Home About us Contact
|
Home About us Contact | ||
|
|
||
Regular Users (regular + user)
Selected AbstractsDrug misuse and acquisitive crime among clients recruited to the National Treatment Outcome Research Study (NTORS)CRIMINAL BEHAVIOUR AND MENTAL HEALTH, Issue 1 2000Duncan Stewart Background Criminal activity among drug-misusing populations can result in considerable costs. This paper examines the relationship between acquisitive criminal behaviour and drug use among a cohort of 1075 clients recruited to the National Treatment Outcome Research Study (NTORS). Method Clients were recruited from 54 drug misuse treatment programmes in England. A structured interview was administered by clinical staff. The majority of clients were opiate-dependent poly-drug users. Results 27 000 acquisitive criminal offences were reported by the cohort in the three months prior to starting treatment, of which shoplifting was the most common offence. There was marked variation in the amount of acquisitive crime reported; just 10% of the sample were responsible for three-quarters of the crimes committed. Two other groups were identified: low-rate offenders, and those who did not commit an acquisitive crime. Multivariate analyses revealed that frequency of illicit drug use was associated with increased levels of criminal behaviour. Compared with the no-crime group, the high-rate offenders were 11 times more likely to be regular users of heroin, and three times more likely to have used cocaine regularly. Discussion These findings suggest that the most dependent and problematic drug misusers present treatment services with the greatest challenge in terms of reducing levels of criminality. Copyright © 2000 Whurr Publishers Ltd. [source] Expected impacts of the Cannabis Infringement Notice scheme in Western Australia on regular users and their involvement in the cannabis marketDRUG AND ALCOHOL REVIEW, Issue 4 2005FRANCOISE CHANTELOUP Abstract The effect on the cannabis market is one area of interest in the evaluation of the new ,prohibition with civil penalties' scheme for minor cannabis offences in WA. One goal of the scheme is to reduce the proportion of cannabis consumed that is supplied by large-scale suppliers that may also supply other drugs. As part of the pre-change phase of the evaluation, 100 regular (at least weekly) cannabis users were given a qualitative and quantitative interview covering knowledge and attitudes towards cannabis law, personal cannabis use, market factors, experience with the justice system and impact of legislative change. Some 85% of those who commented identified the changes as having little impact on their cannabis use. Some 89% of the 70 who intended to cultivate cannabis once the CIN scheme was introduced suggested they would grow cannabis within the two non-hydroponic plant-limit eligible for an infringement notice under the new law. Only 15% believed an increase in self-supply would undermine the large scale suppliers of cannabis in the market and allow some cannabis users to distance themselves from its unsavoury aspects. Only 11% said they would enter, or re-enter, the cannabis market as sellers as a result of the scheme introduction. Most respondents who commented believed that the impact of the legislative changes on the cannabis market would be negligible. The extent to which this happens will be addressed in the post-change phase of this research. Part of the challenge in assessing the impact of the CIN scheme on the cannabis market is that it is distinctly heterogeneous. [source] Comparative rates of violent crime among regular methamphetamine and opioid users: offending and victimizationADDICTION, Issue 5 2010Shane Darke ABSTRACT Aims To determine the comparative levels of violent offending and victimization among regular methamphetamine and heroin users. Design Cross-sectional Setting Sydney, Australia. Participants A total of 400 regular methamphetamine (METH) and heroin (HER) users (118 methamphetamine users: METH; 161 regular heroin users: HER; 121 regular users of both: BOTH). Findings Eighty-two per cent reported a life-time history of committing violent crime, 41% in the past 12 months. There were no group differences in life-time violence, but the METH group were significantly more likely than the HER group to have committed violence in the past 12 months (odds ratio 1.94). Nearly all (95%) reported that they had been a victim of violent crime, 46% in the preceding 12 months, with no group differences. Those who had committed a violent crime in the past 12 months were 13.23 times more likely to have been a victim in that period. The majority believed it unlikely that they would be a victim of (78%), or commit (87%), a violent crime in the next 12 months. Conclusions Regular methamphetamine use appears to be associated with an increased risk of violent offending, but not victimization, compared with heroin use. [source] Associations of cohort and socio-demographic correlates with transitions from alcohol use to disorders and remission in metropolitan ChinaADDICTION, Issue 8 2009Sing Lee ABSTRACT Aims To examine socio-demographic associations of transitions from alcohol use to disorders and of remission from disorders in metropolitan China. Design and setting Face-to-face interviewing by trained lay-interviewers on a multi-staged, clustered sample from the general population of Beijing and Shanghai, China. Participants A total of 5201 adults aged 18,70 years and with household registration. Measurements World Mental Health version of Composite International Diagnostic Interview. Findings Lifetime prevalence estimates for alcohol use, regular use (at least 12 drinks in a year), DSM-IV abuse and dependence with abuse were 65.4%, 39.5% (60.4% of ever-drinkers), 4.6% (11.6% of regular users) and 0.9% (20.4% of lifetime alcohol abusers), respectively. These estimates were higher among respondents from the recent cohort; 64.3% and 36.9% respondents with a history of lifetime abuse and dependence respectively had remitted. The number of socio-demographic associations for the onset of each transitional stage decreased from alcohol use to alcohol dependence. Onset of ever-use was more common in respondents who were male, 18,50 years of age, with middle education level and never married, but less common among the previously married and students. First onset of regular use among those with ever-use was more common in respondents who were male, less than 50 years of age and never married, but less common in students. Being male and less than 50 years of age was associated with more alcohol abusers among regular users. Conclusion This study was the first to reveal in a Chinese population that qualitatively different risk factors might operate during the different stages of progression from alcohol use to disorders. Further research is needed to clarify the mechanisms underlying these differences in order to guide prevention programmes. [source] Reflection on a patient's airway management during a ward-based resuscitationNURSING IN CRITICAL CARE, Issue 5 2006Carolyn Shepherd Abstract Background: The bag-valve-mask (BVM) system is a common adjunct used during adult resuscitation to ventilate the lungs and deliver oxygen to patients in cardiopulmonary arrest. Gastric inflation, regurgitation and aspiration are well-documented complications of BVM ventilation, which can have serious consequences for patients. Aim: The aim of this paper is to review the cause of gastric inflation, regurgitation and aspiration during BVM ventilation and to consider techniques that have been suggested to reduce these problems.Method: Using a reflective model, the author revisits an actual cardiac arrest, and within a structured framework considers the event itself, the context of the event and looks at ways in which practice could be improved in future.Results: It is clear from the evidence that a reduction in peak airway pressure can reduce the risk of gastric inflation, regurgitation and aspiration. A review of the available research strongly suggests that in expert hands, the most effective means of reducing peak airway pressure is by reducing tidal volume by using a smaller bag.Conclusion: Although the evidence, as presented, for a reduction in bag size is convincing, there appears to be a problem that less regular users do not appear to be able to produce effective tidal volumes when using a smaller bag. If a reduced bag size is standardized, further research using a diverse group of health care workers with the BVM is required before a clear policy can be achieved. It is likely that training and practice will be shown to be important for nursing staff expected to use the smaller BVM. [source] The use of folic acid antagonists and the risk of colorectal cancer,PHARMACOEPIDEMIOLOGY AND DRUG SAFETY, Issue 10 2007Patricia F. Coogan Abstract Purpose Since folate is associated with a reduced risk of colorectal cancer, we hypothesized that folic acid antagonists might increase the risk. We used data from a population-based case control study of medication use and colorectal cancer to evaluate the hypothesis. Methods Case patients with adenocarcinoma of the colon or rectum were ascertained from participating hospitals in Massachusetts and the Massachusetts cancer registry (MCR) from January 1, 2001, through November 30, 2004. Age-, sex-, and precinct-matched control subjects were chosen from Massachusetts town lists. Information on folic acid antagonist use and other relevant data were obtained from 1809 cases and 1809 matched controls by telephone interview and by a self-administered dietary questionnaire. We used logistic regression models to estimate odds ratios among 1229 case patients and 1165 control subjects who provided satisfactory dietary information and did not have Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis. Results The odds ratio for colorectal cancer among regular users of folate-containing supplements was 0.7 (95%CI 0.6,0.9). The odds ratio for regular use of folic acid antagonists was 1.3 (95%CI 0.9,1.9). Contrary to expectation, the odds ratio was reduced in the highest category of alcohol consumption (OR,=,0.5, 95%CI 0.2,1.2). The odds ratio was higher among users of drugs that inhibit dihydrofolate reductase (OR,=,1.6, 95%CI 0.9,2.8) than drugs that work through other mechanisms (OR,=,1.2, 95%CI 0.7,1.9). Conclusions Our data provide little support for the hypothesis that regular folic acid antagonist use increases the risk of colorectal cancer. However, there is a suggestion that dihydrofolate reductase inhibitors specifically may increase the risk. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] | |||||||||||||