Drug and alcohol dependence
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Drug Alcohol Depend · Sep 2013
Coping and emotion regulation profiles as predictors of nonmedical prescription drug and illicit drug use among high-risk young adults.
Deficits in the ability to organize, integrate, and modulate emotions, thoughts, and behaviors when dealing with stress have been found to be related to the onset and escalation of substance use among adolescents and young adults. However, limited research has focused on understanding how coping and emotion regulation tendencies might be associated with different patterns of prescription and illicit drug use, particularly among high-risk young adults who may already face additional challenges relative to lower-risk populations. ⋯ This is among the first studies to show how coping and emotion regulation profiles predict distinct patterns of substance use. Results provide the groundwork for additional investigations that could have significant prevention and clinical implications for substance-using high-risk young adults.
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Drug Alcohol Depend · Sep 2013
Ultra-rapid screening for substance-use disorders: the Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST-Lite).
The Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST 3.0; index test) is a structured interview for alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, stimulants, sedatives and opioid use disorders in general medical settings. Perceived administration time deters routine use. This study releases a short-form: the ASSIST-Lite. ⋯ The ASSIST-Lite is an ultra-rapid screener which has been optimised for general medical settings. Optionally, a criterion question can be added to capture hazardous drinking, and to capture use of another type of mood-altering substance.
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Drug Alcohol Depend · Sep 2013
Use of naltrexone for alcohol use disorders in the Veterans' Health Administration: a national study.
This study aimed to determine the proportion of patients with alcohol use disorders who were prescribed naltrexone in Veterans Administration (VA) Healthcare system for fiscal year (FY) 2010 and socio-demographic and clinical factors associated with its use. ⋯ The rate of use of naltrexone by clinicians and patients remains low and having a co-morbid axis I diagnosis and receiving specialty mental health care were strong predictors of receiving a naltrexone prescription. Understanding the reasons for these findings may further naltrexone's clinical usefulness.
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Drug Alcohol Depend · Sep 2013
Heroin use and heroin use risk behaviors among nonmedical users of prescription opioid pain relievers - United States, 2002-2004 and 2008-2010.
Heroin use and overdose deaths have increased in recent years. Emerging information suggests this is the result of increases in nonmedical use of opioid pain relievers and nonmedical users transitioning to heroin use. Understanding this relationship is critically important for the development of public health interventions. ⋯ Heroin use among nonmedical users of opioid pain relievers increased between 2002-2004 and 2008-2010, with most reporting nonmedical use of opioid pain relievers before initiating heroin. Interventions to prevent nonmedical use of these drugs are needed and should focus on high-risk groups such as frequent nonmedical users of opioids.