Decrease In Abuse Research Articles

Investigation of Temporal Changes of Abuse and Misuse of Prescription Opioids

ABSTRACT We analyzed intentional exposures to prescription opioids (buprenorphine, fentanyl, hydrocodone, hydromorphone, morphine, methadone and Oxycodone) using the Research Abuse, Diversion and Addiction-Related Survllience System (RADARS®) Poison Center data over a 5 year period 2003–2007 to see if there were temporal trends in the abuse and misuse of prescription drugs associated with (1) weekends vs. weekdays and (2) during select holiday periods vs. non-holiday periods. Over the study period 25 of 120 holiday period days showed a decrease of at least 1 SD from the mean and 9 of 120 holiday period days showed an increase of at least 1 SD from the mean. Over the study period there were 144,653 intentional exposures. Mean percent of cases by day of week ranged from 14.03% to 14.39%, with slightly higher use on weekend days. There was no significant difference when evaluating prevalence of intentional exposures by day of week (p = 0.99). There was no significant difference when evaluating weekend versus weekday (p > 0.05). In summary, the prevalence of abuse and misuse of prescription drugs was not impacted by day of the week or difference between weekday and weekend. The impact of 8 traditional holidays appeared to be associated with a minor decrease in abuse and misuse of prescription drugs. No temporally related increase in abuse and misuse of prescription drugs was noted and conversely a trend toward decreased abuse and misuse of prescription drugs was suggested.

Predicting Re-Victimization of Battered Women 3 Years After Exiting a Shelter Program

This study examined interpersonal and ecological predictors of re-victimization of a sample of women with abusive partners. All women (N = 124) had sought refuge from a battered women's shelter 3 years earlier, and half the sample had been randomly assigned to receive free, short-term advocacy services immediately upon exit from the shelter. Results 2 years post-intervention revealed positive change in the lives of participants (C. M. Sullivan & D. Bybee, 1999), including a decrease in abuse for women who had worked with advocates. The current study examined intervention effects 3 years after the program ended, as well as other predictors of re-abuse. Nineteen percent of the original sample had experienced domestic violence between 2 and 3 years after shelter exit (65% by current partners, 35% by ex-partners). The advocacy program's effect on risk of re-victimization did not continue 3 years post-intervention. However, having worked with an advocate 3 years prior continued to have a positive impact on women's quality of life and level of social support. The risk of being abused 3 years post-shelter stay was exacerbated by a number of factors present 1 year prior, including women's (1) having experienced abuse in the 6 months before that point; (2) having difficulties accessing resources; (3) having problems with the state welfare system; and (4) having people in their social networks who made their lives difficult. Women were at less risk of abuse if, 1 year earlier, they (1) were employed; (2) reported higher quality of life; and (3) had people in their networks who provided practical help and/or were available to talk about personal matters. These findings support the hypothesis that access to resources and social support serve as protective factors against continued abuse.

Psychological Factors in the Longitudinal Course of Battering: When Do the Couples Split Up? When Does the Abuse Decrease?

The longitudinal course of battering was investigated over a 2-year time span. Forty-five batterers and their spouses were assessed with self-report, psychophysiological, and marital interaction measures. Both the stability of the relationship and of the battering were assessed. At the two-year follow-up, 62% of the couples were still married and living together, while 38% had separated or divorced. A combination of six variables, reflecting severity of husband emotional abuse, wife dissatisfaction, husband physiological arousal, and wife defending herself assertively, was 90.2% accurate in predicting separation or divorce 2 years later. Of the couples still living together at follow-up, 46% of the batterers did not reduce their levels of severe violence, while 54% did significantly decrease levels of violence. Husbands who continued to be severely violent at 2-year follow-up were more domineering, globally negative and emotionally abusive toward their wives at Time 1 than husbands who reduced their levels of violence. Even though 54% of the batterers decreased the frequency of violent acts over the 2-year period, only 7% achieved complete desistance. Moreover, husband emotional abuse did not decrease over the 2-year period, even when physical abuse did.