scholarly journals The rise of opioid overdose: Is availability of Naloxone within the community the answer we need?

2018 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 43-52
Author(s):  
Thalia MacMillan

Rates of substance use and overdose are continually on the rise within our communities. Recent events highlight the increase rate of opioid overdose in particular and reflect current trends of a two-fold increase in such an event. Opioids are problematic as they can be prescribed legally or gained illegally. Symptoms of opioid overdose can be reversed with the provision of naloxone. Rising prices for naloxone may prevent organizations from carrying large quantities of it, which is problematic given recent events. As there is no typical presentation of opioid addiction or those with concurrent mental health issues, the influence or effect of each on the individual and with each other should be examined in their entirety. Different types of treatment are examined, as well as several of the strengths and limitations of ea

Author(s):  
KC Mabilangan ◽  
S Healy ◽  
T Fantaneanu ◽  
S Whiting

Background: Growing evidence has that a suggested that mental health strongly influences quality of life (QoL) in adolescents with epilepsy. In addition, research has suggested that these mental health issues are associated with increased seizure burden and worsened health outcomes. Despite this, and the elevated rate of mental health issues in this population, seizure control tends to be the dominant or sole concern for treating physicians. Methods: In order to look at potential predictors of QoL in adolescents we looked at seizure related data, demographic variables, and comorbid conditions in 70 adolescents with epilepsy aged 14 to 18 (M= 16.3l; 37 males, 33 females) enrolled into an epilepsy transition clinic. Results: Regression analysis found that mental health remained a significant and independent predictor of QoL even when other significant seizure related variables were accounted for (t(58)= -3.44, p= .001). Furthermore, when looking at the individual subscales of patient QoL (e.g., memory, social support, stigma), mental health was consistently found to be the strongest correlate. Conclusions: These results demonstrate that in order to ensure the best outcomes for transition-aged adolescents with epilepsy, it is important to not only manage and treat seizures, but also to assess and treat mental health issues.


Author(s):  
Lynne Magor-Blatch ◽  
Navjot Bhullar ◽  
Bronwyn Thomson ◽  
Einar Thorsteinsson

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to systematically review quantitative research since 2000 on the effectiveness of residential therapeutic communities (TCs) for the treatment of substance-use disorders with reference to substance-use, crime, mental health and social engagement outcomes. Design/methodology/approach – A systematic search with broad inclusion criteria resulted in the review of 11 studies. The studies investigated community-based TCs, as well as TCs modified for prisoners, prisoners transitioning to community living and TCs for individuals with co-occurring substance-use and mental health issues. Findings – Results were analysed by comparing the findings of the studies under investigation, of which three studies investigated within-subjects outcomes, four compared TC treatment with a no-treatment control condition and four compared TC treatment with another treatment condition. Conclusion: consistent with previous systematic reviews of TCs, outcomes varied across studies but indicated TCs are generally effective as a treatment intervention, with reductions in substance-use and criminal activity, and increased improvement in mental health and social engagement evident in a number of studies reviewed. Research limitations/implications – Variability in outcomes suggests further TC research and research syntheses focusing on a second key research question in the evaluation of complex interventions – how the intervention works – could play an important role in understanding TC effectiveness, and for whom it is effective and in what contexts. Practical implications – Although there is some variability in treatment populations included in this review, evidence reported in other studies suggests individuals with severe substance-use disorders, mental health issues, forensic involvement and trauma histories, will benefit from TC treatment. This is supported by the literature which has found a general relationship between severity of substance use and treatment intensity (Darke et al., 2012; De Leon et al., 2008) with outcomes further enhanced by self-selection into treatment and appropriate client-treatment matching (see De Leon, 2010; De Leon et al., 2000, 2008). The weight of evidence gleaned from multiple sources of research, including randomised control trials and field outcome studies (De Leon, 2010) suggests TCs are an important and effective treatment for clients in improving at least some aspects of their quality of life, specifically mental health and social engagement, and in reducing harmful behaviours, including substance-use and crime. Variability in treatment setting and populations reflect the real-world setting in which TC treatment is delivered, providing a multifaceted treatment modality to a complex population in variable circumstances. Originality/value – The strength of the current study is that it provided a broad evaluation of TC effectiveness across a range of outcomes (substance-use, criminal activity, mental health and social engagement), and is therefore valuable in updating the current literature and providing context for future research in this area. It aimed to address a key question in evaluating complex interventions: whether they are effective as they are delivered. Findings suggest that TC treatment is generally effective for the populations of concern in reducing substance use and criminal activity and contributing to some improvement in mental health and social engagement outcomes.


Author(s):  
Ruth A. Brandwein

This overview entry introduces the topic of women, beginning with general demographic information. The section on poverty and inequality, which follows, describes the gender differences and delineates some reasons why women are poor and unequal. Issues of childcare, welfare, and education are explored. Domestic violence and sexual assault are discussed, followed by a discussion of health and mental health issues affecting women. The role of women in politics is briefly explored. The entry concludes with a discussion of current trends and challenges, including implications for social justice.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven L. Proctor ◽  
Albert M. Kopak

Purpose This paper aims to extend previous findings by identifying the mental health correlates of both acute and chronic substance use behaviors among a large nationally representative sample of juvenile offenders. Design/methodology/approach Survey of Youth in Residential Placement interview data from 6,920 juvenile offenders (76% male) detained in 290 US facilities were analyzed to determine bivariate relationships between two indicators of substance use (acute and chronic) and seven mental health domains (depression/isolation, anxiety, anger, trauma, inattention, hallucinations and suicidality). Findings Prevalence rates of above average indications for all seven mental health domains were significantly higher among offenders under the influence of a substance at the time they committed their instant offense compared to those not under the influence. Offenders with above average indications in the seven studied mental health areas reported a higher level of chronic effects of substance use relative to those with average or below mental health indications. Practical implications The results have important implications for the assessment and treatment of co-occurring mental health issues among juvenile offenders with substance use issues. Juveniles with above average mental health indications may be more prone to experiencing a number of substance-related problems. Observed results may guide the implementation of routine assessment procedures at the juvenile detention level. Intake specialists should screen and administer comprehensive mental health assessments for juveniles who report substance intoxication at the time of their instant offense. Juvenile offenders who report clinical levels of mental health symptoms should receive a comprehensive assessment of substance use and related problems. Originality/value Although the co-occurrence of substance use and mental health issues among juvenile justice involved populations is well documented, previous research studies in this area have included a number of limitations. Relatively small offender sample populations, often from a single facility, warrant further work with a large, nationally representative sample of juvenile offenders. Inconsistency in measures of substance use and the failure to distinguish between acute and chronic measures of substance use in prior studies also require further investigation. This study contributes to the extant co-occurring substance use and mental health knowledge base by identifying the mental health correlates of both acute and chronic substance use behaviors among a large nationally representative sample of juvenile offenders.


2014 ◽  
Vol 26 (4) ◽  
pp. 525-530 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stéphanie Baggio ◽  
Joseph Studer ◽  
Meichun Mohler-Kuo ◽  
Jean-Bernard Daeppen ◽  
Gerhard Gmel

Abstract Non-medical use of prescription drugs (NMUPD) is increasing among the general population, particularly among teenagers and young adults. Although prescription drugs are considered safer than illicit street drugs, NMUPD can lead to detrimental consequences. The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship between drug use (NMUPD on the one side, illicit street drugs on the other side) with mental health issues and then compare these associations. A representative sample of 5719 young Swiss men aged around 20 years filled in a questionnaire as part of the ongoing baseline Cohort Study on Substance Use Risk Factors (C-SURF). Drug use (16 illicit street drugs and 5 NMUPDs, including sleeping pills, sedatives, pain killers, antidepressants, stimulants) and mental health issues (depression, SF12) were assessed. Simple and multiple linear regressions were employed. In simple regressions, all illicit and prescription drugs were associated with poorer mental health. In multiple regressions, most of the NMUPDs, except for stimulants, were significantly associated with poorer mental health and with depression. On the contrary, the only associations that remained significant between illicit street drugs and mental health involved cannabis. NMUPD is of growing concern not only because of its increasing occurrence, but also because of its association with depression and mental health problems, which is stronger than the association observed between these problems and illicit street drug use, excepted for cannabis. Therefore, NMUPD must be considered in screening for substance use prevention purposes.


Author(s):  
Fabián Pavez ◽  
Erika Saura ◽  
Gemma Pérez ◽  
Pedro Marset

Introduction. In previous communications we have proposed that the analysis of cultural products related to art, and music in particular, can inform us about the social representations of psychiatry and mental illness. This topic is not irrelevant to our clinical practice, since it favors a better understanding about what are the meanings of our profession and its scope of practice for our patients and general population. In this work, we focused on portrayals of psychopathology in music and the musical genres associated. Objectives. By exploring studies addressing depictions of mental disorders or mental health concerns in music, we intend: - to assess the distribution of psychopathological themes alluded; and - to characterize the most studied musical genres that are associated to portrayals of mental disorders or mental health concerns. Methods. Starting from a previous systematic review of studies addressing depictions of mental disorders or mental health issues in music, thirty-seven articles are examined. Frequency of portrayed themes and musical genres associated are presented. Results/Conclusion. As we can expect, references to substance use in music are the most frequently studied. Studies addressing references to 'madness' in music are frequent too, but in a lesser extent. Other mental health issues depicted are: affective disorders; suicide; sexuality and gender; personality disorders; self-destructive behavior; resilience; as well as general links between music and mental illness/psychiatry. Studies addressing substance use are mostly focused on multiple genres (based in popularity rankings). With regards substance use, Rap and Rock are two genres specifically studied. Links between country music, alcohol use and suicide have been described in literature. Rock and Opera are the genres more frequently associated with references to 'madness'.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kasey Stanton ◽  
Ryan Carpenter

We present data from multiple samples demonstrating the Prolific platform’s potential for efficiently collecting data for substance use research involving repeated assessments, including for psychometric research requiring large samples. First, we present data from a 5-day daily diary protocol. We recruited a large sample (N = 321 at Day 1) screened for a history of self-identified mental health issues and weekly alcohol use. Participant adherence was good (82%) even without in-person contact. Alcohol use patterns conformed to theoretical expectations: Participants were more likely to drink on Fridays and Saturdays than other days, men drank more than women, and higher Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT; Saunders et al., 1993) scores were associated with an increased likelihood of use and more overall drinking. Second, we present data from 429 Prolific participants screened for a history of mental health issues who completed assessments 2 weeks apart with strong retention (N = 377; 88%). We compare these data with data from undergraduates (N = 529) to demonstrate Prolific’s utility for conducting psychometrically-oriented substance use research. Internal consistency estimates for measures from the Prolific data matched or exceeded those from the undergraduate data. Furthermore, measure scores showed strong temporal stability, and factor structures (e.g., AUDIT item level structures) conformed to theoretical expectations. Collectively, findings indicate that Prolific can be used successfully for repeated measures data collection. We also provide recommendations for using Prolific to target participant recruitment for repeated measures studies, especially in the areas of psychometric and substance use research.


2018 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 427-441 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elise Sloan ◽  
Kate Hall ◽  
Angela Simpson ◽  
George J. Youssef ◽  
Richard Moulding ◽  
...  

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