Nurses who work with people who use drugs in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver (DTES), British Columbia are on the forefront in advancing a harm reduction framework in very controversial, cutting-edge practice environments. The purpose of this study was to explore how these nurses, using the framework of harm reduction, make sense of their nursing practice. It is hoped that the results of this study may advance adopting a harm reduction framework in nursing practice, education and policy development and serve as the foundation for further nursing research. This study utilized a qualitative interpretive descriptive methodology to gather data from eight nurses who work with people who use drugs in harm reduction practice environments. The nurses were divided into two focus groups and data was collected through a semi-structured focus group interview. Following initial data analysis, each focus group was reconvened and a second semi-structured group interview was held to clarify and to further discuss the emerging themes. The data analysis proceeded simultaneously with the interviews utilizing a process of constant comparative analysis. I completed the thematic analysis as I moved between the transcripts and identified commonalties and variations within the emerging themes. Ultimately, I described one overarching theme, which encapsulated the range of experiences described by the nurses. The theme that I identified was: meeting people where they are at. The importance to the nurses of both the therapeutic nurse-client relationship and a commitment to praxis were apparent. In conclusion, the value the nurses placed on "meeting people where they are at" was integral in gaining an understanding of how they make sense of their nursing work. / Applied Science, Faculty of / Nursing, School of / Graduate

The purpose of the present investigation was to compare the psychological factors related to drug use by college athletes on seven drug categories. A questionnaire was given to male and female Division I college athletes asking them about their use of drugs. The frequency, intensity and duration of use/non-use was used to divide subjects into high and low/nonuser categories. Dependent measures included the Profile of Mood States, Coopersmith Self-Esteem Inventory and questions assessing athlete stress. A multivariate analysis of variance(MANOVA) was conducted in a 2 x 2 (alcohol high/low, non-user x male/female) design to distinguish significant differences on the POMS and stress questions followed by univariate ANOVA's. A separate ANOVA was run on Coopersmith's Self-Esteem Inventory. Results indicated that high alcohol users scored significantly higher on anger, fatigue and vigor than low/non-users. Significant differences were found between males and females on the pressure felt from coaches to perform well.

Long distance truck drivers are considered a special interest group in terms of drug----- driving research and policy due to high rates of use, involvement of drugs in truck accidents and the link between drug use and work related fatigue. Qualitative interview data was collected from 35 long haul truck drivers in South East Queensland and analysed using NVivo 2.0. High rates of licit and illicit drug use (particularly amphetamines) were reported. However, unlike previous studies which focus on fatigue, this research found overlapping and changing motivations for drug use during individual lifetimes. Using Becker's model of a drug use 'career' it was revealed that some drivers begin illicit drug use before they begin truck driving. As well as fatigue, powerful motives such as peer pressure, wanting to fit the trucking 'image', socialisation, relaxation and addiction were reported. These may need to be considered along side fatigue in the development of effective drug prevention or cessation policies for truck drivers.

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by Eliza Lau Mei Ting. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1998. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 67-71). / Abstract and questionnaire also in Chinese. / ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS --- p.ii / TABLE OF CONTENTS --- p.iii / LIST OF TABLES --- p.vi / LIST OF FIGURES --- p.v / CHAPTERS / abstract --- p.2 / Chapter 1 --- INTRODUCTION AND LITERATURE REVIEW --- p.3-13 / Purpose of the Study --- p.11 / Hypotheses --- p.12 / Chapter 2 --- METHOD --- p.14-24 / Participants --- p.15-18 / Measures --- p.18-24 / Procedure --- p.24 / Chapter 3 --- RESULTS --- p.25-56 / Chapter 4 --- DISCUSSION --- p.57-64 / REFERENCES --- p.65-69 / APPENDIX A / questionnaire for the study

The use and abuse of drugs among adolescents and adults has prompted a renewed national concern about drug abuse. Educational programs have attempted to provided factual information and create negative attitudes about drug use so that students will decide not to use drugs. Studies have revealed, however, that the drug programs have not been effective in reducing drug use. The present research addresses two primary questions: 1) Are there developmental differences in young persons' perceptions of social and moral dilemmas associated with drug use? and 2) Are gender and race associated with social and moral reasoning about drug use? Semi-structured interviewers were conducted with 32 fourth and 32 eleventh grade students. The interview posed two vignettes about drug-related behavior, including helping behavior. In addition, the interview probed respondents' conceptions of the problems associated with drug use and of the treatment that users and dealers should receive. Content analysis produced 40 codes which reached the reliability criterion of 60 percent agreement. The Kappas ranged from .57 to .91 (m = .66). Chi square tests were conducted, using the variables of race, sex and the thematic categories associated with each question. Of the 26 tests of significance conducted on the variables, two were significant for grade, two were significant for gender and one was significant for race. Eleventh grade students were more likely to specifically reject some category of help than the fourth grade students (x2 = 4.48,p < .05, df = 1). Fourth grade students were more likely to consider teachers as a source of help (x2 = 3.48,p < .06, df= 1). Female students were more likely to acknowledge risk to themselves due to helping (x2 = 4.27,p < .04, df= I). Caucasian students were more likely to acknowledge that there may be risks to the helpee due to helping (x2 = 3.52,p < .06, df= 1). Male students were more likely to want punishment and control of drug dealers (x2 = 5.32,p < .05, df= 1). In general, the :findings indicate that there are fewer developmental, gender and race differences in children's perception of drug use and associated dilemmas than might be expected. Students' descriptions did reveal that they are thinking and reasoning about the information given to them.

Objective: The present study aimed to characterize the association of perceived gender discrimination and illicit drug use among a sample of African American (AA) and European American (EA) adolescent girls and young women. Method: Data were drawn from a high-risk family study of alcohol use disorder of mothers and their offspring (N = 735). Multinomial regressions were used to examine whether experience of offspring and maternal gender discrimination were associated with offspring illicit drug use (cannabis, cocaine, ecstasy, PCP, opiates, hallucinogens, solvents, sedatives, or inhalants). Outcomes included offspring age of drug use initiation (age ≤ 14) and lifetime heavy drug use (≥ 50 times) of 1 or more illicit substances. Interactions between race and offspring gender discrimination were modeled to assess for race differences. Results: Results revealed that gender discrimination was associated with a greater likelihood of offspring early initiation (relative risk ratio [RRR] = 2.57, 95% CI [1.31, 5.03]) versus later initiation (RRR = 1.33, 95% CI [0.80, 2.24]). Offspring gender discrimination was associated with offspring heavy drug use (RRR = 2.09, 95% CI [1.07, 4.06]) and not associated with moderate/light use (RRR = 1.44, 95% CI [0.86, 2.42]), but post hoc tests revealed no significant group differences. Conclusions: Findings suggest that perceived offspring gender discrimination is associated with early drug use initiation. Gender discrimination, particularly at an early age, has a potential to cause harm, including drug use. Implementation of policies that foster environments that eliminate gender bias and discrimination at an early age should be prioritized. Gender-responsive treatment merits consideration by substance use treatment providers. Public Significance Statement: This study indicates that adolescent females who experience gender discrimination, are more likely to initiate drugs at an earlier age. Targeting gender discrimination during adolescence may be important, before gender norms become rooted into one’s trajectory.

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in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Education (Educational Psychology) / A substance abuse problem among street children has been acknowledged and treatment has not proved beneficial. The general aim of this study was to investigate their drugging habits and attitudes to drugging and treatment, in order to elucidate reasons for this failure and provide direction for an effective treatment approach. An exploratory study utilizing a non-probability sample (N=16) of male street children, aged 12 to 16, from a Johannesburg shelter, was carried out. An unconventional approach to gathering information was developed, within the framework of one-hour group discussions heId over seven weeks. Questions devised by the researcher were presented as stimuli for group discussion, story telling, and drawings. Data were also collected through a voting procedure. Results confirm regular substance abuse and dependency which merits attention. Maintaining factors were the suppression of emotional ...., low self esteem, and socialmotivators, i.e., to gain confidence and maintain networks. Risks and actual negative effects of substance abuse were vaguely perceived. These findings must be regarded as tentative, due to the small sample. More research, utilizing subjects not living in shelters and those in other shelters, should be done to find out if these findings are replicated . .A suggested treatment modality is group therapy and the changing of group norms, Groups would be conscientising. Specific aims could be formulated hy the group members, but could include general life skills and the development of alternative reinforcing activities. Peer mentoring could be considered. / Andrew Chakane 2018

Historically, in many areas of research examining birth and parenthood the role of the mother often took precedence over the role of the father. This may be because, within a traditional family system, the father took the role of the provider, while the mother was responsible for child care and household. Societal and cultural changes over the past few decades have highlighted the importance and competence of fathers in less traditional roles and scientific research is currently aiming to fill the gap of knowledge pertaining to fatherhood. One field of research that has traditionally been neglected in fathers is postpartum depression (PPD), even though prevalence rates for fathers were estimated to be almost as high as for mothers. Research into the risk factors for paternal PPD has only grown substantially within the past two decades. The first part of this thesis provides a systematic review of the available evidence for psychosocial risk factors in the development of paternal PPD as examined by longitudinal research designs. Results of the review indicated that there was a general lack of high quality research, but there was some evidence for higher risk of PPD if fathers experienced disconfirmed expectations of parenting demands, low parenting efficacy, low relationship satisfaction, concerns/anxiety about the birth, disagreement about pregnancy intendedness, low prenatal life satisfaction and stress, and high role strain. The results were discussed in the context of implications for antenatal interventions for fathers. The second part of this thesis was concerned with another neglected group of fathers – fathers who were addicted to opiate drugs. While there is a large research base for the risk to children exposed to parental substance use, fathers’ views on their parenting role and the cross-generational transmission of risk of child maltreatment and substance use has only partially been examined. Using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis with a small sample of opiate-using fathers (N = 6), it was found that fathers experienced dichotomy in their father role. Their addiction caused them to be ‘disabled’ in the ir father role, characterised by selfishness, abandonment and an inability to meet their children’s needs. In contrast, the ‘Able Father’ came to light during stable periods of prescribed opiates or abstinence, and he was an involved, hands-on parent, sensitive to the child’s needs and motivated to repair the ill-effects of being ‘disabled’ by addiction. By ‘Connecting the Dots’ with their own upbringing, fathers were motivated to be better fathers than their own fathers, but they only had limited insight into the risk the ir ‘disabled’ parenting posed for their own children. The findings suggest that harnessing fathers’ motivation to be better fathers may be a useful asset in drug treatment and parenting interventions. Interventions aimed at increasing reflective functioning may contribute to positive outcomes for substance-using parents at the same time as reducing risk to their children, but more evidence is needed.