Individual Drug Use Research Articles

COLLEGE STUDENTS’ATTITUDES TOWARD EMPLOYEE DRUG TESTING PROGRAMS

Drug testing programs are becoming increasingly popular, but little is known about attitudes toward various aspects of common testing programs. This study examined college students’attitudes toward several aspects of drug testing programs. Results indicate that testing is seen, under some circumstances, as appropriate and necessary. However, attitudes toward most aspects of testing were characterized by extreme variability. Virtually all aspects of drug testing programs are strongly accepted by some individuals and strongly rejected by others. Furthermore, attitudes toward employee drug testing do not appear to vary as a function of employment experience, qualifications, or political inclinations, and are not strongly related to the individual's exposure to others’drug use. One of the few consistent correlates of approval of employee drug testing was the individual's drug use; self‐report frequency of drug use was negatively correlated with the acceptability of employee drug testing.

Hair Analysis for Drugs of Abuse

Abstract Hair analysis for drugs of abuse by radioimmunoassay and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) is an effective means for identifying drug abusers. Hair can be collected under close supervision without embarrassment and is not subject to evasive maneuvers (false negatives) such as temporary abstention, excessive fluid intake, and substitution or adulteration of specimens. Hair analysis has a wide window of detection ranging from months to years and provides information concerning the severity and pattern of an individual's drug use. Hair analysis is also not subject to evidential false positives, such as those caused by poppy seed ingestion, spiking of drinks or food, and mix-up or contamination of specimens. In part, these problems can be avoided because hair analysis can always be repeated with a newly collected specimen. The results of animal experiments and of various clinical, forensic, and criminal justice applications are described.

The relationship of MMPI and Sensation Seeking Scales to adolescent drug use.

This study examined the relationship of Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) measures, including the MacAndrew alcoholism (MAC) scale, and the Sensation Seeking Scales (SSS) to adolescents' drug use across nine drug categories. Subjects were 51 male and 72 female high school students between the ages of 14 and 18 (mean age = 16 years, 5 months). The drug use/abuse measure consisted of adolescents' self-reports on the Segal (1973) Alcohol-Drug Use Research Survey. Drug categories included for investigation were alcohol, amphetamines, barbiturates, caffeine, cocaine, hallucinogens, marijuana, narcotics, and tobacco. Scores from standard MMPI scales, the MAC scale, and the SSS were examined in relation to individual drug use outcomes, and multivariate procedures were used to predict polydrug versus single drug use patterns. Results demonstrated significant and meaningful relationships between personality measures and drug use among adolescents, with consistently strong findings for the SSS.

Psychotropic drug use in a Swedish community—Patterns of individual use during 2 years

Psychotropic drug use in a Swedish community with a general population of about 20,000 was studied using data from a research registry on prescriptions. Patterns of individual psychotropic drug use during 2 years, 1980 and 1981, were analyzed. Use during the second year was studied in relation to use during the first year, and individuals with continued and new use were identified. About two thirds of those who obtained psychotropics during the first year continued using such drugs during the following year. Among those with no use during the first year, 6% obtained psychotropic drugs during the second year. Both continued and new use increased with age. Psychotropic drug use was nearly twice as common among women as compared to men among new users, whereas practically no sex difference was observed in continued use among previous users of psychotropics. Despite the finding that male psychotropic drug users were almost as likely as females to continue using these drugs, the overall proportion of continuous users in the population remained considerably higher among women as compared to men. The results from this study suggest that the greater use of psychotropics among women can be explained by a greater extent of occasional use as well as continuous use among women as compared to men.

The prediction of drug use among college students from MMPI, MCMI, and sensation seeking scales.

This study examines the ability of five self-report assessment measures to predict college students' drug use across 12 pharmacological drug categories. Subjects were 125 female and 61 male university undergraduate students. The test battery included the following instruments: the Psychopathic Deviancy (Pd) scale of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI); the MacAndrew Alcoholism scale (MAC), a special scale of the MMPI; the Sensation Seeking Scale (SSS); the Millon Alcohol Abuse Scale; and the Millon Drug Abuse Scale. Scores from these instruments were utilized in linear combinations to predict individual drug use outcomes as well as polydrug versus single drug use patterns. The drug categories included in this investigation are coffee, tobacco, alcohol, marijuana, tranquilizers, depressants, amphetamines, LSD, other hallucinogens, solvents, narcotics, and cocaine. Results demonstrate significant and meaningful relationships between predictors and drug use levels among college students. Weighted equations derived from linear discriminant function analyses were generally capable of accurately classifying subject's drug use levels across drug categories and in discriminating single drug use from polydrug use patterns. Typically, the Sensation Seeking Scale entered as the most powerful predictor of substance use and abuse.

A Major Limitation of the Percentile Index of Overall Drug Use Indulgence

Individual drug use patterns vary considerably in terms of the overall amount of substances used. Some people use relatively few psychoactive drugs, others use moderate amounts, and others use very high amounts which frequently jeopardize their own health and safety and that of other people. Moreover, all individuals can be conceptualized as falling somewhere on a continuum ranging from total abstinence to extremely heavy use.

The Drug Use Profile (DUP): An instrument for clinical and research evaluations for drug use patterns

A profile form, similar to that used by the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI), was developed to portray overall patterns of drug usage. It is based upon data collected from 3984 respondents which were subsequently factor analyzed and transformed into standardized T scores. Once developed, the profile was examined for its ability to evaluate both individual and group drug use patterns. Results suggest that the profile is reliable and provides a quick portrayal of clinically important features of a person's drug practices. Mean drug use data can also be plotted on the same profile for specific subgroups. The profile may be further employed to determine the degree of drug use for a single person or a group of drug users, vis-à-vis the general population. Finally, potential uses for the instrument are discussed.

Drug Use by Urban and Rural Adolescents

This study investigated drug use behaviors of students in both rural and urban communities of Georgia. Data from 1,897 response forms to ninety survey items served as the basis for the findings reported in this study. The socio-economic characteristics of the sample, both rural and urban, corresponded to the characteristics identified by the United States Census Report of 1970, e.g., family income, education and occupation. Experimental use of beer/wine and other alcoholic beverages was high (approximately two-thirds) for both rural and urban samples; while approximately one-third reported that they used marijuana. In both the urban and rural communities, males exceed females in drug use on a weekly and daily basis in all types of drugs. Drug use in the urban and rural communities of Georgia is quite similar, and this usage closely relates to the national reported usage for comparable age groups. There seems to be a difference between an individual's drug use behavior and his or her perception of his/her friends' drug use behaviors.

Psychotropic drugs and pregnancy: a review (author's transl)

A wide range of literature on the use of psychoactive drugs in pregnancy and breastfeeding is reviewed critically and systemically. The question of 'guidelines' for an adequate treatment of pregnant psychiatric patients cannot be answered in an unequivocal or reassuring way. First of all, it is our inconclusive knowledge of this subject which demands caution prior to prescribing. Only in second line, isolated evidence of possible but mostly unproven damage to unborn children by the use of individual psychotropic drugs should be taken into account.

A multivariate social-psychological approach to the prediction of psychoactive drug use in young adults.

This research develops and tests a comprehensive social-psychological model which is capable of predicting individual differences in psychoactive drug use. A questionnaire assessing drug use, opportunities for goal attainment, normative constraints against deviance, perceived opportunities for drug use, attitudinal tolerance of deviance, and expectations about the consequences of drug use was administered to two separate subject populations: a "College Sample" and a "Street Sample.". Consistent with predictions, the more extensive an individual's drug use: (1) the less the participation in prosocial groups, (2) the greater the perceived opportunities for drug use, (3) the more time spent using drugs with friends, (4) the greater the tolerance of deviance, and (5) the more positive the expectations about drug use. Results are discussed in terms of the utility of the model for the prediction of patterns of drug use and the need for expanding the schema in future research to include measures of socialization practices.

Differentiation of Psychoactive Drug Users and Non-Users and Prediction of their Using Intention

Thirteen Semantic Differential bipolar variables representing various socio-cultural correlates and personality factors of psychoactive drug users as well as non-users were measured from a group of 80 college students and 20 adults of both sexes. Fourty-four drug users within the last six months differed significantly from non-users in their intention of taking psychoactive drugs if provided. No sex differences in intention within either the user or non-user group were found. Significant differences between user and non-user groups covered three broad areas: (1) experiences of personal development, (2) knowledge and attitudes toward drug use of individuals and their peers, and (3) opinions and persuasions of established conventional institutions in politics, church, and social standards. The order of importance of the different variables in predicting the intention of psychoactive drug use (or not use) was also found not the same for both users and non-users of the two sexes.

"Moderate" and hard drug users among college students: a study of their drug use patterns and characteristics.

This study compared the drug use patterns and characteristics of a group of noninstitutionalized “moderate” drug users with those of a hard drug user group-One hundred college students were administered a drug data sheet which served to categorize Ss into “moderate” and hard drug-taking groups as well as to determine their individual drug use patterns. Results indicated the two groups were equated on most social and demographic variables. The “moderate” users differed significantly from the hard users along many drug-use dimensions. Hard users appear to be considerably more “friend-dependent” for their drug information and in their motivation to take drugs than are the “moderate” users. Alcoholic beverage consumption among hard users’parents was significantly greater than “moderates” parents. The implication of these findings, as well as others, are discussed along with some suggestions for further research.

Disturbance of calcium metabolism by anticonvulsant drugs.

A survey of calcium metabolism in epileptic patients in a residential centre showed a subnormal serum calcium level in 22.5% of patients and a raised alkaline phosphatase in 29%. Hypocalcaemia was related to high dosage of anticonvulsant drugs, to multiple drug therapy, and to the use of individual anticonvulsant drugs in the following order, with decreasing order of importance: pheneturide, primidone, phenytoin, phenobarbitone. Subnormal serum calcium levels occurred more commonly in patients with a raised liver alkaline phosphatase isoenzyme than in those whose phosphatase was mainly of bone origin.Preliminary results of treatment with calciferol suggested that the disturbance of calcium metabolism was the result of vitamin D deficiency. It is possible that anticonvulsant drugs accelerate the breakdown of vitamin D by liver enzyme induction.

A Comparative Trial of Imipramine and Phenelzine in the Treatment of Depression

Much work has been done in recent years on the use of individual anti-depressant drugs, but relatively little on comparative studies of their values. So many new drugs have appeared in such rapid succession that the psychiatrist has difficulty in knowing which to choose in the treatment of his depressed patient. The aim of this study was to compare imipramine (Tofranil) and phenelzine (Nardil), both of which had been found by personal experience to be of value in the treatment of depressive states. In the past two years there have been several well-controlled trials of both these drugs which have proved them to be of definite value in the treatment of depression. (Ball and Kiloh, 1959; Harris and Robin, 1960; Holdway, 1960; Hutchinson and Smedberg, 1960; Ashby and Collins, 1961; Rees et al., 1961.) At the time of commencement of this trial imipramine and phenelzine seemed to be the two best antidepressant agents available. It was decided to compare the remission rate or degree of improvement produced by them and the rapidity of response to each. It was hoped to determine what factors in the depressive illness were associated with a good or bad response to either drug. No similar direct comparison of these two drugs had been made, to the writer's knowledge.

Phthalylsulfathiazole in the treatment of diarrhea in children

Summary 1. There was no statistically significant difference in the results obtained following the administration of phthalylsulfathiazole in comparison with the results following the use of sulfathiazole in the treatment of diarrheas in the children at Cook County Hospital during 1943. 2. Combinations of phthalylsulfathiazole, or of sulfathiazole, with otherdrugs appeared to be less effective than the use of individual drugs. 3. Both phthalylsulfathiazole and sulfathiazole were more effective in the treatment of diarrheas in the children over 12 month of age than in those under that age. 4. Although statistically not evident, sulfathiazole appeared to shorten the course of diarrhea, whether due to specific or nonspecific organisms, more than phthalylsulfathiazole in all age groups. 5. The trend of response in children with diarrheas due to specific organismswas more favorable following the administration of sulfathiazole than following phthalylsulfathiazole. 6. Sulfathiazole appeared to be more effective in the treatment of diarrheas due to specific organisms than it was in the treatment of the nonspecific cases. The difference, however, is not statistically significant. 7. No toxic symptoms were observed as a result of the use of any of thesedrugs. 8. The post-mortem findings of the three infants that expired showed noevidence of any ill effect from drug therapy.