Addictive behaviors
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Addictive behaviors · Dec 2006
Acculturation status and heavy alcohol use among Mexican American college students: investigating the moderating role of gender.
We examined whether gender moderates the association between acculturation and heavy alcohol use. The sample consisted of 126 Mexican American college students (Mean age=24.7 years; 57% female) who completed self-report measures of heavy alcohol use, acculturation status (global acculturation and ethnic identity), and relevant control variables (age, peer alcohol use). ⋯ These findings suggest that interventions for Latino/a students should consider the role of culturally relevant variables in heavy alcohol use, particularly for men. They also have implications regarding how acculturation is operationalized in alcohol studies, and suggest directions for future research.
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Addictive behaviors · Nov 2006
Cigarette smoking and interest in quitting in methadone maintenance patients.
To examine tobacco use, readiness to quit, and interest in smoking cessation interventions among methadone maintenance patients. ⋯ Tobacco use is highly prevalent among methadone maintenance patients, but we also observed a high level of readiness to quit and interest in smoking cessation. Targeted smoking cessation interventions, including on-site programs, should be developed for methadone maintenance patients.
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Addictive behaviors · Oct 2006
Multicenter StudySubstance abuse amplifies the risk for violence in schizophrenia spectrum disorder.
The factors responsible for the association between schizophrenia and violence with or without co-occurring substance abuse have not been fully elucidated. The present study had two aims: (1) ascertain whether substance abuse augments the risk for violence in patients with schizophrenia; and, (2) determine whether violence is differentially related to positive and negative symptoms of schizophrenia. ⋯ In addition, patients with a history of criminal offenses and substance use disorder were more likely to exhibit violent behavior. Based on the results of this study, it is feasible to identify individual with schizophrenic spectrum disorder who are at high risk for violence.
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Addictive behaviors · May 2006
Provision of naloxone to injection drug users as an overdose prevention strategy: early evidence from a pilot study in New York City.
Naloxone, an opiate antagonist that can avert opiate overdose morality, has long been prescribed to drug users in Europe and in a few US cities. However, there has been little documented evidence of naloxone distribution programs and their feasibility in the peer reviewed literature in the US. ⋯ Naloxone administration by injection drug users is feasible as part of a comprehensive overdose prevention strategy and may be a practicable way to reduce overdose deaths on a larger scale.
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We assessed tobacco chippers (n=35) for symptoms of diminished autonomy over tobacco use, which begins when symptoms present a barrier to smoking cessation. Although they reported each of the symptoms measured by the Hooked on Nicotine Checklist, chippers' level of autonomy was generally higher than that of regular smokers and their symptom intensity was low. ⋯ Although chippers may not warrant a dependence diagnosis, they may benefit from help with cessation. Autonomy over smoking may be a more useful basis than cigarette consumption rates for classifying smokers.