The Role of Culture in Preventing Perinatal Abuse of Alcohol and Other Drugs

Abstract Background Use of alcohol and other drugs is a major risk factor for assaultive injuries and violent deaths. The purpose of this study was to examine the time trends in the prevalence of alcohol and marijuana detected in homicide victims. Methods We analyzed toxicological testing data for homicide victims (n = 12,638) from the 2004–2016 National Violent Death Reporting System in 9 US states (Colorado, Georgia, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Virginia, and Wisconsin). We used the Cochran-Armitage test for trend to assess the statistical significance of changes in the prevalence of alcohol and marijuana detected in these homicide victims during the study period. Results Overall, 37.5% of the homicide victims tested positive for alcohol, 31.0% positive for marijuana, and 11.4% positive for both substances. During the study period, the prevalence of marijuana increased from 22.3% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 19.6, 25.0) in 2004 to 42.1% (95% CI = 39.2, 44.9) in 2016 (Z = -15.7; P < .001) while the prevalence of alcohol declined slightly (Z = 1.5; P = 0.143). Marked increases in the prevalence of marijuana were observed in both sexes and across age and racial groups. Conclusions Marijuana is increasingly detected in homicide victims irrespective of demographic characteristics. Further research is needed to assess the causal role of marijuana use and concurrent use of marijuana and alcohol in homicide victimization.

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“King hit” fatalities in Australia, 2000–2012: The role of alcohol and other drugs

Drug and Alcohol Dependence ◽

10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2013.11.019 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 135 ◽

pp. 119-132 ◽

Cited By ~ 20

Author(s):

Jennifer Lucinda Pilgrim ◽

Dimitri Gerostamoulos ◽

Olaf Heino Drummer

Keyword(s):

Alcohol And Other Drugs

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Substance Abuse: The Role of Industrial Medicine

Journal of Drug Education ◽

10.2190/yn6f-1yda-c6q4-f588 ◽

1971 ◽

Vol 1 (3) ◽

pp. 251-260

Author(s):

Luther A. Cloud ◽

Frank A. Seixas

Keyword(s):

Substance Abuse ◽

First Aid ◽

Work Setting ◽

Dynamic Force ◽

Critical Problem ◽

Industrial Medicine ◽

Company Policy ◽

Wide Range ◽

Alcohol And Other Drugs

This article touches upon industrial medicine's history and its start as primarily one of first-aid and its development into a dynamic force for dealing with the entire individual and his wide range of problems. It describes the entry of alcoholism programs into the spectrum of industrial medicine and cites the wide range of drugs now affecting employees in the work setting. It discusses successful alcoholism programming and the differences and similarities of programs which may be developed for other substance abuse. The article also includes a composite picture of company policy on drug abuse and stresses the fact that the use of alcohol and other drugs poses a critical problem for industry.

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Crime victims’ self-medication

International Review of Victimology ◽

10.1177/0269758016686280 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 23 (2) ◽

pp. 159-177 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Willem de Lint ◽

Marinella Marmo ◽

Andrew Groves ◽

Adam Pocrnic

Keyword(s):

Empirical Studies ◽

Empirical Work ◽

South Australia ◽

Support Network ◽

Complex Nature ◽

Self Medication ◽

Network Support ◽

Supplementary Hypothesis ◽

Alcohol And Other Drugs

While considerable literature has explored the complex nature of victimisation, few empirical studies have examined the role of alcohol and other drugs (AODs) in victims’ experiences, specifically victims’ self-medication using AODs and its impact on ongoing health and welfare needs. Addressing the dearth of empirical research on the nature and extent of victims’ self-medication, and drawing upon quantitative data from a survey ( n = 102) of victims from Adelaide, South Australia this article explores individuals’ experiences of victimisation and AOD use against type of victimisation, type of peer support network and type of consumption. The findings indicate support for the self-medication for trauma hypothesis, namely that victimisation is positively associated with considerable increase in AOD consumption. On the other hand, there is a lack of support for the supplementary hypothesis that network support is associated with victimisation/re-victimisation. The authors demonstrate that further empirical work is needed to deepen understanding of victims’ AOD use and expedite the development of evidence-based policy and support frameworks.

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