scholarly journals Escaping the past and living in the present: a qualitative exploration of substance use among Syrian male refugees in Germany

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jutta Lindert ◽  
Ulrike Neuendorf ◽  
Marta Natan ◽  
Ingo Schäfer
Keyword(s):  
Substance Use ◽  
Hybrid Approach ◽  
Syrian Refugees ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
The Past ◽  
Audio Recordings ◽  
Psychosocial Difficulties ◽  
Professional Treatment ◽  
And Coping ◽  
Qualitative Exploration

Abstract Background Syrians have been the largest group of refugees in Germany since 2014. Little is known about Syrian refugees` perspectives on substance use. The aim of this study is to investigate the perspective of male refugees from Syria and to foster specific knowledge and understanding of substance use. Methods We applied a qualitative study design. Five semi-structured focus group discussions with a total of 19 refugees were conducted in 2019 among the difficult to reach population of Syrian refugees. Audio recordings were translated and transcribed. We used a hybrid approach by integrating inductive and deductive thematic frameworks. Results We identified common themes. Firstly, refugees perceived that substances are widely available and accepted in Germany. Secondly, refugees perceived that rules and norms in Germany differ from rules and norms in the home country and favor availability of substances. Thirdly, substance use is related to the intention to escape the past. Fourthly, substance use is related to living in the present through connecting with others and being part of the community. Finally, mental health professional treatment for substance use is associated with shame. Conclusions Findings support Syrian refugees` perspectives of substance use as a way of both escaping the past and coping with psychosocial difficulties in the present in a socio-ecological understanding. Understanding the explanatory model of Syrian refugees can inform future interventions to prevent substance abuse and design tailored interventions. Further studies with Syrian refugees in more countries are needed to better understand resettled refugees` perspectives on substance use.

scholarly journals Syrian refugees perspectives on substance use

2021 ◽  
Vol 31 (Supplement_3) ◽  
Author(s):  
J Lindert ◽  
Ingo Schäfer
Keyword(s):  
Substance Use ◽  
Syrian Refugees ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Specific Knowledge ◽  
The Past ◽  
Tailored Interventions ◽  
Ecological Understanding ◽  
Audio Recordings ◽  
Professional Treatment ◽  
Context Specific

Abstract Background Little is known about Syrian refugees ‘perspectives on substance use. Syrians have been the largest groups of refugees in Germany since 2014. To investigate Syrian refugees’ perspectives on substance use we applied a qualitative study design. Methods Five semi-structured focus group discussions with a total of 19 refugees were conducted in 2019 among the difficult to reach population of Syrian refugees. Audio recordings were translated and transcribed, and inductive thematic was analysis conducted. Results The following common themes were identified: (a) perception that substances are widely accepted and available in Germany; (b) availability of substances is linked to rules and norms in Germany which are different in Syria, (c) and to the intention to escape not only the past (d) but the present and finally that (e) mental health professional treatment for substance use is associated with shame. Conclusions Findings support Syrian refugees ‘perspectives of substance use as a way of escaping past and present in a socio-ecological understanding which includes past and present exposures. Understanding the explanatory model of Syrian refugees can inform future interventions to prevent substance abuse and design tailored interventions. Further studies with Syrian refugees in more countries are needed to better understand resettled refugees’ perspectives on substance use. Messages The intention to escape past and present elucidates links between the context of using substances and context of feeling rejected. Context specific knowledge of substance use is necessary which includes past and present factors.

Suicidality and Treatment Experience Among Young People Who Inject Drugs

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mary Ellen Mackesy-Amiti ◽  
Lawrence J. Ouellet
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Substance Use ◽  
Young People ◽  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Mental Health Treatment ◽  
People Who Inject Drugs ◽  
Multivariable Analysis ◽  
Psychiatric Research ◽  
Health Treatment ◽  
The Past

Background. We examined correlates of past year suicidal thoughts and behavior (STB) and described past year treatment experiences among young people who inject drugs (PWID). Methods. Participants were 570 adults (18-25 years) who injected primarily heroin. Interviews were conducted at field stations operated by Community Outreach Intervention Projects in Chicago, Illinois (USA). Interviewers administered the Psychiatric Research Instrument for Substance and Mental Disorders. Substance use and mental disorders were based on DSM-IV diagnostic criteria. Past year STB was based on multiple questions. Results. Sixteen percent of men and 25% of women reported STB in the past year. In multivariable analysis, STB was associated with non-heterosexual orientation, foster care, and being raised by two parents. Primary major depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, other anxiety disorders, and borderline personality disorder had independent effects on suicidality. Among those reporting past year STB (n=111), 83% ever received mental health treatment, while 44% did so in the past year. While 24% of respondents indicated that at least one treatment matched their needs very well, 30% reported treatment that did not match their needs at all. The most common reason for ending treatment was program completion (about 50%) while getting better was endorsed by about 25%. Nearly half reported ending treatment due to a bad experience, logistical issues, or expense. Conclusions. Young PWID are at high risk for suicidal behavior and their mental health treatment experiences often do not meet their needs. There is a pressing need for more integrated substance use and mental health treatment.

scholarly journals Prevalence and demographic, substance use, and mental health correlates of fasting among U.S. college students

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kyle T. Ganson ◽  
Rachel F. Rodgers ◽  
Stuart B. Murray ◽  
Jason M. Nagata
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
College Students ◽  
Substance Use ◽  
Eating Disorder ◽  
Suicidal Ideation ◽  
Drug Use ◽  
Illicit Drug ◽  
Men And Women ◽  
The Past ◽  
Self Injury

Abstract Background Fasting is an unhealthy behavior that has been frequently used as part of weight loss attempts. To date, little research has been conducted to determine the prevalence and substance use and mental health correlates of fasting among college students. Therefore, the aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence and associations between any (≥ 1 time) and regular (≥ 13 times) occurrences of fasting in the past 4 weeks and substance use and mental health correlates among a large sample of college students from 2016 to 2020. Methods Data from four academic survey years (2016–2020; N = 8255) of the national (USA) Healthy Minds Study were analyzed. Unadjusted prevalence of any and regular fasting by survey year and gender was estimated. Multiple logistic regression analyses were conducted to estimate the associations between any and regular fasting and the demographic (age, body mass index, race/ethnicity, sexual orientation, highest parental education), substance use (cigarette use, marijuana use, other illicit drug use, alcohol use), and mental health (depression, anxiety, eating disorder symptoms, suicidal ideation, non-suicidal self-injury) correlates. Results Any fasting in the past 4 weeks was common among both men (14.77%) and women (18.12%) and significantly increased from 2016 (10.30%) to 2020 (19.81%) only among men. Regular fasting significantly increased among both men and women from 2016 (men: 1.46%; women: 1.79%) to 2020 (men: 3.53%; women: 6.19%). Among men and women, both any and regular fasting in the past 4 weeks were associated with higher odds of all mental health symptoms, including a positive depression, anxiety, and eating disorder screen, suicidal ideation, and non-suicidal self-injury. Among women, but not men, any and regular fasting in the past 4 weeks were associated with higher odds of marijuana use and other illicit drug use (e.g., cocaine, ecstasy). Conclusions The results from this study underscore both the high and increasing prevalence of fasting among a national sample of college students, as well as the substance use and mental health symptoms associated with this behavior. Healthcare professionals both on and off campus should consider screening for fasting behaviors among college students and provide appropriate intervention when needed.

scholarly journals Validity of the PARADISE24 questionnaire in people with substance use disorders: A measure to assess psychosocial difficulties

2018 ◽  
Vol 187 ◽  
pp. 66-71 ◽  
Author(s):  
Javier de la Fuente ◽  
Maria Cabello ◽  
Jonna Levola ◽  
Francisco Félix Caballero ◽  
José Luis Ayuso-Mateos ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Substance Use ◽  
Substance Use Disorders ◽  
Psychosocial Difficulties

scholarly journals COVID-19-related psychological distress and engagement in preventative behaviors among individuals with severe mental illnesses

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Amy E. Pinkham ◽  
Robert A. Ackerman ◽  
Colin A. Depp ◽  
Philip D. Harvey ◽  
Raeanne C. Moore
Keyword(s):  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Affective Disorders ◽  
Diagnostic Category ◽  
Mental Illnesses ◽  
Large Majority ◽  
The Past ◽  
Schizophrenia Spectrum ◽  
Phone Survey ◽  
Multiple Behaviors ◽  
And Coping

AbstractIndividuals with severe mental illnesses (SMIs) may be disproportionately vulnerable to COVID-19 infection and psychological distress. This study investigated the prevalence of engagement in COVID-19 preventative behaviors, predictors of these behaviors, and COVID-19-related psychological distress. One hundred and sixty-three individuals with SMIs (94 with schizophrenia spectrum illnesses and 69 with affective disorders) and 27 psychiatrically healthy comparison participants were recruited from ongoing studies across 3 sites, to complete a phone survey querying implementation of 8 specific COVID-19 preventative behaviors that participants engaged in at least once in the past month as well as standard assessments of depression, anxiety, perceived stress, loneliness, and coping. Data were collected between 3 April 2020 and 4 June 2020. The large majority of our SMI sample, which consisted of outpatients with relatively mild symptom severity, endorsed engaging in multiple preventative behaviors. Relatively few differences were found between groups; however, individuals with SMI were less likely to work remotely than healthy individuals and individuals with schizophrenia spectrum illness were less likely to stay home as a preventative measure, wear face masks, and work remotely than individuals with affective disorders. Differences in staying home remained after controlling for potential confounds. Although individuals with SMI reported more psychological distress related to COVID-19, this distress was largely unrelated to engagement in preventative behaviors. The large majority of individuals with SMI in this outpatient sample, regardless of broad diagnostic category, reported performing multiple behaviors intended to prevent COVID-19 infection at least once a month and reported distress associated with the pandemic. These findings suggest a good level of awareness of COVID-19 among stable outpatients with SMI. The degree to which more acutely ill persons with SMI engage in such preventative behaviors, however, remains to be examined.

A Study to Assess the level of Stress and Adapted coping mechanism among Infertile women at selected Infertility clinic, Dehradun Uttrakhand In a view of developing an information booklet

2021 ◽  
pp. 264-268
Author(s):  
Smita Smita
Keyword(s):  
Substance Use ◽  
Stress Reduction ◽  
Family Income ◽  
Stress And Coping ◽  
Psychological Disorder ◽  
Mild Stress ◽  
Coping Mechanism ◽  
Infertile Women ◽  
Related Stress ◽  
And Coping

A descriptive study was carried out for the purpose to investigate the level of stress and coping and to determine the relationship between stress and various coping mechanism among infertile women in selected two infertility clinic to find out the variables and their significance that may be related to study including (age, educational level, occupation, duration of infertility, …ect). The study sample consisted of 200 infertile women who were diagnosed as infertile and who were visiting infertility clinic during the data collection and met the inclusion criteria for the study. Self-developed likert scale for assessing the level of stress and coping in infertile women In this study, we used inferential and Descriptive Statistics, mean, standard deviation and mean percentage ,Correlation Coefficient Pearson, anova and unpaired t test were used in the study, the results showed that there is a moderately positive relationship between infertility related stress and coping mechanism, 47.21% was the total stress in total population, 40% have mild stress, 49.50% have moderate stress and 10.5% have severe stress. 53% have moderate coping 24% have inadequate coping 23% have adequate coping. The findings of the current study found that there is statistical significances at p>0.05. The study found significant association in age and year of infertility with stress calculated value was greater than tabulated value at p>0.05 type of family,income,substance use and exposure to stress reduction therapy have no association because the calculated value is less than tabulated value at p>0.05 and no significance in occupation, education and income per month. type of family, substance use, exposure to stress reduction technique, income with coping at p>0.05. Psychological aspect of infertility should be given more attention, and be considered in all stages of treatment and medical interventions to decrease the psychological suffering of the infertile women and to prevent developing of the psychological disorder.

Substance Use and Self-Harm: Case Studies From Patients Admitted to an Urban Hospital Following Medically Serious Self-Harm

2017 ◽  
Vol 27 (14) ◽  
pp. 2201-2210 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elsie Breet ◽  
Jason Bantjes
Keyword(s):  
Substance Use ◽  
Case Study Research ◽  
Urban Hospital ◽  
Adaptive Function ◽  
The Past ◽  
Multiple Case ◽  
Self Harm ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Analyze Data

Few qualitative studies have explored the relationship between substance use and self-harm. We employed a multiple-case study research design to analyze data from 80 patients who were admitted to a hospital in South Africa following self-harm. Our analysis revealed, from the perspective of patients, a number of distinct ways in which substance use is implicated in self-harm. Some patients reported that substance intoxication resulted in poor decision making and impulsivity, which led to self-harm. Others said substance use facilitated their self-harm. Some participants detailed how in the past their chronic substance use had served an adaptive function helping them to cope with distress, but more recently, this coping mechanism had failed which precipitated their self-harm. Some participants reported that substance use by someone else triggered their self-harm. Findings suggest that there are multiple pathways and a host of variables which mediate the relationship between substance use and self-harm.

Motivational enhancement and coping skills training for cocaine abusers: effects on substance use outcomes

Addiction ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 99 (7) ◽  
pp. 862-874 ◽  
Author(s):  
Damaris J. Rohsenow ◽  
Peter M. Monti ◽  
Rosemarie A. Martin ◽  
Suzanne M. Colby ◽  
Mark G. Myers ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Substance Use ◽  
Coping Skills ◽  
Skills Training ◽  
Motivational Enhancement ◽  
Coping Skills Training ◽  
And Coping
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