scholarly journals Consumption of Alcohol, Cannabis, and Tobacco in a Cohort of Adolescents before and during COVID-19 Confinement

Author(s):  
Judit Rogés ◽  
Marina Bosque-Prous ◽  
Joan Colom ◽  
Cinta Folch ◽  
Tivy Barón-Garcia ◽  
...  

The aim of this study was to identify changes in the hazardous consumption of alcohol, tobacco, and cannabis, due to the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020 in a cohort of schooled adolescents from Central Catalonia. We also analyzed the effect of the individual and social factors on risky consumption during confinement. This longitudinal study involved a subsample of 303 adolescents aged 14–18 years, who were attending 4th year of compulsory secondary education (ESO), 2nd year of college preparation (baccalaureate), or Vocational and Educational Training (VET). We collected data before COVID-19 lockdown (October 2019–February 2020) and 2 months after the lockdown ended. We estimated the prevalence of risky substance use in the sample at baseline for each independent variable. We used Poisson regression models with robust variance to compute the Cumulative Incidence (CI) and Relative Risk (RR), with their respective 95% confidence interval. We found that VET students had a significantly (p < 0.05) higher risk of substance use: binge drinking (RR = 3.21 (95%CI: 1.00–10.34)); hazardous drinking of alcohol (RR = 3.75 (95%CI: 1.12–12.54)), hazardous consumption of cannabis (RR = 3.75 (95%CI: 0.65–21.59)) and daily smoking of tobacco (RR = 4.82 (95%CI: 1.74–13.39)). The results showed a general trend of reduction of consumption during COVID-19 confinement period. This study suggests that VET students were more likely to engage in hazardous drinking of alcohol and daily smoking of tobacco. No statistically significant differences were found for the other age groups and variables.

2019 ◽  
Vol 46 (4) ◽  
pp. 656-665 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tuba Demir-Dagdas ◽  
Stephanie T. Child

Background. Associations between religious involvement and substance use are well established. However, limited research examines the effects of religious affiliation, informal participation, and network support on substance use among two distinct age cohorts. Objectives. This study aims to examine whether religious affiliation, informal participation, and network support are associated with alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana use among young and late middle-age adults. Method. The UC Berkeley Social Networks Study (Wave 1, 2015) offers novel cohort data on young (21-30 years old, n = 483) and late middle-age (50-70 years old, n = 673) adults. Poisson regression models were used to predict alcohol use, while logistic regression models were used to predict odds of smoking and marijuana use. Results. Among young adults, membership in a religious organization was associated with less alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana use. Conversely, participating in informal organizations was associated with more alcohol and marijuana use. Desiring more people to talk to and get together with were associated with more smoking and drinking, respectively. However, wishing more people to ask for help was associated with less substance use altogether. In a similar pattern, among older adults, religious involvement was associated with less alcohol and marijuana use. Desiring more people to ask for help was also related to less marijuana use. Conclusion. Younger adult participation in informal groups serves to encourage social substance use. In contrast, older people are more involved in religious groups, which support social behaviors that do not include substance use.


Vaccines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 170 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hans Eguia ◽  
Franco Vinciarelli ◽  
Marina Bosque-Prous ◽  
Troels Kristensen ◽  
Francesc Saigí-Rubió

(1) Background: This study aims to delineate a pattern on vaccine hesitancy in a sample of the Spanish population, considering age groups and status as healthcare workers. (2) Methods: Participants were recruited using Twitter® as a dissemination tool to reach as many respondents as possible in different parts of the Spanish territory. The participants were recruited in a cross-sectional study, which included answering an online questionnaire. Data were collected from 10 September through 23 November 2020. Respondents answered questions asking whether they intended to be vaccinated and provided the main reason for their answers. To estimate associations between vaccination hesitancy and independent variables, we fit Poisson regression models with robust variance. (3) Results: One thousand and two responses were obtained, of which only 731 were validated. One hundred and sixty-four participants stated that they would not be vaccinated (22.43%), of which 20–24% were non-health workers or unemployed, 17.5% physicians, 31.5% other health workers, and almost 35% nurses. Concerns about lack of effectiveness of the vaccination, lack of safety when vaccinating and possibly dangerous adverse effects were the main causes provided. (4) Conclusions: This study indicates that more interventions are needed to achieve better communication with the population and health professionals. Receptiveness to the message of the importance and security of the COVID-19 vaccination could be an important strategy for improving these results.


2020 ◽  
Vol 31 (7) ◽  
pp. 642-651
Author(s):  
Monique J Brown ◽  
Julianne M Serovich ◽  
Tanja C Laschober ◽  
Judy A Kimberly

The aim of this study was to assess the association between age, depressive symptoms, and substance use among men who have sex with men (MSM) living with HIV. Baseline data were obtained from 337 MSM living with HIV. Linear and logistic regression models were used to determine the association between age and depressive symptoms and substance use. MSM aged 35–49 had higher depressive symptoms than MSM 50 and older (B = 3.53; 95% CI: 0.33, 6.72); MSM aged 25–34 and MSM 35–49 had higher substance use than MSM 50 and older (B = 2.66; 95% CI: 0.77, 4.54; and B = 1.68; 95% CI: 0.22, 3.14, respectively). MSM aged 35–49 were more likely to be at risk for clinical depression than MSM 50 and older (OR = 1.84; 95% CI: 1.06, 3.22); MSM aged 18–24 and MSM 35–49 were less likely and more likely to have substance abuse than MSM 50 and older (OR = 0.29; 95% CI: 0.09, 0.91; and OR = 1.83; 95% CI: 1.02, 3.29, respectively). Interventions addressing depressive symptoms and substance use tailored to individuals in different age groups should account for varying needs at different stages of life.


1994 ◽  
Vol 59 (9) ◽  
pp. 2029-2041
Author(s):  
Oldřich Pytela ◽  
Taťjana Nevěčná

The kinetics of decomposition of 1,3-bis(4-methylphenyl)triazene catalyzed with 13 substituted benzoic acids of various concentrations have been measured in 25 vol.% aqueous methanol at 25.0 °C. The rate constants observed (297 data) have be used as values of independent variable in a series of models of the catalyzed decomposition. For the catalytic particles were considered the undissociated acid, its conjugated base, and the proton in both the specific and general catalyses. Some models presumed formation of reactive or nonreactive complexes of the individual reactants. The substituent effect is described by the Hammett equation. The statistically best model in which the observed rate constant is a superposition of a term describing the dependence on proton concentration and a term describing the dependence on the product of concentrations of proton and conjugated base is valid with the presumption of complete proton transfer from the catalyst acid to substrate, which has been proved. The behaviour of 4-dimethylamino, 4-amino, and 3-amino derivatives is anomalous (lower catalytic activity as compared with benzoic acid). This supports the presumed participation of conjugated base in the title process.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Malin Indremo ◽  
Richard White ◽  
Thomas Frisell ◽  
Sven Cnattingius ◽  
Alkistis Skalkidou ◽  
...  

AbstractThe aim of this study was to examine the validity of the Gender Dysphoria (GD) diagnoses in the Swedish National Patient Register (NPR), to discuss different register-based definitions of GD and to investigate incidence trends. We collected data on all individuals with registered GD diagnoses between 2001 and 2016 as well as data on the coverage in the NPR. We regarded gender confirming medical intervention (GCMI) as one proxy for a clinically valid diagnosis and calculated the positive predictive value (PPV) for receiving GCMI for increasing number of registered GD diagnoses. We assessed crude and coverage-adjusted time trends of GD during 2004–2015 with a Poisson regression, using assigned sex and age as interaction terms. The PPV for receiving GCMI was 68% for ≥ 1 and 79% for ≥ 4 GD-diagnoses. The incidence of GD was on average 35% higher with the definition of ≥ 1 compared to the definition of ≥ 4 diagnoses. The incidence of GD, defined as ≥ 4 diagnoses increased significantly during the study period and mostly in the age categories 10–17 and 18–30 years, even after adjusting for register coverage. We concluded that the validity of a single ICD code denoting clinical GD in the Swedish NPR can be questioned. For future research, we propose to carefully weight the advantages and disadvantages of different register-based definitions according to the individual study’s needs, the time periods involved and the age-groups under study.


2021 ◽  
pp. 070674372110068
Author(s):  
Daniel Vigo ◽  
Wayne Jones ◽  
Naomi Dove ◽  
Daniel E. Maidana ◽  
Corinne Tallon ◽  
...  

Objective: To estimate the prevalence of specific mental and substance use disorders (MSUDs), by age and sex, as a first step toward informing needs-based health systems planning by decision-makers. Methods: We developed a conceptual framework and a systematic methodology for combining available data sources to yield prevalence estimates for specific MSUDs. Data sources used included published, peer-reviewed literature from Canada and comparable countries, Canadian population survey data, and health administrative data from British Columbia. Several well-established methodologies including systematic review and meta-analyses of published prevalence estimates, modelling of age- and sex-specific distributions, and the Global Burden of Disease severity distribution model were incorporated in a novel mode of triangulation. Results: Using this novel approach, we obtained prevalence estimates for 10 MSUDs for British Columbia, Canada, as well as prevalence distributions across age groups, by sex. Conclusion: Obtaining reliable assessments of disorder prevalence and severity is a useful first step toward rationally estimating service need and plan health services. We propose a methodology to leverage existing information to obtain robust estimates in a timely manner and with sufficient granularity to, after adjusting for comorbidity and matching with severity-specific service bundles, inform need-based planning efforts for adult (15 years and older) mental health and substance use services.


1994 ◽  
Vol 1 (4) ◽  
pp. 229-234 ◽  
Author(s):  
A Senthilselvan

OBJECTIVE: To examine the trends in hospitalization rates for atsthma in Saskatchewan from 1970 to 1989 and to investigate the differences in asthma hospitalization rates between rural and urban dwellers.DESIGN: Asthma hospitalization rates were calculated for the age groups O to 4, 5 to 9. 10 to 14, 15 to 24. 25 to 34. 35 to 49 and 50 to 64 years for the period between 1970 and 1989. Only the first admission in each year for each person was included in the analysis. As the classification of asthma changed in 1978. trends in asthma hospitalization rates were investigated separately for the periods 1970 to 1978 and 1979 to 1989. respectively. Rate ratios were obtained for male/female and rural/urban comparisons by fitting Poisson regression models.SETTING: The hospitalization data for respiratory diseases for the province of Saskatchewan were examined by age group, sex and place or residence.RESULT: No significant increases were observed in asthma hospitalization rates lrorn 1970 to 1978. In the period 1979 to 1989. asthma hospitalization rates increased significantly among children under four years from 4.31/1000 in 1979 to 7.04/1000 in 1989. Among children under 14 years. asthma hospitalization rates were greater in boys than in girls . The converse was true for adults aged 15 and above, with women having a higher hospitalization rate for asthma than men . In adults aged 35 and above. rural dwellers had higher hospitalization rates for asthma than urban dwellers throughout the study period. In other age groups, although rural dwellers had higher asthma hospitalization rates than did urban dwellers during 1970 to 1984. the differences disappered duri ng 1985 to 1989.CONCLUSION: Further studies are required to find reasons for the increase in asthma hospitalizations among young children under four years old and for the differences between rural and urban dwellers in the age group 35 years and above.


2004 ◽  
Vol 34 (1) ◽  
pp. 37-52
Author(s):  
Wiktor Jassem ◽  
Waldemar Grygiel

The mid-frequencies and bandwidths of formants 1–5 were measured at targets, at plus 0.01 s and at minus 0.01 s off the targets of vowels in a 100-word list read by five male and five female speakers, for a total of 3390 10-variable spectrum specifications. Each of the six Polish vowel phonemes was represented approximately the same number of times. The 3390* 10 original-data matrix was processed by probabilistic neural networks to produce a classification of the spectra with respect to (a) vowel phoneme, (b) identity of the speaker, and (c) speaker gender. For (a) and (b), networks with added input information from another independent variable were also used, as well as matrices of the numerical data appropriately normalized. Mean scores for classification with respect to phonemes in a multi-speaker design in the testing sets were around 95%, and mean speaker-dependent scores for the phonemes varied between 86% and 100%, with two speakers scoring 100% correct. The individual voices were identified between 95% and 96% of the time, and classifications of the spectra for speaker gender were practically 100% correct.


2014 ◽  
Vol 143 (8) ◽  
pp. 1681-1691 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. E. ARNOLD ◽  
R. J. GOSLING ◽  
F. MARTELLI ◽  
D. MUELLER-DOBLIES ◽  
R. H. DAVIES

SUMMARYThere has been a rapid rise in the prevalence of cases of monophasic Salmonella Typhimurium (mST) in both humans and farm animals, and it has been found in pigs, cattle and poultry. It is therefore vital to have a good understanding of how to efficiently detect infected farms. The objective of this project was to determine sample type sensitivity in the detection of Salmonella to detect infected groups of animals on both pig (breeder, grower and finisher sites) and cattle (beef and dairy) farms, using data collected from a study investigating farms that were positive for mST, and to explore any variation between different age groups and management practices. A Bayesian approach in the absence of a gold standard was adopted to analyse the individual and pooled faecal sample data collected from each epidemiological group on each of the farms. The sensitivity of pooled sampling depended on the prevalence of infection in the group being sampled, with a higher prevalence leading to higher sensitivity. Pooled sampling was found to be more efficient at detecting positive groups of animals than individual sampling, with the probability of a random sample from a group of animals with 5% prevalence testing positive being equal to 15·5% for immature pigs (3·6% for an individual faecal sample, taking into account the sensitivity and infection prevalence), 7·1% for adult pigs (1·2% for individual sampling), 30% for outdoor cattle (2% for individual sampling) and 34% for indoor cattle (1% for individual sampling). The mean prevalence of each epidemiological group was higher in outdoor farms than indoor for both pigs and cattle (mean within-farm prevalence of 29·4% and 38·7% for outdoor pigs and cattle, respectively, compared to 19·8% and 22·1% for indoor pigs and cattle)


2017 ◽  
Vol 39 (3) ◽  
pp. 541-567 ◽  
Author(s):  
MIKKEL BARSLUND ◽  
MARTEN VON WERDER ◽  
ASGHAR ZAIDI

ABSTRACTIn the context of emerging challenges and opportunities associated with population ageing, the study of inequality in active-ageing outcomes is critical to the design of appropriate and effective social policies. While there is much discussion about active ageing at the aggregate country level, little is known about inequality in active-ageing experiences within countries. Based on the existing literature on active ageing, this paper proposes an individual-level composite active ageing index based on Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) data. The individual-level nature of the index allows us to analyse inequality in experiences of active ageing within selected European countries. One important motivation behind measuring active ageing at the individual level is that it allows for a better understanding of unequal experiences of ageing, which may otherwise be masked in aggregate-level measures of active ageing. Results show large differences in the distribution of individual-level active ageing across the 13 European countries covered and across age groups. Furthermore, there is a positive association between the country-level active ageing index and the equality of its distribution within a country. Hence, countries with the lowest average active ageing index tend to have the most unequal distribution in active-ageing experiences. For nine European countries, where temporal data are also available, we find that inequality in active-ageing outcomes decreased in the period 2004 to 2013.


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