This creative nonfiction dissertation is a memoir that probes the complex life and death of the author’s father, who became addicted in his late forties to crack cocaine. While the primary concerns are the reasons and ways in which the father changed from a family man into a drug addict, the memoir is also concerned with themes of family life, childhood, and grief. After his father’s death, the author moves to Las Vegas and experiences similar addiction issues, which he then explores to help shed light on his father’s problems. To enrich the investigation, the author draws from eclectic sources, including news articles, literature, mythology, sociology, religion, music, TV, interviews, and inherited objects from his father. In dissecting the life of his father, the author simultaneously examines broader issues surrounding modern fatherhood, such as cultural expectations, as well as the problems of emptiness, isolation, and spiritual deficiency.

The purpose of the present study was to compare the scores of the Beck Depression Inventory, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and the Coopersmith Inventory of heterosexual men with compulsive sexual behavior (N = 22), homosexual men with compulsive sexual behavior (N = 19), heterosexual men without compulsive sexual behavior (N = 38), and homosexual men without compulsive sexual behavior (N = 8). The Sex Addiction Screening Test was used to determined placement in a group. Findings revealed men who exhibit compulsive sexual behavior are significantly more depressed, experience lower self-esteem and have higher state anxiety (situational) than controls.

These studies led the experimenter to investigate the use of chemical aversion therapy using anectine as the aversive stimulus with a morphine addict. The success of Thomason and Rathod with heroin addicts suggested that their experimental method would be useful as a reference while designing this study. The treatment hypothesis was that the patient's use of intravenous narcotic drugs would be eliminated through the application of chemical aversion therapy. Chemical aversion therapy was operantly defined as the injection intravenously of anectine into the patient concurrent with his self-injection of his narcotic of choice.

The role of attachment style in overall family functioning and in individual substance abuse patterns has been researched extensively. Lifestyle constructs have been seen as predictors of substance abuse related behaviors, including future drug related difficulties. Dysfunctional family environments have been seen as predictors of poor mental health outcomes in family members. Despite the high rates of co-morbidity in alcohol and drug dependent individuals, parental lifestyle, attachment style, and the overall influence of family environment on the psychological traits of substance dependent individuals had not been previously examined. This study examined a group of parents and their adult children (actively in substance abuse treatment, with diagnoses of substance dependence) who participated in a weeklong family education program at an inpatient treatment center. Direct effects were found between attachment style, lifestyle and patient traits, as well as several significant total effects (combined direct effect and the effect of overall family environment). Specific indirect effects were also found from individual family environment mediators, including moral religious emphasis and control, on the relationship between independent and dependent variables. An analysis of the results is given, along with a discussion of clinical implications and directions for future research. / by John W. McIlveen. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2013. / Includes bibliography. / Mode of access: World Wide Web. / System requirements: Adobe Reader.

individuals who self-identify as sex addicts, unique health and social consequences are not well understood because of factors, such as stigma. It is important that the nursing community understand this phenomenon to address, understand, and provide sensitive and meaningful care. However, there is limited research on this topic. The purpose of this study was to explore the lived experience of individuals who self-identify as sex addicts. Through snowball sampling, five men and five women between 27 to 45 years old, and older. participated in the phenomenological study. Meaning units and themes were revealed through the participants' experiences as follows: A Connecting with Others: 1. Reaching Out 2. Seeking Shared Understanding 3. Connecting with Your Higher Power B Managing Stigma: 1. Revealing Concealing C Integrating the Past for Recovery: 1. Reflecting Triggers 2. Overcoming Powerlessness. D Being Vigilant: 1. Intentional Refocusing 2. Living an Honest Life E Giving of Oneself: 1. Informing Others 2. Doing Service. The overall structure synthesized from the meaning units and themes was: "The lived experience of seeking health in recovery from sex addiction is dancing on the outer circle, connected to a community that understands fear, shame and the struggle to remain vigilant for pitfalls while intentionally refocusing on living an honest life of giving and receiving." Seeking health incorporates a holistic, community involved, multifaceted approach to recovery. Understanding how individuals seek health in recovery provides a framework to impart meaningful, sensitive nursing care. / by Lawren Mundy. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2013. / Includes bibliography. / Mode of access: World Wide Web. / System requirements: Adobe Reader.

A exposição à de drogas de abuso na adolescência tem sido associada à maior vulnerabilidade à dependência. Sabe-se que alterações na fosforilação de CREB (proteína de ligação ao elemento de resposta ao AMPc) e na expressão de BDNF (fator neurotrófico derivado do cérebro) nas diversas regiões cerebrais, têm sido associadas à dependência ao etanol. O objetivo desse trabalho foi investigar os efeitos do etanol sobre a modulação de CREB e BDNF no córtex pré-frontal (CPF) e hipocampo (HPC) de camundongos adolescentes (ADL) e adultos (AD) submetidos à sensibilização comportamental. Animais AD desenvolveram sensibilização comportamental, enquanto os ADL não sensibilizaram. Agudamente, o etanol reduziu a imunorreatividade de pCREB no CPF de camundongos ADL, enquanto a administração repetida levou ao aumento em ambas as idades, porém de forma mais significativa nos ADL. Etanol agudo e repetido levou à redução na ativação de CREB no CPF de ADL e no HPC de camundongos AD comparado ao controle. Os níveis de BDNF aumentaram após administração aguda, em ambas as idades, com redução após administração repetida nos ADL. Os resultados sugerem que a exposição precoce ao etanol pode influenciar na vulnerabilidade à dependência. / Exposure to drugs of abuse during adolescence has been associated to greater vulnerability to addiction. It have been demonstrated that alterations of CREB phosphorylation (cAMP response element-binding) and in BDNF (Brain-derived neurotrophic factor) expression in several brain regions are involved in ethanol addiction. The aim of the present work was investigate ethanol effects on CREB and BDNF modulation in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus of adolescent (ADL) and adult (AD) mice submitted to behavioral sensitization. AD animals developed behavioral sensitization while ADL did not. Acutely, ethanol reduced pCREB immunoreactivity in the CPF of ADL animals while repeated administration induced increase, for both ages, in a more significant way in ADL. Acute and repeated ethanol treatment reduced CREB activation in CPF of ADL and in HPC of AD, when compared to control. BDNF levels were increased after acute administration in both ages, with reduction in ADL after repeated administration. The results suggest that early exposure to ethanol could influence the vulnerability to addiction.

by Chung Yee-ha, Ida. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1998. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 313-326). / Abstract and questionnaire also in Chinese. / Acknowledgments --- p.i / Abstract (English version) --- p.ii-iii / Abstract (Chinese version) --- p.iv / Chapter Chapter 1: --- Introduction --- p.1-9 / Chapter Chapter 2: --- The Addiction Profile in Hong Kong --- p.10-28 / Chapter Chapter 3: --- Literature Review --- p.29-94 / Chapter Chapter 4: --- Research Questions and Hypotheses --- p.95-104 / Chapter Chapter 5: --- Methodology --- p.105-119 / Chapter Chapter 6: --- Results --- p.120-185 / Chapter Chapter 7: --- Discussion --- p.186-238 / Chapter Chapter 8: --- Summary and Conclusions --- p.239-250 / Appendix A: A Summary of the Local Studies on Adolescent Drug Abuse 251 - --- p.268 / Appendix B: Questionnaire (Chinese version) --- p.269-289 / Appendix C: Revised Reasons Scale (Chinese version) --- p.290-292 / Appendix D: Questionnaire (English version) --- p.293-310 / Appendix E: Revised Reasons Scale (English version) --- p.311-312 / References --- p.313-326

Ho Man Choi. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2006. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 178-215). / Abstracts and appendices in English and Chinese. / ACKNOWLEDGEMENT --- p.ii / ABSTRACT --- p.iii / 研究摘要 --- p.vi / Chapter CHAPTER 1 --- INTRODUCTION / Chapter 1.1. --- Heroin --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1.1. --- Manufacture --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1.2. --- Administration --- p.2 / Chapter 1.1.3. --- Physical and Psychological Effects --- p.4 / Chapter 1.1.4. --- Heroin Metabolism --- p.5 / Chapter 1.1.5. --- Treatments for Heroin Dependence --- p.6 / Chapter 1.2. --- Opioids and Analgesia --- p.8 / Chapter 1.2.1. --- Pain Transmission --- p.8 / Chapter 1.2.2. --- Pain Modulation and Endogenous Opioid System --- p.9 / Chapter 1.2.3. --- Clinical Application of Opiates in Pain Management --- p.11 / Chapter 1.2.4. --- Narcotics and Pain --- p.11 / Chapter 1.3. --- Biological Basis of Drug Addiction --- p.12 / Chapter 1.3.1. --- Mesocorticolimbic Reward System --- p.13 / Chapter 1.3.2. --- Molecular Neurobiology of Drug Addiction --- p.16 / Chapter 1.3.2.1. --- "Cyclic Adenosine-3',5'-Monophosphate and Protein Kinase A" --- p.16 / Chapter 1.3.2.2. --- Transcription Factors: cAMP-Response Element Binding Protein and Delta-Fos B --- p.18 / Chapter 1.3.2.3. --- Neurotrophic Factors --- p.23 / Chapter 1.4. --- Biological Basis of Relapse --- p.25 / Chapter 1.4.1. --- Environmental Stimuli --- p.26 / Chapter 1.4.2. --- Drug Re-exposure/Priming --- p.26 / Chapter 1.4.3. --- Acute Stress Exposure --- p.27 / Chapter 1.5. --- Gene Polymorphisms and Opioid Dependence --- p.30 / Chapter 1.5.1. --- Opioidergic System --- p.31 / Chapter 1.5.2. --- Dopaminergic System --- p.36 / Chapter 1.5.3. --- Serotoninergic System --- p.41 / Chapter 1.5.4. --- Noradrenergic System --- p.43 / Chapter 1.5.5. --- GABAergic System --- p.44 / Chapter 1.6. --- Aim of Research --- p.45 / Chapter CHAPTER 2 --- METHODS OF STUDY / Chapter 2.1. --- Subject Recruitment and Demographic Data Collection --- p.49 / Chapter 2.1.1. --- Heroin-dependent Subjects --- p.49 / Chapter 2.1.1.1. --- Phenotype Assessment --- p.49 / Chapter 2.1.1.2. --- Socio-demographics Data and Substance Use History --- p.50 / Chapter 2.1.1.3. --- Addiction Severity Index (ASI) --- p.51 / Chapter 2.1.1.4. --- History of Detoxifications and Relapse --- p.51 / Chapter 2.1.2. --- Control Subjects --- p.51 / Chapter 2.2. --- Pain Response Assessment using Cold-Pressor Test (CPT) --- p.52 / Chapter 2.3. --- Personality Trait Assessment --- p.53 / Chapter 2.4. --- Genotype Analysis --- p.55 / Chapter 2.4.1. --- DNA Extraction --- p.55 / Chapter 2.4.2. --- Genotyping --- p.56 / Chapter 2.4.2.1. --- MORA118G --- p.56 / Chapter 2.4.2.2. --- DOR T921C --- p.56 / Chapter 2.4.2.3. --- COMTVal108/158Met --- p.57 / Chapter 2.4.2.4. --- Prodynorphin 68bp-VNTR --- p.58 / Chapter 2.4.2.5. --- DRD2 TaqI A --- p.59 / Chapter 2.4.2.6. --- DRD4 -521C/T --- p.59 / Chapter 2.4.2.7. --- 5HT1B G861C --- p.60 / Chapter 2.5. --- Saliva Collection and Salivary Cortisol Measurement --- p.61 / Chapter 2.6. --- Statistical Analysis --- p.62 / Chapter CHAPTER 3 --- RESULTS / Chapter 3.1. --- Demographics --- p.64 / Chapter 3.1.1. --- Age --- p.64 / Chapter 3.1.2. --- Ethnicity --- p.64 / Chapter 3.1.3. --- District of Residence and Type of Housing --- p.64 / Chapter 3.1.4. --- "Education, Employment and Income" --- p.68 / Chapter 3.1.5. --- ASI Scores --- p.71 / Chapter 3.1.5.1. --- Family/Social Relationship --- p.71 / Chapter 3.1.5.2. --- Employment and Support Status --- p.73 / Chapter 3.1.5.3. --- Medical Status --- p.73 / Chapter 3.1.5.4. --- Legal Status --- p.75 / Chapter 3.1.5.5. --- Psychiatric Status --- p.75 / Chapter 3.1.5.6. --- Drug Use Status --- p.76 / Chapter 3.1.5.7. --- Alcohol Use Status --- p.79 / Chapter 3.1.6. --- Tranquillizer Use Status --- p.79 / Chapter 3.1.7. --- Smoking Status --- p.81 / Chapter 3.1.8. --- Detoxification and Relapse --- p.83 / Chapter 3.2. --- Cold-Pressor Test (CPT) --- p.88 / Chapter 3.3. --- Personality Traits --- p.90 / Chapter 3.3.1. --- NEO PI-R --- p.90 / Chapter 3.3.2. --- BIS/BAS --- p.93 / Chapter 3.3.3. --- SSS-V --- p.93 / Chapter 3.4. --- Salivary Cortisol Levels --- p.93 / Chapter 3.5. --- Genotype and Allele Frequencies of Gene Polymorphisms --- p.96 / Chapter 3.5.1. --- MOR A118G Polymorphism --- p.96 / Chapter 3.5.2. --- DOR T921C Polymorphism --- p.96 / Chapter 3.5.3. --- COMT Val108/158Met Polymorphism --- p.99 / Chapter 3.5.4. --- Prodynorphin 68bp-VNTR --- p.99 / Chapter 3.5.5. --- DRD2 TαqI A Polymorphism --- p.102 / Chapter 3.5.6. --- DRD4 -521C/T Polymorphism --- p.102 / Chapter 3.5.7. --- 5HT1B G861C Polymorphism --- p.105 / Chapter 3.6. --- "Association of Gene Polymorphisms, Personality Traits and CPT" --- p.105 / Chapter 3.7. --- Association of Gene Polymorphisms and CPT --- p.108 / Chapter 3.7.1. --- COMT Val108/158Met Polymorphism --- p.108 / Chapter 3.7.2. --- DRD4 -521C/T Polymorphism --- p.108 / Chapter CHAPTER 4 --- DISCUSSIONS AND CONCLUSIONS / Chapter 4.1. --- Demographics and Potential Environmental Factors of Relapse --- p.111 / Chapter 4.1.1. --- Medical and Psychological Status --- p.114 / Chapter 4.1.2. --- Substance Use Status --- p.116 / Chapter 4.1.3. --- Detoxification and Relapse --- p.118 / Chapter 4.2. --- Cold-Pressor Test (CPT) --- p.121 / Chapter 4.3. --- Personality Traits --- p.123 / Chapter 4.4. --- Salivary Cortisol --- p.125 / Chapter 4.5. --- "Association of Gene Polymorphisms, Personality Traits and Cold-Pressor Test" --- p.127 / Chapter 4.5.1. --- MORA118G Polymorphism --- p.127 / Chapter 4.5.2. --- DOR T921C Polymorphism --- p.129 / Chapter 4.5.3. --- COMT Val108/158Met --- p.130 / Chapter 4.5.4. --- Prodynorphin (ProDYN) 68bp-VNTR --- p.133 / Chapter 4.5.5. --- DRD2 A Polymorphism --- p.134 / Chapter 4.5.6. --- DRD4 -521C/T Polymorphism --- p.138 / Chapter 4.5.7. --- 5HTlB G861C Polymorphism --- p.141 / Chapter 4.5.8. --- Personality Traits --- p.142 / Chapter 4.6. --- Limitations --- p.144 / Chapter 4.7. --- Potential Clinical Application --- p.145 / Chapter 4.8. --- Conclusion --- p.146 / APPENDIXES --- p.148 / APPENDIX 1 Addiction Severity Index (ASI) with Additional Questions for Heroin Users / APPENDIX 2 Detoxification and Relapse History Questionnaire / APPENDIX 3A Questionnaire for Control Subjects (Chinese version) / APPENDIX 3B Questionnaire for Control Subjects (English version) / APPENDIX 4A NEO PI-R (Chinese version) / APPENDIX 4B NEO PI-R (English version) / APPENDIX 5A BIS/BAS (Chinese version) / APPENDIX 5B BIS/BAS (English version) / APPENDIX 6A SSS- V (Chinese version) / APPENDIX 6B SSS- V (English version) / REFERENCES --- p.178

Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-25T16:45:28Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Denise Pena de Moraes.pdf: 1346744 bytes, checksum: 8abc7534bd3dd1614736dfea0cc3c52e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010-06-07 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / Social networks are formed when relationships are established between actors over a common goal, such as building new paths for those who seek recovery and life improvement. This research is a case study that analyzes social network formation at Fazenda da Esperança (Hope Farm), a not-for-profit social organization that works in Brazil and in the world with over 60 centers. Its main goal is to recover substance-addicts based on the treatment tripod of spirituality-relationship-work, without resorting to medications or behavioral therapies. By using this method, it shelters drug-addicts for restructuring their lives transforming them into rehabilitated citizens. Methodology includes both qualitative and quantitative approaches, and the research was carried out through participant observation and questionnaires. The rehabilitee s profile was identified and also the structure and organization of social relations that determine the network at Fazenda da Esperança. Data shows that rehabilitees are, in their majority, young and of similar socio-economic levels. The network analysis, using the proximity and intermediation index, shows that the network is organized around the official leaders on the Fazenda. From the therapeutic tripod in the community, i.e. spirituality-relationship-work, the first has an important role in creating a social bond, as well as in recovering the rehabilitee s values, hence contributing for his consequential reintegration to society / As redes sociais são formadas a partir das relações existentes entre atores que possuem um objetivo comum, como a construção de novos caminhos para aqueles que buscam a recuperação e a melhoria da qualidade de vida. Esta pesquisa é um estudo de caso que analisa a formação de redes sociais na Fazenda da Esperança, entidade sem fins lucrativos atuante no segmento social, presente no Brasil e no exterior com mais de 60 unidades. Essa instituição tem por objetivo principal a recuperação de toxicodependentes, baseada no tripé de tratamento espiritualidade-relacionamento-trabalho, sem a adoção de medicamentos ou de terapias comportamentais. Por meio desse método, acolhe o toxicodependente para a reestruturação da sua vida, transformando-o em um cidadão recuperado. A metodologia da pesquisa é de natureza qualitativa e quantitativa, realizada por meio de observação participante e de aplicação de questionários. Identifica-se o perfil do recuperando, bem como a estrutura e a organização das relações sociais que determinam a rede na referida instituição. A pesquisa mostrou que os recuperandos, em sua maioria, são jovens e de nível socioeconômico similar. A análise da rede, por intermédio do índice de centralidade de proximidade e de intermediação, revelou que esta organiza-se em torno dos líderes formais da Fazenda. Os resultados demonstraram ainda que, do tripé terapêutico da comunidade espiritualidade-relacionamento-trabalho , a espiritualidade desempenha importante papel na formação dos laços sociais, assim como no resgate dos valores do recuperando, colaborando para sua consequente reintegração à sociedade

Opioid morbidity and mortality and suicide are two current and central public health problems in the U.S. Both have continuously increased in the last two decades, and disproportionately affected some groups more than others, leading to the suggestion that these epidemics are connected. However, there is little evidence on the potential role that the opioid epidemic had on the rise of suicides. The overarching goal of this dissertation was to advance our understanding of the effects of the opioid epidemic on the rise in suicide rates in the U.S. First, a systematic review of the literature was conducted to critically evaluate the evidence on the effects of different opioid exposures on suicidal outcomes (e.g., suicidal ideation, attempts and suicides). There was ample evidence of individual-level associations between opioid use and related abuse/ dependence on suicidal outcomes. In contrast, the gap in the literature on group-level effects was clear, with only two studies examining these effects and showing that opioid availability was associated with suicide behavior in different populations. Several limitations were also identified in the reviewed studies that could partially explain the observed associations, indicating the need for further research. Second, the individual-level effects of prescription opioids nonmedical use and related abuse/ dependence on persistence and onset of suicidal ideation and attempts were examined. Longitudinal data from a national representative sample of the adult U.S. population was used to examine these associations. Results showed that heavy/ frequent use of prescription opioids and related abuse/ dependence had an effect on persistence and onset of suicidal ideation and persistence of attempts. However, none of these exposures were associated with onset of suicide attempt. Overall, these findings suggest that by increasing the number of those using prescription opioids and with opioid abuse/ dependence, and in turn the number of those with suicidal ideation/ behavior, the prescription opioid epidemic could have led to increases in suicide rates in the population. Finally, the group-level (i.e., state level) effects of three state level exposures, i.e., increasing trends in the per capita volume of prescription opioids, in the nonmedical use of these drugs, and in unintentional fatal opioid overdoses, on the increase in suicide rates were examined. For this, pooled cross sectional time series data from the 50 states (1999-2016) were used in linear regression models with state and year fixed effects. Although the volume of prescription opioids and the rate of fatal opioid overdoses increased over the study period, the prevalence of nonmedical use of prescription opioids decreased in most states. Results showed that the rate of unintentional fatal prescription opioid overdoses was associated with an increase in the rate of suicides. The range of effects sizes compatible with the data also suggested that the increase in the per capita volume of prescription opioids was linked to increases in suicide rates. Overall, this dissertation increased our understanding of the possible role that the opioid epidemic played on the increase in suicide rates in the U.S. As public efforts continue to fight the opioid epidemic, these findings can help inform future research that will guide the development of suicide prevention strategies and approaches to reduce the burden that the opioid epidemic poses on communities.