data from the Mental Health Supplement to the Ontario Health Survey, a province‐wide household population study. The University of Michigan Composite International Diagnostic Interview (UM‐CIDI) was administered by trained lay interviewers and subsequently World Health Organization computer algorithms were used to generate DSM‐IH‐R diagnoses based on the interview responses. Multiple logistic regression analysis indicated that psychiatric co‐morbidity was associated with less education, earlier onset of problem drinking and one indicator of binge drinking. Co‐morbidity also greatly increased the chances of women problem drinkers having sought mental health treatment. Women problem drinkers were significantly younger (about 7 years) than other women in the general population, perhaps an indicator of an increased mortality rate.
Heterogeneity in lipopolysaccharide responsiveness of endothelial cells identified by gene expression profiling: role of transcription factors
Authors: Beck G C , Rafat N , Brinkkoetter P , Hanusch C , Schulte J , Haak M , Van Ackern K , Van Der Woude F J , Yard B A 
Published: January 2006

Summary
Interindividual differences of endothelial cells in response to endotoxins might contribute to the diversity in clinical outcome among septic patients. The present study was conducted to test the hypothesis that endothelial cells (EC) with high and low proinflammatory potential exist and to dissect the molecular basis underlying this phenomenon. Thirty human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) lines were stimulated for 24 h with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and screened for interleukin (IL)-8 production. Based on IL-8 production five low and five high producers, tentatively called types I and II responders, respectively, were selected for genome-wide gene expression profiling. From the 74 genes that were modulated by LPS in all type II responders, 33 genes were not influenced in type I responders. Among the 41 genes that were increased in both responders, 17 were expressed significantly stronger in type II responders. Apart from IL-8, significant differences in the expression of proinflammatory related genes between types I and II responders were found for adhesion molecules [intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM-1), E-selectin)], chemokines [monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP-1), granulocyte chemotactic protein (GCP-2)], cytokines (IL-6) and the transcription factor CCAAT/enhancer binding protein-delta (C/EBP-δ). Type I responders also displayed a low response towards tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α. In general, maximal activation of nuclear factor (NF)-κB was achieved in type I responders at higher concentrations of LPS compared to type II responders. In the present study we demonstrate that LPS-mediated gene expression differs quantitatively and qualitatively in types I and II responders. Our results suggest a pivotal role for common transcription factors as a low inflammatory response was also observed after TNF-α stimulation. Further studies are required to elucidate the relevance of these findings in terms of clinical outcome in septic patients.