The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of crack use among adolescents living in a large southwestern city, and to study relationships between crack use and marijuana use. This included investigating reasons as well as associated circumstances for both crack use and marijuana use; and whether marijuana use would predict crack use. High school seniors (N = 269) were asked to disclose information about their marijuana (and hashish) use and non-use, and crack use and non-use. Preliminary computation of the results revealed only 2.6% of respondents indicating crack use; thus statistical analysis of that data was not warranted. Computation of the results indicated 34% of respondents reporting marijuana use; therefore, the focus of the study shifted to marijuana exclusively, resulting in a final sample size of n = 92. Two specific phenomena were investigated: crack use and marijuana use. Discriminant analysis of the data was performed to (1) measure differences in frequencies (indicated as "seldom" and "occasionally") of respondents' marijuana use a predicted by particular circumstances and reasons for its use; and (2) to measure whether students' marijuana use would predict crack use. Statistical significance using Chi square and canonical correlation was calculated for each set of variables. Chi square (5) = 46.10 yielded significance (p <.001) for five of nine circumstances as predictors of marijuana use: "At a party" was the best discriminating variable. Chi square (4) = 36.73 yielded significance (p <.001) for four of thirteen reasons as predictors of marijuana use; "To get high" was the best discriminating reasons variable. The study succeeded in determining several drug-related attributions: (1) there is one-third less prevalence of crack use among adolescents in the area being researched than is reported nationally; (2) there is about the same prevalence of marijuana use as nationally reported; (3) there are specific associated circumstances which predict frequency of marijuana use; and (4) there are specific associated reasons which predict frequency of marijuana use. Finally, although it is not data-based, marijuana appears to be a predictor of crack use, i.e., all seven crack users reported having used marijuana prior to crack use.

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This study examined the relationship between psychological birth order and substance abuse and suicide in adolescents. It was hypothesized that adolescents operating from a perceived inferior position as measured by the Psychological Birth Order Instrument would be more likely to abuse substances and/or engage in self-destructive behavior. Ninety-five adolescents from Southern Arizona volunteered to participate in this study. The forty-eight treatment subjects were current in-patients at a psychiatric hospital. The control group consisted of forty-seven high school students. The results indicated that there was a difference in perceptions between adolescents in treatment versus those not in treatment for substance abuse and/or suicide. There was a significant relationship at the.005 level and it was concluded that adolescents operating from a perceived inferior position are more likely to abuse substances and/or attempt suicide.

This study examines the effect of strain on youth drug use in Turkey. With its many unexplored fields, Turkey is a haven for social researchers. Adolescent crime and especially drug use is an important yet poorly studied subject in Turkey. Of the many correlates of youth drug use, strain as asserted by the General Strain Theory of Agnew (1985) is chosen as the main explanatory variable in this research. Using Youth in Europe (YIE) survey data administered to a representative sample of high school students in Istanbul City, correlates of marijuana, LSD, amphetamine and ecstasy use among adolescents are analyzed in this study. The logistic regression analyses reveal that, as hypothesized, strain operationalized by the negative life events experienced and having been exposed to physical violence, significantly affect drug use. In order to enhance our understanding of this significance and measure the magnitude of the effect controlling for the effect of other explanatory variables, Post simulation developed and advised by Long and Freese (2006) is used.

Young adults are most at-risk for the non-medical use of prescription drugs (NMUPD) and many of its associated negative consequences. Understanding this population’s motivations for use can help to inform efforts to reduce NMUPD. Past research has been limited in scope, consisting primarily of cross-sectional work with college students focusing on prescription stimulants. The current study researched how motivations for NMUPD changed over young adulthood using three waves of data from a longitudinal, nationally representative sample of 14,990 19 to 24 year olds in the Monitoring the Future study cohorts collected between 1976 to 2013. Prescription stimulants, central nervous system (CNS) depressants, and opioids were investigated, along with sex and college attendance as potential moderators. Differences in NMUPD motivations for young adults who initiated NMUPD in high school versus in early young adulthood were studied. Additionally, motivation patterns of new users were investigated. Analyses indicated that both recreational and self-treatment motivations commonly were reported over time and across drug classes, with four to five popular motivations acknowledged in each class. In general, generalized estimated equations repeated measure analyses found that NMUPD motivations remained relatively stable across young adulthood, with some reductions for the motivations of experimentation and boredom, and an increase in select self-treatment motivations. Overall, men were more likely to endorse recreational motivations, while women were more likely to endorse self-treatment motivations, though this varied somewhat by prescription drug class. Young adults not enrolled in college courses were more likely to endorse using stimulants non-medically for different reasons than their peers who were enrolled. There also were differences in motivations based on if young adults initiated NMUPD in high school compared to when they were 19/20 years old. However, motivations were fairly consistent across young adult development regardless of when NMUPD was initiated. These data suggest that efforts aimed at preventing or reducing NMUPD in young adult populations should include targets to reduce both self-treatment and recreational motivations; may need to be tailored by prescription drug class, sex, and college attendance status; could start in high school; and can be used for new and continued users across young adulthood.

The subject of this thesis is the issue of criminological aspects of drug-related crime. This topic is considerably wide, therefore this thesis focuses on two specific aspects of this particular crime: the relationship between drug use and crime and the criminal careers of drug-addicted offenders. Since these two aspects are still being overlooked in the Czech Republic, the aim of this thesis is to introduce this issue using foreign literature and to complement it with my own research carried out within the Capital City of Prague. The first part of the thesis (Chapters 1 and 2) represents an introduction into the issue of drug-related crime. First, it explains basic notions that are essential to know for easy orientation within the thesis. Then, it discusses the history of drug abuse in the Czech Republic from 1918 until nowadays, and also complements current situation with an actual drug policy strategy. The second part of this thesis (Chapters 3 and 4) focuses on acquainting with the issue of the relationship between drug use and crime and the criminal careers. Using mostly foreign literature, it looks at these specific problems from two different perspectives: describing both the most famous theories and models and the most recent or well-known empirical researches. The last part of the thesis...

SLAVÍČKOVÁ, T. Tématicko apercepční test u uživatelů drog. Pedagogická fakulta Univerzity Karlovy v Praze, 2012. 140 s. Diplomová práce. Diplomová práce měla za cíl odhalit specifika použití TAT u problémových a závislých uživatelů drog a na základě srovnání s výsledky, kterých v testu dosáhla kontrolní skupina, přinést evidenci pro zhodnocení diagnostického potenciálu TAT u uživatelů drog. Výzkumné šetření bylo provedeno v Kolíně na klientech nízkoprahového kontaktního centra, které poskytuje služby harm reduction skryté populaci uživatelů nealkoholových drog. Těžiště výzkumu bezprostředně souvisí s metodou analýzy příběhů, jejichž vyprávění bylo u probandů vyvoláno předložením tabulí TAT. K analýze příběhů byl použit psychometricky zakotvený skórovací systém SCORS (Social Cognition - Object Relation Scale) současného amerického autora D. Westena. Použití TAT u uživatelů drog tak bylo zaměřeno na zhodnocení úrovně jejich fungování v sociálních vztazích. Metodologický princip diplomové práce tkví v induktivním usuzování a statistickém zpracování dat. Způsob zpracování dat, který je až na několik oblastí výhradně v režii kvantitativních metod, spolu s dostatečně velkým souborem zkoumaných osob umožňuje zobecnění důležitých rozdílů ve výsledcích TAT u výzkumné a kontrolní skupiny. V rámci analýzy...

Consumption rooms for drug users are implemented as a tool of tertiary prevention by a number of European countries. These services are based on harm reduction philosophy. The objectives of these programs include minimizing health risks, overdose prevention, motivating users to change their lifestyle. Consumption room has also effect in reduction of negative effects associated with open drug scenes such as the drug consumption in public places. The thesis is about a need analysis of a theoretical application of a consumption room in the capital city Prague. After a theoretical introduction, which introduces the background of the project, the project objectives and examples of foreign practice presented in a literature, are presented the results of qualitative research. The aim of the research, conducted by the technique of semi-structured interview, is to answer the basic questions of needs and expectations of potential users, experts in the treatment and prevention of addiction and other persons who may be considered as involved from the perspective of discussion about consumption. Based on the indicators of the need for drug consumption rooms and based on respondents answers, installation of this low-threshold program appears to be as appropriate in capital city Prague. Respondents of the research...

O farmacêutico, uma vez inserido na equipe multidisciplinar, tem um papel importante a desempenhar na educação em saúde com o objetivo de melhorar o conhecimento sobre as condições crônicas, refletindo positivamente na adesão ao tratamento e em conseqüência nos resultados clínicos e na qualidade de vida dos indivíduos. O objetivo deste estudo foi elaborar, implementar e avaliar o modelo de intervenções educativas para o uso racional de medicamentos. O estudo clínico longitudinal, prospectivo, randomizado foi conduzido por uma equipe multidisciplinar com 119 pacientes asmáticos (60/grupo controle e 59/grupo intervenção) atendidos no Ambulatório Especializado em Asma do Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto. A elaboração do modelo foi composto de cinco módulos contendo informações básicas sobre a doença, adesão ao tratamento proposto, medicamentos, técnicas de uso de dispositivos e cuidados com os medicamentos, complementado com material impresso e visual. O modelo foi implementado por meio de reuniões de educação dirigidas por profissional farmacêutico e avaliado de acordo com as recomendações da Organização Mundial da Saúde. As intervenções educativas para o uso racional de medicamentos proporcionaram ao grupo intervenção o aumento de 21% no conhecimento sobre a doença e aprimoramento das técnicas de utilização dos dispositivos inalatórios com significância estatística intra e intergrupos (p<.0001). Os resultados também mostraram aumento do número de pacientes classificados como mais aderentes após a intervenção mensurada pelo Teste de Morisky Green com significância estatística (p. 0.0244) e pelo reabastecimento da receita com significância intragrupo (p = 0.0113). Em relação à função pulmonar, a diferença intergrupos de CVF (p=0.0287) e de 8% do valor de VEF1 (p. 0,0461) sugerem relevância clínica. Os resultados mostram aumento das pontuações com significância estatística intragrupo em todos os domínios do questionário de qualidade de vida com significância estatística. Após a finalização do estudo o modelo foi implementado para o grupo controle e a avaliação mostrou aumento do conhecimento em asma e melhoria da qualidade de vida. Este modelo foi eficaz e economicamente viável para ser implantado pelo SUS quando testado para pacientes com a condição clínica asma e poderá ser adaptado e reproduzido para outras condições crônicas. / The pharmacist, once inserted into the multidisciplinary team has an important role to play in health education with the goal of improving the knowledge about the chronic conditions, reflecting positively on treatment adherence and consequently clinical outcomes and quality of life individuals. The aim of this study was to develop, implement and evaluate a model of educational interventions for the rational drug use. The clinical study longitudinal, prospective, randomized study was conducted by a multidisciplinary team with 119 asthmatic patients (60/control group and 59/ intervention group) in the Specializing in Asthma Clinic of the University Hospital, Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto. The development of the model was composed of five modules containing basic information about the disease, treatment compliance, drugs, techniques and drug cares and supplemented with visual and printed material. The model was implemented through educational meetings led by pharmacist professional and evaluated according to the recommendations of the World Health Organization. Educational interventions for the rational drug use provided to the intervention group 21% increase in knowledge about the disease and improvement of inhalers techniques with statistical significance within and between groups (p <.0001). The results also showed an increase patients number classified as more adherent after the intervention measured by test Morisky Green with statistical significance (p. 0.0244) and the replenishment of medical prescription with intragroup significance (p = 0.0113). Regarding lung function, the difference between groups in FVC (p = 0.0287) and 8% of the value of FEV1 (p. 0.0461) suggest clinical relevance. The results show increase in scores statistically significant intragroup in all domains of quality of life questionnaire with statistical significance. After completion of the study, the model was implemented for the control group and the evaluation showed an increase in asthma knowledge and quality of life improvement. This model was effective and economically viable to be implemented by the SUS when tested for patients with asthma and the clinical condition may be reproduced and adapted for other chronic conditions.

A delinqüência juvenil e o uso de drogas são problemas sociais e de saúde pública, que vem recebendo uma atenção especial por parte dos profissionais que atuam nesta área e dos órgãos públicos para um melhor entendimento dessa realidade e uma ação efetiva em relação às possibilidades de prevenção. Este estudo tem como objetivo identificar a primeira experiência do uso de drogas e do ato infracional entre os adolescentes em conflito com a lei e analisar sua possível relação. A amostra foi composta por 150 adolescentes do sexo masculino, com idade entre 12 a 21 anos e que estavam em cumprimento de medida sócio-educativa de internação, nas unidades da FEBEM (Fundação Estadual do Bem estar do Menor) de Sertãozinho e Ribeirão Preto-SP. Este é um estudo quantitativo descritivo. Para o instrumento de coleta de dados foi formatado questionário individual, estruturado com perguntas fechadas, divididos em três partes: 1ª) contém as informações sócio-demgráficas, 2ª) o uso de drogas e a 3ª) o ato infracional. Foram realizadas análises descritivas e univariável com intervalo de confiança de 95%. Dentre as caracterisitcas sócio-demográficas, os adolescentes tinham idade de 16 anos, cor pardo ou negro, procedentes da região de Ribeirão Preto-SP, com nível baixo de escolaridade e 99(66%) pertencem à família monoparental e se sustenta com prática infracional. Os índices do primeiro uso do álcool, cigarro e maconha são elevados e ocorrem concomitantemente com idade média de 12 anos. Com relação aos delitos, os mais praticados são roubo 61(40,7%), seguido do tráfico de drogas 44(29,4%) e o furto 14(9,3%) e ocorrem precocemente como o uso da droga com idade média de 13 anos. A associação destas variáveis demonstrou que existe uma correlação significativa entre o uso do álcool e da maconha e os atos infracionais, exceto o homicídio, o estudo também apontou uma relação entre o uso do crack e o tráfico de droga. Este dado confirma que quando o uso destas drogas ocorre precocemente, existe uma chance maior deste adolescente a se envolver mais cedo em comportamentos de risco como, por exemplo, a prática infracional. Não foi encontrada nenhuma relação estatisticamente significativa entre o uso do cigarro e da cocaína e o ato infracional. Os resultados do presente estudo nos aponta indicadores para o desenvolvimento de programas preventivos do uso de drogas entre adolescentes, que podem contribuir para uma redução a escalada para outros comportamentos de riscos. / Juvenile delinquency and drug use are respectively a social problem and a public health burden that have been particularly addressed by health professionals and public authorities for a better understanding of such issue and effective prevention actions. The goal of this study was to identify the first drug use experience and law infraction among adolescents in conflict with the law and attempt to find a possible correlation. The sample consisted of 150 male adolescents aged 12 to 21 institutionalized in the FEBEM (State Foundation for the Well-being of Minors) detention centers under socio educational measures in Sertãozinho and Ribeirão Preto/SP. This is a quantitative and descriptive study. An individual questionnaire, which was divided into three parts, containing closed questions was developed and used as a data collection tool. Those questions addressed the following: 1) Socio demographic information; 2) drug use, and 3) offenses. Descriptive and one- variable analyses were performed, with a confidence interval of 95%. The socio demographic characteristics showed that the average age of adolescent offenders was 16; most of them were Afro descendants or mullatoes and were originally from the region of Ribeirão Preto/SP, had low educational, and 99 (66%) came from mono parental families who supported themselves by means of offenses. The rates of first- time alcohol, cigarette, and marijuana use were high and occurred around the age of 12. As for offenses, the most common were robbery (44.7%) followed by drug traffic (29.4%) and theft (9.3%) and occurred around the age of 13. The association of these variables indicated the there was a significant link between the use of alcohol and marijuana and offenses, except for homicide. The study also showed an association between the use of crack and drug traffic. Such data suggest that the earlier children use these drugs, the sooner they are likely to get involved with risky behaviors, e.g., offenses. No significant statistical association was found between cigarette and cocaine use and offenses. The results of the present study indicate that effective programs for drug use prevention among teenagers should be developed in order to reduce escalation to other risky behaviors.