Drug Use In Adults Research Articles

Preventive parenting intervention during childhood and young black adults' unhealthful behaviors: a randomized controlled trial.

Lifestyle variables such as drug use and excessive weight gain contribute to adult morbidity and mortality. This study was designed to determine whether participation in a preventive intervention designed to enhance supportive parenting can reduce drug use and body mass index (BMI) in young Black adults from disadvantaged neighborhoods. This study was conducted in the rural southeastern United States. Black parents and their 11-year-old children (517 families) were assigned randomly to the Strong African American Families (SAAF) prevention trial or a control condition. Data assessing neighborhood socioeconomic status and supportive parenting were obtained when the youths were ages 11 and 16. When youths were ages 19-21 and 25, drug use and BMI were measured. As hypothesized, significant three-way interactions were detected among neighborhood disadvantage, prevention condition, and gender for BMI (B=3.341, p=.009, 95% CI [0.832, 5.849]) and substance use (B=-0.169, p=.049, 95% CI [-0.337, -0.001]). Living in a disadvantaged neighborhood during adolescence was associated with increased drug use among young men in the control group (simple-slope=0.215, p<.003) but not among those in the SAAF condition (simple-slope=0.030, p=.650). Neighborhood disadvantage was associated with elevated BMI among young women in the control group (simple-slope=3.343, p<.001), but not in the SAAF condition (simple-slope=0.204, p=.820). The results suggest that participation during childhood in a preventive intervention to enhance supportive parenting can ameliorate the effects of life in a disadvantaged neighborhood on men's drug use and women's BMI across ages 19-25years. These findings suggest a possible role for parenting enhancement programs in narrowing health disparities.

Sexualised drug use among sexual minority young adults in the United States: The P18 cohort study

BackgroundSubstance use and condomless sexual behaviours are both well studied in sexual minority men, but few researchers have used event-level data collection to examine sexualised drug use in sexual and gender minority young adults. The aim of this study is to describe the co-occurrence of sex under the influence of substances and condomless sexual behaviours, using nuanced event-level data, in a racially/ethnically and socioeconomically diverse sample in New York City. MethodsData from one wave of a cohort of sexual and gender minority young adults who were assigned male at birth (n = 500) were used to characterise co-occurrence of sex under the influence of drugs and condomless sexual behaviours (oral receptive, anal insertive, and anal receptive sex), in the last 30 days. Logistic regression models were constructed to assess associations between sex while high and condomless sexual behaviours, controlling for sociodemographic factors. ResultsPreliminary analyses indicated significant associations between engaging in sex while high and condomless sexual behaviours. In unadjusted regression models, sexualised and non-sexualised drug use were both significantly associated with increased odds of condomless sexual behaviours. In adjusted models, sexualised drug use remained significantly associated with condomless anal insertive sex (AOR = 3.57) and condomless anal receptive sex (AOR = 4.98). Having multiple sexual partners was also significantly associated with greater odds of condomless sexual activity in all three adjusted models. ConclusionMultivariable analyses indicated that engaging in sex while high on any drug was associated with increased condomless sexual behaviour, but that sexualised drug use was associated with particularly elevated condomless anal sex. These findings provide insight for understanding the co-occurrence of substance use and condomless sex, and suggest a need for HIV/STI risk reduction strategies that address the role of sexualised drug use.

HealthCall delivered via smartphone to reduce co-occurring drug and alcohol use in HIV-infected adults: A randomized pilot trial

AimsCo-occurrence of drug and alcohol use among people living with HIV is linked to poor medication adherence and lack of viral suppression. HealthCall, a technological enhancement of brief Motivational Interviewing (MI), involves brief daily self-monitoring, positive reinforcement, and personalized feedback. This randomized pilot study among people living with HIV investigated the feasibility and efficacy of reducing non-injection drug and alcohol use with MI+HealthCall as adapted for smartphone technology. DesignAn urban, largely-minority community sample of adults living with HIV were screened for eligibility: last 30 day use of non-injection drugs (≥4days of crack/cocaine, methamphetamine, or heroin use) and binge drinking (≥1day of 4+ standard drinks). Those eligible were randomized to one of two groups: MI-only (n=21) and MI+HealthCall-S (n=21). Trained counselors delivered the brief MI at baseline. Drug and alcohol use assessments were completed at baseline, 30 and 60days (end of treatment). Primary outcomes derived from a Timeline Follow Back (TLFB) of the past 30 days included (1) total number of days used primary drug (NumDU) (2) total quantity of primary drug used (dollar amount spent per day; QuantU), (3) total number of drinking days (NumDD) and (4) mean number of drinks per day (QuantDD). Feasibility was determined by HealthCall use rates, patient satisfaction questionnaire (1–5 scale, 5 being best), and retention. FindingsThe median daily use rate for HealthCall was 95%, patient satisfaction was excellent (4.5) and retention was high (93%). Both treatment groups reduced drug and alcohol use by end of treatment, with MI+Healthcall-S showing significantly greater reductions than MI-only in QuantU (p=0.01) and NumDU (p=0.046). P-values for reductions in alcohol quantity and frequency in the MI+Healthcall group were 0.09–0.11. ConclusionsThis proof-of-concept randomized trial indicates that HealthCall on the smartphone is a highly feasible intervention in urban, minority individuals with HIV, and suggests efficacy in reducing co-occurring drug and alcohol use. Results suggest opportunities for brief behavioral intervention that may be enhanced through interactive mobile technology to address complex alcohol and drug use patterns that interfere with HIV care, medication adherence and ultimately, viral suppression. A larger randomized trial is warranted to replicate and extend present results.

Alcohol and recreational drug use in young adults with type 1 diabetes.

Alcohol and other recreational drug use reaches peak prevalence in young adulthood, including for those with chronic medical conditions such as type 1 diabetes. This review summarises the current literature on the patterns of substance use amongst young adults with type 1 diabetes and the mechanisms through which alcohol and recreational drugs may affect diabetes related health outcomes. These include the direct physical effect of intoxication, as well as the effects of alcohol and drugs on mental health and glucose metabolism. Evidence for increased associated mortality and morbidity is also presented, and current guidelines, management strategies and directions for further research are discussed.

Drug Use in Older Adults with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Near the End of Life.

BackgroundAmyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), with its certain prognosis and swift progression, raises concerns regarding the adequacy of pharmacological treatment, including the risk–benefit profiles of prescribed drugs.ObjectiveOur objective was to evaluate the use of prescription drugs over the course of the last year of life in older adults with ALS.MethodsWe conducted a nationwide retrospective cohort study of older adults who died with ALS in Sweden between 2007 and 2013. The primary outcome was the number of prescription drugs to which individuals were exposed during the last 12 months before death.ResultsThe overall proportion of individuals receiving ten or more different prescription drugs increased from 19% at 12 months before death to 37% during the last month of life. Institutionalization was independently associated with polypharmacy near the end of life (odds ratio 1.84; 95% confidence interval 1.42–2.39).ConclusionFuture research is needed to assess the time to benefit of treatments and to develop guidelines for medication discontinuation in advanced ALS.

Smoking, alcohol and drug use in youth and adults with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder.

BackgroundPrevious research suggests a relationship between attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and smoking, alcohol and illicit drug use, however most studies have focused on adolescents or young adults, or clinically ascertained samples.AimsTo analyse population-based data on the relationship between ADHD and at-risk health behaviours in adolescents and adults.MethodData were derived from a Statistics Canada population-based health survey. The association between the diagnosis of ADHD and smoking, alcohol use, and illicit drug use was examined.ResultsIndividuals with ADHD started smoking at a younger age. They consumed more alcoholic drinks on drinking days, and women with ADHD were more likely to engage in binge drinking. Women over the age of 25 and men with ADHD were more likely to meet alcohol-dependence lifetime criteria. People with ADHD were at a greater risk of drug misuse and dependence.ConclusionsPeople with ADHD are more likely to partake in at-risk behaviours.Declaration of interestNone.Copyright and usage© The Royal College of Psychiatrists 2017. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Non-Commercial, No Derivatives (CC BY-NC-ND) license.

Earning, Spending, and Drug Use in a Therapeutic Workplace.

Drug addiction is a chronic, relapsing health problem that is associated with the degree to which individuals choose small, immediate monetary outcomes over larger, delayed outcomes. This study was a secondary analysis exploring the relation between financial choices and drug use in opioid-dependent adults in a therapeutic workplace intervention. Sixty-seven participants were randomly assigned to a condition in which access to paid job training was contingent upon naltrexone adherence (N = 35) or independent of naltrexone adherence (N = 32). Participants could earn approximately $10 per hour for 4 hours every weekday and could exchange earnings for gift cards or bill payments each weekday. Urine was collected and tested for opiates and cocaine thrice weekly. Participants' earning, spending, and drug use were not related to measures of delay discounting obtained prior to the intervention. When financial choices were categorized based on drug use during the intervention, however, those with less frequent drug use or frequent use of one drug spent a smaller proportion of their daily earnings and maintained a higher daily balance than those who frequently tested positive for both drugs (i.e., opiates and cocaine). Several patterns described the relation between cumulative earning and spending including no saving, periods of saving, and sustained saving. One destructive effect of drug use may be that it creates a perpetual zero-balance situation in the lives of users, which in turn prevents them from gaining materials that could help to break the cycle of addiction.

Alcohol and other drug use in older adults: results from a community needs assessment.

With the "Baby Boomer" generation reaching older adulthood, substance abuse treatment providers find themselves needing to address the unique needs of this population. Heavy drinking in adults ages 65 and over is strongly correlated with depression, anxiety, decreased social support, and poor health. However, while alcohol misuse has been shown to be predictive of a lower quality of life in older adults, the generalizability of these findings to urban dwelling, lower socioeconomic status individuals remains unclear. To identify potential treatment needs of this population, a city-funded needs assessment was conducted. Subjects were 249 individuals (44% male) who voluntarily completed measures of quality of life (QOL), depression, and substance abuse. Measures used included the Psychological General Well-Being Schedule, the Geriatric Depression Scale-15, and the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT). Alcohol or substance abuse was reported by over 20% of respondents, with 3.4% of respondents engaged in maladaptive alcohol use. Scores on the AUDIT were predictive of increased depression (r = - .209, p = .01), anxiety (r = - .201, p = .002), lower general well-being (r = - .154, p = .019), and decreased self-control (r = - .157, p = .017). A substantial percentage of the sample reported alcohol and substance misuse. Alcohol use was predictive of depression, global psychological distress, and decreased quality of life. This needs assessment reinforces findings from previous studies and addresses the added dimension of examining this in an urban, lower socioeconomic population.

Prevalence of asthma-triggering drug use in adults and its impact on asthma control

Prevalence of asthma-triggering drug use in adults and its impact on asthma control

The Linkage of Illicit Drug Use / Alcohol Use and HIV Infection in Young Adults

Context: Young adults comprise roughly one-quarter of the global population and are at the developmental stage where personal life goals are formulated and personal independence is obtained. It is also the time of sexual debut and exposure to illicit drug and alcohol. Thus, young adulthood is a time of high-risk for HIV transmission due to drug and alcohol use in the context of sexual activity. Evidence Acquisition: Social-networking, gender norms, economic, educational, familial, personal identity and development factors, among others, play a role in linkage of illicit drug and alcohol use and HIV infection in young adults. Results: It is estimated that young adults account for 42% of new HIV infections globally, and that 4 million young adults living with HIV reside in sub-Saharan Africa. In Central Asia, Eastern Europe and the United States key populations are important subpopulations of young adults at high-risk for living with HIV. Subpopulations of young adults, particularly key populations, consume illicit drug and alcohol along with high-risk sexual activity thereby establishing linkage between substance use/ substance use disorders and HIV infection. Conclusions: Globally, interventions that comprise evidence-based prevention, care and treatment of substance use disorders in young adults are vital to reduce the transmission of HIV infection and promote good clinical outcomes for young adults at-risk for living with HIV.

Auricular acupuncture for substance use: a randomized controlled trial of effects on anxiety, sleep, drug use and use of addiction treatment services.

BackgroundA common alternative treatment for substance abuse is auricular acupuncture. The aim of the study was to evaluate the short and long-term effect of auricular acupuncture on anxiety, sleep, drug use and addiction treatment utilization in adults with substance abuse.MethodOf the patients included, 280 adults with substance abuse and psychiatric comorbidity, 80 were randomly assigned to auricular acupuncture according to the NADA protocol, 80 to auricular acupuncture according to a local protocol (LP), and 120 to relaxation (controls). The primary outcomes anxiety (Beck Anxiety Inventory; BAI) and insomnia (Insomnia Severity Index; ISI) were measured at baseline and at follow-ups 5 weeks and 3 months after the baseline assessment. Secondary outcomes were drug use and addiction service utilization. Complete datasets regarding BAI/ISI were obtained from 37/34 subjects in the NADA group, 28/28 in the LP group and 36/35 controls. Data were analyzed using Chi-square, Analysis of Variance, Kruskal Wallis, Repeated Measures Analysis of Variance, Eta square (η2), and Wilcoxon Signed Ranks tests.ResultsParticipants in NADA, LP and control group improved significantly on the ISI and BAI. There was no significant difference in change over time between the three groups in any of the primary (effect size: BAI, η2 = 0.03, ISI, η2 = 0.05) or secondary outcomes. Neither of the two acupuncture treatments resulted in differences in sleep, anxiety or drug use from the control group at 5 weeks or 3 months.ConclusionNo evidence was found that acupuncture as delivered in this study is more effective than relaxation for problems with anxiety, sleep or substance use or in reducing the need for further addiction treatment in patients with substance use problems and comorbid psychiatric disorders. The substantial attrition at follow-up is a main limitation of the study.Trial registrationClinical Trials NCT02604706 (retrospectively registered).

Anticholinergic Drug Burden in Persons with Dementia Taking a Cholinesterase Inhibitor: The Effect of Multiple Physicians.

ObjectivesTo explore the association between the number of physicians providing care and anticholinergic drug burden in older persons newly initiated on cholinesterase inhibitor therapy for the management of dementia.DesignPopulation‐based cross‐sectional study.SettingCommunity and long‐term care, Ontario, Canada.ParticipantsCommunity‐dwelling (n = 79,067, mean age 81.0, 60.8% female) and long‐term care residing (n = 12,113, mean age 84.3, 67.2% female) older adults (≥66) newly dispensed cholinesterase inhibitor drug therapy.MeasurementsAnticholinergic drug burden in the prior year measured using the Anticholinergic Risk Scale.ResultsCommunity‐dwelling participants had seen an average of eight different physicians in the prior year. The odds of high anticholinergic drug burden (Anticholinergic Risk Scale score ≥ 2) were 24% higher for every five additional physicians providing care to individuals in the prior year (adjusted odds ratio = 1.24, 95% confidence interval = 1.21–1.26). Female sex, low‐income status, previous hospitalization, and higher comorbidity score were also associated with high anticholinergic drug burden. Long‐term care facility residents had seen an average of 10 different physicians in the prior year. After a sensitivity analysis, the association between high anticholinergic burden and number of physicians was no longer statistically significant in the long‐term care group.ConclusionIn older adults newly started on cholinesterase inhibitor drug therapy, greater number of physicians providing care was associated with higher anticholinergic drug burden scores. Given the potential risks of anticholinergic drug use, improved communication among physicians and an anticholinergic medication review before prescribing a new drug are important strategies to improve prescribing quality.

Usos de drogas en la Argentina del final de siglo y milenio

Este artículo desea poner en debate público la complejidad del consumo de drogas, teniendo en cuenta las perspectivas socio-histórica y geopolítica del fenómeno y su impacto en la juventud, a partir de la experiencia laboral del autor de este artículo, realizada en este campo de problemas durante los años '90 en la República Argentina. Desde una postura psicosociológica transdisciplinaria se intenta reflexionar sobre la incidencia de los usos de drogas en sectores juveniles, diferenciando los distintos patrones de uso y proponiendo algunas interpretaciones de las conductas subyacentes en el consumo de sustancias psicoactivas. Se hace especial énfasis en no homologar usos de drogas como el problema de la juventud.

Adverse events and the relation with quality of life in adults with intellectual disability and challenging behaviour using psychotropic drugs

BackgroundPsychotropic drugs are prescribed to approximately 30–40% of adults with intellectual disability (ID) and challenging behaviour, despite the limited evidence of effectiveness and the potential of adverse events. AimsTo assess the prevalence of adverse events in association with psychotropic drug use in adults with ID and challenging behaviour and to examine the relation of these adverse events with the person's quality of life. MethodThe presence of adverse events was measured with a questionnaire that had to be filled in by the physicians of the participants. Movement disorders were measured separately with a standardised protocol. The strength of the association between adverse events and Intellectual Disability Quality of Life-16 (IDQOL-16), and daily functioning was investigated using linear regression analyses, taking into account the severity of disease (CGI-S) as potential confounder. ResultsVirtually all of 103 adults with ID and challenging behaviour had at least one adverse event (84.4%) and almost half had ≥3 adverse events (45.6%) across different subclasses. Using psychotropic drugs increased the prevalence of adverse events significantly. Respectively 13% of the patients without psychotropic drugs and 61% of the patients with ≥2 psychotropic drugs had ≥3 adverse events. Having adverse events had a significantly negative influence on the quality of life. ConclusionsA large majority of all patients had at least one adverse event associated with psychotropic drug use. More attention is needed for these adverse events and their negative influence on the quality of life of these patients, taking into account the lack of evidence of effectiveness of psychotropic drugs for challenging behaviour.

American Geriatrics Society 2015 Updated Beers Criteria for Potentially Inappropriate Medication Use in Older Adults.

The 2015 American Geriatrics Society (AGS) Beers Criteria are presented. Like the 2012 AGS Beers Criteria, they include lists of potentially inappropriate medications to be avoided in older adults. New to the criteria are lists of select drugs that should be avoided or have their dose adjusted based on the individual's kidney function and select drug-drug interactions documented to be associated with harms in older adults. The specific aim was to have a 13-member interdisciplinary panel of experts in geriatric care and pharmacotherapy update the 2012 AGS Beers Criteria using a modified Delphi method to systematically review and grade the evidence and reach a consensus on each existing and new criterion. The process followed an evidence-based approach using Institute of Medicine standards. The 2015 AGS Beers Criteria are applicable to all older adults with the exclusion of those in palliative and hospice care. Careful application of the criteria by health professionals, consumers, payors, and health systems should lead to closer monitoring of drug use in older adults.

Sexual Minority Health Disparities in Adult Men and Women in the United States: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2001-2010.

We used nationally representative data to investigate health disparities associated with sexual minority status among adults in the United States. We analyzed data from 11,114 adults who participated in the 2001 to 2010 waves of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Using multiple logistic regressions, we examined the prevalence of HIV, sexually transmitted infections, mental health problems, cigarette smoking, and alcohol and illicit drug use in sexual minorities and heterosexual adults. After adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics, sexual minority men had greater odds of mental health problems, testing positive for HIV and herpes simplex virus type 2 and self-reported gonorrhea and chlamydia. Sexual minority women had greater odds of mental health problems, testing positive for hepatitis C, smoking, heavy drinking, and illicit drug use. Numerous health disparities continue to face sexual minority men and women in the United States. Notably, health disparities persisted beyond the role of sociodemographic factors, including access to insurance and primary care, suggesting that further research is warranted to identify the determinants of health inequity for sexual minorities.

Risk and protective factors for recreational and hard drug use among Malaysian adolescents and young adults

IntroductionThis study investigated risk and protective factors for recreational and hard drug use in Malaysian adolescents and young adults. MethodsParticipants (n=859; M age=17.24years, SD=2.75years, range=13–25years; 59% male) were recruited from secondary schools, technical colleges, a juvenile detention center and a national training center in Malaysia. A version of the Communities That Care survey validated for use in Malaysia (Razali & Kliewer, 2015) was used to assess study constructs. ResultsOne in 6 adolescents and 1 in 3 young adults reported lifetime recreational and hard drug use, with greater use reported by males across all drug categories. Structural equation modeling was used to determine the strongest risk and protective factors for recreational and hard drug use. The overall pattern of findings was similar for recreational and hard drug use. Shared risk factors for lifetime recreational and hard drug use included early initiation of antisocial behavior, peer antisocial behavior, and peer reinforcement for engaging in antisocial behavior; shared protective factors included religious practices and opportunities for prosocial school involvement. Multiple group analyses comparing adolescents and young adults indicated that patterns of risk and protective factors predicting drug use differed across these age groups. There were fewer significant predictors of either recreational or hard drug use for young adults relative to adolescents. ConclusionsResults suggest that interventions should target multiple microsystems (e.g., peer groups, family systems, school environments) and be tailored to the developmental stage of the individual.

Prospective relationship between poor sleep and substance-related problems in a national sample of adolescents.

Previous studies showed that poor sleep prospectively predicted alcohol-related problems and illicit drug use in adolescents and young adults (Wong and Brower, 2012; Wong etal., 2010). However, more work needs to be done to elucidate the nature of these problems. The purpose of this study was to examine whether sleep difficulties and hours of sleep prospectively predicted several serious substance-related problems, for example, binge drinking, driving under the influence of alcohol, and risky sexual behavior. Study participants were 6,504 adolescents from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health. Data were collected from interviews and questionnaires. This study analyzed data from the first 3 waves of data (T1: 1994 to 1995; T2: 1996; T3: 2001 to 2002). In all analyses, we used sleep difficulties at a previous wave to predict substance-related problems at a subsequent wave, while controlling for substance-related problems at a previous wave. Holding T1 alcohol-related problems constant, sleep difficulties at T1 significantly predicted alcohol-related interpersonal problems, binge drinking, gotten drunk or very high on alcohol, driving under the influence of alcohol, getting into a sexual situation one later regretted due to drinking, ever using any illicit drugs, and drug-related problems at T2. T1 hours of sleep negatively predicted T2 alcohol-related interpersonal problems and binge drinking. The relationship between T2 sleep variables and T3 substance-related problems was consistent with previous waves, although the effect was weaker. Sleep difficulties and hours of sleep are a significant predictor of a number of substance-related problems. It may be useful to educate adolescents about the importance of sleep, sleep hygiene, and the potential consequences of poor sleep on drinking and related behaviors.

Latent class analysis of discordance between results of drug use assessments in the CATIE data

ObjectiveThe primary aim is to examine concordant/discordant results of drug use assessments in adults with schizophrenia. MethodsLatent class analysis and multinomial logistic regression were used to examine concordance/discordance between drug use measures and identify characteristics differentiating participants across classes. ResultsFour classes – non-users, users, probable users, and RIA discordant – fit best. Age, sex, race/ethnicity, and psychiatric symptoms differed significantly across classes. ConclusionsFindings showed that discordance between results occurs at non-trivial rates and is, in part, attributable to individual characteristics. Results suggest the need for strategies to limit discordance and improve detection of drug use in adults with schizophrenia.

Predictors of onset of cannabis and other drug use in male young adults: results from a longitudinal study.

BackgroundThe use of cannabis and other illegal drugs is particularly prevalent in male young adults and is associated with severe health problems. This longitudinal study explored variables associated with the onset of cannabis use and the onset of illegal drug use other than cannabis separately in male young adults, including demographics, religion and religiosity, health, social context, substance use, and personality. Furthermore, we explored how far the gateway hypothesis and the common liability to addiction model are in line with the resulting prediction models.MethodsThe data were gathered within the Cohort Study on Substance Use Risk Factors (C-SURF). Young men aged around 20 years provided demographic, social, health, substance use, and personality-related data at baseline. Onset of cannabis and other drug use were assessed at 15-months follow-up. Samples of 2,774 and 4,254 individuals who indicated at baseline that they have not used cannabis and other drugs, respectively, in their life and who provided follow-up data were used for the prediction models. Hierarchical logistic stepwise regressions were conducted, in order to identify predictors of the late onset of cannabis and other drug use separately.ResultsNot providing for oneself, having siblings, depressiveness, parental divorce, lower parental knowledge of peers and the whereabouts, peer pressure, very low nicotine dependence, and sensation seeking were positively associated with the onset of cannabis use. Practising religion was negatively associated with the onset of cannabis use. Onset of drug use other than cannabis showed a positive association with depressiveness, antisocial personality disorder, lower parental knowledge of peers and the whereabouts, psychiatric problems of peers, problematic cannabis use, and sensation seeking.ConclusionsConsideration of the predictor variables identified within this study may help to identify young male adults for whom preventive measures for cannabis or other drug use are most appropriate. The results provide evidence for both the gateway hypothesis and the common liability to addiction model and point to further variables like depressiveness or practising of religion that might influence the onset of drug use.