An Examination of the Patterns of Substance Use in Activity Spaces and Their Relationship to Problematic Use

During adolescence, adolescents are given more freedom to independently interact with a variety of social contexts. The eco-developmental model suggests that the activity spaces where adolescents spend their time affect substance-use behaviors beyond peer influences, and that the relationships may differ based on the adolescent’s demographic characteristics. This study examines adolescent patterns of reported substance use across activity spaces to determine whether the patterns of use are related to problematic substance use, and whether the relationships differ based on the participants’ race. Cross-sectional survey data from the study, Drug Use Among Young American Indians: Epidemiology and Prediction, 1993-2006 and 2009-2013, were used. Five patterns of adolescent alcohol use and six patterns of adolescent drug use in activity spaces were identified. There were significant differences in the relationship between class membership and problematic substance use by race, suggesting that contexts may be interacting with an adolescent’s race to influence use.

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Suicidal behavior in problematic substance uses in South Gondar zone, Northwest Ethiopia: a cross-sectional survey

Substance Abuse Treatment Prevention and Policy ◽

10.1186/s13011-020-00303-4 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 15 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Getasew Legas ◽

Habte Belete ◽

Sintayehu Asnakew ◽

Amsalu Belete ◽

Shegaye Shumet

Keyword(s):

Substance Use ◽

Logistic Regression ◽

Suicidal Behavior ◽

Health Workers ◽

Northwest Ethiopia ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Problematic Substance Use ◽

Problematic Substance ◽

South Gondar

Abstract Background Suicidal behavior has a significant contribution to the global burden of disease that affects individuals, families and communities at different age groups. Sadly, up to 75% of suicides in the world occur in low-and- middle income countries which have no adequate resource to prevent it. The aim of this study was to assess suicidal behavior and associated factors among community residents with problematic substance use in South Gondar zone, northwest Ethiopia. Methods Community based cross-sectional survey was conducted by using a suicidal behavior revised questionnaire from January 15 to March 15, 2019. A total of 4035 participants were screened for problematic substance use by using multi stage cluster sampling and 846 participants were positive for problematic substance use then asked for suicidal behavior. Multiple logistic regression analyses used to see adjusted odd rations (AOR). Multilevel binary logistic regression was used to account for the hierarchical structure of the two-level data within individual and districts level. Results The prevalence of suicidal behavior over the last 12 months in problematic substance uses was found to be 41.4% with 95% of confidence interval (CI) (38.2–44.9). Perceived stigma, [AOR = 1.605, 95% CI (1.16–2.23)], family history of suicide [AOR = 3.22, 95% CI (1.46–7.10)], physical illness [AOR = 2.45 95% CI (1.157–3.84)], rural resident [AOR = 1.74, 95% CI (1.16–2.62)], depression [AOR = 4.44, 95% CI (3.15–6.27)] and living alone (AOR = 1.61, 95% CI (1.16–2.24) were risks factors for suicidal behavior. Conclusion Suicidal behavior in problematic substance uses found to be high. Health workers should pay attention to decrease suicidal behavior and to control amendable factors.

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Mobile Apps to Reduce Tobacco, Alcohol, and Illicit Drug Use: Systematic Review of the First Decade

Journal of Medical Internet Research ◽

10.2196/17156 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 22 (11) ◽

pp. e17156

Author(s):

Petra Karin Staiger ◽

Renee O'Donnell ◽

Paul Liknaitzky ◽

Rachel Bush ◽

Joanna Milward

Keyword(s):

Substance Use ◽

Drug Use ◽

Illicit Drugs ◽

Illicit Drug ◽

Mobile Apps ◽

Illicit Drug Use ◽

Mobile App ◽

Risk Of Bias ◽

Problematic Substance Use ◽

Problematic Substance

Background Mobile apps for problematic substance use have the potential to bypass common barriers to treatment seeking. Ten years following the release of the first app targeting problematic tobacco, alcohol, and illicit drug use, their effectiveness, use, and acceptability remains unclear. Objective This study aims to conduct a systematic literature review of trials evaluating mobile app interventions for problematic tobacco, alcohol, and illicit drug use. Methods The review was conducted according to recommended guidelines. Relevant databases were searched, and articles were included if the mobile app study was a controlled intervention trial and reported alcohol, tobacco, or illicit drug consumption as outcomes. Results A total of 20 studies met eligibility criteria across a range of substances: alcohol (n=11), tobacco (n=6), alcohol and tobacco (n=1), illicit drugs (n=1), and illicit drugs and alcohol (n=1). Samples included the general community, university students, and clinical patients. The analyzed intervention sample sizes ranged from 22 to 14,228, and content was considerably diverse, from simple stand-alone apps delivering self-monitoring or psychoeducation to multicomponent apps with interactive features and audio content, or used as adjuncts alongside face-to-face treatment. Intervention duration ranged from 1 to 35 weeks, with notifications ranging from none to multiple times per day. A total of 6 of the 20 app interventions reported significant reductions in substance use at post or follow-up compared with a comparison condition, with small to moderate effect sizes. Furthermore, two other app interventions reported significant reductions during the intervention but not at post treatment, and a third reported a significant interaction of two app intervention components. Conclusions Although most app interventions were associated with reductions in problematic substance use, less than one-third were significantly better than the comparison conditions at post treatment. A total of 5 out of the 6 apps that reported intervention effects targeted alcohol (of those, one targeted alcohol and illicit drugs and another alcohol and tobacco) and 1 targeted tobacco. Moreover, 3 out of 6 apps included feedback (eg, personalized) and 2 had high risk of bias, 1 some risk, and 3 low risk. All 6 apps included interventions of 6 weeks or longer. Common study limitations were small sample sizes; risk of bias; lack of relevant details; and, in some cases, poorly balanced comparison conditions. Appropriately powered trials are required to understand which app interventions are most effective, length of engagement required, and subgroups most likely to benefit. In sum, evidence to date for the effectiveness of apps targeting problematic substance use is not compelling, although the heterogeneous comparison conditions and trial designs across studies limit the ability to compare efficacy between apps. We discuss potential approaches that can help ascertain whether the promise of mobile app interventions for problematic substance use can be fulfilled.

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Substance Use After Release from Prison

10.1093/med/9780199374847.003.0006 ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Sarah Larney ◽

Mark Stoové ◽

Stuart A. Kinner

Keyword(s):

Substance Use ◽

Drug Use ◽

Structural Factors ◽

Interpersonal Factors ◽

Problematic Substance Use ◽

Poor Access ◽

Problematic Substance ◽

History Of ◽

The Individual ◽

Release From Prison

This chapter discusses the substantial proportion of prisoners globally who have a history of alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use and dependence. Incarceration usually provides a period of abstinence or reduced substance use, but this reduction is often transientand many ex-prisoners rapidly return to pre-incarceration levels of substance use. Substance use after release from prison is affected by both individual factors, such as substance use history and personal expectations, and interpersonal factors, such as social networks. Released prisoners often return to environments in which drugs are readily available and substance use is accepted or normative. Structural factors, such as poor access to substance use treatment and other health services, unstable housing and limited employment options, can create additional stressors that increase the risk of harmful substance use. Given the paucity of epidemiological evidence, the natural history of substance use after release from prison remains poorly understood. In particular, there is a dearth of evidence relating to resumption of alcohol, tobacco, and non-injecting illicit drug use following release from prison. Furthermore, although substance use in ex-prisoners is affected by structural and interpersonal factors, interventions to address problematic substance use typically focus on the individual. Additional research in this area is urgently needed to inform evidence-based policies and interventions.

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Mobile Apps to Reduce Tobacco, Alcohol, and Illicit Drug Use: Systematic Review of the First Decade (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.17156 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Petra Karin Staiger ◽

Renee O'Donnell ◽

Paul Liknaitzky ◽

Rachel Bush ◽

Joanna Milward

Keyword(s):

Substance Use ◽

Drug Use ◽

Illicit Drugs ◽

Illicit Drug ◽

Mobile Apps ◽

Illicit Drug Use ◽

Mobile App ◽

Risk Of Bias ◽

Problematic Substance Use ◽

Problematic Substance

BACKGROUND Mobile apps for problematic substance use have the potential to bypass common barriers to treatment seeking. Ten years following the release of the first app targeting problematic tobacco, alcohol, and illicit drug use, their effectiveness, use, and acceptability remains unclear. OBJECTIVE This study aims to conduct a systematic literature review of trials evaluating mobile app interventions for problematic tobacco, alcohol, and illicit drug use. METHODS The review was conducted according to recommended guidelines. Relevant databases were searched, and articles were included if the mobile app study was a controlled intervention trial and reported alcohol, tobacco, or illicit drug consumption as outcomes. RESULTS A total of 20 studies met eligibility criteria across a range of substances: alcohol (n=11), tobacco (n=6), alcohol and tobacco (n=1), illicit drugs (n=1), and illicit drugs and alcohol (n=1). Samples included the general community, university students, and clinical patients. The analyzed intervention sample sizes ranged from 22 to 14,228, and content was considerably diverse, from simple stand-alone apps delivering self-monitoring or psychoeducation to multicomponent apps with interactive features and audio content, or used as adjuncts alongside face-to-face treatment. Intervention duration ranged from 1 to 35 weeks, with notifications ranging from none to multiple times per day. A total of 6 of the 20 app interventions reported significant reductions in substance use at post or follow-up compared with a comparison condition, with small to moderate effect sizes. Furthermore, two other app interventions reported significant reductions during the intervention but not at post treatment, and a third reported a significant interaction of two app intervention components. CONCLUSIONS Although most app interventions were associated with reductions in problematic substance use, less than one-third were <i>significantly</i> better than the comparison conditions at post treatment. A total of 5 out of the 6 apps that reported intervention effects targeted alcohol (of those, one targeted alcohol and illicit drugs and another alcohol and tobacco) and 1 targeted tobacco. Moreover, 3 out of 6 apps included feedback (eg, personalized) and 2 had high risk of bias, 1 some risk, and 3 low risk. All 6 apps included interventions of 6 weeks or longer. Common study limitations were small sample sizes; risk of bias; lack of relevant details; and, in some cases, poorly balanced comparison conditions. Appropriately powered trials are required to understand which app interventions are most effective, length of engagement required, and subgroups most likely to benefit. In sum, evidence to date for the effectiveness of apps targeting problematic substance use is not compelling, although the heterogeneous comparison conditions and trial designs across studies limit the ability to compare efficacy between apps. We discuss potential approaches that can help ascertain whether the promise of mobile app interventions for problematic substance use can be fulfilled.

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Rumination and problematic substance use among individuals with a long-term history of illicit drug use

Drug and Alcohol Dependence ◽

10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2019.05.028 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 203 ◽

pp. 44-50 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Sonja Memedovic ◽

Tim Slade ◽

Joanne Ross ◽

Shane Darke ◽

Katherine L. Mills ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Substance Use ◽

Drug Use ◽

Illicit Drug ◽

Illicit Drug Use ◽

Problematic Substance Use ◽

Problematic Substance ◽

History Of

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Substance Abuse Among Medical Students – A Survey in a Medical College in Nepal

Journal of Nepalgunj Medical College ◽

10.3126/jngmc.v16i1.24236 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 16 (1) ◽

pp. 71-75

Author(s):

Roshan Kumar Roy ◽

Deepak Kumar Roy ◽

Rajeh Kumar Goit

Keyword(s):

Substance Abuse ◽

Substance Use ◽

Medical Students ◽

Drug Use ◽

Physical Dependence ◽

Operational Definition ◽

Daily Basis ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Medical College

Introduction: Substance use among medical students could impact on the conduct, safety and efficiency of future doctors. Despite serious medico legal, ethical and political ramifications, there is paucity of published article on the subject, especially from Nepal. Objective: We aimed to explore the patterns of substance abuse among a sample of Medical students from Nepalgunj Medical College. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional survey of medical students from Nepalgunj Medical College was done using a brief questionnaire schedule to identify current and lifetime use of tobacco, alcohol, cannabis and abuse of other drugs. An operational definition of substance abuse was made, 28 % of students fell within that criterion. Results: Male substance abusers 81% exceeded female abusers 19%. Substances most commonly abused were alcohol 60%, minor tranquilizers 48%, and tobacco 35%, and only 11% abused cannabis. While most students were multidrug users, there was a low frequency of daily drug use. A general lifetime (occasional use) prevalence of substance use of 56% was found. Drugs consumed on a daily basis were alcohol 2% and tobacco 6%. The prevalence of drug use was highest among the fourth and final year students. Conclusion: The majority of students were occasional abusers; there was no evidence of physical dependence. This study provides a snapshot of the problem of substance use among medical students of Nepal. Further research is needed to study nationwide patterns of substance use among medical students, and to identify important determinants and reinforce preventive measures. Strategies need to be developed for supporting students with a substance use problem.

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