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Background and aims: Phubbing can be described as an individual looking at his or her mobile phone during a conversation with other individuals, dealing with the mobile phone and escaping from interpersonal communication. In this research, determinants of phubbing behavior were investigated; in addition, the effects of gender, smart phone ownership and social media membership were tested as moderators. Methods: To examine the cause-effect relations among the variables of the theoretical model, the research employs a correlational design. Participants were 409 university students who were selected via random sampling. Phubbing was obtained via the scales featuring mobile phone addiction, SMS addiction, internet addiction, social media addiction and game addiction. The obtained data were analyzed using a correlation analysis, multiple linear regression analysis and structural equation model. Results: The results showed that the most important determinants of phubbing behavior are mobile phone, SMS, social media and internet addictions. Discussion: Although the findings show that the highest correlation value explaining phubbing is a mobile phone addiction, the other correlation values reflect a dependency on the phone. Conclusions: There is an increasing tendency towards mobile phone use, and this tendency prepares the basis of phubbing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The legendary debate over whether a connection between creativity and addictions exists is one that is shrouded in mystery and intrigue, but also one that continuously returns to the circuitous metaphor ofthe chicken and the egg.In an effort to better understand nuances in the relationship between creativity and addictions, this paper examines the life of Stephen King, and the omnipotent fantasies from which both his creative processes and addictive behaviours emerged. Since the early twentieth century, psychodynamic thinkers have highlighted omnipotent fantasies as a psychological force driving creative processes as efforts towards personal transformation. Similarly, numerous psychodynamic theories have highlighted omnipotent fantasies as playing a cardinal role in the psychological processes that propel substance abuse. And yet, the construct of omnipotence has yet to be examined as a theoretical bridge to bind such theories of creativity and substance abuse together. While fostering personal meaning and self-transformation when manifested in his creative writing processes, omnipotent fantasies have also lead Stephen King down a precarious path of addictive behaviours. Through a narrative analysis of the life of Stephen King, who has written in great depth about both his creativity and substance abuse, I will illustrate how omnipotent fantasies often shape and foster both healthy, creative processes towards growth and maladaptive, addictive impulses towards self-destruction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) aims to provide affordable health insurance and expanded health care coverage for some 32 million Americans. The PPACA makes provisions for using technology, evidence-based treatments, and integrated, patient-centered care to modernize the delivery of health care services. These changes are designed to ensure effectiveness, efficiency, and cost-savings within the health care system. To gauge the addiction treatment field's readiness for health reform, the authors developed a Health Reform Readiness Index (HRRI) survey for addiction treatment agencies. Addiction treatment administrators and providers from around the United States completed the survey located on the www.niatx.net website. Respondents self-assessed their agencies based on 13 conditions pertinent to health reform readiness, and received a confidential score and instant feedback. On a scale of "Needs to Begin," "Early Stages," "On the Way," and "Advanced," the mean scores for respondents (n = 276) ranked in the Early Stages of health reform preparation for 11 of 13 conditions. Of greater concern was that organizations with budgets of<$5 million (n = 193) were less likely than those with budgets>$5 million to have information technology (patient records, patient health technology, and administrative information technology), evidence-based treatments, quality management systems, a continuum of care, or a board of directors informed about PPACA. The findings of the HRRI indicate that the addiction field, and in particular smaller organizations, have much to do to prepare for a future environment that has greater expectations for information technology use, a credentialed workforce, accountability for patient care, and an integrated continuum of care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims A substantial literature demonstrates that natural recoveries from substance use disorders not only occur but are a common pathway to recovery. This article reviews selectively and comments on the current state-of-the-art in natural recovery research. Methods Basic concepts in natural recovery research are presented, and topical and methodological trends and changes in self-change research over time are discussed. Conclusions Although considerable progress has occurred in natural recovery research, several topics deserving of further research are identified, and implications for policy practice are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A feature of the globalised world is that addictions have become pandemics, whose economic and social costs are alarming. Private clinics, public health centers, specialized institutes, as well as the so-called anonymous self-help groups, are the routes that society has generated to take care of this problem. This work describes and analyzes the organizational characteristics of anonymous self-help groups. Its hierarchic network structure, its self-organized operation and its efficiency in treating three areas of the addictive behaviors of each and every person as a whole: the physical, the emotional, and the spiritual. The emotional treatment is carried out by means of monologues and shared life experiences, whose purpose is to revert the addictive behavior, product of negative emotions and social isolation, and into a cooperative behavior and of sobriety. The neurobiological study of emotions is fundamental to understand these behaviors in the individual person as well as in organizations; in particular, the addiction to food that causes obesity and that has led our country to occupy second place in world-wide obesity. An interesting alternative to dealing with this problem is anonymous self-help groups. This work showcases organization, operation and efficiency based on a case study conducted using an ethnographic methodology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Students come to the classroom with life experience that may reinforce stigmatization of those who struggle with addiction. Educators must address this dynamic directly if addiction practitioners are to move beyond their personal experiences and come to understand the neuroscience of addiction, evidence-based practices, and the human potential for recovery. This article provides a structured reflection exercise that challenges future practitioners to deconstruct dominant narratives that foster stigma while making space for emerging possibilities of new learning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the disease of addiction which is the continued use of mood-altering addicting substances or behaviours. It aims to assist primary care physicians in treating addiction through the 12-step abstinence-based program. Other topics discussed are the neurobiology of addiction, history and description of Alcoholics Anonymous, the influence of personality on addiction and treatment, and the ongoing need for spiritual growth and natural methods to maintain positive sobriety.

As governments, industry bodies, and other interest groups become more adept at influencing the conduct and dissemination of research, it is increasingly important that the alcohol and other drug (AOD) sector maintains and protects the integrity of its evidence base. This commentary discusses the level and type of influence being exerted on the research process by different interest groups within the field. It explores the impact and influence of funding bodies, other interest groups, and social systems on addiction and recovery using relevant examples to identify questions for practitioners and researchers to consider when encountering interested parties in their day-to-day practice. Ultimately, it is service users and clinicians at the "front line" of recovery who have the most to lose from research findings that have been unduly influenced. The best protection against bias in these forms is to practice critical self-reflection and to keep openly and honestly debating those things that we find most challenging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the new approach to categorize the types of addiction, established from the 20 years of clinical sociology practice in the Arab world and in the U.S. It relates on the author's cross-cultural clinical practice, which provides him a position on addiction that focuses on the addictive process' social-psychological attributes. It discusses the four types of addiction based on clinical practice and treatment since 1986. Moreover, the author views the types of addiction in an effort to provide an effective diagnostic instrument for accurate analysis, successful treatment and enhanced potential for recovery from addiction.

Abstract: The joint forces and moments driving the motion of a human subject are classically computed by an inverse dynamic calculation. However, even if this process is theoretically simple, many sources of errors may lead to huge inaccuracies in the results. Moreover, a direct comparison with in vivo measured loads or with “gold standard” values from literature is only possible for very specific studies. Therefore, assessing the inaccuracy of inverse dynamic results is not a trivial problem and a simple method is still required. This paper presents a simple method to evaluate both: (1) the consistency of the results obtained by inverse dynamics; (2) the influence of possible modifications in the inverse dynamic hypotheses. This technique concerns recursive calculation performed on full kinematic chains, and consists in evaluating the loads obtained by two different recursive strategies. It has been applied to complex 3D whole body movements of balance recovery. A recursive Newton–Euler procedure was used to compute the net joint loads. Two models were used to represent the subject bodies, considering or not the upper body as a unique rigid segment. The inertial parameters of the body segments were estimated from two different sets of scaling equations [De Leva, P., 1996. Adjustments to Zatsiorsky-Suleyanov''s segment inertia parameters. Journal of Biomechanics 29, 1223–1230; Dumas, R., Chèze, L., Verriest, J.-P., 2006b. Adjustments to McConville et al. and Young et al. Body Segment Inertial Parameters. Journal of Biomechanics, in press]. Using this comparison technique, it has been shown that, for the balance recovery motions investigated: (1) the use of the scaling equations proposed by Dumas et al., instead of those proposed by De Leva, improves the consistency of the results (average relative influence up to 30% for the transversal moment); (2) the arm motions dynamically influence the recovery motion in a non negligible way (average relative influence up to 15% and 30% for the longitudinal force and the transversal moment, respectively). [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The article presents a transcript of the step twelve of an online twelve-step support group meeting of recovering substance abuse students. In this meeting, the initial conversation expresses the attendees concern about the lack of participation by other on the previous meeting. It is also stressed that attending in the meeting is a form of service in carrying the message of recovery from addiction to professionals in the community. It is noted that the primary purpose of each of the twelve steps, it to strengthen and safeguard the individual's sobriety.

The article presents a transcript of the step one of an online twelve-step support group meeting of recovering substance abuse students. In the step one process, students are to admit that they are powerless over alcohol and that their lives had become unmanageable. Each of the attendee students shares their experiences in the treatment centers for substance abuse and what they have been through. One describes the unmanageability of his addiction in terms of his inability to accept help and support, either from his parents or from the treatment center.

This paper advocates for the incorporation of a womenspecific sexuality curriculum in the addiction treatment process to aid in sexual healing and provide for aftercare issues. Sexuality in addiction treatment modalities is often approached from a sex-negative stance, or that of sexual victimization. Sexual issues are viewed as addictive in and of themselves or as trauma/abuse experiences that are gender-specific in nature. Lacking in treatment modalities is a sexuality curriculum for women or men that address sexuality as a necessary and normal part of life and integral to the recovery process. This paper proposes a rationale for treatment modalities to consider when integrating women-specific sexuality curriculum into current addiction programs. doi:10.1300/J455v 02n03_02 [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Aim. This paper reports a study to explore factors influencing recruitment and retention in addiction nursing, and the stages and features of role acquisition and personal qualities important to that role. Background. Specialist addiction nurses engage in a number of roles in the care of individuals with problematic use of psychoactive substances. These include assessment, outreach, prescribing, counselling, and harm reduction. In a climate of increasing demand for specialist substance misuse workers, and a trend to identify key occupational competencies, there is a need for a framework in which career progression can be supported. Studies exploring the roles of addiction nurses are minimal, and there is less comment on how these roles are developed in the context of career stages. Method. A qualitative study using focus groups was undertaken with specialist addiction nurses between March and June 2004. The data were transcribed verbatim and analysed using Burnard's six content analysis stages. Findings. Positive factors identified as influencing recruitment and retention included: prior knowledge of the working environment (as a nursing student), opportunities for autonomous practice, the client profile, and associated treatment philosophy and care approach. There was consensus that nurses choosing to work in the field of addiction needed, in addition to being non-judgmental, personal qualities including hardiness, patience and tolerance. Five role development stages, with a set of descriptors, were identified: encounter, engagement, stabilization, competency and mastery. Conclusion. Identification of these five role development stages for addiction nurses offers employers, nurse managers, educators and addiction nurses a starting point from which specific occupational competencies can be further explored. In addition, continuing professional development needs can be mapped to specific role development stages. Employers and nurse managers may wish to offer increased learning opportunities to student nurses to gain work experience within specialist addiction units. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This essay discusses the evangelical Christian view of "Brokeback Mountain." The author writes that while some people were expecting backlash from the evangelical community, Christian leaders were careful to refrain from openly bashing the movie, in order to prevent from giving it further box office credence. Instead, many chose to view the depictions of the emotional angst and inner struggles of the characters, which is depicted when one of the men, Jack yells to his lover that he wishes he "knew how to quit [him]," as men who struggle with an addiction. It allows them to cite the film as proof that homosexuality is not something that one is born with, but rather as a fixation that one can be convinced to give up.

This study examined the levels of ego strength and the claims of having a spiritual experience in 100 recovering alcoholics from Alcoholics Anonymous groups located in South Louisiana. The study found that greater lengths of sobriety were associated with higher ego strength scores on the following scales: Hope, Purpose, Competence, Fidelity, Care, and Wisdom. Additional findings included greater number of times in treatment was associated with higher scores on the Will, Purpose, and Fidelity scales. In addition, spirituality appeared to he involved in staying sober. Specifically, those claiming to have had multiple spiritual experiences had longer sobriety than those who had just one type of spiritual experience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although previous research provided empirical support for the main assumptions of the Addicted-Self (A-S) Model of recovery, it is not known whether the model predicts recovery for various gender, ethnic, age, and drug preference populations. It may be that the model predicts recovery only for some groups of addicts and should not be viewed as a general theory of the recovery process. Addressing this concern using data from the Los Angeles Target Cities Drug Treatment Enhancement Project, it was determined that only trivial population differences exist in the primary variables associated with the A-S Model. The A-S Model predicts abstinence with about the same degree of accuracy and parsimony for all populations. The findings indicate that the A-S Model is a general theory of drug and alcohol addictive behavior cessation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article reviews the history of community-based treatment for offenders with drug and alcohol addiction. The authors describe the treatment regimen in two residential programs for offenders with drug and alcohol problems-one that treats state offenders, and one that treats county offenders. The authors include a description of the components of the residential treatment model utilized in these two programs that employs a progressive Level System, group and individual therapy, as well as educational and employment interventions that support community reintegration. Findings support the efficacy of coerced drug and alcohol residential treatment for forensic clients that receive state or county sentences. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

El artículo discute la incapacidad como concepto jurídico, particularmente cuando tienen que ver con las adicciones, como la ludopatía, y sus efectos sobre el matrimonio. Estas adicciones han tenido graves efectos sobre la comunidad conyugal. Sin embargo, es necesario actuar con cautela cuando empieza a sospechar que uno padece de una adicción y no suponer automáticamente que este problema es la causa de la inestabilidad del matrimonio. Este estudio enfoca en el juego patológico y los tratamientos que se reciben en los Tribunales.

Substance misuse is viewed as a means of putting off ("forestalling") perceived worse possible consequences than those of addiction. Included are the concepts of "maturing into" a necessary developmental stage and subsequent "maturing out" of substance abuse. The importance of understanding the "meaningfulness" and "emotional truth" behind addictive behaviors is also considered, as well as a rethinking of the conventional approach of a priori abstinence as a requisite for psychotherapeutic treatment. The concepts are explained and illustrated by clinical vignettes throughout the text. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As clients move through recovery from sexual addiction and co-sex addiction and through recovery from underlying wounds, they eventually begin to try to claim "healthy sexuality." The five-part Manley Model of Healthy Sexuality includes sexual personhood, relationships, behavior, physical capabilities, and spirituality. These five dimensions overlie three stages of healing: addictive/victim, wounded survivor, and sexual thriver. This paper, using the author's extensive clinical experience, provides a theoretical overview of third-stage sexual-health recovery and guidance in practical applications for therapists who work with such persons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transformation from a theological perspective is a key conceptual framework within which to understand the recovery process from addiction. It is a gift of grace and is a processive phenomenon incorporating the reality of the past, the actuality of the present and the potentiality of the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article the author focuses on the commonness of natural recovery for addictive disorders based on cues distilled from epidemiological surveys. She notes that high rates for substance use disorders recovery indicate the commonness of natural recovery for substance use disorders. She mentions that the commonness of natural recovery from addictive disorders is due to the likeliness of available treatments not to appeal to those who are suffering from an addictive disorder.