Search

Objective: This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of metacognitive therapy in improving distress tolerance and reducing the desire for drug use among delinquent teenagers in Shahriar. Methods and Materials: Our research method was a quasi-experimental design with pre-test, post-test, a control group, and a follow-up phase. The statistical population of this study included all delinquent teenagers registered at the Shahriar Juvenile Correction and Training Center in 2022. The sample consisted of 30 male teenagers aged 16 to 18 years, selected through purposeful sampling. They were then divided into two groups of 15: an experimental group and a control group. The experimental group received 12 sessions of metacognitive therapy. Data were collected using the Metacognitive Therapy Scale and analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA in SPSS22. Findings: The results of this study showed that there was a significant difference in distress tolerance and the desire for drug use in the treatment group in the posttest compared to the pre-test (P<0.01). A significant difference was also observed in the follow-up compared to the pre-test (P<0.05), but no significant difference was found in the follow-up compared to the post-test (P>0.05). Conclusion: The results indicate that metacognitive therapy can be beneficial in increasing distress tolerance and reducing the desire for drug use among delinquent teenagers. Metacognitive therapy has proven effective in improving distress tolerance and reducing the desire for drug use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explored the pressing issue of drug and substance abuse (DSA) among adolescents in drug hotspots in Malaysia. The Malaysian Anti-drug Agency (AADK) has identified 155 hotspot areas across Malaysia, of which 78 were randomly selected as the study sites. These areas were identified as having extreme drug-related activities such as drug trafficking and drug-related crimes. According to the literature, several factors influence adolescents to be involved in DSA. Therefore, understanding the risk factors in the context of Malaysian school-going adolescents is of utmost importance. The study examined, in particular, a wide range of potential predictors, including socioeconomic factors, peer influence, family dynamics, educational experiences, drug access, and community characteristics. Adolescents in the hotspot areas were selected by means of a cross-sectional survey design with a cluster sampling method. The sample comprised 3382 school-going adolescents, and the data were collected through face-to-face interviews. The logit model method with STATA software was used to analyse the data. The findings of the study revealed that school-going adolescents with disciplinary issues face a two-fold increase in the risk of becoming current drug users compared to their peers. Further, those exhibiting externalising behaviours, such as aggression and rule-breaking, also face greater odds of becoming involved in DSA. Drug pushers were identified as the most significant risk factor, with adolescents exposed to them being 46 times more likely to become current drug users. The factors of friends and family also contribute significantly to adolescent drug involvement. However, adolescents with academic-related issues may be less involved if they have the protective factor of better coping skills. These findings will contribute to efforts to mitigate drug addiction and drug-related activities, particularly in high-risk communities, as well as help policymakers and healthcare professionals develop targeted interventions and generally promote the well-being of adolescents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractThailand removed kratom from the list of prohibited substances in 2021, possession and consumption of Kratom is now legal. It is prohibited from selling Kratom to anyone under the age of 18 and/or who is pregnant or breastfeeding. While there are benefits from kratom use with few reported adverse effects, escalating dose and increased use frequency raise the risk for toxic events in the setting of polysubstance use or development of a use disorder. We utilized data from the Behavior Surveillance Survey in Bangkok (n = 5,740) to examine the use of kratom with other substances use in the 12 months before the survey. The prevalence of past-year kratom use among students was 9.3% (95%CI = 8.7–9.9), with higher proportions of males (12.4 versus 6.1%, p < 0.001). The factors associated with past 12-month kratom use were academic performance (Medium GPA; AOR = 2.41, 95% CI = 1.76–3.29; Low GPA; AOR = 4.15, 95% CI = 2.94–5.87), close friend use substance (AOR = 1.94, 95% CI = 1.44–2.59), cannabis use (AOR = 6.84, 95% CI = 4.61–10.15), consumed alcohol (AOR = 2.32, 95% CI = 1.77–3.02), smoked conventional cigarettes (AOR = 4.20, 95% CI = 3.16–5.58), used e-cigarettes (AOR = 4.37, 95% CI = 3.30-5.79) used illicit opioids (AOR = 8.13, 95% CI = 4.35–15.18), and other illicit drug use (AOR = 9.15, 95% CI = 3.78–22.14). These findings may be useful for the initial targeting of efforts to reduce adolescent consumption of kratom. Future studies should examine the effect of regulatory policies or other Thai FDA-related policies use of illicit drugs and e-cigarettes on kratom use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In order to address the lack of manualized treatment programs for adolescents with substance use disorders (SUDs), we developed a manualized group intervention (DELTA). DELTA focusses on substance use reduction and abstinence as well as alleviation of SUD symptoms via additional modules for cooccurring disorders. The goal of this exploratory trial was to assess if DELTA can be conducted in adolescent SUD patients and if participation is related to reductions in substance use, SUD-related problems, and further psychopathologies. Method: We recruited adolescents at a psychiatric outpatient unit, which were then allocated to either DELTA intervention group (N = 85) or to a waitinglist control group (WL, N = 61) based on parental decision to start a therapy or not. Self-report measures were used as primary outcomes (substance use via interview, use-related problems via DUDIT--Drug Use Disorder Identification Test) and secondary outcomes (psychopathologies via YSR--Youth Self Report). Ttests and Pearson correlations were used to analyze between-group differences across time. Results: On average, participants attended M = 7.7 (SD = 5.1) of the 16 sessions. Substance use and use-related problems regarding all substances but nicotine was decreased after the intervention, with small to medium not significant effects in favor of DELTA. Self-reported psychopathologies were also reduced at followup, with non-significant advantages for DELTA. Conclusion: DELTA showed small effects on SUD-related and depressionrelated variables. However, the interpretation is limited by the small sample size. Nonetheless, the DELTA intervention is viable in SUD outpatient treatment and will be further evaluated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Adolescence is a critical transition period and is at high risk for drug/substance abuse. In Myanmar, drug use is common among adolescents and is a public health concern. There are no studies of drug abuse prevention among Myanmar adolescents. Intentions to avoid drug abuse can be a protective factor for preventing drug abuse among adolescents. This study investigated the effects of sex, parental history of drug/alcohol abuse, self-efficacy, parental marital status, and family functioning on the intention of drug abuse avoidance among Myanmar adolescents. Methods: This is a predictive correlational study. The Biopsychosocial model was used as the theoretical framework of this study. A convenient sampling method was used to collect data from 157 students aged 13–18 years in a government school, middle school level and high school level, Pinlaung Town, Southern Shan State, Myanmar during the COVID-19 pandemic and political protests. G* power software was used to calculate the sample size. Data was collected by four self-administered questionnaires: a socio-demographic questionnaire, Thai Family Functioning Scale (TFFS), General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSE), and Intention of Drug Avoidance Scale (IDAS). Multiple linear regression was employed to analyze the data. Results: Five predictors, including biological sex, parental history without drug/alcohol abuse, self-efficacy, parental marital status, and family functioning, explained 24.4% of the variance in the intention of drug abuse avoidance among Myanmar adolescents (R2 =.244, F (5,151) = 9.738, p =.000). In addition, only three factors, family functioning (β =.31, p <.001), biological sex (β = -.25, p <.01), and self-efficacy (β =.16, p <.05) statistically and significantly predicted the intention of drug abuse avoidance among Myanmar adolescents. Conclusions: Family functioning, female gender, and self-efficacy predicted the intention of drug abuse avoidance among Myanmar adolescents in Pinlaung Township, Southern Shan State, Myanmar. Implications of this study: The results of this study have implications for all stakeholders through research, education, practice, and policymaking leading to improve the intentions of drug abuse avoidance among Myanmar adolescents. Furthermore, the results of this study specifically contribute to create psychoeducational intervention programs for increasing intention to avoid substance use by promoting family functioning and self-efficacy of adolescents. This is especially proper for male adolescents who have less intention to avoid substance use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim: Children and adolescents account for approximately 14% of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) diagnoses. At an appropriate age and level of development adolescents with IBD have their care transferred from the pediatric to adult clinical team during a process termed "transition". The study aim was to survey pediatric gastroenterologists throughout Australasia to identify commonality in the transition process to contribute to standardized guideline development. Methods: A descriptive survey captured key variables: transition clinic format, process and infrastructure, transition assessments, and guidelines. The survey was distributed electronically to 59 Pediatric Gastroenterologists throughout Australasia in January 2023. Results: Seventeen (29%) clinicians completed the survey: Australia 13 (76%). New Zealand 4 (24%). Thirteen (76%) respondents had access to a dedicated IBD transition clinic. Adolescents attended transition clinics 1–7 times, and the main processes transferred were: prescription provision, biologic appointments, and adult team contacts. Transition was first discussed age 13–15 years (53%), or 16–18 years (47%), with the main discussion topics including: continuing adherence (88%), smoking (59%), alcohol use (59%), recreational drug use (59%). Transition readiness assessments were done infrequently (24%). The minority (24%) used formal guidelines to inform the transition process, but 15 (88%) considered the development of a standardized Australasian guideline as beneficial/extremely beneficial. Conclusions: This survey highlighted that transition care for adolescents with IBD is variable across Australasia. Australasian guideline development may optimize the transition process for adolescents with IBD and improve their longitudinal outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Syphilis is a chronic infectious disease, and its prevalence has been described since the 15th century. Because of the high prevalence of this infection in Brazil, this study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of syphilis and its associated factors among adolescent and young women living in the city of Boa Vista, Roraima, Brazil. Methods: The present study was cross-sectional, descriptive, analytical and quantitative. It involved 200 young and adolescent women. Laboratory tests were performed to diagnose syphilis, and a sociodemographic and epidemiological questionnaire was employed. Results: In the studied sample, 10 women had a positive result for syphilis, characterizing a prevalence of 5% for infection with Treponema pallidum. There was a statistically significant association between a monthly family income of less than 1 minimum wage and syphilis (p = 0.0449) and between illicit drug use and syphilis (p = 0.0234). Conclusions: These results indicate the need for public health interventions, action plans, and the implementation of risk reduction strategies focused on this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The unique socioeconomic context in Palestine, characterized by political and economic tensions, creates conditions that facilitate the spread of illicit drug use among Palestinians. This paper presents findings from a 2017 survey of high-risk drug use (HRDU) among males in four regions in Palestine: the West Bank (north, middle, and south) and the Gaza Strip. These findings are essential for developing effective policies to respond to the increasing use of drugs among Palestinians. Methods: Eligible participants were males aged 15 years and above who used at least one drug other than non-synthetic hashish or marijuana during the previous week. Participants underwent a face-to-face interview and had their drug use verified by urinalysis. Data were collected using respondent-driven sampling and data were analyzed using the successive sampling estimator. Multivariate regression analysis was conducted to examine factors associated with ever seeking rehabilitation services for illicit drug use in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. Results: A total of 400 males who use drugs were sampled in Gaza, plus 299 in the south, 300 in the north, and 299 in the middle region of the West Bank. It is estimated that there are 26,500 male HRDUs in Palestine comprising 1.8% of the male population aged 15 and above. Findings indicate that polydrug use is a serious issue in Palestine, especially in the West Bank, and that synthetic marijuana is prevalent among teenagers and young adults. Conclusions: Palestine must strengthen its national efforts to scale up harm reduction and treatment and care options for people suffering from drug use disorders, especially those involved in polydrug use. Additional measures are needed to prevent substance use among children and youth, support the families of people who use drugs, and ensure the continuity of HRDU services during emergencies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adolescence is a sensitive period for substance use. They engage in different drug use activities like alcohol, smoking, and other drug use. Drug use has also been associated with overestimating normative levels of drug use, negative life events, and specific motivations for drug use, all of which have been linked to more problematic patterns. The majority of drug users begin smoking at an early age. They seek new thrills as they become older and eventually turn into heavy drug users. The primary goal of this paper is to provide a comprehensive review of the risk factors of drug abuse among adolescents. Knowledge of such factors will help the authorities to devise improved intervention strategies to reduce the incidence rates. This paper is based on a review of quantitative as well as qualitative research papers published in various journals. On the basis of the previous studies, we have concluded that peer pressure and loneliness increase the risk of drug abuse. Adolescent drug usage is still the most dangerous to experience, with physical and mental health consequences. Adolescents continue to use these medications despite the known risks linked with them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Investigate dental trauma among adolescents aged 15-19 years and associated factors.Methods: The study was conducted in Recife, Brazil and the sample comprised 1485 adolescents of both sexes. The data was collected by clinical examination and interviews were conducted in-between classes by a single trained assessor. Two questionnaires (AUDIT and ASSIT 2.0) were used to investigate the involvement of adolescents with alcohol, tobacco and illicit drugs. The classification proposed by Andreasen was used to identify dental injuries. The sample size was calculated using 95% interval level. Pearson's chi-square test and Fisher's exact test were used to confirm the association between the variables.Results: The prevalence of dental injuries was 17.8%. The main causes of trauma were playing with others (20.8%) and falls (25.4%). A statistically significant percentage of adolescents reported using illicit drugs (13.9%), 15.9% used tobacco and 56.8% used alcoholic beverages. However, no statistically significant difference between the consumption of this drugs and dental injuries (p >0.005) was found.Conclusion: The prevalence of dental trauma in adolescents was high, with no association with drugs use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Drug abuse is a complex phenomenon, which has various social, cultural, and biological aspects. Knowledge and attitude toward substances of abuse among users are of vital importance for their prevention and treatment, especially in adolescents, as it is the age when the majority of drug users start the use of various substances. Methods: One hundred patients of opioid dependence admitted to a psychiatry ward were assessed using a semi-structured pro forma, which assessed the knowledge, reasons for initiating, and attitude toward substances on a Likert scale. The age of the first intake of substances, frequency of drug use, and physical and psychological changes after intake of substances were also evaluated. Results: Joy-seeking (91%), lack of knowledge about complications/hazards of drugs (89%), friends offer/peer pressure (87%) followed by low self-confidence (86%), and to eliminate shyness (85%) were found as major reasons for initiating the opioid use. Social factors such as family disputes (23%) and parents' divorce (20%) were considered the least unlikely excuse for substance abuse. Young respondents (ages of 20-29 years) reported a decrease in shyness and improved self-esteem as reasons for intake. Conclusions: Different regions and different age groups seem to have different factors as psychosocial etiologies of substance abuse. Policymakers and other agencies need to look into this before making strategies for controlling this menace. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The DELTA intervention contains 16 weekly group sessions plus additional individual sessions and educational session for parents. It aims to reduce substance use and related problems such as substance use disorders (SUD) in adolescents. Recent results indicated positive effects in psychiatric outpatients. Conducting DELTA in youth welfare settings seems feasible, however, organizational and content adjustments such as smoking cessation elements should be added in order to reduce relapse risks and to prevent negative health consequences. Methods/design: The pre-registered DELTA-JU study (German Clinical Trials Register, DRKS00027913) is separated into three stages: In the adjustment stage during months 1-4, we will revise the DELTA manual based on semi-structured interviews (n = 10) with personnel from youth welfare institutions specialized in serving adolescents with SUD in the study region, analyzed with content analysis. In the sampling stage during months 5-22, participants qualifying for a SUD and willing to regularly participate in the 16 weekly DELTA-JU group sessions will be enrolled to either one of two arms (cluster randomization: immediate intervention, waitlist with subsequent intervention 16 weeks later). Adolescents will be assessed at baseline and follow-up (16 weeks after first group session) with an additional pre-assessment (16 weeks before intervention starts) for the waitlist group. Assessment procedures include questionnaires and clinical interviews among others. At the same time, institutional personnel will receive a 1-day workshop on SUD-relevant topics based on the DELTA parental education group and on feedback from the qualitative interviews. Personnel will also be assessed twice with questionnaires. In the dissemination stage during months 23-24, final study evaluation results will be prepared and submitted for publication. Discussion: This study will create a setting-specific manual for vulnerable adolescents suffering from SUDs, and, in many cases, from co-occurring mental disorders. If shown to be effective, DELTA-JU can be disseminated within other institutions of youth welfare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cannabis is the most used drug of abuse worldwide. It is well established that the most abundant phytocannabinoids in this plant are Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). These two compounds have remarkably similar chemical structures yet vastly different effects in the brain. By binding to the same receptors, THC is psychoactive, while CBD has anxiolytic and antipsychotic properties. Lately, a variety of hemp-based products, including CBD and THC, have become widely available in the food and health industry, and medical and recreational use of cannabis has been legalized in many states/countries. As a result, people, including youths, are consuming CBD because it is considered "safe". An extensive literature exists evaluating the harmful effects of THC in both adults and adolescents, but little is known about the long-term effects of CBD exposure, especially in adolescence. The aim of this review is to collect preclinical and clinical evidence about the effects of cannabidiol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adolescents are known to be particularly vulnerable, compared to children and adults, to initiation of substance use and progression to problematic use. This study aimed to examine the prevalence and type of illicit drug use in a population of adolescents and young adults who were hospitalized in a psychiatric hospital. The purpose of the study was also to find the link between age, sex, type of admission and particular mental disorders and using psychoactive substances at least once in a lifetime. A 12-month retrospective cross-sectional analysis of medical records compiled for adolescent and youth psychiatric patients who had been admitted to the Regional Psychiatric Hospital in Olsztyn, Poland, between October 1, 2018, and September 30, 2019, was conducted. After analyzing the available medical records, 506 cases were included and analyzed. Data for the study were collected in an Excel spreadsheet from discharge reports, including data from psychiatric examinations, especially anamnesis. Subsequently, statistical calculations were performed. Lifetime prevalence of any illicit substance use (34.0%) was common. The most frequently used drug was Cannabis (29.2%), the next New Psychoactive Substance—NPS (14.2%) and Amphetamine (13.0%). The higher number of people declaring to take illicit substances was proportional to the increasing age. Except for the group 10–15 years, the subject group was dominated by males. The highest, statistically significant percentage of patients who declared taking illicit substances in general, was found in people with diagnoses F20–F29 (schizophrenia, schizotypal and delusional disorders) (55%), additionally, we found a statistically significant association between NPS use and these diagnoses. Only in the group of patients diagnosed with eating disorders no one declared taking psychoactive substances. However, the correlation between taking illicit drugs and the subgroups with diagnosed psychiatric diseases should be treated with caution because of the small sample size in some cases. Our findings have shown the significant prevalence of the phenomenon in this population. These data highlight the need to explore this population at high risk carefully. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of PSICOANÁLISIS Revista de la Asociación Psicoanalítica Colombiana is the property of Asociacion Psicoanalitica Colombiana and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Poisoning is among the top three common causes of suicidal deaths in Iran. We aimed to evaluate the epidemiologic trend of poisoning and its mortality rate in the largest tertiary toxicology referral center in Iran between 2012 and 2018. A total of 84,242 patients were hospitalized or died due to poisoning in this center during the study period, of whom 2114 (2.5%) died. The most frequent poisonings were those with antiepileptics, sedativehypnotics, and antiparkinson medications (T42) followed by narcotics and psychodysleptics (T40). Psychodysleptics had the highest mortality rate (684; 32.4% of the deaths). Among drugs of abuse, methadone was the most common cause of admission reported in 10,398 cases (12.3%). In conclusion, suicidal or recreational methadone poisoning is becoming the most common cause of admission to poisoning referral wards in Iran. Rigorous supervision of daily dosing at opioid maintenance clinics as well as efforts to control the black-market offering methadone are needed to prevent further methadone-related acute poisonings and deaths. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are families characterized by negative behavior patterns framed by drug abuse at home. Parental drug use can affect the development of executive functions. Objective: to determine the relationship between family functionality with executive functions and dopamine in adolescent children of adults addicted to marijuana. Method: Correlational and applied study of clinical and comparative methodological design, with a sample of 35 adolescents distributed in two groups. The instruments used were FACES III, Stroop Color Word and Barratt Impulsivity Scale. Dopamine was measured in urine through the ELISA test. R was used considering a level of significance p=.05. Results: The mean age was 14.11±2.53 years. The mean dopamine for the study group was 228.83±83.40 ng/ml and for the comparison group 182.19±24.52 ng/ml. There is a correlation of -.605 with a significance of .003 between the cohesion dimension of family functionality and cognitive impulsivity. Conclusion: There are differences between the groups, but there is no statistically significant data that family functionality alters executive functions and dopamine in adolescent children of adults addicted to marijuana. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: HIV disparities continue to persist in the southern United States and among some populations. Early HIV diagnosis, prompt linkage to care, and viral suppression among persons with HIV in the South, in particular the Deep South, are critical to reduce disparities and achieve national prevention goals.Methods: Estimated annual percent changes were calculated to assess trends during 2015-2019 in percentage distributions for stage of disease at the time of diagnosis, linkage to HIV medical care, and viral suppression.Results: Among 95,488 persons with HIV diagnosed in the South (Deep South: 81,848; Other South:13,640), the overall percentage that received a diagnosis classified as stage 0 increased 9.0%, stages 1-2 increased 1.8%, linkage to HIV care increased 2.9%, and viral suppression increased 5.9%. Changes in care outcomes among American Indian/Alaska Native persons and persons with infection attributed to injection drug use were minimal.Conclusions: To reach the goals of Ending the HIV Epidemic (EHE) and other federal initiatives, efforts need to focus on prevention and care among persons residing in the South. Addressing factors such as stigma and discrimination and elimination of barriers to HIV testing, care, and treatment are needed to effectively address these disparities in HIV-related care outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Colombiana de Ciencias Sociales is the property of Fondo Editorial Fundacion Universitaria Luis Amigo and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The text is based on data coming from doctoral research on the possible lessons learned about the difficulties adhering the treatment by adolescent drug users and that boost the work of the teams at the Child and Adolescent Psychosocial Care Center (CASPi), which is part of the Psychosocial Care Network of Brazil. The purpose of the study is, from one of the five cases studied, employing the single case method in Freud and Lacan, to focus on one of them which exemplifies the importance of the effects of transference in the clinic, considering the radical abandonment reflected in criminality and drug abuse. Besides, the study allows us to think about the possibilities for the treatment in these institutions ruled by a psychosocial mandate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Adolescents' perceptions of parental norms may influence their substance use. The relationship between parental norms toward cigarette and alcohol use, and the use of illicit substances among their adolescent children is not sufficiently investigated. The purpose of this study was to analyze this relationship, including gender differences, using longitudinal data from a large population-based study. Methods: The present study analyzed longitudinal data from 3171 12- to 14-year-old students in 7 European countries allocated to the control arm of the European Drug Addiction Prevention trial. The impact of parental permissiveness toward cigarettes and alcohol use reported by the students at baseline on illicit drug use at 6-month follow-up was analyzed through multilevel logistic regression models, stratified by gender. Whether adolescents' own use of cigarette and alcohol mediated the association between parental norms and illicit drug use was tested through mediation models. Results: Parental permissive norms toward cigarette smoking and alcohol use at baseline predicted adolescents' illicit drug use at follow-up. The association was stronger among boys than among girls and was mediated by adolescents' own cigarette and alcohol use. Conclusion: Perceived parental permissiveness toward the use of legal drugs predicted adolescents' use of illicit drugs, especially among boys. Parents should be made aware of the importance of norm setting, and supported in conveying clear messages of disapproval of all substances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The extant Alcohol's Harms to Others (AHTO) literature is largely comprised of reports from victims. We investigated AHTO from perpetrators' perspectives, including how harms were associated with individual characteristics, and alcohol quantities consumed during the perpetration incident. Methods: Participants (N = 2932) were 14–19 years old, recruited primarily through social media and screened as risky drinkers. They completed face‐to‐face (n = 594) or self‐administered (n = 2338) surveys. They self‐reported whether during their last risky drinking session (LRDS) they had perpetrated any verbal abuse, physical abuse or property damage. A multinomial logistic regression examined whether nine factors were associated with perpetrating zero, one or 2+ categories of AHTO. Results: Eleven percent (n = 323) reported perpetrating at least one form of AHTO (7.5% verbal, 1.9% physical and 4.6% property). Perpetration of AHTO at LRDS was uniquely associated with: younger age, male gender, experiences of childhood physical punishment, greater perpetration incident‐specific drinking, concurrent illicit drug use, and less frequent use of safety strategies while drinking in the past 12 months. Controlling for the other variables, an increase of six Australian standard drinks (60 g of alcohol) increased the odds of perpetration by 15% [95% confidence interval (CI) adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 1.08, 1.23], and an increase of 15 Australian standard drinks increased the odds by 42% (95% CI AOR 1.20, 1.69). Discussion and Conclusions: Individual characteristics, larger quantities of alcohol consumed, and a disinclination to practice harm reduction amplified risk of AHTO perpetration. This has implications for health promotion and risk prevention/reduction strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Injuries are a major global health problem that affects teenagers in many countries. Though several studies have been done in many countries, little is known among adolescents in Mauritius. Therefore, our paper explored the prevalence and correlates of serious injuries among adolescents in Mauritius.Methods: We analysed the 2017 Global School-Based Student Health Survey (GSHS) data from Mauritius, using the Chi-square test and binomial logistic regression analysis with adjusted odds ratio (AOR) at 95% confidence interval (CI).Results: The prevalence of serious injuries among adolescents in Mauritius stood at 39.0%. Also, the predictors of serious injuries included sex (AOR = 0.70, CI = 0.58-0.81), physical attack (AOR = 0.47, CI = 0.39-0.57), being bullied (AOR = 0.48, CI = 0.48-0.70), suicide ideation (AOR = 0.65, CI = 0.49-0.85), hunger (AOR = 0.65, CI = 0.48-0.86), truancy from school (AOR = 0.77, CI = 0.63-0.93), marijuana use (AOR = 0.54, CI = 0.39-0.76), alcohol consumption (AOR = 0.64, CI = 0.70-0.98), and parental neglect (AOR = 0.83, CI = 0.70-0.98).Conclusion: The rate of injury among adolescents in Mauritius is moderately high, with sex, suicidal thought, hunger, truancy, drug use, and parental neglect as correlates. There is an urgent need for health promotion interventions at family, community, and school levels to deal with this level of serious injuries and the factors influencing such occurrences among these adolescents in Mauritius. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The present study aimed to examine the substance use prevention education involvement in different social settings among adolescents receiving public assistance-cash or food voucher-for low household income (heretofore, "PA program enrollees") and preventive effects of each prevention educational setting on current substance use.Methods: Using data from a nationally-representative sample of PA program enrollees from the 2002-2017 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, we estimated the prevalence of substance use prevention education involvement in home, school, and neighborhood settings and the associations between involvement in each educational setting and current alcohol/illicit drug use.Results: Compared to nonenrollees, PA program enrollees reported significantly lower rates of involvement in all prevention education settings, including parent-child conversations (54.6% vs. 60.1%) and neighborhood prevention resources (71.3% vs. 79.3%). All educational setting were associated with lower odds of current substance use, with the largest effects found for parent-child conversations (AOR = 0.821 [P < .001] for alcohol use; AOR = 0.817 [P < .001] for illicit drug use).Conclusions: To reduce the elevated risk of illicit drug use among PA program enrollees, special attention needs to be paid to promote parent-child conversation about substance use and increase access to prevention education in regular classes and preventive messages outside schools. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Substance use can exacerbate cancer‐related morbidity and mortality in adolescent/young adult (AYA) cancer survivors and place them at increased risk for adverse health outcomes. The objective of this study was to assess substance use, misuse, and substance use disorders [SUDs], as well as receipt of treatment for SUDs, among AYA cancer survivors. Methods: The authors used data from the National Survey of Drug Use and Health (2015‐2018) to identify a nationally representative sample of AYAs aged 12 to 34 years. Outcomes assessed past‐year tobacco, alcohol, marijuana, and illicit drug use; misuse of prescription opioids; SUDs; and SUD treatment. Multiple logistic regression was estimated to compare outcomes between 832 AYAs who reported a cancer history (survivors) and 140,826 AYAs who did not, adjusting sequentially for sociodemographic characteristics and health status. Results: In regressions adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics, survivors were more likely than a noncancer comparison group of peers to use alcohol (6% relative increase; P =.048) and illicit drugs (34% relative increase; P =.012), to misuse prescription opioids (59% relative increase; P <.001), and to have a marijuana (67% relative increase; P =.011), illicit drug (77% relative increase; P <.001), or prescription opioid (67% relative increase; P =.048) SUD. When further adjusting for health status, survivors were still 41% more likely (P <.001) to misuse prescription opioids than noncancer peers. Among those with SUDs, survivors were more likely than peers to receive treatment (unadjusted, 21.5% vs 8.0%; adjusted, P <.05). Conclusions: AYA survivors were as likely as or more likely than noncancer peers to report substance use problems. These findings underscore the importance of interventions to reduce substance use and improve SUD treatment among AYA cancer survivors. Lay Summary: The authors assessed substance use, misuse, and substance use disorders, as well as the receipt of treatment for substance use disorders, among adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer survivors.In a nationally representative AYA sample, cancer survivors, despite their increased risk for morbidity and early mortality, were as likely as or more likely than peers without cancer to experience substance use problems.In particular, survivors had a significantly higher rate of prescription opioid misuse than peers.However, only 1 in 5 AYA survivors who experienced substance use disorders received treatment.These findings underscore the importance of interventions toward reducing substance use and improving access to treatment among AYA survivors. In a nationally representative sample of adolescents and young adults, cancer survivors, despite their increased risk for morbidity and early mortality, are as likely as or more likely than peers without cancer to experience substance use problems. These findings underscore the importance of interventions toward reducing substance use and improving access to treatment among adolescent and young adult cancer survivors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to investigate the level of readiness of Eghlid city community for adolescents' substance abuse prevention programs, and to develop strategies to improve community readiness levels based on the community readiness model (CRM). In this two‐stage qualitative study, a 36‐item semi‐structured CRM questionnaire, was used to interview 11 key informants in Eghlid city, Iran, 2019. The interviews were analyzed and scored by two independent researchers. Strategies for increasing the level of readiness were developed and prioritized by participants using the nominal group method. The readiness levels to prevent substance abuse in community efforts and leadership dimensions were at stabilization and preparation stage. In terms of community awareness of efforts, community space, and public awareness of the issue, the readiness level was at the pre‐planning stage, and in the resources for prevention efforts dimension, it was at the vague awareness level. In the strategy development section, the key participants focused on using traditional methods such as holding face‐to‐face training programs and festivals, using IRIB platform, local media, and lectures. The general level of readiness is at a moderate level. It seems necessary to focus on resources and areas related to public information. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a need to understand why some strategies work better than others for engaging vulnerable Black adolescents in prevention research, especially those who are affected by parental drug use. The current study sought to fill this gap. Thirty in‐depth interviews were conducted with parents who reported a history of illicit drug use (N = 11), young adults who had a biological parent with a history of illicit drug use (N = 14), and service providers who work with families affected by illicit drug use (N = 5). Nearly all participants were Black and lived or worked in Baltimore, Maryland. Over half of the participants were female (62%). Interviews were recorded and ranged from 30 to 92 minutes in length. Data were analyzed using an inductive, content analysis approach. Four themes emerged (coined STAR): SAFE people and places minimize retraumatization; TEAMING UP with community partners increases acceptability; ADDRESSING a range of needs helps adolescents survive; and RELATABLE facilitators understand and listen to adolescents. Findings build onto and extend previous research that highlights strategies to recruit and retain vulnerable Black adolescents in prevention research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cannabis (marijuana) is the most widely used illicit drug in the USA, and consumption among adolescents is rising. Some animal studies show that adolescent exposure to delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol or synthetic cannabinoid receptor 1 agonists causes alterations in affect and cognition that can persist into adulthood. It is less clear, however, whether similar alterations result from exposure to cannabis via smoke inhalation, which remains the most frequent route of administration in humans. Aims: To begin to address these questions, a rat model was used to determine how cannabis smoke exposure during adolescence affects behavioral and cognitive outcomes in adulthood. Methods: Adolescent male Long-Evans rats were assigned to clean air, placebo smoke, or cannabis smoke groups. Clean air or smoke exposure sessions were conducted daily during adolescence (from P29–P49 days of age) for a total of 21 days, and behavioral testing began on P70. Results: Compared to clean air and placebo smoke conditions, cannabis smoke significantly attenuated the normal developmental increase in body weight, but had no effects on several measures of either affect/motivation (open field activity, elevated plus maze, instrumental responding under a progressive ratio schedule of reinforcement) or cognition (set shifting, reversal learning, intertemporal choice). Surprisingly, however, in comparison to clean air controls rats exposed to either cannabis or placebo smoke in adolescence exhibited enhanced performance on a delayed response working memory task. Conclusions: These findings are consistent with a growing body of evidence for limited long-term adverse cognitive and affective consequences of adolescent exposure to relatively low levels of cannabinoids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduce. Drug abuse is patterned drug use that can cause dependency and is a prohibited act in people's lives, Drug abuse using mechanism of cultural collaboration can maintain its existence and can provide social change for the community, the PMtoH art contained narration, mantra, poetry, and rhymes, all of which were traditional art performances. The purpose of the study was to explore the views of those responsible for educational institutions about drugs and how to prevent drugs in adolescents by using a cultural approach, namely the seni tutor (art of speech) PMTOH model. Problems with drug use continue to increase from time to time, and drug use is generally found in adolescence. Drug use refers to the abuse of alcohol and drugs, especially illegal drugs that impact health, social, and cultural conditions. Method. The research methodology a qualitative method with a phenomenological approach. Data collection techniques were focus group discussions (FGD) and in-depth interviews with 12 participants responsible for each of the high school education institutions. Result: The seni tutor PMTOH activities are an alternative in drug prevention for high school students in Banda Aceh City. The results showed that drugs are a problem in adolescents with harmful effects on physical, psychological, and social adolescents. Conclusion: School education institutions need different prevention models from the methods that have been carried out by the National Narcotics Agency (BNN). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The use of alcohol, tobacco, cannabis and other psychoactive substances among the youth is a major public health concern worldwide. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of culture, acculturation, family history of substances abuse, and family functioning on youth alcohol and substance abuse in Mombasa, Kenya. Methods: The study adopted a cross sectional descriptive study design. Study participants were youth aged between 18 and 35 years participating in the Medical Assisted Treatment (MAT) program at Kisauni. Interviewer administered questionnaire were used to collect data. Data was analyzed descriptively and inferentially using statistical package for social science (SPSS) version 25 software. Chi-square and Fishers exact were used to compare variables between groups. A p value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results:A total of 259 youth participated in this study of whom majority (66.8%) were male. The mean age of participants was 29 years. The proportion of female drug users decreased with increase in age while that of male increased with increase in age. The main drugs abused were cigarettes (64.2%), marijuana/bang (60.8%), alcohol (58.1%), cocaine (57.3%) khat (51.2%), and traditional brew (33.1%). Heroin was abused by all participants. Abuse of cigarettes (P=0.009) and cocaine (p=0.005) was associated with the male gender. Culture was found to influence youth into alcohol and drug abuse with male youth being the most abusers of drugs. However, higher proportions of female youth were found to abuse alcohol compared to male youth. Conclusions: Culture was found to influence youth into alcohol and drug abuse with male youth being the most abusers of drugs. Acculturations factors contributing to alcohol and substance abuse included exposure of youths to movies and media glorifying alcohol and substance abuse. History of having a guardian and siblings indulging in alcohol and substance abuse exposed the youths to abuse while receiving comfort, advice, and love from parents were some indicators of family function that were found to influence youth into drug abuse. Recommendations: Policies should be put in place by the government with aim of controlling the media content promoting alcohol and substance abuse. Also family therapy should be part of the services provided to parents/guardians with the aim of educating them on youth handling as well as improving the bond with their children which aim at reducing youth exposure to drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The prevalence and burden of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in children are poorly understood mainly as a result of the fact that studies in this population have largely been done in high‐risk groups and in highly endemic regions. Epidemiological studies estimate the viraemic prevalence in the paediatric population aged 0‐18 years at 0.13%, corresponding to 3.26 million children with HCV in 2018. While vertical transmission occurs in up to 5% of neonates born to infected mothers, with preference for those with high viral load and co‐infection with the human immunodeficiency virus, injection drug use is the prevalent modality of HCV infection among adolescents. Notwithstanding the fact that HCV usually has an indolent course in children and adolescents, hepatitis C may progress to significant liver disease in a fraction of patients. The finding of severe disease or cirrhosis in a minority of paediatric patients with HCV underscores the importance of early diagnosis and treatment in order to prevent long‐term morbidity. Universal screening of HCV in pregnant women is key to identify infants exposed to such a risk and link them to care. Recently, direct‐acting antiviral drugs proved to be as safe and effective in young HCV patients as in adults, and these agents are now approved for treatment of paediatric patients as young as 3 years. This review provides a contemporary overview of the HCV disease burden in children, with a particular focus on its treatment in the era of direct‐acting antiviral agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to contribute to an exploratory categorization of different adolescent drug rehabilitation service models in Hong Kong. In-depth interviews were conducted with local social workers working in the medical model setting, integrated model setting, and social model setting. There was a trend that hybrid models were used by the drug rehabilitation service providers and a shift to postmodernism was found in the current service settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Multiracial adolescents report higher rates of cannabis use than White peers. • Multiracial adolescents report higher rates of illicit drug use than White peers. • Multiracial adolescents have higher rates of major depressive episodes than Whites. • These racial differences only existed among adolescents with higher family incomes. While the United States is becoming increasingly Multiracial, much is still unknown about the behavioral health of these growing new generations of Multiracial Americans. To narrow this research gap, this study investigated the prevalence/frequency of substance use and major depressive episodes [MDE] among non-Hispanic Multiracial [NHM] adolescents compared to their non-Hispanic White [NHW] counterparts and whether racial differences vary by socioeconomic status. We analyzed data from the 2015–2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (N = 3,645 NHM and 34,776 NHW adolescents aged 12–17). Average Marginal Effects derived from logistic regression and negative binomial regression were used to examine (1) differences in six outcomes (past-month use of alcohol, cannabis, or drugs other than cannabis [DOTC], past-year MDE, and the frequency of alcohol and cannabis use among past-month users) by Multiracial status; (2) the moderation effect of family income on these associations. Compared to high-income NHW adolescents, high-income NHM adolescents reported significantly higher prevalence of past-month cannabis and DOTC use, and past-year MDE. No racial differences were observed at other income levels. Furthermore, moderation analyses indicated that the effect of Multiracial status on MDE was larger in the highest income group compared to the lowest income group. Our findings suggested that NHM adolescents, particularly those from high income families, exhibit increased prevalence of drug use and depression than NHW adolescents. As the US becomes more diverse, there is a need to further examine the social and structural factors driving the identified racial differences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study aims to determine the prevalence of tobacco smoking and illicit drug use among Dutch adolescents admitted to hospital for acute alcohol intoxication treatment. Furthermore, socio-demographic predictors for smoking and illicit drug use in the sample population will be studied. The relationship between illicit drug use and specific characteristics of intoxication, such as blood alcohol concentration (BAC) and duration of reduced consciousness is also investigated.Methods: The national Dutch Paediatric Surveillance Unit was used to prospectively register cases of acute alcohol intoxication from 2007 through 2017. Cases were included if they met the following inclusion criteria: BAC > 0.0 g/L, aged between 10 to 18 years old and requiring hospital treatment due to reduced consciousness. Questionnaires were sent to paediatricians to obtain clinical information.Results: During the period 2007-2017, 5322 cases that met the inclusion criteria were reported. In this patient group, the prevalence of tobacco smoking was 22.2% (CI 21.0-23.5%), while the prevalence of illicit drug use was 11.8% (CI 10.9-12.7%). The predictors for smoking were the absence of alcohol-specific parental rule-setting, lower educational level, non-traditional family structure and positive drug screening. The predictors for illicit drug use were the absence of alcohol-specific parental rule-setting and smoking. Illicit drug use was also associated with a lower BAC at the time of admission.Conclusions: Assessing smoking and illicit drug use among adolescents admitted for acute alcohol intoxication is important in acute cases of intoxication, for outpatient follow-up and for the purposes of prevention. The relationship between simultaneous illicit drug use and a lower BAC is of relevance for paediatricians' attempts to diagnose acute intoxication. With respect to outpatient follow-up and preventive measures, it is important to be aware that adolescents' alcohol consumption, tobacco and illicit drug use are related and, ultimately, increase the odds of using other substances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Teenagers are a vulnerable demographic with regards to the risk of becoming drug users. The high levels of drug abuse at a young age in Indonesia are a growing source of concern. Effective drug abuse prevention needs to start with primary prevention by individuals, families, groups and communities. This study evaluates the empowerment of Dasa Wisma and the homestead program, to identify the influence of the empowerment of Dasa Wisma through partnership on the effectiveness of anti-drug cadres and families in the Ratu Agung Sub-district of Bengkulu City. This research type is quantitative with quasi-experimental design. The design used was pre-test and post-test with control group design (quasi-experiment with control). While the treatment group who felt empowered counted 34.78%, the control group only 12.5% felt empowered, with P value = 0.00. The empowerment of Dasa Wisma affects knowledge, attitude, perception, religiosity, use of spare time, peer group, family harmony and family communication with value P = 0.00. It also affects the liveliness of anti-drug cadres with a value of P = 0.008. Dasa Wisma affects the family activeness in the prevention and control of drugs in teenagers with a value of P = 0.00. Conclusion: it can be concluded that the empowerment of Dasa Wisma as a partner in Ratu Agung sub-district of Bengkulu affects the prevention and tackling of drug abuse in teenagers, either by anti-drug cadres or by family. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study explored the experiences of adolescent learners regarding drug abuse in previously disadvantaged townships in South Africa. A phenomenological research paradigm was employed, and an inductive research approach was implemented. The study followed a qualitative research design focusing on interviews and document analysis as data collection methods. Purposive sampling was done and one-on-one interviews with Life Orientation (LO) teachers in two Gauteng secondary schools were conducted as well as three Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO's) and Non-Profit Organisations (NPO's) from different organisations. Focus group interviews were conducted with adolescent learners in two Gauteng secondary schools. I further utilised an inductive content analysis using open coding and axial coding to decipher information gathered from interviews conducted with participants.The study leaned on two theoretical frameworks which include Bronfenbrenner's Nested System and Erikson's Eight Stages of Psychosocial Development. The findings indicated that adolescent learners get involved in the use of drugs due to their lack of identity formation and the need to belong. It was also discovered that adolescent learners did not master the adolescence stage successfully, hence getting involved in the use of drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]