			Home About us Contact

And Alcohol Use (and + alcohol_use)

Distribution by Scientific Domains

Medical Sciences	75%

Kinds of And Alcohol Use

drug and alcohol use

Selected Abstracts

Changing Patterns of Drug and Alcohol Use in Fatally Injured Drivers in Washington State

JOURNAL OF FORENSIC SCIENCES, Issue 5 2006
Eugene W. Schwilke B.S.
ABSTRACT: We have previously reported on patterns of drug and alcohol use in fatally injured drivers in Washington State. Here we revisit that population to examine how drug use patterns have changed in the intervening 9 years. Blood and serum specimens from drivers who died within 4 h of a traffic accident between February 1, 2001, and January 31, 2002, were analyzed for illicit and therapeutic drugs and alcohol. Drugs when present were quantitated. Samples suitable for testing were obtained from 370 fatally injured drivers. Alcohol was detected above 0.01 g/100 mL in 41% of cases. The mean alcohol concentration for those cases was 0.17 g/100 mL (range 0.02,0.39 g/100 mL). Central nervous system (CNS) active drugs were detected in 144 (39%) cases. CNS depressants including carisoprodol, diazepam, hydrocodone, diphenhydramine, amitriptyline, and others were detected in 52 cases (14.1%), cannabinoids were detected in 47 cases (12.7%), CNS stimulants (cocaine and amphetamines) were detected in 36 cases (9.7%), and narcotic analgesics (excluding morphine which is often administered iatrogenically in trauma cases) were detected in 12 cases (3.2%). For those cases which tested positive for alcohol c. 40% had other drugs present which have the potential to cause or contribute to the driver's impairment. Our report also considers the blood drug concentrations in the context of their interpretability with respect to driving impairment. The data reveal that over the past decade, while alcohol use has declined, some drug use, notably methamphetamine, has increased significantly (from 1.89% to 4.86% of fatally injured drivers) between 1992 and 2002. Combined drug and alcohol use is a very significant pattern in this population and is probably overlooked in DUI enforcement programs. [source]

Does the economy affect teenage substance use?

HEALTH ECONOMICS, Issue 1 2007
Article first published online: 7 SEP 200, Jeremy Arkes
Abstract This research examines how teenage drug and alcohol use responds to changes in the economy. In contrast to the recent literature confirming pro-cyclical alcohol use among adults, this research offers strong evidence that a weaker economy leads to greater teenage marijuana and hard-drug use and some evidence that a weaker economy also leads to higher teenage alcohol use. The findings are based on logistic models with state and year fixed effects, using teenagers from the NLSY-1997. The evidence also indicates that teenagers are more likely to sell drugs in weaker economies. This suggests one mechanism for counter-cyclical drug use , that access to illicit drugs is easier when the economy is weaker. These results also suggest that the strengthening economy in the 1990s mitigated what would otherwise have been much larger increases in teenage drug use. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]

Changing Patterns of Drug and Alcohol Use in Fatally Injured Drivers in Washington State

Undergraduate nursing students' perceptions of substance use and misuse: a Brazilian position

JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRIC & MENTAL HEALTH NURSING, Issue 1 2006
G. H. RASSOOL frsh msc ba rn rcnt rnt cert ed cert couns cert supervision & consultation iltm
Alcohol, cocaine and cannabis are the substances most commonly abused in Brazil. There is limited evidence on the perceptions of undergraduate nursing students towards substance misuse. Negative attitudes, in combination with the lack of appropriate knowledge and skills, may result in minimal care provided to substance misusers. The aims of the study are to examine the knowledge and attitudes of undergraduate nursing students towards substance misusers and consider the implications of these attitudes for nursing education. The Nurse Education in Alcohol and Drug Educational Faculty Survey (NEADA) questionnaire on knowledge and education, nursing interventions, attitudes and values was distributed to undergraduate nurses (n = 227) in the south and south-eastern part of Brazil. The findings showed that there is a lack of adequate education in drug and alcohol use and misuse, including competency skills, but the participants were positive about treatment interventions. A paradigm shift in nurse education curricula and further research studies on attitudes and values towards substance misuse should be on the educational agenda. These are challenges faced by nurses to meet the healthcare needs of substance misusers. [source]

A pilot survey of the impact of menstrual cycles on adolescent health

AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS AND GYNAECOLOGY, Issue 5 2009
Cynthia M. FARQUHAR
Background: The experience of menstruation and reproductive health by adolescent girls has been poorly studied in New Zealand. Aims: To develop and pilot a Web-based survey of 16-year-olds' experience of menstruation and reproductive health with the eventual objective of conducting a larger population-based survey. A secondary aim was to report on the experience of menstrual and reproductive health in a group of 16-year-old girls in an urban setting. Methods: A Web-based survey was developed and tested in 2006 with assistance of a multidisciplinary advisory group. The final version of the questionnaire had 146 questions in 11 sections and the topics were menstrual history, general health including use of medications, access to medical care or health information, sexual health, family history and personal information including smoking, height, weight, ethnicity, paid employment of parents, drug and alcohol use and exercise patterns. Results: Seventy-five 16-year-old students completed the survey. Twenty-five per cent considered that their periods were quite a bit or a lot of trouble and 10% avoided certain activities during their menstrual periods, nearly 50% of girls always experienced some pain with every period, and 30% had seen a health professional about their period pains. Thirty-three stated that menstruation was moderately to severely painful and that daily activity was affected. Fifty per cent of girls were sexually active and of these 80% described it as painful. Conclusions: The Web-based survey was a successful approach to collecting information and could be used in a larger study. [source]

The state of residential care for people with mental illness; insights from an audit of the screening tool for entry to licensed residential facilities

AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH, Issue 2 2009
Lauren J. Bailey
Abstract Objective: To describe the medical and psychiatric profile of people assessed with the ,Screening Tool for Entry to Licensed Residential Centres' (Boarding House Screening Tool), examine the impact on their accommodation and the screening process. Methods: Copies of all of the Boarding House Screening Tools completed by the Camperdown Aged Care Assessment Team in 2003 and 2004 were examined. Accommodation status in 2006 was obtained from the Boarding House Team, GP or hospital database. A structured telephone survey of Aged Care Assessment Team staff was performed. Results: Thirty-nine Boarding House Screening Tools were reviewed. The mean age of the screened population was 43 yrs (range 22-76 yrs), most were men (36M: 3F). Eighty-two per cent had a listed psychiatric diagnosis, 23% a recent history of substance abuse, 10% a diagnosis of intellectual disability/cognitive impairment and 28% had more than two listed medical diagnoses. Seven people (18%), diagnosed with Schizophrenia, were not approved by the Boarding House Screening Tool because of high care needs and/or violent behaviour, however, only one remained in a high care facility in 2006. Forty-two per cent of people approved by the Boarding House Screening Tool were living in Licensed Boarding Houses in 2006. Conclusion and implications: People being assessed for entry to Licensed Boarding Houses are young with high levels of psychiatric illness, medical co-morbidity and drug and alcohol use. The Boarding House Screening Tool is effective in keeping people who are not approved out of Licensed Boarding Houses; however, even if approved this accommodation is short-term in the majority of cases. [source]

Sources of stress in impoverished neighbourhoods: insights into links between neighbourhood environments and health

AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH, Issue 1 2009
Deborah Warr
Abstract Objective:This paper explores associations between residents' perceptions of social incivilities and physical disorders in local environments and self-reported health status. Method: Surveys were conducted with 4,029 residents from 13 Neighbourhood Renewal sites and 1,857 residents of corresponding Local Government Areas in Victoria. An open-ended question asked respondents to nominate the worst things about living in their neighbourhood and this qualitative data was analysed for the range of perceptions of incivilities. Quantitative data analysis considered associations between incivilities in neighbourhood environments and self-reported health status. Results: Issues conceptualised as social incivilities (drug and alcohol use, dangerous driving, the behaviour of other people, feeling unsafe, noise, racism) accounted for 58% of issues nominated. Quantitative analyses suggested that increased exposure to issues related to aspects of neighbourhood safety were associated with living in a disadvantaged neighbourhood. Perceptions of lower levels of neighbourhood safety were, in turn, associated with poorer health. Conclusions: Cumulative and compounding aspects of local environments that heighten feelings of insecurity and anxiety may be mechanisms through which places affect health. Implications: While the characteristics of populations are important determinants of health outcomes, the findings endorse the value of incorporating complementary place-based approaches for addressing mechanisms that contribute to health inequalities in local environments. [source]

Demographic, migration status, and work-related changes in Asian female sex workers surveyed in Sydney, 1993 and 2003

AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH, Issue 2 2006
C. Pell
Objective: To compare demography, sexual health awareness, migration and workplace conditions of Asian female sex workers in Sydney in 1993 and 2003. Method: A Chinese interpreter and a Thaispeaking health education officer (HEO) were used to administer a questionnaire survey to Thai- and Chinese-speaking sex workers attending sexual health clinics in 1993. A follow-up survey, which included some women contacted at work as well as clinic attenders, was administered by Thai-and Chinese-speaking HEOs in 2003. Results: Ninety-one female sex workers were surveyed in 1993 and 165 in 2003. Median age increased (26 years vs. 33 years, p=0.000), as did numbers of Chinese- versus Thai-speakers (1993, 25.3% Chinese vs. 2003, 58.2% Chinese, p=0.000). In 2003, the women reported more years of schooling and better English skills. Fewer reported previous sex work (48.4% vs. 17.6%, p=0.000). Numbers currently or ever on a contract decreased sharply (27.5% vs. 9.1%, p=0.000) and the majority were apparently working legally. Condom use at work for vaginal (51.6% vs. 84.8%) and oral sex (39.6% vs. 66.1%) increased significantly (p=0.001). Chinese-speaking sex workers were less informed about HIV transmission and safer sex practices than were Thai sex workers. Drug and alcohol use was low. Conclusions and Implications: Positive changes have occurred in the conditions of Asian female sex workers surveyed over 10 years in Sydney. Maintaining current levels of health service delivery will ensure continued improvements in health and workplace conditions and address inequalities between language groups. [source]