scholarly journals Literary and biographical perspectives on substance use

2003 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 62-68 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ed Day ◽  
Iain Smith
Keyword(s):  
Substance Use ◽  
Alcohol Use ◽  
Psychoactive Substances ◽  
Addictive Disorders ◽  
Current Drug ◽  
Drug Culture ◽  
Literary Process ◽  
Drug And Alcohol Use ◽  
Drug And Alcohol

This article attempts to give a flavour of the influence that psychoactive substances have had on many authors and the literary process. It explores the idea of the narrative as it is applied to addictive disorders and gives a range of examples of writing about different substances that might enhance the reader's knowledge of current drug culture. The portrayal in literature of doctors with addictions is presented as a warning against the development of such problems in psychiatrists. The authors hope to have demonstrated that literature can be a valuable tool in understanding the experience of drug and alcohol use and addiction.

scholarly journals Making Choices and Reducing Risk (MCARR): School Counseling Primary Prevention of Substance Use

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 352-369
Author(s):  
Louisa L. Foss-Kelly ◽  
Margaret M. Generali ◽  
Michael J. Crowley
Keyword(s):  
Substance Use ◽  
Alcohol Use ◽  
Student Attitudes ◽  
School Community ◽  
Longitudinal Impact ◽  
Addictive Behaviors ◽  
Making Choices ◽  
Drug And Alcohol Use ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Drug And Alcohol

The consequences of adolescent drug and alcohol use may be serious and far-reaching, forecasting problematic use or addictive behaviors into adulthood. School counselors are particularly well suited to understand the needs of the school community and to seamlessly deliver sustainable substance use prevention. This pilot study with 46 ninth-grade students investigates the impact of the Making Choices and Reducing Risk (MCARR) program, a drug and alcohol use prevention program for the school setting. The MCARR curriculum addresses general knowledge of substances and their related risks, methods for evaluating risk, and skills for avoiding or coping with drug and alcohol use. Using a motivational interviewing framework, MCARR empowers students to choose freely how they wish to behave in relation to drugs and alcohol and to contribute to the health of others in the school community. The authors hypothesized that the implementation of the MCARR curriculum would influence student attitudes, knowledge, and use of substances. Results suggest that the MCARR had a beneficial impact on student attitudes and knowledge. Further, no appreciable increases in substance use during the program were observed. Initial results point to the promise of program feasibility and further research with larger samples including assessment of longitudinal impact.

scholarly journals Framing drug and alcohol use as a public health problem in Britain

2018 ◽  
Vol 35 (2) ◽  
pp. 93-99 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alex Mold
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Substance Use ◽  
Alcohol Use ◽  
Health Problem ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Alcohol Problems ◽  
Drugs And Alcohol ◽  
Drug And Alcohol Use ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Drug And Alcohol

Recent attempts to approach drug and alcohol problems as a public health issue in the UK and globally have begun to achieve some success. Yet, in historical terms, the idea that the use of psychoactive substances should be regarded as a public health problem is a relatively new one. In the UK, it was only in the latter half of the 20th century that what were termed “public health” approaches to alcohol and drugs began to gain purchase. Moreover, what was meant by a “public health” framing of psychoactive substance use changed over time and between substances. This article examines the development of public health approaches to drugs and alcohol in Britain since the 19th century. It suggests that a public health view of substance use existed alongside, and interacted with, other approaches to drug and alcohol use. To understand the meaning of a “public health” framing of drugs and alcohol we need to locate this in historical and geographical context.

scholarly journals Rediscovering empowerment with breastfeeding in an urban First Nation’s population

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Deborah Schroeder ◽  
Pamala Larsen ◽  
Norma Jean Byrd
Keyword(s):  
Alcohol Use ◽  
First Nations ◽  
Cultural Beliefs ◽  
Self Esteem ◽  
Out Of Home Care ◽  
Longitudinal Study Design ◽  
Drug And Alcohol Use ◽  
Additional Support ◽  
Positive Outlook ◽  
Drug And Alcohol

Abstract Background An inner-city neighbourhood of Regina, Saskatchewan continues to have recurring issues of drug and alcohol use affecting parents’ caregiving opportunity. In relation to this, many children, mostly of First Nations descent, are raised in out-of-home care away from their families. With the promotion of breastfeeding, in a neighbourhood prenatal/postnatal support program, breastfeeding rates have doubled and mothers’ participation in their children’s care has increased. Recognition and promotion of cultural beliefs about breastfeeding is integral to raise community awareness of the practice. To bring additional support for breastfeeding, the empowerment effects observed were measured. Methods Using a longitudinal study design, indicators of empowerment were assessed prenatally and again at two months postpartum. Indicators included self-esteem, caregiving activities, and drug and alcohol use. Outcomes of assessments were correlated to infant feeding practices and findings compared. Results Findings supported a statistically significant improvement for empowerment scores when mothers breastfed. Mean scores for self-esteem increased from 2.87 to 3.57 (r = .90, p = <.001); for caregiving, scores increased from 2.60 to 3.16 (r = .91, p = <.001); and for drug and alcohol use, scores decreased from 59 to 9% (p = <.001). Conclusions The study brings attention to the value of breastfeeding for caregiving in situations of addiction and limited resources. Practitioner reflexivity in regards to their support for breastfeeding is critical and includes openness to alternate breastfeeding situations and beliefs. The study found that a positive outlook on breastfeeding is the first step for a practitioner-client relationship that fosters confidence for marginalized populations. Significance statement According to research, less breastfeeding occurs when mothers are marginalized. In turn, as marginalization increases, a mother’s self-esteem regarding her ability to adequately care for her child decreases. Healthcare professionals tend to be less likely to support a decision to breastfeed if there is concern about the mother’s resources and lifestyles. This research brings new attention to the importance of breastfeeding in disadvantaged situations related to an empowerment effect of breastfeeding for caregiving which includes cessation of drug and alcohol use. This effect has not previously been measured.

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