Teenage Drug Research Articles

Model of Life Skills Based Drug Education on Knowledge About Drug Use, Self-Esteem, and Assertiveness Skills Among Indonesian Adolescents at Risk

Introduction: Adolescent drug abuse is a global concern, affecting young people's freedom and development. In Indonesia, illicit drug abuse has increased, causing severe social, political, and economic problems. Methods: A quasi-experimental design was used in this study to test the effects of life skills-based drug education on knowledge about drug use, self-esteem, and assertiveness skills. Teen participants were divided into experimental and control groups. Results: Language and Social Education (LSE) significantly influences students’ understanding of drug use and assertiveness training while also somewhat raising their self-esteem. On the other hand, it had no appreciable impact on Indonesia’s at-risk students in Semarang, Central Java Province. The report stressed that the first stages in an LSE program intended to stop teenage drug use are for students to gain knowledge and skills. To attain the best results in drug use prevention, more routes must be created. Conclusions: gaining information and skills improves attitudes and values, which in turn encourages drug use in a good way. Consequently, to support Indonesian students who are at risk of drug use in staying drug-free and developing into healthy, contributing members of society, these programs require further study and improvement.

Drug Trends in the Teenage Postmortem Population From 2017 to 2021.

The teenage population is highly vulnerable to drug exposure, use, and misuse due to the physical and emotional development that occurs at those ages. Social influences, like the isolation experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic and social media, can exacerbate this vulnerability. To better understand the potential impact of these influences on teenage drug use, postmortem results reported by a large reference laboratory from 2017 to 2021 corresponding to the teenage population were evaluated for various drugs of misuse. These data revealed a marked increase (385%) in reported fentanyl cases and a 13% increase in positivity rate. Methamphetamine- and cocaine-positive cases also increased 126% and 54%, with a net percent positivity of +0.6% and -0.5%, respectively. Conversely, heroin showed a consistent decline in reported cases (67%) and a net decrease of 1.0% in positivity rate. In addition to commonly misused drugs, trends for other substances that are prevalent in social media and therefore may disproportionally impact teens, MDMA/MDA, mitragynine, and diphenhydramine, were also assessed. A discussion of drug-related social media trends is presented to provide additional context for the data and trends reported herein, ultimately creating a framework through which social influences on teenage drug use can be better understood.

Validity and Reliability of the Indonesian Version of the Internalized Stigma Mental Illness Instrument: Substance Abuse in Adolescents

The prevalence rate of drug abusers in adolescents in Indonesia is relatively high. There is no valid and reliable instrument in the Indonesian language to measure stigma in drug users in adolescents. Therefore, this study aims to measure the validity and reliability of the self-stigma questionnaire in adolescent drug users. This cross-sectional study involved 59 teenage drug users who, at the time of the study, were in good health and could read and write to answer the questionnaire. Data were collected between March and September 2020 using Internalized Stigma Mental Illness (ISMI): Substance Abuse questionnaire. Pearson’s correlation coefficient, r, was used to measure the cross-validity value of the correlation between item scores and total statement scores. Meanwhile, researchers used Cronbach’s Alpha to assess the internal consistency of the questionnaire. Pearson’s r values for 29 statements showed that 1 statement was invalid. After eliminating the invalid statements, 28 statements with valid results at rcount ≥ 0.256 and Corrected item-total correlation >0.3 with a confidence level of 95% (rcount 0.323-0.642) and reliable Cronbach Alpha > 0.700 (Cronbach Alpha If Items Deleted: 0.888-0.895) with a 95% confidence level were used in the instrument. The ISMI is a valid and reliable version of drug abuse that can be used as an assessment and evaluation tool for adolescent drug abusers in clinical, rehabilitation, research, and community settings.

Effectiveness of Emotional Regulation Training on Quality of Life, Self-efficacy, and Problem-solving in Adolescents

Objectives: Teenage drug addiction is one of the most severe issues, leading to various physical, social, and educational damage and consequences. The present study determines the effectiveness of emotional regulation training on quality of life (QoL), self-efficacy, and problem-solving skills in substance-dependent adolescents. Methods: This semi-experimental study utilized a pre-test-post-test design with a control group. The statistical population was male adolescents who reported to addiction treatment centers of the Tehran Welfare Organization between November and February of 2018 in Tehran City, Iran. The statistical sample of the research consisted of 30 teenagers (aged 15 to 19 years) who were drug addicts. They were selected for treatment based on the stage of change screening. The present research data were collected using the World Health Organization (WHO) QoL (1996), self-efficacy (Schwartz and Jer Vasalem, 1983), and problem-solving skills (Hippner and Peterson, 1982) questionnaires. The data were analyzed using the repeated measure analysis of variance method via the SPSS software, version 22. Results: Emotional regulation training was effective in increasing the QoL (F=39.49, P<0.001), self-efficacy (F=136.80, P<0.001), and problem-solving skills (F=71.59, P<0.001) in substance-dependent adolescents. Discussion: Emotional regulation training is practical for the QoL, self-efficacy, and problemsolving skills of substance-dependent adolescents. This training can be used to reduce the psychological problems of substance-dependent adolescents.

Depression Levels and Coping Strategies Among Adolescent Drug Users at Rumah Orbit Surabaya, Indonesia: A Mini Report

This brief investigation checks into how depression levels and ways of dealing with problems are related among teenage drug users who are getting help at Rumah Orbit Surabaya, a drug rehab centre in Indonesia. The study used a correlational analytic approach and looked at 32 teenage drug users: 10 were admitted for inpatient care and 22 were getting therapy outside of school. The requirements for inclusion are that the teens must be involved in rehabilitation and have good social skills. Teenagers who are already drug-free are not eligible. The Beck Depression Inventory questionnaire and the Ways of Coping Checklist were used to gather data. The results show a clear connection between the subjects' coping strategies and how depressed they were. Findings show that teens who use drugs are more likely to use unhealthy ways to deal with their problems when they are depressed. In particular, most of them showed signs of borderline sadness, and a big chunk of them used unhealthy ways to deal with their problems. On the other hand, people with moderate depression were more likely to use adaptive coping techniques. This study adds to our knowledge of how sadness affects how teenage drug users deal with stress in a rehabilitation setting. Recommendations include interventions that are targeted to the severity of sadness to help people in this vulnerable group get better at therapy and coping. In the future, researchers could look into longitudinal effects and intervention methods that are better suited to people with different levels of depression in similar situations.

Substance Abuse: A Public Health Concern

Abstract The context and purpose of the study. Substance abuse is a serious public health concern that affects the millions of people worldwide. It refers to the harmful or hazardous use of psychoactive substances, including drugs and alcohol, that can lead to various health problems, such as addiction, mental health disorders, and physical illness. Alcohol, nicotine, and other illicit drugs are frequently used in excess in substance use disorders, which can impair social, academic, and professional functioning. Cannabis, sedatives, hypnotics, anxiolytics, inhalants, opioids, hallucinogens, and stimulants are the most abused drugs. Throughout human history, substance abuse has been a complex public health issue. The two main approaches frequently used to address the issue of substance abuse are risk factors and treatment modalities. They relate to the various fields of genetic inheritance, physiology, cognitive science, parents, social development, and cultural structures. One of the main issues with public health in today’s culture is drug misuse. Recently, there has been an upsurge in the prevalence of drug usage, especially opioid abuse, worldwide and in Kashmir. This review paper points to a complicated interplay between various variables that affect teenage drug usage. It also describes the different risk factors leading to substance abuse and the various behavioral therapies for substance use disorders that may enhance patient results. As a result, intensive effort across all the levels of domains will be needed to create programmes that prevent teenage substance misuse.

ADAPTATION AND VALIDATION OF SELF-COMPASSION SCALE-SHORT FORM FOR ADOLESCENT DRUG ABUSERS AT SOCIAL REHABILITATION FOUNDATIONS IN INDONESIA

Self-compassion is one of the adaptive self-attitudes that can be used by adolescents who experience personal dissonance or facing difficult situations and implemented as a normal experience of adolescents who drugs abuse. However, studies on standardized instruments and self-compassion profiles of drug abusers in Indonesia are still limited. Therefore, an intensive study of standardized instruments is needed to measure the compassion of adolescent drug abusers. This study uses an adaptation of a instrument procedures. As many of 38 as teenage drug users of six Social Rehabilitation Foundations in Indonesia. Data is measured using Self-Compassion Scale-Short Form. Operationally, the data analysis used Rash Model 3.75. The results showed that SCS-SF has satisfactory psychometric properties. Further studies are required to examine the psychometric properties of the SCS-SF of various participant socio-demographic factors.

Policy Analysis for Prevention of the Danger of Drugs Abuse for Young Generation

The possibilities and challenges of youth development nowadays are followed by serious drug misuse problems among the younger generation, which continue to endanger the existence of youth as the holder of the leadership baton in attaining the nation's objectives. It has been demonstrated that drug misuse and illegal trafficking harm the nation's future. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to develop alternative strategies and policy recommendations that are acceptable and successful in preventing the dangers of teenage drug misuse. Using the analytical technique of Strategic Assumption Surfacing and Testing, the outcomes were analyzed (SAST). The data utilized are both primary and secondary and pertain to teenage drug addiction. This research focuses on five districts and cities in West Java and DKI Jakarta. The findings indicate that the prevalence of substance misuse in Indonesia remains relatively high. Therefore, efforts have been made at both the central and regional levels to combat the hazards of drug usage. There are five aspects of prevention that must be considered. Coordinate and synergize the implementation of an action plan program that can describe the model and form of anti-drug cadre training beginning with planning, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating, as well as integrating with other programs at the central and regional levels, is required to address these issues. regions as well as a defined road map for post-training anti-drug cadres as sustainable P4GN agents of change.

DRUGS AND YOUTH – GROWING NEXUS OF CRIME AND LEGAL REDRESSAL

Teenage drug abuse is on the increase throughout India. Drug and other psychotropic substance usage is a major problem, with over 90% of users being under the age of 25. Teens with substance abuse problems, such as those caused by cigarettes, narcotics, or alcohol, are more likely to engage in criminal activity. These drugs may make a person angry to the point where they commit horrible crimes including rapes, murders, and other forms of sexual violence. India is experiencing an addiction crisis. Almost three-quarters, or seventy-five percent, of Punjab's youth are severely dependent on narcotics. Cities like Mumbai and Hyderabad are gaining popularity as well as a notoriety for being drug hubs in India. Drug and alcohol abuse are now embedded in the fabric of our society.

Substance Abuse Amongst Adolescents: An Issue of Public Health Significance.

Adolescence is a crucial time for biological, psychological, and social development. It is also a time when substance addiction and its adverse effects are more likely to occur. Adolescents are particularly susceptible to the negative long-term effects of substance use, including mental health illnesses, sub-par academic performance, substance use disorders, and higher chances of getting addicted to alcohol and marijuana. Over the past few decades, there have been substantial changes in the types of illegal narcotics people consume. The present article deals with the review ofsubstance abuse as a public health problem, its determinants, and implications seen among adolescents. A systematic literature search using databases such as PubMedand Google Scholar was undertaken to search all relevant literatureon teenage stimulant use. The findings have been organized into categories to cover essential aspects like epidemiology, neurobiology, prevention, and treatment. The review showed that substance addiction among adolescents between 12 to 19 years is widespread, though national initiatives exist to support young employment and their development. Research on psychological risk factors for teenage substance abuse is vast, wherein conduct disorders, including aggression, impulsivity, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, have been mentioned as risk factors for substance use. Parents' attitudes toward drugs, alcohol, academic and peer pressure, stress, and physical outlookare key determinants. Teenage drug usage has a significant negative impact on users, families, and society as a whole. It was found that a lot has been done to provide correct intervention to those in need with the constant development of programs and rehabilitative centers to safeguard the delicate minds of youths and prevent them from using intoxicants. Still, there is much need for stringent policy and program guidelines to curb this societal menace.

Diagnostic difficulties in the diagnosis of high acute-phase proteins levels in a teenage drug addicted female patient

BackgroundYouth drug addiction is a significant social and health problem. Symptoms of the disease include a number of neurological, gastrointestinal and cardiovascular disorders. Possible hormonal disorders and dysregulation of the immune system could also occur.Case presentationWe describe a case of a teenage patient with multiple diseases such as esophagitis, allergic disease, and numerous behavioral disorders leading to: self-injury of the body, suicide attempts by drugs overdosing, and experimentation with various psychoactive substances (morphine, amphetamine, methamphetamine, codeine). She was also diagnosed with bipolar disorder. A few hours before the admission to the ward, the patient had an intravenous injection of drugs. Toxicological tests confirmed the presence of amphetamine, ecstasy and opioids in the blood and urine. Laboratory tests revealed extremely increased inflammatory parameters, leucopenia, increased levels of IgG, IgA and IgE (total) immunoglobulins, low concentration of vitamin D. Bacteriological examinations were negative. General condition of the patient got better very quickly, antibiotic therapy was abandoned on the 4th day. It was concluded that the cause of the elevated concentration of acute-phase proteins was most likely caused by intoxication with psychoactive drugs.ConclusionsThe discussed case shows the difficulties of differential diagnosis in a teenage patient struggling with many diseases, who has been abusing drugs for several years. Increased inflammatory parameters in the form of an raised PCT, CRP, NLR, PLR values may be caused by many factors. In adolescents who frequently experiment with psychoactive substances, such cause of these disturbances should also be taken into account.

Analyzing Police Communication Strategies for Preventing Teenage Drug Abuse in Simpang Kanan Subdistrict, Rokan Hilir Regency

This research delves into the efficacy of police communication strategies in combating drug abuse among teenagers in Simpang Kanan Subdistrict, situated within the Rokan Hilir Regency of Indonesia. Utilizing a mixed-methods approach, the study navigates the intricate interplay of cultural dynamics, community engagement, and the effectiveness of varied communication channels employed by law enforcement agencies. Quantitative analysis unveils statistical trends in drug abuse prevalence among teenagers, shedding light on the impact of specific communication strategies. Concurrently, qualitative exploration delves into perceptions, experiences, and stakeholder feedback, offering depth to the understanding of the multifaceted issue. Findings underscore the strengths of community engagement initiatives and diverse communication channels, showcasing heightened awareness and positive behavioral shifts among teenagers. Yet, limitations such as data constraints, sampling intricacies, and resource limitations temper the comprehensiveness of the analysis. The implications drawn from this research advocate for tailored, culturally sensitive approaches, community-driven interventions, and continuous evaluation mechanisms in future policy changes. These insights transcend regional boundaries, offering a framework adaptable to analogous contexts worldwide. This research serves as a beacon, illuminating pathways toward combating teenage drug abuse.

Adverse childhood experiences and adolescent drug use in the UK: The moderating role of socioeconomic position and ethnicity

RationaleThere is a paucity of prospective UK studies exploring the role of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) on adolescent teenage drug use and even less is known about the complex interplay between ACEs and adolescent social, demographic, and economic characteristics. To address these gaps, we use rich longitudinal data from the nationally representative Millennium Cohort Study. MethodsSex-stratified survey logistic regression modelling was applied using data from 9,476 adolescents and their parents to examine associations between ACEs between ages 3 and 14 years and drug use at ages 14 and 17 years. We a) explore the extent to which associations are robust to adjustment for ethnicity, family income, parental social class, and parental education, b) examine whether associations differ by these factors, and c) estimate the proportion of drug use at ages 14 and 17 years attributable to ACEs after controlling for these factors. ResultsHalf of MCS cohort members had been exposed to at least one ACE and approximately 1 in 11 were exposed to 3+ ACEs. Multivariable analyses suggest that ACEs were associated with a higher likelihood of drug use at age 14 than age 17, especially for girls. No evidence was found that either advantaged socio-economic position or ethnicity acted as a buffer against the negative effects of ACEs in relation to adolescent drug use. Finally, we found that prevention of exposure to sexual violence, bullying and violence within the household (if causal) is more important for girls’ drug use at age 14 than age 17. ConclusionsACEs are associated with adolescent drug use with potential consequences on wider aspects of young people's lives, regardless of their social, ethnic, or economic background, adding further urgency to the need to reduce the incidence of these negative experiences.

A numerical method to compute Fisher information for a special case of heterogeneous negative binomial regression

Negative binomial regression has been widely applied in various research settings to account for counts with overdispersion. Yet, when the gamma scale parameter, \begin{document}$ \nu $\end{document} , is parameterized, there is no direct algorithmic solution to the Fisher Information matrix of the associated heterogeneous negative binomial regression, which seriously limits its applications to a wide range of complex problems. In this research, we propose a numerical method to calculate the Fisher information of heterogeneous negative binomial regression and accordingly develop a preliminary framework for analyzing incomplete counts with overdispersion. This method is implemented in R and illustrated using an empirical example of teenage drug use in America.

Práxis Do Ensino Na Educação Básica Diante De Adolescentes Usuários De Drogas

Objetivo: Compreender a práxis de educadores que vivenciam o processo de ensino-aprendizagem diante de adolescentes usuários de drogas. Método: Pesquisa qualitativa realizada educadores de uma Escola de Ensino Fundamental de um município do estado do Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil. Os dados foram coletados de abril a junho de 2014, por meio de rodas de conversas, inspiradas no círculo de cultura de Paulo Freire, e analisados simultaneamente, mediante análise temática. Resultados: Emergiram duas categorias: Uso de drogas e suas consequências na realidade de educadores e educandos; e, Práxis dos educadores diante de adolescentes usuários de drogas. Conclusão: No cotidiano de ensino, o educador reconhece-se como um sujeito vulnerável e em sofrimento, necessitando de apoio e valorização. Isto porque o ambiente escolar está envolto por mudanças no tipo e padrão de uso de drogas pelos adolescentes, o que foi relacionado ao desinteresse para aprender e aumento da violência.

What I think I will do versus what I say I do: Mispredicting marijuana use among teenage drug users

Past research examines factors that impact marijuana use. However, there is limited empirical evidence regarding the combined role of previous experience, attitudes and the situation in determining present and future marijuana use. We fill this gap by studying factors that affect misprediction of marijuana use among teenagers. Specifically, we study (1) whether individuals are able to correctly predict their future marijuana use, (2) the direction of misprediction (over versus under prediction) and (3) the factors that affect errors in prediction.We use data from a federally sponsored survey about teenagers' marijuana consumption in the United States. We find that, teenagers under predict future marijuana use and that this inaccuracy is moderated by the extent of use. We also find that misprediction is affected by both attitudes and the situation through main and interaction effects. We outline some policy implications of our findings.

Exploring associations between prenatal solvent exposures and teenage drug and alcohol use: a retrospective cohort study

BackgroundInvestigating the effects of prenatal and childhood exposures on behavioral health outcomes in adolescence is challenging given the lengthy period between the exposure and outcomes. We conducted a retrospective cohort study in Cape Cod, Massachusetts to evaluate the impact of prenatal and early childhood exposure to tetrachloroethylene (PCE)-contaminated drinking water on the occurrence of risk-taking behaviors as a teenager. An increased occurrence of risk-taking behaviors, particularly illicit drug use, was observed in those highly exposed to PCE. We hypothesized that there may be other sources of prenatal solvent exposure such as maternal consumption of alcoholic beverages during pregnancy which might modify the previously observed associations between PCE and risk-taking behaviors and so we conducted an exploratory analysis using available cohort data. The current report presents the results of these analyses and describes the difficulties in conducting research on long-term behavioral effects of early life exposures.MethodsThe exploratory analysis compared a referent group of subjects with no early life exposure to PCE or alcohol (n = 242) to subjects with only alcohol exposure (n = 201), subjects with only PCE exposure (n = 361), and subjects with exposure to both PCE and alcohol (n = 302). Surveys completed by the subject’s mother included questions on prenatal alcoholic beverage consumption and available confounding variables such as cigarette smoking and marijuana use. Surveys completed by the subjects included questions on risk-taking behaviors such as alcoholic beverage consumption and illicit drug use as a teenager and available confounding variables. PCE exposure was modeled using a leaching and transport algorithm embedded in water distribution system modeling software that estimated the amount of PCE delivered to a subject’s residence during gestation and early childhood.ResultsSubjects with early life exposure to both PCE and alcohol had an increased risk of using two or more major drugs as a teen (RR = 1.9 (95% CI 1.2, 3.0)) compared to unexposed subjects. Increased risks for only PCE exposure (RR = 1.6 (95% CI 1.0, 2.4) and only alcohol exposure (RR = 1.3 (95% CI 0.7, 2.1)) were also evident but were smaller than the increased risk associated with both exposures. While available confounding variables were controlled, many relevant social risk factors were not obtained due to limitations in the retrospective study design.ConclusionsThis exploratory analysis found evidence for an additive effect of early life exposure to PCE and alcohol on the risk of use of multiple illicit drugs as a teenager. Because of numerous limitations in this retrospective study, further research is needed to examine longstanding behavioral effects of early life exposures. To be most informative, this research should involve long-term prospective data collection.

What’s Missing from the Current Smart Drugs Debate

BIn a modern world where everybody wants an edge, how far are you willing to go?^ This is the question posed by an ABC news segment on the drug Provigil. The segment begins with an extended clip from the movie Limitless, likening the fictitious miracle drug in this movie to the real life drug Provigil. Though it is meant to treat narcolepsy or shift work disorder, many people who don’t have these conditions use Provigil as a stimulant: it has become one of the newest Bsmart drugs.^ Smart drugs, prescription drugs abused for cognitive enhancement, do not actually make you smarterand certainly no drug can mimic the effects of the Limitless pill. But these drugs do enhance qualities that we associate with being smart: they can increase motivation, focus, and productivity. As the news segment continues, Provigil begins to sound more and more enticing. Why wouldn’t we jump at the opportunity for instant improvement? Yet I am not at all on board with this line of thought. There are many reasons to be wary of smart drugs. To start with, prescription drug abuse is always risky, and smart drugs such as Adderall and Ritalin often have severe side effects. Many smart drugs are also extremely addictive, and the long-term effects of smart drug use are unclear. In addition to medical concerns, there are also ethical considerations: do smart drugs give some an unfair advantage over others? Is taking smart drugs a way of cheating? On the other hand, suppose there was a non-addictive smart drug with no side effects, a drug as medically safe as Provigil purports to be. Would it be a mistake to overlook this valuable resource? I am unable to offer satisfactory answers to these questions, though others have certainly tried. But this is inconsequential, because these concerns are beside the point. To identify the true issues at the heart of the smart drugs debate we must look beyond the drugs themselves. Provigil is indeed, in the words of the ABC news anchor, Bthe ultimate pill for a 24/7 society.^ But we should turn our efforts towards examining this society and not this pill. Smart drug abuse is a rising problem among millennials, a notable departure from our typical impressions of teenage drug abuse. Today, ‘80s anti-narcotics campaigns warning that BWinners Don’t Use Drugs^ and BThis [fried egg] is your brain on drugs^ have lost their relevance, as the current drug of choice for my generation is ADDmedication. Roughly one in five college students report having taken unprescribed drugs to help them do well in school, and between 2008 and 2013, the percentage of young adults taking ADD/ADHD medication nearly doubled, an increase largely attributed to unnecessary use of these drugs. This not just a student problem; anecdotes of smart drug abuse dominate the online discussion boards of stock traders and investment bankers who have abandoned cocaine in favor of a different amphetamine: Adderall. There is a reason that smart drug abuse is so prevalent among millennials: these drugs have become the vice of a generation who believes that failure is a flaw. Raised on aphorisms expressing firm confidence in our abilities, repeatedly told that we were special, my generation grew up believing that we would and must be successful. Simultaneously, we learned to view failure as a sign of weakness, to view shortcomings as limits to be surpassed. We are called to be both * Eloisa Cleveland eclevel2@wellesley.edu

The Carnival at Bray by J. A. Foley

Foley, Jessie Ann. The Carnival at Bray. Ashford, CT: Elephant Rock Books, 2014. Print.Amidst the grunge scene of 1993 Chicago, 16 year-old Maggie Lynch moves with her family to Ireland to live with her mother’s newest romantic partner. This transition from the relative anonymity of big-city life to a small town on the Irish Sea presents some adjustment issues for Maggie. The weather, scenery and accents all differ from back home, but most of all she misses her beloved Uncle Kevin, with his rock star ambitions and habit of quoting famous literature. Eventually, Maggie finds a small circle of friends in Bray - bookish and disciplined classmate Aíne, sweetly charming Eoin and pious nonagenarian Dan Sean - who help her to weather the storms of drama circling her volatile family life.When she stumbles upon a message from the past, Maggie is jolted from her everyday teenage anxieties to a more pressing adventure, taking her on a whirlwind trip to the continent. Along the way, she finds the love and happiness that have eluded her since her move to Ireland. Maggie’s experiences culminate in a newfound confidence that permits her to live with the intention and purpose she has sought.Jessie Ann Foley received a 2015 Printz Honor for this classic coming-of-age story, with intensely evocative storytelling that brings to life both the time - early 90s grunge music culture - and place - small town Ireland. The Carnival at Bray sets itself apart from other Irish settings in that the reader experiences the countryside from the fresh perspective of a young, untraveled American teen who is enamoured with the light, sea and bucolic landscapes that surround her. Foley tackles popular YA themes - teenage sex, parent-child relationships and drug addiction - with a candid yet tactful style that respects her audience’s maturity. If anything, the strength of her writing might leave the reader craving a more thorough exploration of Maggie’s relationships, which at points are incompletely examined. Foley’s story will appeal to grunge music enthusiasts and fans of coming-of-age novels, especially those who have enjoyed works by Jandy Nelson or Rainbow Rowell.Recommended: 3 out of 4 starsReviewer: Kyle MarshallKyle Marshall is the School-Aged Services Intern Librarian for Edmonton Public Library. He graduated with his MLIS from the University of Alberta in June 2015, and is passionate about diversity in children's and youth literature.

Social Health Indicators and Economic Growth: Evidence from East Asia and Pacific, Middle East and North Africa, South Asia, and Sub-Saharan Africa

The objective of this study is to empirically investigate a two-way statistical relationship between the social health indicators and economic growth in the context of four major regions of the world i.e., East Asia and Pacific, Middle East and North Africa (MENA), South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa. To recognize the relationship between the two variables, a time series, co-integration and Granger causality tests have been employed. Aggregate secondary data pertaining to these four regions from 1975 to 2011 on economic growth and social health indicators i.e., infant mortality, child abuse, child poverty, unemployment, weekly wages, health insurance coverage, teenage suicide, teenage drug abuse, high school dropouts, poverty, out-of-pocket health costs, homicides, alcohol related traffic fatalities, food insecurity, income inequality, HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, basic health units and rural health centers has been used for analysis. This study evaluates four alternative but equally plausible hypotheses, each with different policy implications. These are: (1) social health indicators Granger cause economic growth, (2) economic growth Granger cause social health indicators (the conventional view), (3) There is a bi-directional causality between the two variables and (4) Both variables are causality independent (although highly correlated). The empirical results only moderately support the conventional view that economic growth has significant long run casual effect on social health indicators in East Asia and Pacific, MENA, South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa. The present study find evident of unidirectional causality running towards economic growth to social health indicators, although, there are some bidirectional causality also exists between the variables. The percentage of unidirectional causality between economic growth and social health indicators is larger than bidirectional or neutrality hypothesis.