Prevalence findings for 1995 of illicit drug use as well as DSM-IV abuse and dependence are reported from a representative population sample of 3,021 respondents from Munich, Germany, aged 14–24 years. Results are based on personal interviews using the M-Composite International Diagnostic Interview (M-CIDI) with its DSM-IV diagnostic algorithms. Findings indicate that more than 30% of the adolescents and young adults are or have been using one or more illicit drugs at least once in their life. Men were slightly more likely to ever use drugs and used them more frequently than women. Cannabinoids were by far the most frequently used type of drug, followed by various stimulating drugs and hallucinogens. There is also considerable polysubstance use among 14- to 24-year-olds. Criteria for DSM-IV abuse without dependence were met by 4.1% of all men and 1.8% of all women, a dependence syndrome of any type of illicit drug was diagnosed in 2.5% of the men and 1.6% of the women. Cumulative age of onset incidence analyses suggest that substance use starts early, in about one-third before the age of 16 years and continues to rise for most drugs throughout adolescence and young adulthood. Overall these findings suggest that substance use and substance disorders are more prevalent than suggested in most previous German studies.

There is a perception that drug use is a serious and growing problem to be solved by medicine, social work and drug enforcement agencies. This thesis takes a critical standpoint again such populist views and interprets drug use as one of any number of normal activities that people engage. This qualitative research utilising a bricoleur ethnographic methodology focuses on the drug taking of non-treatment seeking illegal drug users. The data reveals that they manage several social identities and the potential stigma of being discovered as an illicit user of illegal drugs utilising several strategies to remain intentionally unseen. The thesis explores how and in what way socially competent drug users differ from visible treatment seeking drug users. In order to develop this understanding, several gatekeepers were identified and within their social networks the participants were recruited into this research. The participants (n=24) were recruited from a wide range of age groups (21-52) and geographical locations within Scotland. One to one interviews, a focus group, and several pair bonded partners were interviewed together providing rich sources of data. Interviews were transcribed and analysed thematically from a social constructionist perspective. The findings illuminate the ways in which the intentionally unseen identify and manage risks from drugs, drugs policy and the potential shame and stigma were their hidden social worlds revealed. The practical implications of the results of this thesis are explored and recommendations for future research are discussed.

nÃo hà / Neonatos internados em unidade de terapia intensiva neonatal (UTIN) sÃo expostos a uma grande variedade de medicamentos, a maioria sem dados de seguranÃa e eficÃcia. Descrever o perfil de uso de medicamentos em neonatos em UTIN de um hospital pÃblico no Brasil de acordo com dados de registro do medicamento e potencial nocivo destes, foi o objetivo do trabalho. Trata-se de um estudo descritivo retrospectivo sobre uso de medicamentos em UTIN, envolvendo neonatos internados por mais de 24 horas e dados de prescriÃÃo coletados em prontuÃrio eletrÃnico durante o perÃodo de janeiro a junho do ano de 2012. InformaÃÃes sobre os medicamentos, com base nas bulas, foram comparadas com o British National Formulary for Children 2012-2013 e a base de dados Thomson Micromedex. O potencial nocivo de medicamentos e excipientes foi avaliado conforme a literatura. Neonatos foram categorizados em grupos de idade gestacional (IG). Os dados foram submetidos à anÃlise descritiva e testes de distribuiÃÃo (ANOVA, Teste U de Mann-Whitney, Kruskal-Wallis, qui-quadrado de Pearson) por IG com o nÃvel de significÃncia de p < 0,05. IncluÃram-se 192 neonatos, a maioria prÃ-termo, com mediana de 33 semanas de IG, totalizando 3.617 neonatos-dia. Registraram-se 3.290 prescriÃÃes, mÃdia 17,1 prescriÃÃes/neonato (DP  17,9) e 8,8 medicamentos/neonato (DP  5,9), maiores em neonatos mais imaturos (p < 0,05). Anti-infecciosos de uso sistÃmico, medicamentos para o sangue e ÃrgÃos formadores do sangue, trato alimentar e metabolismo apresentaram maior utilizaÃÃo, variando conforme a IG. Neonatos apresentaram maior exposiÃÃo a gentamicina seguido por ampicilina, heparina e fitomenadiona. A maioria dos neonatos (99,5%) foi exposta a medicamentos nÃo licenciados (NL) e de uso nÃo padronizado (NP), mais frequentes em neonatos com IG < 28 semanas (p < 0,05). Mais de 70% dos RN estiveram expostos a algum medicamento potencialmente perigoso (MPP), com maior frequÃncia em neonatos com IG < 31 semanas (p < 0,05). Praticamente todos os neonatos estiveram expostos a excipientes nocivos (EN) e potencialmente nocivos, sendo maior o nÃmero de formulaÃÃes prescritas a neonatos mais imaturos. Metilparabeno, propilparabeno e polissorbato 80 foram os EN aos quais os neonatos estiveram mais expostos, principalmente nas formulaÃÃes de domperidona soluÃÃo oral, polivitamÃnicos soluÃÃo oral e fentanila soluÃÃo injetÃvel. Neonatos em UTIN no Brasil, tal como em outras realidades, estÃo expostos a uma variedade de medicamentos NL, NP e com potencial nocivo, uma situaÃÃo preocupante. Alternativas seguras e estudos sÃo necessÃrios sobre esse tema. / Neonates admitted to neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) are exposed to a wide variety of drugs most without data on safety and efficacy. To describe the drug use profile of neonates in NICU of a public hospital in Brazil according to the drugs records and harmful potential of drugs and pharmaceutical excipients. Descriptive and retrospective study of drug use in NICU, with neonate inpatients for over 24 hours and prescription data from electronic medical records over the period from January to June, 2012. Drug information found in the package leaflets were compared with information in the British National Formulary for Children 2012-2013 and in the Thomson Micromedex database. The drug and excipients harmful potential was evaluated according to the literature. Neonates were categorized into groups of gestational age (GA). The data were analyzed using descriptive analysis and Distribution tests tests (ANOVA Mann-Whitney U, Kruskal-Wallis and Pearson's chi-squared) by GA, with a significance level of p <0.05. Were included 192 neonates, most preterm with median 33 weeks of GA and a total of 3.617 neonates-day. Were registered 3,290 prescriptions, average 17.1 prescriptions/neonate (SD  17.9) and 8.8 drugs/neonate (SD  5.9), higher in most immature neonates (p < 0.05). The anti-infectives for systemic use, blood and blood forming organs, alimentary tract and metabolism drugs groups showed increased use among the neonates, varying according to the GA. Neonates had higher exposure to gentamicin followed by ampicillin, heparin and phytomenadione. Most neonates (99.5%) were exposed to unlicensed drugs (UL) and off label use (OL), more frequently those with GA < 28 weeks (p < 0.05). More than 70% of the neonates were exposed to any high-alert medications, with higher frequency among neonates with GA < 31 weeks (p < 0.05). Almost all neonates were exposed to harmful and potentially harmful excipients, being greater the number of formulations prescribed to more immature neonates. Gentamicin (sulfate) injectable Solution 10 mg/mL (1 mL), fentanyl solution injectable 0.05 mg/mL (10 mL) and sodium heparin injectable solution were the containing harmful excipients formulations to which neonates were most exposed. Neonates in Brazilian NICU, as in other settings, are exposed to a variety of OL, UL and potentially harmful drugs and harmful excipients, an alarming situation. Safety alternatives and more studies are needed on this topic.