Substance Use,Anxiety, and Depressive Symptoms Among College Students

Research on college substance use and mental illness is limited and inconsistent. Measures of substance use, and anxiety and depressive symptoms, were completed by 1,316 undergraduates within a major drug transportation corridor. Hierarchical linear regressions were used to test associations between anxious and depressive symptoms and substance use (i.e., alcohol, cannabis, tobacco, cocaine, other amphetamines, sedatives, hallucinogens, and designer drugs). Depressive symptoms were associated with use of cannabis, tobacco, amphetamines, cocaine, sedatives, and hallucinogens. Anxiety symptoms were unrelated to substance use. These findings support the need for education and prevention at universities, emphasizing tobacco, cannabis, and certain “harder” drugs.     

Substance Abuse in an Urban Aboriginal Population

Abstract

This work is the result of a research program developed from a research partnership between the Native Mental Health Research Team of McGill University and the Native Friendship Centre of Montreal, a Native-run urban community-based service organization. The aims of the study were to examine substance abuse as well as physical and mental health among an urban Aboriginal population. The nature and severity of drug or alcohol problems in this population were explored. Data was collected through structured interviews with urban Aboriginal people in the greater Montreal area (n = 202). Results indicate that the majority of the sample were single, unemployed, and had lived in the urban area for a long time (mean of 9.96 V .76 years). Approximately two thirds of the sample were current alcohol drinkers and cigarette smokers and one third of the sample reported having a current drug or alcohol problem. Results indicate that individuals who abused substances were more likely to live with someone who had a drug or alcohol problem. Substance abusers also had a greater history of legal problems with more convictions, time spent in jail, and were more likely to be on probation or parole. A large proportion of the sample reported having significant medical problems that required treatment, and substance abusers were less likely to have identification needed to access medical services. Results indicated high levels of psychological distress in the general sample (depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, attempted suicide). These phenomena were augmented by substance abuse problems. In particular, substance abusers had a history of more suicide attempts, and were more likely to have been the victims of abuse.     

Course and Severity of Substance Abuse in Women with Comorbid Eating Disorder

The objective of this study is to ascertain whether the course and severity of Substance Abuse among female patients with comorbid Substance Related Disorder and Eating Disorder (SRD-ED) is similar to or different from the course and severity of SRD among female patients with Substance Related Disorder but no Eating Disorder (SRD). Subjects were voluntary patients, obtained in two addiction programs located within departments of psychiatry in two state university medical centers, and included 66 women with SRD-ED and 211 women with SRD. Data were collected on demography, course and severity of SRD, and associated biomedical conditions. SRD-ED patients were significantly younger and more apt to be single, more highly educated, living with family and friends, employed, and of higher socioeconomic status. SRD-ED and SRD patients were more similar than different on most indicators of course and severity, although several clinical differences prevailed. These clinical differences were primarily ascribed to age. In most respects, patients with comorbid SRD-ED manifest course and severity of SRD similar to patients with SRD. Demographic differences between the two groups can mostly be ascribed to the younger mean age of SRD-ED patients rather than to the comorbid ED. Some biomedical problems are related to the specific consequences of ED.     

Interpersonal Guilt and Substance Use in College Students

Background: The college years are a time for developing independence and separating from one's family, and they are also a time in which substance use often escalates. This study examined the relationships between use of substances and interpersonal guilt, an emotion that can arise from feelings about separation among college students. Methods: In total, 1865 college students completed a survey evaluating substance use and interpersonal guilt. Regular users of alcohol, cigarettes, cannabis, and other illicit drugs were compared with nonregular users of each substance. Sequential linear regression, controlling for confounding variables, examined relationships between regular use of each substance and scores on a guilt index. Results: Risky drinkers and daily smokers had significantly more interpersonal guilt than their peers who did not regularly use these substances. In contrast, regular cannabis users had significantly less guilt than nonregular cannabis users. Conclusions: These data suggest that substance use among college students may be related to interpersonal guilt and family separation issues, and this relationship may vary across substances.     

African-American Adolescent Females in the Southeastern United States: Associations Among Risk Factors for Teen Pregnancy

This study examined the associations among three external variables (Peer Substance Use Before Sex, Peer Number of Children, and Parental Influence and Substance Use Before Sex and History of Pregnancy) identified on the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance Survey and a demographic survey, using Bandura's Social Learning Theory as an interpretive model for understanding these relationships. Participants were 276 African-American females, ages 13 to 18 years, enrolled in two public schools in the Mississippi Delta, with 14% of the sample reporting they had been pregnant. Analysis of variance found that teens with a history of pregnancy were significantly more likely to have a greater number of lifetime sexual partners. Teenagers with a history of pregnancy also were significantly more likely to report peer alcohol use before sex and peer history of pregnancy. Furthermore, their parents had diminished expectancies regarding teenage pregnancy.     

Alcohol Use Behaviors Among Pharmacy Students

Objective. To identify reasons for drinking, determine the patterns of alcohol abuse, and explore relationships between drinking motives and alcohol abuse patterns in pharmacy students.Methods. A cross-sectional anonymous, voluntary, self-administered paper survey instrument was administered to first-year (P1) through third-year (P3) pharmacy students as part of a professional seminar.Results. Survey instruments were completed by 349 pharmacy students (95.9% cooperation rate). Using the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test criteria, 23.2% of students reported hazardous or harmful use and 67.2% of students reported consuming alcohol at hazardous levels during the past year. Students who were male (37.0%), single (25.3%), and attended the main campus (26.2%) were more likely than their counterparts to report hazardous or harmful alcohol use. Pharmacy students reported social motives as the most common reason for drinking; however, coping and enhancement motives were more predictive of harmful or hazardous alcohol use.Conclusion. Approximately 1 in 4 pharmacy students (23%) reported hazardous or harmful alcohol use. Education about the dangers of alcohol abuse and intervention programs from colleges and schools of pharmacy are recommended to help address this issue.     

Substance Abuse and Relationship Violence Among Men Court-Referred to Batterers' Intervention Programs

There is extensive theoretical and empirical evidence linking substance abuse and marital violence. However in batterer populations, researchers have not compared hazardous and nonhazardous drinkers' substance use characteristics, marital aggression, extramarital violence (i.e., general violence), depressive symptomatology, marital satisfaction, and other relevant variables. In addition, much of the previous research on substance use and abuse in batterer populations employed a single, nonstandardized measure of substance use, and no previous research has examined substance use in court-mandated batterers' relationship partners. We recruited 150 men who were arrested for violence and court-referred to batterer intervention programs. We administered multiple measures of substance use and abuse and assessed the batterers' marital aggression, relationship satisfaction, depressive symptomatology, use of general violence, and their relationship partners' substance use. We also divided the sample into groups of Hazardous Drinkers (HD) and Nonhazardous Drinkers (NHD). Across the entire sample, half of the batterers had an alcohol-related diagnosis and approximately one third reported symptoms consistent with a drug-related diagnosis. Over one third of the total sample reported that their relationship partners were hazardous drinkers. Relative to the NHD group, the HD group scored significantly higher on measures of general violence, depressive symptomatology, alcohol use, alcohol problems, and drug problems. The HD group also reported significantly higher partner alcohol and drug use and abuse scores, relative to the NHD group. The results of the study suggest that substance use and abuse should routinely be assessed as part of batterer interventions and that batterer programs would be improved by offering adjunct or integrated alcohol treatment.     

Substance Abuse Disorders Treatment in El Salvador: Analysis of Policy-Making-Related Failure

Illicit drug use and substance abuse disorders have increased dramatically in developing countries during recent decades. Sadly, treatment for people diagnosed as manifesting and/or attributed with substance abuse disorders in developing countries is usually inadequate to meet demand, not evidence based, and of poor quality. In response, international health organizations have developed best-practice guidelines for substance user treatment in developing countries, although little research has evaluated their implementation. This opinion piece will examine one such effort to improve substance user treatment in El Salvador. It will be argued that the program failed (2007–2008) because of a lack of political will by the Salvadoran government through their Ministry of Health to effectively supervise, monitor, and subsidize substance user treatment.     

Temperament Style and Substance Abuse Characteristics

The relationship of temperament to different patterns and types of alcohol abuse has received much attention over the last decade in order to provide clues to matching patients optimally to treatment strategies. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship of temperament with a number of relevant substance abuse characteristics in a substance abusing population. One hundred forty-five male veterans were interviewed on their lifetime use of substances and on their psychiatric symptoms, problems associated with use, context, and family history of substance abuse. Subjects filled out the TPQ and the MPQ, which were subjected to factor analysis and revealed four factors: (1) Negative Affectivity/Impulsivity, (2) Positive Affectivity/Sociability, (3) Persistence/Achievement, and (4) Constraint. There was partial support for the hypotheses. Impulsivity was negatively correlated with age of onset and positively correlated with substance-related problems and a family history of substance abuse. Subjects with a history of depression scored significantly lower on the Positive Affectivity/Sociability factor than those who had not experienced a significant depression. Individuals who used alone scored lower on this factor than those who used in social contexts. The temperament factors of Persistence/Achievement and Constraint were, for the most part, unrelated to substance abuse.     

Web-based Instruction on Substance Abuse and Drug Diversion

Objectives

To develop a pilot study to assess the effectiveness of a Web-based educational module on enhancing understanding of substance abuse and drug diversion, and to assess students'' abilities and confidence in applying the information.

Design

A Web-based instructional module was presented to students enrolled in their second pre-professional year, and students were informed that it was part of a research study. Knowledge was tested using 10 pre- and post-module questions. Students were also presented with 5 survey questions assessing abilities related to the learning objectives.

Assessment

The median percentage of correct responses increased from 60% (Interquartile range [IQR] 20%) for the pre-module questions to 90% (IQR = 10%) for the post-module questions. The median percent gain in knowledge was 20% (IQR = 20%) which was significant (p < 0.0001).

Conclusions

Web-based instruction is an alternative method for engaging students in course content. We found that 59% of our pilot study group worked in a pharmacy. From the success of the pilot study, the module was implemented as an extra credit assignment in a required course to provide a foundation for developing professional responsibility.     

MSWs With and Without Long-Term Substance Abuse Training: Agency,Community, and Personal Outcomes

Behavioral outcomes in agency, community, and personal arenas were examined for 81 social workers with Masters degrees (MSWs) who completed a clinical postgraduate substance abuse (SA) training program (trainees) and a matched group of 78 MSWs not enrolled in such a program (comparison subjects). Subject self-report data was collected via telephone interviews of 30–40 min. With little or limited prior SA training, trainees took this clinical training to a broader level: they were significantly more likely than comparison subjects to provide agency SA training, receive SA training and supervision outside the agency, engage in SA community service, present SA papers at conferences, and intervene with their SA-troubled significant others. With more MSW students now receiving SA training in their graduate programs, the impact of such postgraduate education is likely to be even greater.     

The Development of Depression During Psychodynamic Group Psychotherapy Among Subjects in Substance Abuse Remission

The aim of the present study was to examine the development of self-reported depression during psychodynamic group therapy among patients manifesting a history of substance use related problems between 1993–2,2000. Subjects (n=100) were prospectively followed with respects to depression levels at intake and after 6, 12, and 18 month in therapy. Depression was measured with the Beck Depression Inventory. Overall, there was a significant decrease in depression after 18 months in therapy. The development of depression in different subgroups was also analyzed.     

Prevalence of Substance Abuse Among Patients in General Medical Facilities in Kenya

ABSTRACT

Alcoholism and other substance abuse continue to be a problem among younger and older populations. The prevalence of substance abuse has only been studied among outpatients and in limited samples of inpatients in Kenya. This study therefore aimed to establish patterns of substance abuse in patients admitted in general medical facilities in Kenya. The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) and the Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST) were used to measure the prevalence of substance abuse among patients in 10 medical facilities in Kenya. Data were collected over a 4-week period in November 2005. The overall alcohol user rate using the two instruments was 25.1% and 25.5%, respectively. All the patients who used alcohol exhibited pathological use, which bordered from harmful use to dependence. Apart from alcohol, other abused substances included tobacco, cannabis, cocaine, amphetamines/khat, and sedatives. The clinicians' pick rate for substance use in general hospitals was negligible. These findings suggest the need for specific enquiry for substance abuse in patients in general medical facilities.     

Patterns of Psychoactive Substance Use Among Arab Secondary School Students in Israel

The current study examines patterns and trends in the use of psychoactive substances among Arab secondary school students throughout Israel. Data were collected in late 2004 using self-report questionnaires. The sample consisted of 2,944 students, Grades 7 through 12. Participants were sampled using a cluster method from schools throughout Israel. Results indicate higher use rates among males and among low-religiosity adolescents, as well as a strong link among attitudes, risk perception, behavioral intentions, and substance use. The study's implications and limitations, as well as possibilities for future research, are discussed. This study was funded by the Israel Anti-Drug Authority.     

Sexual Identity and Substance Use Among Undergraduate Students

This study examined the association between sexual identity and use of alcohol and other drugs (AOD) among college undergraduate students. A survey regarding AOD use was administered to a random sample of 3607 undergraduate students. The sample included 65 self-identified lesbian or bisexual (LB) women and 54 self-identified gay or bisexual (GB) men. Multivariate logistic regression indicated that while alcohol use did not differ for LB and heterosexual women, LB women were significantly more likely to experience certain AOD-related consequences, smoke cigarettes, and use marijuana, ecstasy, and other drugs. GB men were significantly less likely than heterosexual men to drink heavily but were more likely to use some drugs. These findings provide evidence that sexual identity is an important predictor of AOD use among undergraduate students. These findings support the need for continued research and intervention efforts that target LGB collegians.     

Retention of African-American and White Youth in a Longitudinal Substance Use Study

Abstract

The current investigation discusses successful strategies used to retain N = 405 African-American and White target youth in a longitudinal, non-intervention study focused on alcohol and other drug use. Ninety-one percent of youth remained in the study for all 4 years, including 87% of African-Americans and 96% of Whites. In a logistic regression model incorporating age, ethnicity, income, sex, parent/guardian marital status, parent alcohol use, and family cohesion, only sex significantly predicted retention, with girls being more likely to remain in the study compared with boys, although ethnicity neared significance.     

Maternal and Paternal Alcohol Misuse and Alcohol-Related Outcomes Among College Students

Using a large college student sample (N = 1,095), the present study examined whether the relationship between parental alcohol abuse and offspring alcohol use varied as a function of parent and offspring gender, and whether the relationship to the non-substance-abusing mother or father buffered against the risk associated with being an adult child of an alcoholic (ACOA). Among women, maternal ACOAs (i.e., the mother only was suspected of alcohol misuse) had the greatest risk of problematic alcohol consumption, whereas among men, both parent ACOAs (i.e., both parents were suspected of alcohol misuse) had the greatest risk of problematic alcohol consumption. No support was found for the buffering hypothesis. We discuss implications of our findings and future directions.     

Differences by Gender in Predictors of Motivation Among Substance Abuse Treatment Participants

Background: Substance-involved females tend to have different clinical profiles than men (Adams, Leukefeld, &; Peden, 2008 Adams, S., Leukefeld, C. G., &; Peden, A. R. (2008). Substance abuse treatment for women offenders: A research review. Journal of Addictions Nursing, 19(2), 61–75. [Google Scholar]); yet they do not appear to have worse treatment outcomes (Green, 2006 Green, C. A. (2006). Gender and use of substance abuse treatment services. Alcohol Research and Health, 29(1), 55–62. [Google Scholar]; Hser, Huang, Teruya, &; Anglin, 2003 Hser, Y.-I., Huang, D., Teruya, C., &; Anglin, M. D. (2003). Gender comparisons of drug abuse treatment outcomes and predictors. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 72(3), 255–264. [Google Scholar]). As motivation for treatment is considered essential in the substance abuse treatment context (Cahill, Adinoff, Hosig, Muller, &; Pulliam, 2003 Cahill, M. A., Adinoff, B., Hosig, H., Muller, K., &; Pulliam, C. (2003). Motivation for treatment preceding and following a substance abuse program. Addictive Behaviors, 28(1), 67–79. [Google Scholar]; Longshore &; Teruya, 2006 Longshore, D., &; Teruya, C. (2006). Treatment motivation in drug users: A theory-based analysis. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 81(2), 179–188. [Google Scholar]), it is possible that higher motivation among females could potentially counteract the negative effect of more risk factors. Objective: The purpose of the current study was to examine if females differ from males in their motivation for treatment using the Texas Christian University Motivation Form scales: desire for help, problem recognition, treatment readiness, pressure for treatment, and treatment needs; and whether factors predicting motivation for treatment differed between male and female participants of substance abuse treatment. Methods: The sample included 2,989 substance-involved males and 982 substance-involved females who were referred to substance abuse treatment through a case management program. Linear regression models predicting each motivation scale were analyzed, followed by gender-specific models. Results: Overall, the results did not demonstrate a significant gender difference in the motivation scales. However, among male participants, the findings did show that Hispanic significantly predicted desire for help and alcohol as a primary drug of choice predicted treatment readiness. Conclusion: Findings suggest that motivation for treatment may be a gender-neutral construct, and that there is a need to better understand sociodemographic predictors of motivation.