DRUG ABUSE AND INTOXICATION IN ALCOHOLICS

The frequency of drug, alcohol and combined alcohol/drug intoxicationin forensic autopsy material is described. Alcoholics had frequentlyabused drugs; the cause of death was drug intoxication in 12%,combined alcohol/drug intoxication in 13%, and alcohol intoxicationonly in 4%. The manner of death was different in the variousgroups as it was almost equally stated as accident, suicideand unascertainable, respectively, with only drugs involved,whereas accidents were the predominant features in the combinedalcohol/drug intoxication among alcoholics. In controls, accidentspredominated on both types of intoxication. The alcoholics seemedto be more ‘deliberately’ choosing suicide withdrugs, while both alcoholics and controls need more informationwith regard to the dangers of mixing alcohol and drugs. Thefrequency of combined alcohol and drug intoxication was muchhigher in alcoholics.     

EXERCISE PREFERENCES OF PATIENTS IN SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT

While emerging studies have demonstrated the benefit of exercise in early recovery from substance use disorders, recruitment and adherence to exercise interventions have been challenging. Tailoring interventions based on patient exercise preferences may address these concerns. Ninety-seven (N=97; age=41.6 years; 44% female) patients were recruited from an intensive substance abuse outpatient program and filled out questionnaires about their exercise preferences. Most (71%) patients were not currently engaged in an exercise program (i.e., exercising less than 20 minutes/day for 3 days/week over the last 6 months). The vast majority (95%) expressed an interest in engaging in an exercise program specifically designed for persons in substance use recovery and 89% reported wanting to initiate an exercise program within the first 3 months of sobriety. Specific exercise preferences regarding type of physical activity, exercise intervention components, and perceived benefits and barriers to exercise differed between males and females. These findings suggest low rates of regular exercise, high level of interest in engaging in exercise during early recovery, and point toward the need to tailor interventions to the unique preferences of individuals.     

EMERGENT DRUG ABUSE RESOLUTION MODELS AND THEIR IMPLICATIONS FOR CHILDBEARING AND CHILDREARING WOMEN

Recently, federal support for substance abuse programs designed to assist childbearing and childrearing women has dwindled. Alternatively, states have focused on criminal prosecution, child protective services, and mandatory drug testing, reporting, and treatment. Ergo, new models for offering efficacious and cost-effective treatment for pregnant women and mothers are needed. The Transtheoretical Model of Change and the harm reduction framework may offer the guidance necessary to develop programs that aid such women to take responsibility for their behaviors and reduce the negative effects of substance abuse on themselves and their children?born and unborn. To explore this possibility, qualitative findings related to how childbearing and childrearing women manage their drug abuse problems were reviewed within the context of these new emergent models, and clinical implications were inferred.     

DIET AND DRUG SYNERGISM IN TREATMENT OF HYPERCHOLESTEROLEMIA

Low cholesterol, low saturated fat, high polyunsaturated fat, plus Probucol reduced blood cholesterol 25 percent in patients with familial type II hyperlipoproteinemia. In those individuals who did not respond to the diet, drug therapy was only one-half as effective as diet and drug therapy together.