Addictive behaviors
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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.
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Addictive behaviors · Jul 2004
Do alcohol expectancies moderate the relationship between parental alcoholism and adult drinking behaviors?
The relations between parental alcoholism, alcohol expectancies, and adult drinking behaviors were examined among 76 offspring of alcoholics and 68 offspring of nonalcoholics. The primary goals of the present study were to examine whether maternal and/or paternal alcoholism are related to adult alcohol expectancies and to explore whether the relationship between parental alcoholism and adult drinking behaviors is moderated by alcohol expectancies. Gender differences also were assessed. ⋯ Significant moderating effects for global-positive expectancies and sexual enhancement expectancies also were not obtained. In contrast, social assertiveness expectancies were found to consistently moderate the relationship between paternal alcoholism and drinking behaviors. These results indicated that offspring of alcoholic fathers with high expectations for increased social assertiveness were most "at risk" for problematic drinking, especially males.
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Addictive behaviors · Jul 2004
Social support and the transtheoretical model: Relationship of social support to smoking cessation stage, decisional balance, process use, and temptation.
This study investigated the relationship between social support and the transtheoretical model (TTM) constructs for smoking cessation. A sample of 190 adult smokers in a Veteran's Administration smoking cessation clinic completed measures of demographics, social support, smoking cessation stage of change, decisional balance, process use, and self-efficacy. ⋯ Social support was not related to temptation or decisional balance. When looking at specific sources of social support, family and peer support emerged as significant predictors, while significant-other support did not.
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Addictive behaviors · Aug 2003
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Clinical TrialSpit (Smokeless) Tobacco Intervention for High School Athletes: results after 1 year.
To determine the efficacy of a spit tobacco (ST) intervention designed to promote ST cessation and discourage ST initiation among male high school baseball athletes. ⋯ This intervention was effective in promoting ST cessation, but was ineffective in preventing initiation of ST use by nonusers.
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Addictive behaviors · Nov 2002
ReviewHarm reduction approaches to alcohol use: health promotion, prevention, and treatment.
Harm reduction approaches to alcohol problems have endured a controversial history in both the research literature and the popular media. Although several studies have demonstrated that controlled drinking is possible and that moderation-based treatments may be preferred over abstinence-only approaches, the public and institutional views of alcohol treatment still support zero-tolerance. After describing the problems with zero-tolerance and the benefits of moderate drinking, the research literature describing prevention and intervention approaches consistent with a harm reduction philosophy are presented. ⋯ Based on these findings, we discuss the importance of individualizing alcohol prevention and intervention to accommodate the preferences and needs of the targeted person or population. In recognizing the multifaceted nature of behavior change, harm reduction efforts seek to meet the individual where he or she is at and assist that person in the direction of positive behavior change, whether that change involves abstinence, moderate drinking, or the reduction of alcohol-related harm. The limitations of harm reduction and recommendations for future research are discussed.