Drug Abuse Screening Test Research Articles

Unpacking the Causes of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in Violently Injured Patients

BackgroundViolence is a public health problem that disproportionately affects urban communities. The root causes of PTSD and effects on quality of life, substance abuse, and mental health are unclear. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of PTSD and its root causes to direct services to be provided in a hospital-based violence intervention program. MethodsVictims of Violence (VOVs) at University Hospital were approached from December 2017 to June 2019. They completed several validated patient–reported outcome surveys, including the Traumatic Life Events Questionnaire, the Peritraumatic Dissociative Experiences Questionnaire, Peritraumatic Dissociative Inventory, Positive and Negative Affect Scale, and the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test and the Drug Abuse Screening Test. Responses were recorded in Research Electronic Data Capture and were analyzed using Microsoft Excel. ResultsFifty-four individuals completed the surveys; 94% were men, 88% black, and 100% victims of interpersonal violence. 85% screened positive for PTSD. VOVs experienced many traumatic events throughout their life. Reported alcohol and drug abuse were low, with 91% at low risk for alcohol use disorders and 92% at low risk for drug abuse disorders (Figure 1). Positive affect remained high, indicating the possibility of resiliency in this population. ConclusionsPTSD is high in VOVs in urban trauma centers. Understanding the root causes of PTSD can help direct interventions to support individuals with services that meet their individual needs. Simple screening tools can help hospital-based violence intervention programs and trauma social workers identify individual needs and assess risk for mental health and substance abuse disorders.

The association between sleep quality and attenuated psychotic symptoms.

To determine if poor sleep makes a unique contribution in predicting the likelihood of experiencing six or more attenuated psychotic symptoms and associated distress, after examining and controlling for sociodemographic factors, depression and drug/alcohol use. An online survey was conducted using Amazon's online crowdsourcing service Mechanical Turk (MTurk). The sample was 1013 adults (18 to 36 years) from the general population in the United States. The survey consisted of the Prodromal Questionnaire 16 (PQ-16), the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, the Patient Health Questionnaire 9, the Drug Abuse Screening Test 10 and the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test. Regression analyses were performed with the PQ-16 as the dependent variable, and sleep quality as the predictor variable, holding constant sociodemographic variables, depression, and alcohol/drug abuse. 37% of the sample endorsed six or more PQ-16 items, which may be suggestive of an at-risk mental state, with sleep disturbance significantly increasing the likelihood (Odds ratio 2.09 < .001) of endorsing six or more PQ-16 items. After controlling for sociodemographic variables, depression and drug/alcohol abuse, poor sleep quality made a unique contribution of 5.8% of the variance accounted for in level of distress experienced by attenuated psychotic symptoms. Effective treatment of sleep disturbance may reduce the likelihood ofexperiencing attenuated psychotic symptoms and associated distress.

Universal mental health screening with a focus on suicidal behaviour using smartphones in a Mexican rural community: protocol for the SMART-SCREEN population-based survey

IntroductionMental disorders represent the second cause of years lived with disability worldwide. Suicide mortality has been targeted as a key public health concern by the WHO. Smartphone technology provides a...

Problematic Internet Use Questionnaire-Short Form-6 (PIUQ-SF-6): Dimensionality, validity, reliability, measurement invariance and mean differences across genders and age categories among Nigerian adolescents

The objectives of this study were to evaluate the psychometric properties, measurement invariance and mean differences in relation to the genders and age categories of the 6-item PIUQ-SF in a non-clinical sample of Nigerian adolescents (n = 1222; Mage = 15.77; Range = 12–18). There were 622 (50.9%) females. Most (79.1%) were in the middle adolescent age bracket. The respondents completed the PIUQ-SF-6 in addition to the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and the Drug Abuse Screening Test (DAST). We applied confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) to examine the fit indices of the three-factor a priori PIUQ-SF-6 model described in literature. Measurement invariances across genders and age categories were evaluated with nested multiple-group CFA (MGCFA). The three-dimensional model of the PIUQ-SF-6 appears to satisfactorily evaluate problematic usage of the internet among Nigerian adolescents (CFI = 0.985, SRMR = 0.0214, RMSEA = 0.055/90% CI = 0.036–0.077). The internal consistencies (α) of the PIUQ-SF-6 and its three subscales were modestly satisfactory. The concurrent validity of this model was also modestly supported via significant correlations with the other study measures. MGCFA supported the configural, metric and scalar measurement invariances of the PIUQ-SF-6 across genders and age categories. Males and those in the late adolescent age category have significant higher scores on the total PIUQ-SF-6. The PIUQ-SF-6 will be a useful instrument for the quantitative evaluation and comparisons of problematic usage of the internet among Nigerian adolescents.

The emotional and psychiatric problems of adolescents on parole whose parents are substance users: A Brazilian cross-sectional study.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the associations between having parents with substance use problems, and having suffered neglect within the family, and behavioral problems (psychological and drug use) among adolescents. All the participants were enrolled on the socio-educational parole scheme, 'Assisted Freedom'. In this cross-sectional study, 150 adolescents were interviewed using the Drug Abuse Screening Test, Teen Addiction Severity Index, and Childhood Trauma Questionnaire. Ninety-five percent of the participants were male (n = 143), aged 13-17. Thirty percent of adolescents had a parent who used substances and had experienced neglect from their families. Those adolescents who were living with both parents (odds ratio adjusted (ORA) = 2.7, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.13-6.37), from a low-income family (ORA = 6.7, 95% CI = 1.85-24.22), experienced hallucinations (ORA = 2.8, 95% CI = 1.25-6.14), had problems controlling violent behavior (ORA = 2.6, 95% CI = 1.12-5.87), and were physically neglected (ORA = 3.0, 95% CI = 1.24-7.49) were more likely to have parents who used substances and to have experienced parental neglect. This article concludes that adolescents, who are on parole, come from families with high level of psychosocial vulnerabilities, including substance use, experience neglect by their families leading to adverse emotional and psychological states.

Prevalence and description of kratom (Mitragyna speciosa) use in the United States: a cross-sectional study.

Mitragyna speciosa ('kratom') contains mu opioid partial agonists. It is widely available, and occasionally used as a home remedy for opioid use disorder. The Drug Enforcement Agency considers kratom a drug of concern; however, prevalence of use and role in drug misuse are unknown. This study aimed to characterize kratom use in the United States. Cross-sectional Survey of Non-Medical Use of Prescription Drugs (NMURx) Program, 2018 third quarter and 2019 first quarter. A validated non-probability online survey in the United States. A total of 59 714 respondents aged 18years or older, weighted to represent the adult US population (n=252 063 800). In addition to prevalence of past-year kratom and other drug use, behavior proportions were estimated. The Drug Abuse Screening Test (DAST-10) estimated consequences of drug abuse. The estimated prevalence of past-year kratom use in the adult US population was 0.8% [95% confidence interval (CI)=0.7-0.9], representing 2 031 803 adults. Life-time prevalence was 1.3% (95% CI=1.2-1.4), representing 3 353 624 adults. Kratom users were younger (mean 35years, P<0.001), with higher proportions of males (61.0 versus 48.6%, P<0.001), students (14.1 versus 7.5%, P<0.001) and health-care professionals (9.7 versus 4.5%, P<0.001) and fewer bachelor's/advanced degree graduates (33.4 versus 42.6%, P<0.001) compared with non-users. Results were inconclusive on whether there was a difference in kratom use by race, household income or employment status. Among those with past-year kratom use, 36.7% (95% CI=32.1-41.3) non-medically used prescription opioids, 21.7% (95% CI=18.0-25.5) used illicit opioids, 54.4% (95% CI=49.5-59.3) used another illicit drug and 67.1% (95% CI=62.5-71.8) used cannabis. The DAST-10 profile was more often substantial/severe in kratom users (21 versus 1%, P<0.001) compared with non-users. Estimated United States past-year prevalence of kratom use is 0.8%, and kratom users tend to have more serious substance abuse profiles than non-users or users of cannabis, alcohol or cigarettes. To our knowledge, this is the first description of kratom use at the national level.

Trihexyphenidyl abuse in psychiatric outpatient clinic of a general hospital in Northern Nigeria

Background: Concomitant prescription of anticholinergics with first generation antipsychotic medications is widely practiced in psychiatry to avert or abort extrapyramidal side effect resulting from the latter. Trihexyphenidyl (Benzhexol) is the most commonly prescribed and the most likely to be abused amidst the anticholinergics in Nigeria. Objectives: To explore the prevalence and the associated factors for Trihexyphenidyl abuse among psychiatric outpatients in Nigeria. Methodology: 64 stable outpatients who met the inclusion criteria were interviewed with a sociodemographic questionnaire and a ten items Drug Abuse Screening Test (DAST-10), other relevant data were obtained from their case notes at the psychiatric clinic of Sarkin Maska Shehu (SMASH) Hospital, Funtua, Katsina State. Data were tabulated and analysed with Microsoft Excel and version 11.65 of Window Program for Epidemiologist (WINPEPI).

Success Factors for and Barriers to Integration of Electronic Mental Health Screening in Primary Care.

Currently, only a third of primary care providers screen for substance use, which is a growing epidemic. This quality improvement study aimed to improve the screening process by integrating the Drug Abuse Screening Test without information systems support into the electronic health record to increase completed screenings and provider interventions for positive screenings in adult patients at an urban primary care clinic. Electronic drug abuse screening should include a prescreen followed by the Drug Abuse Screening Test, interprofessional approach, comprehensive education, and utilization of generic tools to create new screening forms. Staff participated in a new drug abuse screening process, and chart audits and staff interviews were conducted. There was a 9% increase in completed screenings by medical assistants with electronic versus paper screening (30% vs 21%, respectively; P < .001). There was a 33.4% increase in provider intervention for positive screenings with electronic versus paper screening (55% vs 21%, respectively; P = .1081). Primary care providers can play an increased role in drug abuse treatment by using available technology to overcome barriers to screening independent of information systems support. By adopting the new electronic screening documentation process, this clinic was able to increase its screening outcomes.

Primary Care Recognition and Treatment of Methamphetamine Use Disorder

Methamphetamine addiction remains one of the most common substance use disorders encountered by physicians and is often unrecognized in the current opioid epidemic. Methamphetamine remains widely available in the United States despite laws designed to limit illicit production. Physical signs of methamphetamine abuse are not always recognized in the primary care setting. The utilization of the Drug Abuse Screening Test (DAST) has helped in identification of drug abusers in this setting. The mainstay of treatment remains cognitive behavioral therapy. Though various medications have been tried, none have gained FDA approval because of lack of proven efficacy. The most promising treatment modality on the horizon appears to be immunotherapy. Treatment, while not necessarily efficacious in the long term, is widely available today.

Effect of urine adulterants on commercial drug abuse screening test strip results.

Immunochromatographic strips for urine drug screening tests (UDSTs) are common and very suitable for drug abuse monitoring, but are also highly susceptible to adulterants kept in the household, which can significantly alter test results. The aim of this study was to see how some of these common adulterants affect UDST results in practice and whether they can be detected by sample validity tests with pH and URIT 11G test strips. To this end we added household chemicals (acids, alkalis, oxidizing agents, surfactants, and miscellaneous substances) to urine samples positive for amphetamine, 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), tetrahydrocannabinol, heroin, cocaine, or benzodiazepines (diazepam or alprazolam) and tested them with one-component immunochromatographic UDST strips. The UDST for cocaine resisted adulteration the most, while the cannabis test produced the most false negative results. The most potent adulterant that barely changed the physiological properties of urine specimens and therefore escaped adulteration detection was vinegar. Besides lemon juice, it produced the most false negative test results. In conclusion, some urine adulterants, such as vinegar, could pass urine specimen validity test and remain undetected by laboratory testing. Our findings raise concern about this issue of preventing urine tampering and call for better control at sampling, privacy concerns notwithstanding, and better sample validity tests.

Sensation seeking, sexual orientation, and drug abuse symptoms in a community sample of emerging adults.

Increased use of drugs is associated with a number of factors including high sensation seeking and sexual minority status (through group-specific minority stress). We sought to examine how personality traits like sensation seeking may influence drug abuse among sexual minority individuals. Participants were 217 emerging adults (Mage = 20.23, SD = 0.85) recruited from Amazon Mechanical Turk (MTurk). Of these participants, 67.7% identified as heterosexual, 9.7% as gay or lesbian, 21.2% as bisexual, and 1.4% indicated other sexual orientations. Sensation seeking and drug abuse were self-reported using the Brief Sensation Seeking Scale and the Drug Abuse Screening Test, respectively. A preliminary multiple analysis of variance indicated no significant mean differences for these variables as a function of sex or sexual orientation. Next, sexual minority status, Brief Sensation Seeking Scale scores, sex and their interactions were entered into a linear regression predicting Drug Abuse Screening Test scores. Results revealed a significant moderation, such that the positive relationship between Brief Sensation Seeking Scale total scores and Drug Abuse Screening Test total scores was stronger for sexual minorities (β = 0.14, P = 0.00) compared to heterosexuals (β = 0.04, P = 0.04), controlling for sex. These results demonstrate, while sensation seeking and sexual minority status may selectively indicate risk for drug use, sexual minorities high in sensation seeking may be at especially high risk for problems related to drug abuse. More research examining the addiction etiology of sexual minority individuals would inform targeted interventions for this population.

Alcohol and drug use disorders in patients with cancer and caregivers: effects on caregiver burden

BackgroundThe estimated prevalence of alcohol use disorders in patients with advanced cancer is reported as 4%–38%. There are limited data regarding alcohol and drug use disorders in caregivers of patients...

Gratitude and suicide risk among college students: Substantiating the protective benefits of being thankful

Objective Gratitude, or thankfulness for positive aspects of life, is related to psychosocial well-being and decreased psychopathology, and may reduce suicide risk. We explored four potential hypotheses purported to explain the beneficial outcomes of gratitude (schematic, positive affect, broaden-and-build, and coping), hypothesizing that hopelessness (schematic), depression (positive affect), social support (broaden-and-build), and substance use (coping) would mediate the gratitude-suicide linkage. Participants: 913 undergraduate students from a mid-size, southeastern U.S. university. Methods: Respondents completed online self-report questionnaires including the Suicidal Behaviors Questionnaire-Revised, Gratitude Questionnaire, Beck Hopelessness Scale, Beck Depression Inventory, Duke Social Support Index, Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test, and Drug Abuse Screening Test. Results: Supporting theory and hypotheses, gratitude was related to less suicide risk via beneficial associations with hopelessness, depression, social support, and substance misuse. Conclusions: The linkage between gratitude and suicide risk appears to be predicated on the beneficial association of gratitude to negative mood and interpersonal functioning.

Underlying pathway of factors leading to mental health in Iranian young adolescents: A structural equation modeling.

Background:The present study aimed to provide a field-tested model of constituting factors affecting mental health in young Iranian adolescents.Materials and Methods:In this cross-sectional study, a conceptual model was proposed based on an extensive literature review. A total of 254 young adolescents aged 11–14 years were recruited from north, south, east, and west regions of Tehran megacity by a random cluster sampling procedure, of whom 244 adolescents participated. The adolescents and their mothers altogether completed eight questionnaires pertaining to the proposed conceptual model: (1) Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), (2) Childhood Experience of Care and Abuse Questionnaire, (3) Child Exposure to Domestic Violence Scale, (4) Drug Abuse Screening Test-10, (5) Baumrind Parenting Style Questionnaire, (6) Conflict Behavior Questionnaire, (7) General Health Questionnaire-28, and (8) Garmaroodi Socioeconomic Status Questionnaire. The statistical analysis was performed using structural equation modeling.Results:This study demonstrated that parent mental health (b = −0.111), experience of father's care (b = −1.112), conflict with mother (b = 0.309), conflict with father (b = 0.135), and exposure to domestic violence (b = 0.217), as well as age (b = 0.93) and gender (b = 0.139), had direct effect on adolescent mental health (all P < 0.05). Further, the results showed that exposure to domestic violence and conflict with mother had the greatest direct impact on adolescent mental health among all other family-related factors, followed by conflict with father and parent mental health. Conflict with mother and conflict with father also affected adolescent mental health indirectly through experience of domestic violence and had a mediating effect for the influence of several other factors on adolescent mental health, thus playing an important role in the pathway leading to young adolescent mental health status in the Iranian population.Conclusion:Overall, the final model proved to be fit and the factors constituting the final model were able to predict 88% of the variations in the mental health of Iranian adolescents. This model can guide clinical psychologists, psychiatrists, and other mental health workers in a more realistic and effective prevention or treatment planning for their young clients. Moreover, it may help in arriving at a comprehensive preventive policymaking for mental health policymakers.

The Psychometric Properties of the Drug Abuse Screening Test.

BackgroundSubstance abuse is a critical problem in most countries, especially in developing ones. Early detection is the pre-requisite of early control, for which reliable and valid tools are required. In the present study, we aimed at measuring the psychometric properties of the 10-item Drug Abuse Screening Test (DAST-10) in Iranian individuals.MethodsAfter translation and back-translation of the questionnaire, 244 adults were recruited from Tehran Megacity, Iran, and completed the questionnaires. Participants were recruited by a multistage randomized cluster sampling method. Reliability was determined by Cronbach’s alpha. Also, construct validity was evaluated using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and exploratory factor analysis (EFA).FindingsThe internal consistency using Cronbach's alpha coefficients for the total score of the Persian version of DAST-10 was 0.93. EFA evoked only one factor for DAST-10. The CFA for 1-factor models for DAST-10 indicated an acceptable fit for the proposed models.ConclusionThe results prove desirable reliability and validity of the Persian version of the DAST which can be utilized as a screening instrument for drug abuse among Iranian adults.

Remission of Food Addiction Does Not Induce Cross-Addiction after Sleeve Gastrectomy and Gastric Bypass: A Prospective Cohort Study

Background: The hypothesis of “cross-addiction” has never been validated, and numerous aspects speak against it. Objectives: To compare the differences between sleeve gastrectomy (SG) and gastric bypass (GB) procedures concerning cross-addiction. Setting: Center for maximum care in Germany. Methods: We performed a prospective analysis of patients undergoing SG or GB as the first surgical treatment for severe obesity. All patients completed validated questionnaires to evaluate food intake (Yale Food Addiction Scale, YFAS), alcohol intake (Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test), nicotine use (Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence), exercise (Exercise Addiction Inventory), drug addiction (20-item Drug Abuse Screening Test), and Internet use disorder (Internet Addiction Test) before the operation (T0) and 6 (T6) and 24 (T24) months postoperatively (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02757716). Results: One hundred thirteen patients underwent SG (n = 68) or GB (n = 45). At the follow-up, 61% completed the questionnaires at T6 and 44% at T24. In the YFAS, the percentage of patients diagnosed with food addiction decreased from 69 to 10%, and the mean symptom count decreased from 3.52 ± 1.95 to 1.26 ± 0.99 at T24 (p < 0.0001); these values did not differ between the surgical groups (p = 0.784). No significant evidence of cross-addiction was observed for use of alcohol, nicotine, drugs, the Internet, or exercise in either surgical group. The percentage of patients with moderate nicotine dependence increased in the SG group (+8.9%) at T24, but this was not significant. Conclusion: In this single-center cohort study, surgery for obesity caused significant addiction remission regarding food but without inducing cross-addiction after 2 years. Importantly, no significant differences were seen between the SG and GB procedures.

The Relationship between Parenting Style and The Risk of Drug Abuse Among Youth

Drug abuse is one of the most serious social issues in Malaysia. Therefore, this quantitative study was conducted to identify the relationship between parenting styles and the risk of drug abuse among youths. A set of questionnaires were distributed to respondents at IKTBN Chembong. A total of 123 students of IKTBN Chembong were involved in this study. Two instruments were used in this study, Baumrind's Parenting Styles Questionnaire (1967) and the Drug Abuse Screening Test (DAST-20). The results showed that authoritative parenting style was the highest style used by parents (37.86%) followed by authoritarian parenting style (35.32%) while permissive parenting style was (30.01%). Testing for hypotheses was carried out using the Pearson Correlation test. The findings show that there is a significant correlation between permissive parenting style and drug abuse risk (r = .61). Authoritarian parenting lifestyle with drug abuse risks showed a weak and positive relationship (r =.119) while for authoritative parenting style with drug abuse risks showed a weak and negative relationship (r = .005). The implication of this study is the importance of parenting styles in dealing with the risks of drug abuse against youth in the future.

Relationship between Religiosity and Risky Behaviours of Taking Drugs Among Youth

Drug addiction is a phenomenon that constantly threatens the nation. The threat to youth is particularly worrying as these youths are expected to pursue future development of our country. At the same time, for young Muslims, they are increasingly abandoning the practice of Islam that can clearly guide one's actions in everyday life. This study aims to look at the relationship between religiosity and risky behaviour of taking drugs among youth. The findings of this correlational study are presented in descriptive and inferential. 127 students were selected in this study. The Religiosity and Personality Index (MRPI) and the Drug Abuse Screening Test (DAST-20) had been used as the instruments of the study. Cronbach’s Alpha for the whole of the MRPI Islamic Worldview Scale, MRPI Religious Personality Scale and DAST-20 are 0.697 (19 items), 0.931 (27 items) and 0.690 (20 items) respectively. The data obtained were analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS20). The findings show that the Islamic Worldview of MRPI is at a moderate level (51.2%), Religious Personality of MRPI is at a high level (63.8%), while DAST-20 is at the level of case exploration (51.2%). Finally, implications of the study and suggestions for further research and contributions were also discussed.

Veteran-nonveteran differences in alcohol and drug misuse by tobacco use status in Alabama SBIRT

ABSTRACTAlcohol and substance use can challenge military veterans who live in rural communities. In 2016, the screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment in Alabama (AL-SBIRT) program was implemented in west Alabama. The primary aim of this study was to determine whether current tobacco use modified the relationship between veteran status and substance misuse. Self-reported wellness data was collected regarding substance, alcohol, or tobacco consumption. Risk levels for alcohol and drug use were measured using the United States Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (US-AUDIT) and the Drug Abuse Screening Test (DAST)-10. Substance and tobacco use were significantly and positively correlated. Veterans had a higher US-AUDIT and DAST score than nonveterans, and tobacco appeared to be an exacerbating factor. Effective evidence-based interventions are needed in rural settings. Technology based programs and motivational interviewing with trained clinicians may serve as beneficial and cost-effective interventions for tobacco use prevention and cessation efforts.

Positive urgency partially mediates the relationship between childhood adversity and problems associated with substance use in an undergraduate population

BackgroundChildhood adversity predicts the development of substance use problems in young adulthood. Building on past work examining the mediating role of impulsivity in the relationship between childhood maltreatment and substance use in alcohol and nicotine users, this study examined the relationship with other substances in a representative undergraduate sample. In addition, the study aimed to determine whether there was convergence in findings between different measures of childhood adversity and impulsivity. Method309 undergraduate students completed self-report questionnaires assessing childhood adversity (Childhood Trauma Questionnaire – CTQ; Adverse Childhood Experience Scale – ACE), impulsivity (Short UPPS-P; Barratt Impulsivity Scale – BIS-11) and problems associated with substance use (Drug Abuse Screening Test – DAST-10). ResultsThe SUPPS-P positive urgency facet partially mediated the relationship between CTQ and DAST-10 (b = 0.0039, 95% CI [0.0008, 0.0086]), as well as between ACE and DAST-10 (b = 0.015, 95% CI [0.0014, 0.0446]). The BIS-11 motor facet partially mediated the effect of CTQ on DAST-10 (b = 0.0017, 95% CI [0.0002, 0.0054]). ConclusionPositive urgency partially mediated the relationship between childhood maltreatment and substance use problems for both the CTQ and ACE. While these results are consistent with past studies showing a selective mediation effect of positive urgency in a sample of young adults, they are inconsistent with those showing a selective mediation effect of negative urgency in a sample of heavy drinkers. Together, these findings suggest that the relationship between childhood adversity, impulsivity, and substance use-related problems may be influenced by experience.