Substance use & misuse
-
Substance use & misuse · Jun 2012
Historical ArticleIllegal drugs, anti-drug policy failure, and the need for institutional reforms in Colombia.
This paper is inspired by two anomalies encountered in the study of the illegal drugs industry. First, despite the very high profits of coca/cocaine and poppy/opium/heroin production, most countries that can produce do not. Why, for example, does Colombia face much greater competition in the international coffee, banana, and other legal product markets than in cocaine? And second, though illegal drugs are clearly associated with violence, why is it that illegal drug trafficking organizations have been so much more violent in Colombia and Mexico than in the rest of the world? The answers to these questions cannot be found in factors external to Colombia (and Mexico). ⋯ To do so, the history of the illegal drugs industry is surveyed, a simple model of human behavior that stresses the conflict between formal (legal) and informal (socially accepted) norms as a source of the weaknesses that make societies vulnerable is formulated. The reasons why there is a wide gap between formal and informal norms in Colombia are explored and the effectiveness of anti-drug policies is considered to explain why they fail to achieve their posited goals. The essay ends with reflections and conclusion on the need for institutional change.
-
While a significant body of literature documents the health problems of children caused by and/or associated with parental alcohol misuse, little research has been conducted on the relationship between parental problem drinking and children's use of health care. We should expect to see an increase in children's health care if alcohol-misusing parents were responsive to their children's higher physical and mental health needs. ⋯ We also find evidence linking parental drinking to more emergency room use. These findings suggest that the impact of parental drinking on child wellbeing should be considered when assessing the full costs of alcohol misuse.
-
Substance use & misuse · Feb 2012
Population, professional, and client support for different models of managing addictive behaviors.
This study, funded by the Academy of Finland, explores how different stakeholder groups in Finland attribute responsibility for various addictions. A random general population survey and surveys with addiction treatment professionals and clients (n = 1,338) were conducted in 2007-2008. The data were analyzed with analyses of variance and logistic regression analysis. ⋯ Some signs of the actor-observer asymmetry were observed. Personal addiction experiences and sex were the major predictors of the average response tendencies. The heavy emphasis on individual responsibility may prevent help-seeking.
-
Substance use & misuse · Jan 2012
Screening for addictive disorders within a workers' compensation clinic: an exploratory study.
We conducted a cross-sectional study investigating the extent of addictive disorders within a workers' compensation (WC) clinic. We also examined the feasibility of substance abuse screening within the same clinic. ⋯ Importantly, the addition of this screening was brief, economical, and well accepted by patients. Further research should analyze the costs and benefits of detection and intervention of substance-related disorders in this setting.