Addictive behaviors
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To examine smoking behavior in homeless persons, including the impact of self-reported tobacco-related health problems and drug and alcohol abuse on readiness to quit and interest in smoking cessation counseling. ⋯ Homeless smokers recruited from the inpatient and outpatient services of a large, urban teaching hospital reported interest in both stopping tobacco use and receiving assistance to quit smoking. Having an illness that a smoker believes is tobacco-related, having greater confidence in the ability to quit, and having more social support for quitting were associated with greater readiness to quit and more interest in smoking cessation counseling. Alcohol and drug abuse were not associated with reduced interest in quitting smoking. These findings suggest that homeless smokers may benefit from smoking cessation programs that are colocated in medical or drug treatment settings.
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Addictive behaviors · Aug 2004
Multicenter StudyChanges in route of drug administration among continuing heroin users: outcomes 1 year after intake to treatment.
This study investigates the type and extent of changes in route of drug administration among heroin users after treatment: whether injectors move to other routes of use; whether changes in route for one drug influence routes used for other drugs; and associations between changes in route of administration and other substance use outcomes. The sample comprised 641 heroin users recruited to 54 UK treatment programmes. At intake, the main routes of heroin use were injecting (61%) and "chasing the dragon" (37%). ⋯ Changes from injecting to chasing were associated with improvements in other substance use behaviours. Changes in route represent an important aspect of drug-taking behaviours. Interventions to prevent the change to injecting should be developed and offered to noninjectors. "Reverse transitions" (from injecting to chasing) may represent a useful intermediate treatment goal for drug injectors who cannot achieve abstinence.
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Addictive behaviors · Aug 2004
Nonpharmacological harm-reduction interventions in British substance-misuse services.
The present study was designed to assess the acceptability and availability of harm-reduction interventions, including needle exchange, education regarding safer drug-ingestion methods, complementary/alternative therapies, and safe places where problem drinkers and drug takers may stay after consumption or may consume substances on the premises. We surveyed a nationwide sample of agencies listed in directories of substance-abuse services in England, Wales, and Scotland. Seventy percent (436 of 623 eligible agencies) returned questionnaires. Except for the provision of a safe place where clients could consume their own alcohol and drugs, large majorities of responding agencies rated these harm-reduction options as somewhat or completely acceptable, but only harm-reduction education and alternative therapies were available from a majority of responding agencies.