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Introduction: Race/ethnicity and sex disparities in substance use and substance use treatment completion are well documented in the literature. Previous literature has shown that participation in self-help groups is associated with higher rates of substance use treatment completion. While most of this research has focused on the completion of treatment for alcohol and stimulant use, research examining this relationship using an intersectional approach for individuals in treatment for opioid use is limited. Methods: Thus, the current study utilized responses from the Treatment Episodes Data Set–Discharges, 2015–2017 to examine disparities in the relationship between participation in self-help groups and substance use treatment completion for individuals undergoing treatment for opioid use based on sex, race, and ethnicity. Results: Results revealed a positive association between participation in self-help groups and treatment completion among those in treatment for opioid use across race, ethnicity, and sex. Further, the study found several differences in this association based on one's race, ethnicity, and sex. When compared to men of other races/ethnicities, the association between self-help group participation and treatment completion was highest among Black men. Conclusions: The results of the current study extend the knowledge-base about self-help participation's role in promoting successful substance use treatment completion to individuals in treatment for opioid use. Results also highlight the need to examine treatment outcomes with an intersectional lens.

The purpose of this study was to examine the interaction between substance use messages in music media and how it impacts perception of substance and current substance use for different ethnicities. Four hundred and eighty four participants were recruited from a large southeastern university. Participant ethnicities included Caucasian, Hispanic, African American and Asian. This study examined frequency of substance use messages in popular music lyrics and music videos, along with participant self-reported ethnicity and, rates of substance use and perceived risk from substance use. Differences in perception of risk and current substance use were indicated between Caucasian and African American participants. Interestingly, an inverse relationship between exposure to substance use messages and perception of risk of harm from substance use was noted, with more frequent exposure being correlated with greater perceived risk and lower current substance use. Regression analysis indicated that ethnicity predicted frequency of substance use messages in music media, and exposure to substance use messaged predicted both perception of risk of harm from substance use and current substance use, supporting the hypothesized role of music as a mediator between ethnicity and substance use.

Alcohol and substance use among a college population has become a norm for our society. Even more intriguing are the possible factors that may lead to use and abuse of alcohol and substances. The purpose of the current study was to examine the relationship between multiple participant characteristics (i.e., ethnicity, gender, year in college, socioeconomic status) and alcohol and substance use. A total of 902 participants from the University of Central Florida answered multiple questionnaires via the Sona system. Items in the questionnaires included topics such as demographic variables, social class variables, and items regarding alcohol and substance use in the past thirty days. The majority of participants were white females with an average age of 21.58. This study hypothesized that participants who identify as white males, those classified as a junior or senior in class standing, as well as those in a higher socioeconomic status would be more likely to report alcohol and substance use when compared to other participants. The current study also sought to assess how these different factors combine to best predict alcohol and substance use among a college sample. Data in the study was analyzed using SPSS in which correlations, t-tests, and an ANOVA were used to determine how participant characteristics and alcohol and substance use among college students are related. Linear regression analyses were conducted as well to determine how different participant characteristics can combine to best predict alcohol and substance use among college students. Results indicated that those participants whom identify as being white males, participants in a higher socioeconomic status, and, participants in later years of college are more likely to partake in alcohol and substance use. Results also indicated that the main factors that predicted alcohol and substance use are social class and year in college.

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Objectives: We investigated the prevalence of substance use disorders among emerging adults and quantified the extent to which emerging adults, compared to young adults, are at increased odds for substance use disorders. Methods: Data come from the 2012 Canadian Community Health Survey – Mental Health (CCHS-MH). Respondents were 15–39 years of age (n=9228) and were categorized as: early emerging adults (15-22 years); late emerging adults (23-29 years); and, young adults (30-39 years). Substance use disorders (alcohol or drug abuse/dependence) were measured using the Composite International Diagnostic Interview 3.0. The prevalence of substance use disorders was compared across age groups using design-based χ2 analyses. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were computed from logistic regression models adjusting for sociodemographic and health covariates. All analyses were weighted to maintain representativeness of the study sample to the Canadian population. Results: The prevalence of alcohol use disorder was 8.0%, 6.6%, and 2.7% for early emerging adults, late emerging adults, and young adults respectively. For drug use disorder, the prevalence was 6.4%, 3.6%, and 1.3%. Compared to young adults, early and late emerging adults were more likely to report substance use disorders (p<0.01). The prevalence of drug use disorder was higher among early versus late emerging adults (χ2=119.8, p=0.01). Among all age groups, males were more likely to report alcohol or drug use disorders (p≤0.01 for all). After covariate adjustment, early and late emerging adults had greater odds of reporting alcohol (OR=3.2, 95% CI=2.2-4.9 and OR=2.4, 95% CI=1.6-3.4, respectively) or drug (OR=4.2, 95% CI=2.5-7.0 and OR=2.5, 95% CI=1.6-4.1, respectively) use disorders compared to young adults. Conclusion: Emerging adulthood represents an important developmental period in which individuals are at increased odds of reporting substance use disorders. This finding has implications for the provision of screening and treatment of substance use disorders as these individuals transition from the pediatric to adult healthcare system. / Thesis / Master of Health Sciences (MSc)

Cannabis use is becoming increasingly prevalent in Canada and the United States, where legality and public perception have recently shifted to be more permissive of recreational use. Despite established negative health consequences associated with persistent use, there remains considerable debate in the scientific community surrounding the potentially harmful effects of cannabis use on human cognition. Evidence exists that heavy cannabis use predicts diminished performance within several neurocognitive domains and also predicts greater risk of having ADHD. Further evidence suggests that earlier age of first cannabis use strengthens these associations, however the findings in these literatures are mixed and in need of further delineation. This thesis sought to examine continuous associations among current cannabis use severity, age of first use, neuropsychological performance, and ADHD symptomatology. Two studies using large samples of community adults were conducted. Study 1 analyzed data from the Human Connectome Project, and examined performance on a battery of neuropsychological measures among young adults, and found recent use to be the strongest predictor of differences in episodic memory and processing speed, and CUD predicted lower fluid intelligence. Lifetime exposure to cannabis was not associated with any outcome measures. Study 2 examined similar associations in a sample of adults representative of the Hamilton community, and also included self-reported symptoms of ADHD. Study 2 found current cannabis use severity to be predictive of more impulsive reward preferences, and also of both hyperactive-impulsive and inattentive symptoms of ADHD. Both studies found a lack of support for the role of age of first cannabis use in differential cognitive performance, and also failed to find associations between cannabis involvement and several cognitive domains such as working memory, behavioural inhibition, executive function, and psychomotor dexterity. These findings challenge some of the current literature, and highlight the necessity of further investigation to better understand interrelationships among cannabis use, cognition, and ADHD. / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc) / It is unclear to what extent cannabis use effects mental functions such as memory, attention, and intelligence. The goal of this research was to investigate how recent and early-life cannabis use is related to these cognitive functions and real-life problems with attention and impulse control as seen in ADHD. Two studies were performed to investigate these relationships, and together found recent cannabis use rather than lifetime use to be predictive of performance on select cognitive abilities and ADHD symptoms. Age of first cannabis use and lifetime use were not associated with differences in cognition, suggesting that cannabis use in adolescence may not necessarily cause lasting detrimental changes. Rather, people who have symptoms of ADHD may be more likely to use cannabis earlier and in more problematic ways.

"Nothing endures but change" - Heraclitus. Buildings are designed and built to house a specific program for a set period of time. The end of a building's life marks a change in its use. In today's building practices, some building owners opt to demolish an entire building prior to constructing a new one. Unfortunately, this world-wide attitude results in the production of millions of tons of waste every year and is not an ecologically sustainable practice. However, as green building methods become more valued in today's society, building owners and designers are becoming more conscious of buildings' end lives. Construction methods are increasingly involving concepts of designing for disassembly, wherein parts and materials can be easily taken apart for reuse or recycling. Such practices are vital in minimizing the unnecessary production of construction waste. Everything on earth exhibits change. This thesis explores the development of a newly constructed building and its transformation at the end of its life into a new building. The project consists of two designs; the program of the first was predetermined while the program of the second was chosen by the committee at the concluding stage of the first design. This thesis seeks to develop a position on architectural design and construction methods that acknowledges the fact that buildings are not permanent objects and that they will, at some point in time, change. / Master of Architecture