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Parental conversations with their teenage children about alcohol, tobacco and drugs, are associated with lower rates of use. Looked after young people are at greater risk of early initiation, higher rates of use and more problematic use. However, there is no evidence regarding whether these conversations occur in settings where the parental role is assumed by someone other than the biological parent. The aim of the study was to examine how carers communicate with looked after young people about alcohol, tobacco and drug use. In-depth interviews were conducted with 16 residential care staff and foster carers in Scotland. Data were analysed using a thematic analysis approach. Participants talked about ‘shared doing’ as a way of building relationships and communicating about substance use. Shared doing encompassed particular activities that carers and young people would do together, such as driving in the car, cooking, watching TV and going for a walk. Shared doing provided an opportunity to spend time together and to create an environment in which communication could be facilitated. These environments were shaped by space, time and context. Carers should be encouraged to take advantage of the time-limited occasions they are with young people to have conversations about substance use.

Introduction and Aims. Little is known about social–ecological correlates of simultaneous use of alcohol with other substances. This study examined places and social contexts associated with simultaneous use of alcohol, tobacco and marijuana among young adults. Design and Methods. We used survey data obtained from 1538 young adult recent alcohol drinkers (49% male; 18–30 years old) in 24 non-contiguous cities in California. Event-level measures included alcohol, tobacco and marijuana use, drinking places and social characteristics of the event. Individual-level measures included alcohol expectancies, depression and demographics. Results. Bars and restaurants had less alcohol and marijuana use (odds ratio = 0.34; 95% confidence interval 0.18, 0.62; P

Issues High rates of exclusion in substance use disorder treatment studies reduce the external validity and clinical utility of research findings to an unknown extent. Accordingly, the current review examined commonly used exclusion criteria and their effect on study samples and outcomes. Approach English-language literature was identified by PubMed searches and review of identified articles' reference lists. Studies were included if they analysed data on: (i) the prevalence and nature of exclusion criteria in the substance use disorder treatment field; and/or (ii) the impact of exclusion criteria on sample representativeness or study results. Key findings The search yielded 22 studies examining different aspects of exclusion criteria, including 15 empirical examinations of the impact of study exclusion criteria across different substance use disorder treatments on enrolment and outcome results. Aggregating across these 15 studies, we estimated that between 64 and 96% of potential study participants are excluded from substance use disorder treatment studies. Implications The widespread exclusion of large proportions of people with substance use disorders limits the external validity of the substance use disorder treatment research literature. Conclusion Although some eligibility criteria are necessary to protect participant safety and ensure internal validity, researchers conducting studies on substance use disorder treatments should thoughtfully consider the justification for and specific operationalisation of the extensive exclusion criteria they often utilise. [Moberg C, Humphreys K. Exclusion criteria in treatment research on alcohol, tobacco and illicit drug use disorders: A review and critical analysis. Drug Alcohol Rev 2016;00-000.]

Background and aims It is well established that craving increases following exposure to substance-related ‘cues’, but the role of life-styles or substance use habits that are unique to each person remains poorly understood. This study examines the association of substance-specific and personal cues with craving and substance use in daily life. Design Ecological momentary assessment was used during a 2-week period. Setting Data were collected in a French out-patient addiction treatment centre. Participants A total of 132 out-patients beginning treatment for alcohol, tobacco, cannabis or opiate addiction were included. Measurements Using mobile technologies, participants were questioned four times per day relative to craving, substance use and exposure to either substance-specific cues (e.g. seeing a syringe) or personal cues unique to that individual (e.g. seeing the specific person with whom the substance is used). Findings Craving intensity was associated with the number of concurrently assessed substance-specific cues (t = 4.418, P

This study examined the association between the count of alcohol outlets around children's homes and opportunities to use alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs (ATOD) during pre-adolescence. Data were collected in 2007 from 394 Baltimore City children aged 8-13 (86% African American). Participants' residential address and alcohol outlet data were geocoded with quarter mile (i.e., walking distance) buffers placed around each participant's home to determine the number of outlets within walking distance. The unadjusted logistic regression models revealed that each unit increase in the number of alcohol outlets was associated with a 14% increase in the likelihood of children seeing people selling drugs (OR=1.14, p=.04) and a 15% increase in the likelihood of seeing people smoking marijuana (OR=1.15, p

Introduction and Aims.Adolescent substance use has increased with globalisation, and yet few data exist from lower- and middle-income countries and the Pacific Islands. This study examines the prevalence of three aspects of substance use over the past 30 days in Samoan adolescents: (i) use of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs; (ii) polysubstance use; and (iii) possible substance use problems. Design and Methods.A survey was administered to secondary school children (n = 879) between 12 and 19 years of age at a single school in Apia, the capital of Samoa, in August 2008. Results.There were important gender differences in substance use with boys reporting significantly higher rates of any use of each substance and polysubstance use. Boys were also three times more likely to report behaviours indicative of substance use problems. There were no significant differences in regular use of any substance with the exception of marijuana. Although the use of hallucinogens is prominent for boys and girls in the younger age group (12–15), consumption decreases with age. Boys showed substantial increases in any use of alcohol and marijuana and daily use of tobacco by age. There was also a significant increase in the number of boys reporting behaviours indicative of disordered use by age to 21% of 16- to 19-year-old boys. Discussion and Conclusions.One of few studies on substance use in Samoa, the data provide a basis for setting priorities to address health risks posed by adolescent use and understanding the influence of rapid change.[Odden HL. Alcohol, tobacco, marijuana and hallucinogen use in Samoan adolescents. Drug Alcohol Rev 2012;31:47–55]

The authors present data on mortality by cause for 14 Australian male occupational groups for the period 1968-1976 at ages 30-64. The relationships between alcohol tobacco diet morbidity and mortality are analyzed (ANNOTATION)

School surveys have become the most common method for determining the general level of tobacco, alcohol and illicit drug use among adolescents in a large number of countries. The two most commonly applied field procedures in school surveys are teachers' and researchers' administration of questionnaires. The impact of the difference between these two modes of administration has not been determined, although it has been argued that central involvement of teachers in data collection may decrease the perceived anonymity of the survey among students, and should thus be avoided. In a split-half random sample of 3017 urban, Icelandic 16-20-year-old students, no statistically significant differences were found in reported use of licit or illicit drugs, nor in the stated willingness to be honest between these two modes of administration. These results suggest that when students return their responses in sealed envelopes, the two modes of administration produce equally valid results.

Aim This study examined the earliest stages in drug involvement, in terms of the relationship between alcohol and tobacco use, among adolescents from six European countries (Denmark, Finland, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain and the United Kingdom). International, gender and age differences were studied. Design, setting and participants A large international sample of European adolescents (n = 10170, mean age = 13.3 years) was followed longitudinally. Data were gathered in the autumn terms of 1998 and 1999 by means of self-administered questionnaires. Measures Adolescents’ self-reports on smoking and alcohol behaviour were used. Both behaviours were classified into two categories, that of adolescents who had never used the substance and that of those who had used the substance at least once in their lives. Logistic regression was used to determine which substance was the best predictor of the subsequent use of the other substance. Findings Alcohol use and tobacco use were found to be associated with each other reciprocally. Results revealed that in Europe as a whole, tobacco use predicted subsequent alcohol use better than the converse. However, for Dutch girls, alcohol use predicted subsequent smoking behaviour better than the converse. Conclusion The findings suggest that the development of alcohol and tobacco use patterns are closely related, but the order of progression is not universal and may reflect cultural factors.

To assess the effects of interventions at the individual, family and school level that aim to target multiple substance use behaviours (two or more from alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, other substance use) for the primary or secondary prevention of substance use and related harms in individuals aged 8 to 25.

The article reviews the book "The Demand for Alcohol, Tobbaco, and Marijuana: International Evidence," by Saroja Selvanathan and Eliyathamby A. Selvanathan.