摘要:

AbstractThis study used the SF‐36 general health questionnaire to measure the health status of heroin users at entry to a public methadone maintenance programme. Their results were compared to those from the general population and from three clinical groups: patients with minor medical, major medical and psychiatric problems. One hundred consecutive clients were interviewed in the first week on the programme using the SF‐36 health questionnaire. Data were also gathered on their drug use, use of medical services and HIV risk behaviour. The results showed that heroin users at entry to the methadone maintenance programme had significantly worse physical and psychological health than the general population. Their scores were most similar to the psychiatrically depressed patients, although they had worse physical health than this comparison group. The greater the amount of heroin used by clients before entering the programme, the more pain they reported. Alcohol and marijuana use were associated with better social and physical health. The relationship between general health status and amount or frequency of drug use is not a clear one. Heroin users experience severe emotional and physical problems at the time of entering methadone maintenance treatm

ISSN:0965-2140    

DOI:10.1046/j.1360-0443.1996.911397.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1996

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

AbstractThis paper examines the prevalence of alcohol, tobacco and illicit drug use in the Southwest border region of the United States. Based on the seriousness of drug trafficking in the area, the Southwest border has been designated a “High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area.” Yet there is little quantitative data on the nature and magnitude of drug use in the Southwest border region. This paper examines the prevalence of drug use in the area by extracting data from the National Household Survey on Drug Abuse. The data show that drug use rates in the Southwest border area are very similar to those found throughout the remainder of the United States. Hispanics, who constitute about 41% of the Southwest border population, have lower prevalence rates for most classes of drugs than non‐Hispanics. The border Hispanics exhibit even lower prevalence rates than Hispanics in the remainder of the United States. However, many of these differences are attributable to the lower levels of drug use among women, and youth and older adults. As these demographic subgroups become increasingly acculturated, their drug use could come to more closely resemble that of their peers in the remainder of the United S

ISSN:0965-2140    

DOI:10.1046/j.1360-0443.1996.911478.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1996

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

AbstractDrug users’income‐generating behaviours, such as prostitution, acquisitive crime and small‐scale dealing, have a major influence on the harm caused w the non‐using population. Using data on the drug use and income sources of 900 drug‐injectors in Oslo, this paper has two aims: to present data on Oslo income‐generating behaviours and compare these with those in the Netherlands and Scotland; and to explore conceptual issues in the comparison of self‐reported dealing income with other sources. Eighty‐three per cent of respondents reported income from social benefit, and 43% had sold drugs in the last month. Half the females reported income from prostitution. The income‐generation differences found in the comparisons section do not seem to reflect variations in drug and other social policies, but may relate to differences in the profitability of dealing. Using self‐reported dealing income to compare the contributions of different income sources may be misleading, however, since it does not reflect financial profit or the value of dealers’drug consumption. Adjusted figures show that theft accounts for 23% of total drugs expenditure, while the corresponding figures for dealing and prostitution are 42%

ISSN:0965-2140    

DOI:10.1046/j.1360-0443.1996.911639.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1996

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

AbstractA sample of 301 amphetamine users were interviewed about their experiences of psychological symptoms prior to, and subsequent to, their initiation of amphetamine use. Psychological morbidity was common, with 44% scoring greater than a conservative cut‐off of 8 on the General Health Questionnaire. The most commonly reported symptoms subsequent to the onset of amphetamine use were depression (79%), anxiety (76%), paranoia (52%), hallucinations (46%) and violent behaviour (44%). All these symptoms increased in prevalence after the onset of amphetamine use. Route and frequency of amphetamine administration were significant independent predictors of overall psychological morbidity, while route of administration was related to the experience of hallucinations, violent behaviour and paranoia. The avoidance of injection as a route of administration and the use of amphetamines less than weekly are recommended as steps that users can take to reduce the psychological sequelae of amphetamine us

ISSN:0965-2140    

DOI:10.1046/j.1360-0443.1996.9118110.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1996

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

AbstractWithin social learning theory, positive alcohol expectancies represent motivation to drink and negative expectancies, motivation to restrain. It is also recognized that a subjective evaluation of expectancies ought to moderate their impact, although the evidence for this in social drinkers is problematic. This paper addresses the speculation that the moderating effect will be more evident in clinical populations. This study shows that (i) both expectancy and value reliably, independently and equally predict clients’abstinence survivorship following discharge from a treatment programme (and that this is almost entirely confined to the negative rather than positive terms). When (ii) expectancy evaluations are processed against expectancy through multiplicative composites (i.e. expectancy X value), their predictive power is only equivalent to either expectancy or value on its own. However (Hi) when the multiplicative composite is assessed following the statistical guidelines advocated by Evans (1991) (i.e. within the same model as its constituents, expectancy and value) the increase in outcome variance explained by its inclusion is negligible and casts doubt upon its use in alcohol research. This does not appear to apply to value, however, and its possible role in treatment is discusse

ISSN:0965-2140    

DOI:10.1046/j.1360-0443.1996.9118911.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1996

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

AbstractAn earlier comparative time series analysis of the connection between per capita alcohol consumption and suicide mortality reported, unexpectedly, a non‐significant effect of alcohol on the suicide rate of Finnish men. However, the suicide rate of Finnish men is heterogeneous in regard to age groups. There is also indication that the connection between alcohol and suicides is stronger in younger than in older age groups. Time series data on per capita alcohol consumption and age‐specific suicide mortality in 1950‐91 were used to scrutinize the relationship. The results indicate that the suicide rate of Finnish men in age groups 15–34 years and 35–49 years is associated with per capita alcohol consumption, while no connection could be established between the suicide rates of men aged 50–69 years and 70 + yean and either per capita alcohol consumption or a lagged consumption measure. Real income, divorce rate and unemployment rate were regarded as possible confoundin

ISSN:0965-2140    

DOI:10.1046/j.1360-0443.1996.91110112.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1996

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

AbstractWe assessed the relationship between depression and smoking initiation among people of Mexican, Puerto Rican and Cuban ancestry residing in specific geographic areas of the United States. Survey data were examined to calculate incidence of smoking initiation and prevalences and odds ratios for ever smoking by presence of depressed mood, a history of major depression or both conditions. Depressed mood, a history of major depression or both conditions were associated with smoking initiation risks during childhood, adolescence and young adulthood. These findings suggest that the relationship between depressive states and smoking initiation is established early in life. More definitive studies are needed to confirm these findings.

ISSN:0965-2140    

DOI:10.1046/j.1360-0443.1996.91111313.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1996

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

AbstractIn 1819 the German‐Russian doctor C. von Brühl‐Cramer published one of the most important books in the history of alcoholism. He coined the term Trunksucht (which was translated as dipsomania by Hufeland), and he defined it as a physical disease. He discussed aetiology (assuming the consumption of spirits as the main occasional cause and annoyance or depressive feelings as other causes), and pathogenesis (suspecting that repetitive or noxious stimuli provoke a craving for continued intoxication). His recommendations on therapy were influenced by the contemporary ideas on treatment by the laws of chemistry and by concepts of excitability. He offered a classification in terms of continuous, remittent, intermittent, periodic and mixed forms of dipsomania. He described different sequelte, including neuropathy (in which the paresis began at the most distant parts of the limbs), dementia, suppression of the immune system and fetal alcohol syndrome (considering the typical features as proneness to diseases, mental retardation, hyperactivity, facial dysmor‐phism, incomplete growth). He examined ethnological factors based on his observations in multi‐racial Russia. Passages of his work are presented. Relations with works of his contemporaries (especially with Trotter) and influences on later concepts of alcoholism are d

ISSN:0965-2140    

DOI:10.1046/j.1360-0443.1996.91112114.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1996

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

AbstractThe proceedings of the inaugural scientific meeting of the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco (SRNT) are summarized. The primary objective of the meeting was to foster the exchange of information on the effects of nicotine and tobacco use, as well as factors which influence their use, drawing from biological, behavioral and social sciences. Much of this research can be viewed as a tale of “two” drugs–nicotine as a key to an important public health problem, and nicotine as a classical tool of physiological and pharmacological research. A historical overview of research on “both” drugs is provided first. Public policy alternatives for reducing the prevalence of tobacco use have been derived in part from basic and clinical research results and are briefly outlined. Evidence for genetic determinants on nicotine use and effects is presented using data from twin studies and from molecular genetic research with humans and animals. Consistent with this research, there is evidence of individual differences in pharmacokinetics and effects of nicotine, which could account for differences in smoking behavior and nicotine dependence. Finally, recent developments in the therapeutic uses of nicotine and novel nicotinic agonists with schizophrenia, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Tourette's syndrome and ulcerative colitis are presented. Overall, the research presented at the meeting demonstrated the vast diversity of areas of study involving nicotine and tobacco, as well as the rich opportunities for cross‐communication among researchers from different

ISSN:0965-2140    

DOI:10.1046/j.1360-0443.1996.91112915.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1996

数据来源: WILEY

ISSN:0965-2140    

DOI:10.1111/j.1360-0443.1996.tb03169.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1996

数据来源: WILEY