Improving Substance Abuse Research Articles

The Effectiveness of the Project of White Schools Free from Drugs and Vices for Prevention of Substance Abuse Among University Students, Mahasarakham Province, Thailand

Background: Adolescent substance use in Thailand is a serious problem that has adverse effects on their physical and mental health and social life. Therefore, there is an urgent need for effective interventions to improve substance abuse outcomes among adolescents. Methods: A mixed-methods research was conducted on 1392 university students in Mahasarakham Province, Thailand, from May to September 2023 to assess the predictors of drug abuse prevention behaviours. Additionally, action research was used to develop and evaluate the project for the prevention of substance use. The data were collected through a self-administered questionnaire. Data were analyzed by SPSS version 25.0. Multiple linear regression analysis and an independent samples t-test were applied to analyze the data. Results: Most students (46.84%) had a moderate level of drug prevention behaviour. Additionally, social support from the university, peer groups, family relationships, and self-control were significant predictors of substance abuse prevention behaviours. In terms of the effectiveness of white school free from drugs and vice, most subjects reported high levels of substance abuse prevention behaviours. The most effective factors in preventing drug abuse and solving drug-related problems included support from the university, friends, family, self-esteem, and stakeholders. Conclusion: Self-control, family relationships, peer group support, and social support from the university were correlated with substance abuse prevention behaviour among university students. The project of White School Free from Drugs and Vices was found to be an effective intervention in preventing substance abuse, encouraging students to promote drug abuse prevention behaviours.

The Current Study and Potential Treatment of Drug Abuse

It has been a long time since China started to strictly control drug transaction and usage. There are increasing compulsory detoxification institution, institutions to do voluntary de-toxification, and community drug treatment rehabilitation. These detoxification institutions implement medication detoxification, psychological detoxification, and doing moral & physical education, aiming at helping the rehabilitation personnel and reduce the relapse rate after getting treatment in the compulsory detoxification institution. To avoid reoccur-rence and suffering from a long-term imprisonment for drug control, biomedical research to improve drug abuse treatment and addiction prevention are in need. This paper is going to summarize the previous and ongoing research on the mechanisms of addiction, together with the approaches of the drug abuse treatment to state some analysis and suggestion about the scientific ways to help drug rehabilitation to find more effective and efficient ways for the treatment of drug abuse to decrease the relapse rate and rehabilitated time.

Improving Substance Use Prevention, Assessment, and Treatment Financing to Enhance Equity and Improve Outcomes Among Children, Adolescents, and Young Adults.

Access to timely prevention and treatment services remains challenging for many children, adolescents, young adults, and families affected by substance use. The American Academy of Pediatrics recognizes the scope and urgency of this problem and has developed this policy statement for consideration by Congress, federal and state policy makers, and public and private payers. This policy statement updates the 2001 policy statement "Improving Substance Abuse Prevention, Assessment, and Treatment Financing for Children and Adolescents" and provides recommendations for financing substance use prevention, assessment, and treatment of children, adolescents, and young adults.

The application of theory of planned behavior in improving substance abuse prevention behaviors in male high school students

The application of theory of planned behavior in improving substance abuse prevention behaviors in male high school students

Managing, Profiling and Family Support of Malaysian Women Drug Abuse Inmates

Women engaging in the use of drugs have not only adverse effects on the country but also impose significant challenges in managing their incarceration and maintaining stable family structures. The review, therefore, aims to identify the approach of Malaysian Prison Department (PRIDE) in managing women’s drug abuse inmates as well as to explore their addiction experiences and, to determine the extent of family relationships they have by applied quantitative approach and cross-sectional analysis. One hundred fifty women respondent selected from the random stratified sample of Kajang Women Prison, Selangor inmates. Data then analyzed by using descriptive analysis. Results from this study provide an insight into the practical method by PRIDE to reduce demand through drug treatment and rehabilitation and to reduce supply and improving detection. The results of the study showed that majority of the respondents were Malay, Muslim, age range between 31 to 40 years, highest education level at SPM/MCE/SPVM and still single. More than half of the respondents were self-employed with monthly income between RM1001.00 to RM2000.00. A majority had been imprisonment between two to five times, with six to ten years length of addiction and, methamphetamines become the most drug had been abuse. Finding also showed that the majority of drug inmates engaged in a high level of family relationship. Findings from this research yielded vast implications to improve drug abuse safety and security as well as treatment and rehabilitation programs, particularly among women drug abuse inmates in Malaysia.

Screen printed electrode-based biosensor functionalized with magnetic cobalt/single-chain antibody fragments for cocaine biosensing in different matrices

On-site detection of substance abuse is an important approach in the preventive and intervention protocols implementations. It is known that the traditional methods are heavy, time-consuming, and need a high level of logistical requirements. As such, biosensors represent great potential to simplify and improve substance abuse detection. In this study, we have designed a functionalized screen-printed electrode (SPE) electrochemical biosensor with cobalt oxide nanoparticles and single-chain antibody fragments (scFvs) for cocaine detection. Different electrochemical techniques such as differential pulse voltammetry, cyclic voltammetry, and electrochemical impedance spectrometry were used to examine the functionality of the designed biosensor. Furthermore, SEM observations were performed to observe the surface changes after functionalization. The results showed that the linearity ranged between 5.0 and 250 ng/mL and a detection limit of 3.6 ng/mL (n = 6). These results were compared to results obtained from Q-TOF/MS where four different matrices (serum, sweat, urine, and saliva) were spiked with 100 ng/mL cocaine and were analyzed by both methods (Biosensor and Q-TOF/MS). Results showed a higher performance of the biosensor compared to traditional methods. In addition, the selectivity of the biosensor was shown in the presence of different interferents where the designed platform showed a specific response to only cocaine. In conclusion, the designed biosensor proposes great potential for portable and on-site substance abuse detection in addition to boasting the capability of reuse of the SPE and thus, reducing the costs related to such applications.

Reinforcing exercise to improve drug abuse treatment outcomes: A randomized controlled study in a substance use disorder outpatient treatment setting.

Exercise holds potential to reduce substance use, but engaging patients in exercise regimens is challenging. Contingency management (CM) interventions can directly address adherence by targeting initiation and maintenance of exercise behavior. This study evaluated the efficacy of a CM-reinforced exercise intervention as an adjunct to standard outpatient substance use disorder treatment. Participants were 120 patients with substance use disorders who were randomly assigned to standard care with CM for completing exercise goals or CM for completing general nonexercise goals weekly for a 4-month treatment period. Urine samples were tested for evidence of illicit substance use up to twice a week during treatment and at follow-ups through month 12. Results found that the CM-exercise condition demonstrated during-treatment improvements on several physical activity and relevant psychosocial functioning indices (e.g., self-efficacy for exercise). The CM-exercise condition had no advantage relative to the CM-general condition in decreasing substance use. Overall, this study adds to a small body of well-powered trials assessing effects of exercise interventions as adjunct treatment for substance use disorders and finds no benefit over an alternate CM approach in terms of drug abstinence. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).

Supplemental Material for Reinforcing Exercise to Improve Drug Abuse Treatment Outcomes: A Randomized Controlled Study in a Substance Use Disorder Outpatient Treatment Setting

Supplemental Material for Reinforcing Exercise to Improve Drug Abuse Treatment Outcomes: A Randomized Controlled Study in a Substance Use Disorder Outpatient Treatment Setting

Implementing a Provider Partnership to Improve Substance Abuse and Child Welfare Outcomes in Urban High-Needs Parents

This Practice Note describes the implementation of a partnership between child welfare and substance use providers in New York City, with the aim of supporting cross-systems collaboration and improving outcomes for dually involved families. Specifically, this report focuses on improving both coordination and communication between a preventive child welfare service provider (Montefiore Family Treatment & Rehabilitation Program), an outpatient substance abuse treatment provider (Montefiore Division of Substance Abuse), and the local department of social services (New York City Administration for Children’s Services). This article identifies general challenges with collaboration, describes how this collaboration was created and implemented in New York City, and provides guidance for other entities that are attempting to create similar collaborations.

Prevalence, risk and protective factors for substance abuse among homeless males living in Tehran

ABSTRACTBackground: Substance use is significantly more prevalent among the homeless, compared to the general population. However, the risk and protective factors for substance abuse among homeless population have not been well defined. Objectives: We examined risk and protective factors for substance abuse among homeless in Tehran. Methods: A total of 193 homeless people from Tehran were interviewed during the autumn 2015 about substance and alcohol use and other social factors associated with drug use disorders. A binary logistic regression model was used to examine the relationship between substance abuse and a set of predictive variables. Results: Prevalence of drug abuse was 61.14% (95% CI: 55.20, 68.8). The most frequent used drugs were recognized to be: heroin, methamphetamine, and opium with prevalence rates of 51.54%, 36.08%, and 16.49%, respectively. Having a stronger social network and being married were of protective factors, while smoking and having history of incarceration turned out to be the risk factors for substance abuse among Iranian homeless people. Conclusion: Results suggested that risk and protective factors may be substantial mechanisms by which to improve substance abuse consequences and apply better contextualize prevention as well as planning early intervention policies for the homeless men.

Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs: Does the Arizona CSPMP Provide More Information than Routinely Collected in an Inpatient Psychiatric Facility?

Background: Prescription drug monitoring programs (PDMPs) have been implemented as tools to help identify misuse of prescription medications. There has been mixed data regarding the efficacy of PDMP, and physician attitudes towards it vary. In an inpatient psychiatric hospital, history of substance use, including prescription medications, and results of urine drug screens (UDS) are obtained during the admission interview. Objectives: The aim was to determine if the substance use history and UDS are sufficient to identify substance use as compared to information obtained by Arizona’s Controlled Substance Prescription Monitoring Program (CSPMP) in an inpatient setting. Methods: A prospective chart review was completed on all newly admitted patients to the behavioral units within a 30-day period to identify those that had substance use disorder. CSPMP records were checked for all subjects for patterns of misuse. The test results were not normally distributed, so non-parametric tests were chosen for analyses. Results: Of the 220 patients admitted, 127 patients had a substance use diagnosis. Out of the 127 patients, 67(30.5 %) were diagnosed with either opioid, benzodiazepine or amphetamine and stimulant use disorder. Of the 125 (56.8%) patients who had a substance use disorder, the substance abuse diagnosis had been made by the psychiatrist in the medical chart. CSPMP identified only 2 (0.8%) additional patients that were missed during the intake. Conclusions: The CSPMP provided little benefit to improving substance abuse detection when compared with the clinical interview and UDS results. This is attributed to the comprehensive evaluation done during the intake.

The Mediating Effect of Adelante brand equity on Latino Immigrant Positive Youth Development Outcomes

This paper reports on mediation analysis of effects of the Adelante brand, an innovative program for Latino immigrant adolescents and their families, and positive youth development (PYD) outcomes. Specific objectives were to increase adolescent engagement and participation in a community-based program called Adelante, based on PYD theory, which sought to reduce substance use, sexual risk taking, and interpersonal violence among Latino immigrant youth. A total of 238 parent-child dyads were recruited from a predominantly low-income Latino immigrant community and followed for an average of 22 months. Measures included demographics; acculturation; stress and coping; social support; violence, substance use, and sexual risk attitudes; future expectations; the Adelante brand equity scale; and PYD asset measures. Multiple regression modeling shows that the leadership brand equity construct is associated with decreased proviolence and increased antiviolence attitudes. Additionally, having any program exposure (vs. none) is associated with improved substance abuse attitudes in models adjusting for the loyalty brand equity construct. In mediation analysis, we observed a mediating effect of the leadership brand equity construct on improved antiviolence attitudes among those exposed to the Adelante program. As found in previous research, Adelante brand equity operated as a mediator of program effects on Latino youth PYD outcomes.

Factors Associated with the Number of Substance Abuse Nonprofits in the U.S. States: Focusing on Medicaid Expansion, Certificate of Need, and Ownership

AbstractThe Affordable Care Act improved substance abuse service coverage and increased demand for these services. Presumably, these changes also influenced the number of substance abuse nonprofits in states. State decisions for Medicaid expansion have the potential to influence nonprofits' decisions to establish new facilities, increasing the demand for these services. In addition, Certificate of Need (CON), that is, state regulation of new health services and facilities, can affect nonprofits' responses to increased demand for substance abuse services. This study provides evidence that the number of nonprofit substance abuse facilities is negatively associated with state decisions to expand Medicaid and state regulation of new health services and facilities. However, in states with both Medicaid expansion and CON, the number of nonprofit substance abuse facilities tended to increase. In addition, evidence suggests that both nonprofit and for-profit substance abuse facilities are negatively influenced by Medicaid expansion and CON, but positively influenced by the interaction of Medicaid expansion and CON, government spending, racial diversity, median income, and uninsured rates.

Circulating cytokine levels are associated with symptoms of depression and anxiety among people with alcohol and drug use disorders

BackgroundPsychological distress is common among people with a substance abuse disorder in treatment. Identifying correlates of psychological distress may serve as points of intervention to improve substance abuse treatment outcomes. Immune function measured as cytokine levels have been associated with psychological distress, but this association remains unexplored among people with a substance abuse disorder in treatment. This study aimed to examine whether cytokine levels in patients treated for a substance use disorder were related to depression, anxiety, and overall psychological distress, and to observe these associations separately among people with a past year alcohol use disorder and those with a past year drug use disorder. MethodsWe collected cross-sectional data from 80 inpatients at five alcohol and substance abuse treatment centers in Norway. We determined alcohol and drug diagnoses, and assessed symptoms of depression, anxiety, and overall psychological distress. We tested blood samples for IL-1, IL-6, TNF-α, INF-γ, and IL-10. We used multivariate linear regressions to examine the associations between cytokine levels and psychological distress measures. ResultsAll cytokines were significantly and positively associated with depression score. INF-γ was significantly and negatively associated with anxiety, and IL-6 was significantly and positively associated psychological distress. Among people with only an alcohol use disorder, IL-6 was positively associated with depression and psychological distress scores, and IL-10 was negatively associated with anxiety score. Among people with only a drug use disorder, TNF-α was positively associated with depression score. ConclusionThe relationship between immune function and psychological distress is robust in the context of substance abuse, and further research is warranted.

Contingency management treatment for substance use disorders: How far has it come, and where does it need to go?

Contingency management (CM) interventions consistently improve substance abuse treatment outcomes, yet CM remains a highly controversial intervention and is rarely implemented in practice settings. This article briefly outlines the evidence base of CM and then describes 4 of the most often-cited concerns about it: philosophical, motivational, durability, and economic. Data supporting and refuting each of these issues are reviewed. The article concludes with suggestions to address these matters and other important areas for CM research and implementation, with the aims of improving uptake of this efficacious intervention in practice settings and outcomes of patients with substance use disorders. (PsycINFO Database Record

“This Treatment Can Really Help Me”-A Longitudinal Analysis of Treatment Readiness and Its Predictors in Patients Undergoing Alcohol and Drug Rehabilitation Treatment

There is evidence that patients entering alcohol or drug treatment have different levels of treatment readiness and change their motivation differently over time. Nonetheless, existing studies mainly use single measures of motivation and do not consider individual differences. This study addresses 2 questions: (i) How does treatment readiness change in patients with alcohol and drug use dependence over the course of an inpatient rehabilitation treatment?; and (ii) Can changes in treatment readiness be explained by sociodemographic and substance use-related characteristics? Data from 177 alcohol-dependent patients and 152 drug-dependent patients were collected in 2 inpatient rehabilitation centers in Germany. Three single-item indicators of treatment readiness were assessed weekly over the course of the treatment. Sociodemographic and substance use-related characteristics were assessed at baseline. To model developments of treatment readiness that may be different for each patient, multilevel analyses for longitudinal data were used. The overall effect of time on treatment readiness was not significant, indicating that average motivation across all patients did not change over the course of the treatment. However, individuals showed different initial states and different rates of change. School education, employment status, earlier substance use treatments, and craving predicted treatment readiness. Interactions with time were found for craving and marital status. The results suggest that it is necessary to consider individual differences when evaluating treatment motivation in alcohol- and drug-dependent patients. The identification of variables predicting motivation may help to improve substance abuse treatment contents and outcomes.

Seek, test, treat: substance-using women in the HIV treatment cascade in South Africa

BackgroundWomen in South Africa who use alcohol and other drugs face multiple barriers to HIV care. These barriers make it difficult for women to progress through each step in the HIV treatment cascade from diagnosis to treatment initiation and adherence. This paper examines correlates of HIV status, newly diagnosed HIV status, and use of antiretroviral therapy (ART).MethodsOutreach workers recruited sexually active Black African women who used substances in Pretoria as part of a U.S. National Institutes of Health-funded geographically clustered randomized trial examining the effect of an intervention to reduce alcohol and drug use as well as sexual risk behaviors. To address the question of interest in the current investigation, cross-sectional baseline data were used. At study enrollment, all participants (N = 641) completed an interview, and underwent rapid HIV testing and biological drug screening. Those who tested positive for HIV and were eligible for ART were asked about their barriers to initiating or adhering to ART. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were conducted to determine correlates of HIV status, newly diagnosed HIV, and ART use.ResultsAt enrollment, 55% of participants tested positive for HIV, and 36% of these women were newly diagnosed. In multivariable analyses of the entire sample, women who had completed 10th grade were less likely to be living with HIV (OR 0.69; CI 0.48, 0.99) and those from the inner city were more likely to be living with HIV (OR 1.83; CI 1.26, 2.67). Among HIV-positive participants, women were less likely to be newly diagnosed if they had ever been in substance abuse treatment (OR 0.15; CI 0.03, 0.69) or used a condom at last sex (OR 0.58; CI 0.34, 0.98) and more likely to be newly diagnosed if they were physically assaulted in the past year (OR 1.97; CI 1.01, 3.84). Among women eligible for ART, fewer were likely to be on treatment (by self-report) if they had a positive urine test for opiates or cocaine (OR 0.27; CI 0.09, 0.80).ConclusionsThese results, although cross-sectional, provide some guidance for provincial authorities to address barriers to HIV care for sexually active, substance-using vulnerable women in Pretoria. Targeting the inner city with prevention campaigns, expanding and improving substance abuse treatment programs, linking clients with simultaneous HIV testing and treatment, and targeting women who have experienced sexual assault and violence may help the government achieve the UNAIDS 90-90-90 treatment target.Clinical Trials.gov NCT01497405 registered on December 1, 2011.

Does change in readiness influence retention among African American women and men in substance abuse treatment?

ABSTRACTAfrican Americans are less likely than other racial groups to engage in and complete outpatient substance abuse treatment. The current study, conducted as a secondary analysis of a multisite randomized clinical trial, examined whether readiness to change (RTC) over time influences retention and whether gender moderates the relationship between changes in RTC and retention among 194 African American women and men. Participants completed the University of Rhode Island Change Assessment at baseline and at the end of the 16-week study. Findings revealed a significant relationship between RTC over time and retention. Specifically, the more RTC increased throughout the 16-week study, the longer participants remained in treatment. In addition, gender moderated the relationship between changes in RTC and retention, with a stronger association between changes in RTC and retention among men relative to women. One approach to improving substance abuse treatment retention rates is to focus on increasing RTC during treatment, especially among African American men.

Family Drug Treatment Courts As Comprehensive Service Models: Cost Considerations

AbstractLiterature on family drug treatment courts (FDTCs) suggests that parental participation in these courts is associated with improved substance abuse treatment and child welfare system outcomes. Despite these beneficial outcomes, FDTCs serve only 7‐10% of eligible child welfare involved families. As part of a FDTC evaluation, this FDTC site sought to provide stakeholders with information about costs and benefits. Considering the program costs alongside the cost avoidance from reduced time in foster care, this analysis determined that FDTC participation resulted in a net savings per child of $9,710. The cost component of the evaluation proved valuable, challenging, and informative.

Forensic state patients at Sterkfontein Hospital: A 3-year follow-up study

Background. State patients are individuals who have been charged with offences involving serious violence and who have been declared unfit to stand trial and/or who are not criminally responsible because of their mental illness or defect. They are referred by the courts for treatment, rehabilitation and indefinite detention at a forensic psychiatric facility. However, many of these state patients may ultimately be released back into the community. As these individuals may be considered a high-risk group, their rates of relapse and recidivism are of importance. There is a paucity of South African literature on the long-term outcome of state patients. Objective. To describe the profile of state patients, and to examine their outcomes after 3 years, including recidivism rates. Methods. A descriptive, retrospective study of the clinical records of 114 state patients admitted to Sterkfontein Hospital in 2004 and 2005 was conducted, and their profile and 3-year outcomes were determined. Results. The majority of state patients were male, single, unemployed, had a past psychiatric history (59%), and substance abuse history (71%). A third reported a past criminal history. The most common offences were assault with the intention to do grievous bodily harm (19%), rape (18%) and murder (13%). Psychotic disorders represented the most common diagnostic category (69%), with schizophrenia being the most frequent diagnosis (44%). Most state patients had been found unfit to stand trial (96%) and not criminally responsible (89%). At the end of the 3-year follow-up, the majority were in the community (69%), of whom most (72%) were out on leave of absence (LOA), while a quarter had absconded and a minority were reclassified (3%). Most absconders (83%) were state patients who had not returned from LOA. The recidivism rate was 4%. Conclusion. Most state patients were out in the community at the end of the 3-year period. The following recommendations are suggested: improved community psychiatric services, especially for those diagnosed with psychotic disorders and mental retardation, with a focus on improving treatment adherence and early detection of treatment defaulters; improved substance abuse rehabilitation programmes and community facilities, as well as strengthening of systems that manage absconders.